Drive toward Cades Cove for about 7 miles until you see a sign for Elkmont Campground. GP 03 was also a nice group campsite in Elkmont although you can see GP 02 behind it so not quite as private as GP 04. The logging railway contributed to turning the town into a top vacation destination! Do not bring your own firewood to Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Gatlinburg, Trailheads for Little River Trail, Jakes Creek Trail, and Elkmont Nature Trail are located adjacent to the campground. Unless you are making it or eating it, food should be in your car or an actual, certified bear proof container. One of the most popular trails in the park due to its convenient location near Gatlinburg and the picturesque, 80 ft falls, I never hike this trail any more because it is usually a zoo. Use this locals years of experience at gorgeous Cades Cove to find out everything you need to know about camping at Cades Cove Campground. Elkmont Ghost Town isnt hard to find! After that many of the cabins fell into disrepair. You have successfully signed up for the monthly newsletter. The Little River to Cucumber Gap to Jakes Creek back to Elkmont is a popular 5.6 mile loop trail for longer day hikes without too much elevation change (830 ft). For older kids, it is super fun to walk through in the evening because it does definitely feel like a ghost town.. What was once a booming logging camp and resort town for wealthy vacationers slowly became a ghost town. These are great if you are trying to cook while seated in a wheelchair, but they suck for campfires because the fire is at the bottom of the metal canister. The exact season changes from year to year so check the website. The NPS website has more info about fishing in the park. However, no pets are allowed on the hiking trails, other than horses, and you cannot leave them unattended at your campsite. November 18, 2022 Amanda Luhn All the Tips And Hacks To Make Your Camping Trip To Elkmont A Success This blog was originally published in Aug 2020 but was updated and republished in Nov 2022 with new pictures and information. These are hands down our favorite campsites at Elkmont. If you are an est person, ie like to do the highest, longest, fastest, etc, then check out the SkyBridge at SkyLift Park as it is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America. more information on current conditions Great Smoky Mountains National Park Frontcountry Camping, Cades Cove (at Cades Cove Campground Store). 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). Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open 365 days a year. But you can drive to Gatlinburg (20 min away without traffic) and usually get a good signal, especially if you have Verizon. G1 and G2 appear to be along the river if you look at the campground map, but they are not. You can also hike the Jakes Creek and Little River trails past stone walls and chimneys, which mark the former locations of cabins that once stood in Elkmont. A Tennessee or North Carolina fishing license is required to fish in the park. See our full disclosure policy to find out why we dont accept freebies or sponsored visits and what our affiliate links mean for you cost-wise (hint- nothing). They may or may not have hand dryers or paper towels, so bring your own hand towels with you. Turn a right at Sugarlands Visitor Center. Thank you for helping us protect our resources for future generations by, Parking it Forward!. Reservations which exceed the 14 consecutive day limit may be cancelled and refunded. No generators are allowed in Loops A, B, L, M, and N. A few sites are located along the Little River and a smaller creek that runs through the middle of the campground. 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. Front country campers parked at their designated campsite will not be required to have a parking tag. We enjoyed a leisurely drive back to Elkmont where we made pancakes and enjoyed a lazy morning around the campsite because, hey, we already accomplished something that day! The Middle Prong Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of our favorite hikes in the winter. except for the restored Spence Cabin on the Little River Trail. 4.5 miles. For more information on camping in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, see the National Park ServicesFrontcountry Campingweb page. (1,559) No Service Reservation Rules Located eight miles from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Elkmont Campground is the largest and busiest campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Quiet hours are from 10:00 PM-6:00 AM. No matter the season, the Middle Prong Trail is an easy and pleasant hike in the Smokies. Potable water is available at spigots near each restroom; use of hoses is not allowed. The only drawback to this site is it is up some stairs from the parking area which can be annoying for carrying coolers back and forth. Riverside campsites cost a couple bucks more than the other sites. The restored Spence Cabin can now be rented out for events. Definitely not for strollers but fine for toddlers due to its short length and minimal elevation gain. The logging train brought tourists and vacationers to the station in Elkmont which was a decent sized town back in the hey day of logging. Best pictures I have ever gotten from Clingmans. Passes are $5 for the day, $15 for the week, and $40 for a year. I would bring real water shoes too as the river is rocky and not fun on bare feet. The park service decided not to restore these and they have crumbled. Even outside of the official festival, people drive themselves to the Little River and Jakes Creek trailheads to see the fireflies so it can be surprisingly busy even late into the night on the Little River Road during these times. Campsite D1 on the Little River at Elkmont Campground, Campsite D6 on the Little River at Elkmont Campground. Daily and weekly parking tags are available on Recreation.gov, or you may purchase them at the park. Our Family's Top 10 Favorite Activities When We Camp At Elkmont HIKING, BIKING, SWIMMING, HISTORY, VISITING A GHOST TOWN Elkmont Campground does NOT have electric, water, or sewer hook-ups. A limited selection of groceries, camping supplies, visitor convenience items, and food and beverage service are available in the park. You dont actually need to pay for a parking pass for your campsite but you will if you want to take your car anywhere else in the park. There are a couple of different sections in the Elkmont Historic District: Wonderland Hotel- near the entrance to Elkmont campground. 2. Walker Sisters Cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains. Pets are allowed on a leash no longer than six feet. Tennessee state law requires bicycle helmets for riders under 16 years of age. At an elevation of 2,150 feet, the area enjoys a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. In the past the historical district of Elkmont was a pioneer community, a Elkmont Campground has 200 tent / RV campsites with paved driveways, gravel tent pads, fire rings, and picnic tables. Return to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Frontcountry Camping page. This is campsite F12. 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. If you show up without a reservation when the Elkmont Campground Office is open, not only can you get a campsite for that nightif any are availableyou can also book one for the remainder of your stay (again, assuming any are available). 7. There were port-a-potties which were serviced almost daily while we were there and the water fountains and spigots outside the restroom buildings were still operational. This is campsite K8. You can have as many tents as you can fit on the pad, though realistically that means two tents in most cases. Elkmont has one of the more thorough recreation.gov websites. Most have been restored by the park service in recent years. This is the kind we like. Hammocks are permitted but must be hung in the footprint of the reserved campsite,. Sites that look like they are close to the parking area may be nowhere near it. November 23, 2022 Amanda Luhn Rock hopping in Jakes Creek which runs through Elkmont Campground, as does the Little River. You cannot get a generator waiver anymore, so if you need electricity overnight for a medical device, you need to reserve one of these sites. They are quite close together so get a group and reserve both. GP 04 is a great group campsite in Elkmont that is large and away from the other sites. Quiet hours are from 10 pm- 6 am and no generators between 8 pm and 8 am. "Elkmont will shine tonight, Elmont will shine." The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 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. Hammocks are allowed in the campground with the following guidelines: Must be over the footprint of the campsite, limited to trees 10 inches in diameter with adequate padding around the tree and only 2 hammocks are allowed to be suspended from the same tree. In my head, I break it up into the east and west sides of the campground as it is split by the river. Historic remnants of Little River Lumber Company's logging camp and old buildings from the Elkmont resort community offer campers a glimpse of life at Elkmont nearly a century ago. You can drive to Little Greenbrier School when the Wear Cove Gap Rd is open; from Metcalf Bottoms, you cross the wooden bridge over the river and drive about 0.5 miles until you see a gravel road on your right and a sign for Little Greenbrier School. The Elkmont Campground is not gated, so you can check in after hours. For campground inquiries, please call: 865-430-5560 FOR RESERVATIONS CALL 1-877-444-6777, Learn more about gear rental options for your trip. By the time we left at 9am, the parking lot was filling up and the crowds were starting up the trail. With 200 sites, the campground is easily the largest and busiest campground in the park. *Pro Tip- Wear real shoes when exploring. For good info on trails not mentioned on the NPS website, you will need to depend on crowd sourced sites like All Trails. The nearest RV dump/fill station is located across from Sugarlands Visitor Center approximately 6 miles from Elkmont. The campground is open from early April through the end of October. Special regulations apply in the park. We have details, tips, and hacks to help you hike this spectacular trail, one of the most popular and iconic hikes in the Smokies. The current campsite fees range from $25 to $27/night. Besides the 20 walk in campsites at Elkmont, there are additional campsites scattered throughout the campground that are also restricted to tent only use. Site B12, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site H05, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A10, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B05, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site L04, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site J11, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G19, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A12, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A17, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G21, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G14, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site C03, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B08, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site J02, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site J09, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site