Our Review of Elkmont Campground in the Smokies
Elkmont Campground is one of our personal “go-to” campgrounds in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
In this detailed campground review, we have all the info you need- which campsites are best, what to avoid, and tricks learned over years of camping in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
We love the great hiking trails you can walk to from your campsite in Elkmont, the picturesque Little River running through the campground, and decently large campsites (if you know which ones to go for).
Located on the Tennessee side of the park, Elkmont is within easy driving of some of the most popular park attractions like Laurel Falls (10 minutes), Alum Cave trail (30 min), and Clingmans Dome (50 min).
It is also only 20 minutes from Gatlinburg, a kitschy mountain town loaded with family-friendly attractions.
If you wanted, you could spend a fun-filled camping weekend at Elkmont without ever having to leave the campground or get back in your car. That makes it one of my dream campgrounds.
But if you are looking at spending a week camping here or want to see as much as you can of the Smokies during your trip, Elkmont is well situated in the park to take advantage of lots of the most popular sights.
Here is everything you need to know about Elkmont Campground in the Smokies.
Also see our 10 Fun Things To Do Near Elkmont Campground In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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How Elkmont Campground Is Set Up
Elkmont Campground is one of 10 campgrounds in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and one of the most popular, probably because it is one of the biggest and one of the most developed.
It has its drawbacks (it can get really crowded, no showers, some of the campsites are small). But overall, its nice family-friendly feel plus its location, great trails, and the refreshing Little River on a hot summer’s day make it a campground we return to over and over again.
East And West Sides With A River In The Middle
Elkmont is a large campground with 220 sites on either side of the Little River. In my head, I break it up into the east and west sides of the campground as it is split by the river.
Every time I explain it to people like that, I feel like I am setting up some sort of east side/west side campground rap battle scenario, which to be fair, would be absolutely fantastic and we should make that happen.
East Side of the Little River
- The ranger station and campground store
- Campsite loops A- F
- Trailheads for the Nature trail, Little River Trail, and Jakes Creek Trail
- The Elkmont Historic District, which is a collection of old cabins built when this area was a vacation resort (before the formation of the national park). There are several sections to the historic district, the best known (and preserved) of which is Daisy Town, often called Elkmont’s “ghost town.” I wrote a whole section about the historic district at the end of this blog.
West Side of the Little River
- Campsite loops G & H are on the northern half and the loops J- N are on the southern half of this side. It is a pretty long walk between the two halves, at least 10 minutes.
- The group campsites and the amphitheater are in between the north and south half of the west side of Elkmont campground.
There are only 3 ways to get between the east and west sides of Elkmont Campground because of the river that separated the two sides.
- The main bridge over the Little River near the ranger station. This is the only way for vehicles to cross.
- A small walking trail over a second bridge that connects the end of Loop N to the Jakes Creek trailhead and the Elkmont Historic District.
- Wading across the Little River (this is a cold and possibly very wet way).
FAQ About Elkmont Campground
When Is Elkmont Campground Open?
Late Spring- Late Fall
Elkmont used to be open year-round, but is now only open spring thru late fall, ie opens around mid-March and closes mid-November.
The exact season changes from year to year so check the NPS website to be sure.
Does Elkmont Campground Have Electricity?
NO. I repeat- There is NO electricity/water/sewer hookups at any campsite in Elkmont. Or at any campground in the Smokies.
There are also no showers or laundry in the campground. The nearest dump station is at Sugarlands Visitor Center about 15 min away.
You will find a good number of flush bathrooms spaced around the campground with mens and womens sides that each have 3-4 stalls inside and sinks.
A pretty basic dishwashing sink is on the outside of the bathroom, plus a potable water spigot.
How Many Campsites Does Elkmont Campground Have?
Elkmont Campground is BIG. It has 200 RV/tent sites plus 20 “walk in” sites for tents spread over 14 loops in the campground, labeled A-N. There is also a group section with 4 campsites for 7-30 people.
Does Elkmont Campground Have Tent Only Loops?
No, but it does have specific sites that are restricted to “tent only.”
There aren’t any tent only loops at Elkmont much to my chagrin as a dedicated tent camper, but they do forbid generator use on loops A, B, L, M, and N.
There are 20 “walk in” campsites in Elkmont where the tent pad is located a short distance away or up/down a few stairs from the parking area. You can only use a tent in these sites, no RVs.
The “walk in” sites are grouped near each other- (B2, B3, and B4), (A5, A7, A9, and A11), and (B21- B36).
None of the tent pads are particularly far from the parking so unless mobility is really an issue, I would not let that deter you from these sites.
Besides the 20 “walk in” campsites at Elkmont, there are additional campsites scattered throughout the campground that are also restricted to tent only use. This is due to features of that specific campsite, such as steep or short driveways.
Are There ADA Sites At Elkmont Campground?
There are nine ADA sites at Elkmont. Three of those sites have 5 amp hook up available for medical devices such as a CPAP machine- A3, D9 and G6.
What Are The Reservations And Fees At Elkmont Campground?
RESERVATIONS ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! This is an extremely popular campground and is almost always completely booked.
There are no FCFS sites (first come-first served).
Book on the recreation.gov website for Elkmont.
Campsites are $25 per night unless you are lucky enough to get a riverfront site ($27 per night.) Prices are the same whether it is an RV or tent only site.
*DON’T FORGET YOUR PARKING PASS!* As of March 2023, you will need a parking pass to park anywhere in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for more than 15 minutes.
Parking passes can be bought online, at all Visitor Centers, and at a few other places, like the Townsend Visitor Center.
Is There WiFi/Cell Service At Elkmont Campground In The Smokies?
Nope. You will not get cell service in most places in the Smokies.
Cell phone coverage is a no for any service I have tried over the years- Verizon, T Mobile, AT&T, and US Cellular. Nor is there WiFi anywhere at the campground.
But you can drive to Gatlinburg (20 min away without traffic) and usually get a good signal, especially if you have Verizon.
Wears Valley is 30 min away and sometimes is the better bet because of Gatlinburg traffic.
Can You Buy Supplies At Elkmont Campground?
Yes, there is a small campground store.
There is a “store” by the ranger station which I give quotation marks to because it is really not much more than a glorified walk in closet.
It is amazingly well-stocked though considering its tiny size, with not just wood and fire starters, but also items such as ice, bread, peanut butter, s’more fixings, chili, bug spray, drinks (no alcohol), and basic camping equipment like tent pegs among lots of other things. Takes cash or credit card.
There are vending machines too by the campground store, in case you have a Snickers craving in the middle of the night.
The ice cream vending machine is a perennial kid favorite. Our kids love watching its mechanical arm pick their treat out of the cooler. Dessert and entertainment!
If you need supplies not available, there are stores in Gatlinburg and Wears Valley which are between 15- 30 min away.
Can You See The Synchronous Fireflies At Elkmont?
For the last 2 weeks in May and the first 2 weeks in June, people come from all over the world to see the synchronous fireflies at Elkmont. There is an official 8 day long festival during the peak of the mating season when trolleys bring loads of people to witness this spectacular event.
Even outside of the official festival times, people drive themselves to the Little River and Jakes Creek trailheads to see the fireflies.
I like to get camping reservations during this time, so I can walk from the campground to see the fireflies rather than take the trolley to Jake’s Creek Trail.
That being said, however, know that it can be surprisingly busy during this time even late into the night with lots of car traffic on Little River Road which can be a nuisance for campers fronting that road.
General Elkmont Campground Info
What Each Campsite At Elkmont Campground Has
Each campsite has a fire ring, picnic table, and tent pad. Most have a lantern post of some kind although I would not count on hanging anything heavy from some of them. The fire rings usually have a grill attached.
You can put up hammocks as long as you stay within your campsite and don’t drill anything into the tree. Hammock camping is fairly popular at Elkmont.
Tent pads are 16 X 16 and you can usually fit 2 medium-sized tents on it. I can fit my 3+ person Mountain Hard Wear tent and a 2 person North Face no trouble but can’t do two, 4 person Coleman tents on one tent pad.
Tents must be pitched on the pad. This kinda depends on the rangers on duty as people definitely violate this rule all the time, but I have seen a ranger get upset about 2 massive tents in one campsite because one was nowhere near the tent pad.
If you want to bring 2 large tents, then make it easier on yourself and reserve 2 campsites.
The recreation.gov website for Elkmont has decent descriptions of each campsite. If it says “RV/motorhome,” then there is room to park the big guys; if it says “RV”, then that usually means a smaller RV or pop-up is fine; and “Tent Only” is pretty self- explanatory.
I included a sample from the website below so you can see what I mean by the specific campsite descriptions.
What Each Campsite At Elkmont Campground Doesn’t Have
There aren’t bear lockers at each campsite as you are expected to use your car. There is a food locker for motorcyclists to use at the ranger station.
There are no charcoal grills, only fire pits with grates.
Once more for the people in the back- There are no electric/water/sewer hookups at any campsite in any of the campgrounds in the Smokies so leave the electric kettle, coffee maker, phone charger at home.
RVs should stop at Sugarlands before checking into their site to dump and to stock up on water. This is one of the big complaints on TripAdvisor, so I thought I would keep mentioning it so people aren’t surprised when they get to the campground.
Which Campsites In Elkmont Campground Are The Best?
The River Front Sites Should Be Your First Choice
Any campsite along the Little River is hands down our favorite at Elkmont.
Our favorite campsites in Elkmont are the ones along the Little River because not only are they scenic, you get to sleep listening to the sounds of the rushing water (it is actually pretty loud).
But these sites tend to book up immediately after opening up for reservations (6 months in advance of the day you are looking to reserve) so good luck.
Or go in the shoulder months of April and November.
All of the river sites tend to be really close to each other, but luckily the river is pretty loud, especially in spring, so can dampen noisy neighbors.
The riverfront “walk in” sites B2, B3, and B4 are grouped right next to each other and a little away from everyone else, so get some friends and get these if you can.
They are close to the vehicle bridge but their proximity to the river outweighs that for me.
The river sites in G and H loops (on the west side of the campground) can get some road noise from the Little River Road across the river from the campsites.
The road leads not just to the campground but also to the trailheads for the popular Little River Trail and Jakes Creek Trail, so you can have lots of people during the day plus a surprising amount of early morning hikers.
But these G and H loop riverfront campsites also tend to have great access to the river whereas some of the ones on the K, L, M, and N loops can have steep drops down to the river. So if you have an opportunity for one, go for it.
M4 and M6 in the background. The river is about 10 ft beyond the edge of the tent pad. -
Riverfront Campsite L 14. This is a wonderful site as there aren’t immediate neighbors. 
“Walk to” campsites B2 and B3. They are quite close together -
Riverfront campsite B7. As you can see, it is close to its neighbors but worth it
A-F Loops (East Side) Versus G-N Loops (West Side) At Elkmont Campground
Definitely go for the G- N loops on the west side of the campground if you can’t get a river front site.
The west side of the campground has fewer sites than the east side (by about 20), and the sites are a little more spread out (emphasis on “a little”).
By far the biggest plus of the west side campsites is the distance from the Little River Road.
Besides just the normal amount of traffic for a campground of this size, you also get people heading to the popular trailheads of Little River and Jakes Creek trails so you get road noise from that too.
A and B loops are the worst for road noise because they are by the entrance to the campground so get everyone exiting and entering plus the road noise from the adjacent Little River Road.
Campers come back surprisingly late, usually from a day out in nearby Gatlinburg, so road noise can last into the night.
Since the west side of the campground, especially the south end (J- N loops), will only have traffic for people staying in this part of the campground, it is quieter and you have a lot less headlights spotlighting your tent, which can really ruin a trip for me.
L Loop Sites Are Some Of The Best
Almost all of the campsites on the outside of the loops of the west side are pretty good, but L1 is a fantastic site that is my favorite non-riverfront site.
This section of the L loop (containing sites L1- L6) is located on a little rise and is slightly separated from the rest of the campground so it tends to be quieter.
L2 is another of my favorites as it has a ton of privacy even though it doesn’t look like it on the map. This site has a steep driveway so is tent only.
L2 looks down on the K and L loops below which is nice and the driveway blocks the road so no headlights in your face. L4 and L5 are nice too, especially good if you need 2 together as they are pretty close to each other.
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Campsite L1- one of my favorites -
Looking over J and K loops from campsite L2 -
A close up of campsite L2, one of my new favorite camp sites at Elkmont -
Campsite L2- you can see how the slope of the driveway makes it unsuitable for RVs and trailers
J-N Loops Have Some Of The Quietest Sites
Campsites N2 and N3 at the far end of the N loop on the west side might look like they would have a lot of privacy but there is a cut through trail that leads to the Jakes Creek and Little River trailheads next to these 2 sites so they aren’t as quiet as you might think.
Most people from the G-N loops use this trail to get to these trailheads. N2 and N3 are still nice campsites that I would stay in but just be prepared for early morning hikers.
In general, I like the south end of the west side of Elkmont best- I think it is the quietest and the campsites are the biggest.
So look for available sites in the J, K, L, M, and N loops, especially if it is on the outer edge of those loops.
Campsites To Avoid At Elkmont
A and B loops are my least favorite
The campsites near the entrance to Elkmont get a lot of traffic as everybody from 200 campsites is entering/exiting. I am always amazed how late people return to this campground.
I guess the close proximity to the attractions in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are to blame. The inner sites of Loop A are the worst for this.
Some of the “walk in” sites of B loop (sites B21-36) back up to the Little River Road which can be busy even into the night, especially in early June when people come to watch the fireflies on the Little River and Jakes Creek Trails.
B21, B22, B23, B24 are the best of the bunch here for shade and privacy, and I would skip all of the other B sites.
Overall, the B sites are small and offer little privacy. I would take about any site on the western side of the campground over A or B loop campsites if I had a choice (excepting the river front campsites).
Group Campsites at Elkmont Campground
There are 4 group campsites for parties larger than 6 people (the max that can stay on one regular campsite). One group campsite holds 15 people, two hold 20 people, and one can sleep 30.
You need a minimum of 7 people to use any of the group sites.
The 4 group sites are all grouped together (ha!) on the west side of the campground just over the bridge from the ranger station and are right by the amphitheater.
The group campsites are maybe one of my best kept secrets for Elkmont, and we often try to reserve these if we have at least 7 people, not hard to do in our large family that all live in the area.
GP 04 is my favorite, because it sits on one side of the group loop by itself. It has 2 tent areas on opposite sides of the picnic tables and tons of room. The only drawback to this site is it requires some stairs from the parking area which can be annoying for carrying coolers back and forth.
GP 03 is also good although smaller than GP 04 and a little closer to the other 2 group sites.
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GP 03 was also a nice group campsite -
GP 04 is a great group campsite in Elkmont
Elkmont Campground Rules You Should Know
1. Food safety is strictly enforced— No food or even water can be left at campsite or in tents when not actively cooking or eating.
The rangers and the campground host do patrol around during the day and will write you up or even confiscate stuff if you are particularly egregious.
Even non-food items like candles and scented soaps count, because bears think they smell super interesting and are curious to know if they are, in fact, food. Don’t be the reason why a bear has to get euthanized.
*Food safety has become a real problem in recent years, including in 2022 when a bear attacked people that had food in their tent at Elkmont. Unless you are making it or eating it, food should be in your car or an actual, certified bear proof container.
Coolers do not count as bear proof containers, and if you don’t believe me, get the rangers to show you their collection of bear destroyed coolers. They look like my dog’s chew toys.
2. Wood needs to be certified heat treated. You can buy it at the campground store, as well as kindling sticks. Most stores in the nearby towns of Gatlinburg, Townsend, and Wears Valley will also sell the correct wood and probably a little cheaper.
You can collect sticks and any branches, logs, etc on the ground at your campsite, but I would absolutely not count on this as Elkmont is a busy campground and the ground is usually picked clean.
3. Quiet hours are from 10 pm- 6 am, and no generators between 8 pm and 8 am.
4. Check out time is 12 pm and you can check in after 1 pm. Check in is at the ranger station as you enter the campground. The campground gates do not lock at night. Please be really considerate if you arrive after 10 pm and try to set up camp. This is my biggest pet peeve of frontcountry camping.
5. Pets are allowed at Elkmont but must be on a physical, max 6 foot leash at all times. They are allowed anywhere cars can go so basically you can go all around the campground with your dog.
No animals area allowed on the trails themselves. And you can’t leave your pet unattended so don’t stash it in your RV while you go for a hike. This is the rule for all campgrounds in the Smokies.
*Please, please, please don’t take your dog hiking on trails in the Smokies. I see this more and more and it is a terrible idea for lots of reasons, all covered on this page on the Smokies NPS website.
6. You can drink alcohol at your campsite. Provided you are 21 years old and not being a nuisance (that means no keg stands), go ahead and crack open that craft beer by the campfire.
7. Kids must wear helmets on bikes. Bikes are an extremely common way to get around this super large campground so drive slowly and keep in mind kids under 16 must wear a helmet per TN law. No scooters or skateboards though.
Elkmont Campground Weather
What type of weather should we expect at Elkmont?
Check NOAA’s website for a detailed weather forecast before you go so you have an idea of what’s coming and then check the daily weather forecasts on the bulletin board outside the Ranger Station while you are at Elkmont and have absolutely zero cell service.
The climate in this part of the Smokies is not that different from most of East Tennessee, mostly because Elkmont is not at a particularly high elevation (only 2150 feet).
That means it is often 5 -10 degrees cooler than in Knoxville for instance, but it is still hot during the middle of the day in the summer months when the sun is directly overhead.
It gets very chilly at night in the spring and fall, and a freak April snowfall isn’t unheard of so bring bring a warm sleeping bag for camping in spring or fall.
Most importantly, please keep in mind that the Smokies is a temperate rain forest and gets as much rain as the Pacific Northwest.
Basically, expect it to rain at least 1 out 3 days of your trip. Short but powerful afternoon thunderstorms in the summer are very common.
To be safe, carry a rain jacket with you in your backpack at all times and don’t leave your rainfly off your tent if you leave the campground for a few hours even if it’s completely sunny with 0% chain of rain in the forecast. That will end badly (personal experience talking here).
My Personal Tips For Camping At Elkmont
Bring soap and toilet paper.
The restrooms never have soap unless somebody spreads some campground magic by leaving a dispenser for everyone to share. You could be that person! Toilet paper is usually okay but I would bring a roll just in case.
Bring headlamps and a jacket even in summer.
Almost every campsite is well-shaded from the trees and the surrounding mountains which is nice in the summer and means it gets cold fast in the evening in the fall/ spring.
It also means it gets dark before sunset. You need headlamps. Go for the newer lights with the red light option as it really saves your night vision and is way less annoying for your tent mates and campsite neighbours on that late night bathroom run.
We have switched all of our headlamps to the red kind now and it was absolutely worth it. This is the kind we like.
Bug spray is necessary.
Elkmont gets buggy, so bring bug spray and citronella candles May- Sept. But I am a bug magnet and always suffer from mosquitoes. Others say it isn’t bad at all, but I would still err on the side of having deterrents.
Bring bathing suits, water shoes, and towels in the summer for the river.
The Little River is super cold, even in the summer, so rock hopping and wading are popular, but the kids will want towels as soon as they get out. (It is too cold for me at any time of year, but the kids like it!)
I would bring real water shoes too as the river is rocky and not fun on bare feet. The river is often also moving fast and flip flops easily get swept away.
The best “beachy” area is next to the vehicle bridge leading from the ranger station to the west side of the campground (loops G- N and group sites).
How To Reserve A Campsite At Elkmont Campground in the Smokies
Go to recreation.gov website for Elkmont- https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232487
Elkmont has one of the more thorough recreation.gov websites. When you click on a specific campsite, you will find multiple pictures and the boxes at the top will tell you max length of RV/motorhome that can be parked at that site or if it is for tent only.
Scroll all the way down and at the bottom of the “Need To Know” section, and it will tell you about any restrictions or specifics for that individual site as well as the campground in general.
The Elkmont season is generally spring to late fall (March/ April thru Oct/ Nov) and you can reserve sites 6 months in advance.
Planning A Family Vacation To The Smokies? See Our Local’s Guide To The Smokies
If you want more info about the Tennessee side of the Smokies and especially about our favorite family-friendly trails, check out our Great Smoky Mountains National Park Guidebook available on Amazon.
It lists recommended lodging options if you are not camping as well as activities and restaurants in nearby Townsend, TN.
We give you a detailed, 5 day itinerary that hits the highlights of the park while missing the crowds and introduces you to the Smokies we know and love as locals.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park with Kids: A Local’s Guide– Buy on Amazon
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Check out our Smokies page to see all of our favorite places in the park we love so much – best hikes, favorite campgrounds, biking Cades Cove, lodging, and more.