K10, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G16, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B18, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site N03, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site G13, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E05, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site K08, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B13, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B14, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site H03, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G12, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site J14, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site N02, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site G03, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site K01, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site F13, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site H01, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A15, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E02, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D14, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D09, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site F10, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B07, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B27, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site A11, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site G15, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B01, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site L08, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D06, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site C01, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A06, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G18, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site K03, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D02, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A23, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B32, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site G04, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site L14, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site C06, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B29, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site C07, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E08, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site H07, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site J01, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G05, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site B06, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A20, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B15, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A16, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site J10, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site L09, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E15, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site N06, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site F07, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site B20, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site F09, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site K02, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D08, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site A08, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site H13, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B35, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site F12, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site B26, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site G10, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A07, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site J06, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E16, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B36, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site A26, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site F08, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site J13, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site J12, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B11, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site C09, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B33, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site G20, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G17, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site G06, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B17, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site C08, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G24, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site K12, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site L13, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site L03, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site L01, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site F06, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site M02, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site F01, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E14, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G25, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G07, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B24, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site G09, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G22, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A28, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A03, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site K16, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site H09, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site M05, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site A24, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B19, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site L11, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site C02, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A05, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site G11, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B02, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site D01, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site H02, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E13, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site M06, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site H08, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B04, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site K04, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G01, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site K11, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B22, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site J04, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site F05, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site N07, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site J15, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D13, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site K15, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D03, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site N05, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site L06, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site A25, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D12, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site L05, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A04, Loop Generator Free , Type Standard Nonelectric, Site K09, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site H12, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D05, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G26, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site C05, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site H11, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site J05, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E10, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B34, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site A09, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site B30, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site K07, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site C10, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site M03, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B09, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D11, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A21, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E01, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site J07, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site C12, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A22, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E11, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site F11, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site L15, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site M01, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E07, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site G08, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site J16, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site N01, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site E04, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B25, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site E12, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site H04, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E09, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site L02, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site B21, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site A19, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site H10, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D10, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site L10, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site K06, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site J08, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B03, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site A27, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A13, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A14, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site K13, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site K05, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site L07, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B31, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site L12, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site J03, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site F03, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site K14, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G02, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E17, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D04, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site N04, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site F04, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E06, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B23, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site C04, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B10, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G23, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B16, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E03, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D07, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric.