Has good general information on the park and decent campground and picnic area info, but does not have a comprehensive list of trails. Ice and snowfall are probable, especially in the higher elevations. Does It Have Electricity/ Water/ Sewer Hookups? 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. Dump station at Sugarlands Visitor Center; open seasonally. O Townsend, TN is a great basecamp to explore the Smokies. Check Elkmont Baptist Church reviews, nearby Elkmont, United States of America on Maps.me - offline maps for Google android and Apple Iphone and ipad Pets are allowed at Elkmont but must be on a physical, max 6 foot leash at all times. One of the sites is tent only, one is for a large RV/ motorhome, and one is for a smaller RV. Looking over J and K loops from campsite L2. After that many of the cabins fell into disrepair. I asked her if it was frozen spiritual water. Unfortunately, we could not enjoy the area because it rained, and snowed both days Use this locals years of experience at gorgeous Cades Cove to find out everything you need to know about camping at Cades Cove Campground. Enjoy lots of winter activities and snow-covered magical views, especially when visiting the Great Smoky Mountains in December, January, and February. The following campgrounds have on-site firewood sales: Park campgrounds are not gated. This is due to features of that specific campsite, such as steep or short drive ways. What are the Smoky Mountains like in January? GP 04 is my favorite because it sits on one side of the group loop by itself. As it was off season, it was mostly empty. Front country campers parked at their designated campsite will not be required to have a parking tag. Our site was nice and level and felt private as we were the only ones on our little road. as well as all water containers, MUST be stored. Elkmont Campground is located just 8 miles from Gatlinburg inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You Go Sister! If you walk a little ways up Jakes Creek trail and the Little River trail, you can find the remnants of these vacation cabins that were dismantled by the park in recent years. All of these sites are located near accessible restrooms. Elkmont Campground is the largest campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you have forgotten your assigned site, check the Arrival List posted on the bulletin board at the kiosk for your name and site number. From Cherokee, NC: Take Tsali Boulevard (US 441) past the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. So before you schedule your visit, it is a good idea to check the local Elkmont Campground weather to see if you need to bring your rain gear. For older kids, it is super fun to walk through in the evening because it does definitely feel like a ghost town.. This is an extremely popular campground and is almost always completely booked. Table of Contentsshow *Pro Tip- Wear real shoes when exploring. So there is still some demolition debris around. You can easily drive to Gatlinburg in under 30 minutes from Elkmont but expect to pay about $20 for parking. Don't buy it at Marathon outside of park. My Familys Favorite Historic Site In The Smokies, Everything You Wanted To Know About Elkmont Campground In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/upload/Elkmont.pdf, Energizer Rechargeable LED Headlamp, IPX4 Water Resistant, High-Powered Bright LED, Multiple Light Modes, Best Headlight for Camping, Running, Outdoors, Emergency Light, USB Included, Black, Great Smoky Mountains National Park with Kids: A Local's Guide, 10 Fun Things To Do At Elkmont Campground In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Your Guide To Biking Cades Cove in the Smokies, What You Need To Know About The Townsend Historical Trail, A Greenway Just Outside The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cades Cove Campground In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Hiking Alum Cave Trail To Mount LeConte With Kids- Family Hikes In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Where To Stay In Townsend- The Gateway to the Smokies, Favorite Hikes With Kids In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, A Simply Awesome Day in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Which Campground to Choose in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park? 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. 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. No cell reception!! Nor is there WiFi anywhere at the campground. Society Hill was what the cabins around Jakes Creek were called and Millionaires Row referred to the cabins around the Little River. new adventures through a one-stop shop for inspiration and ideation, trip planning, information sharing, Our site was level and well-maintained. The Elkmont Historic District is a collection of preserved and not so preserved cabins leftover from Elkmonts early days in the early 1900s as a logging town and a resort for well- heeled Knoxvillians. No phone sig This is an awesome hike with kids because it takes you from Little Greenbrier School to the Walker Sisters Cabin. And you cant leave your pet unattended so dont stash it in your RV while you go for a hike. M4 and M6 in the background. Generations of campers have returned to Elkmont year after year, drawn by the sounds of the river, the tranquility of the forest, and the variety of recreational activities in the Elkmont area. We also stayed in J12 which is right on the river, but a little further away, which means 10' farther to carry your chairs. We absolutely respect your privacy and do not share email addresses. This monster is about the max you can fit on a tent pad. Camping at Elkmont Campground is on a reservation basis. Visitors with campground reservations that only plan to park at their designated campsite do not need a parking tag. Elkmont Campground, Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Recreation.gov Park it Forward: Beginning March 1, 2023, valid parking tags will be required on any vehicles . Great Smoky Mountains National Park Archeological evidence recovered from sites in Elkmont date human use of the area to at least the Middle Archaic Period - 8000 to 5000 years before the present time. So cute. Quiet hours are in effect from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. You can make a reservation for the Elkmont campground online at Recreation.gov. Click HERE for more information on the Synchronous Fireflies Event! The road leads not just to the campground but also to the trailheads for the popular Little River Trail and Jakes Creek trails so you can have lots of people during the day plus a surprising amount of early morning hikers. The river is often also moving fast and flip flops easily get swept away. 7-year-old Georgia girl dies when tree falls on tent at Elkmont Campground, rangers say. By far the biggest plus of the west side campsites though, is the distance from the Little River Road. They are quite close together so get a group and reserve both. The only hiccup to this is that they sometimes dont release next years reservations until January or even later. And 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 that happens, which to be fair, would be absolutely fantastic and we should make that happen. The traffic was crazy! Then you have to circle the parking lot up there for an hour or more until a parking spot opens up. Campers can enjoy high-quality backcountry fishing in the cool waters of the Little River and countless other streams and rivers that snake through the mountains. We stayed here for Fall Leaves in the Smoky Mountains in our van. Unattended or improperly stored coolers, food and/or scented items may be impounded by campground staff. Most sites are very wooded, so solar collection is limited. more. 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. The park also holds one of the best collections of log buildings in the eastern United States. 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. You could be that person! East And West Sides With A River In The Middle. Somebody built their daughter a kid-sized play cabin adjacent to the familys cabin in Daisy Town. Reservations are required to camp in Elkmont Campground, which is typically open from mid-April to late November. C2, and others in that area are really nice. Hopefully, that is the case moving forward. Dispose of garbage promptly in dumpsters provided. Home Tours. That meant we had to go back into Pigeon Forge & south into the park. 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. Current office hours are 9am-5pm.During November-April the office may be open intermittently; during these months campers occupying their site must be able to provide proof of occupancy when requested by park staff., Tent pads at Elkmont measure 16 x 16 and will accommodate one large or two small tents. Drive toward Cades Cove for about 7 miles until you see a sign for Elkmont Campground. Copyright 2020 Simply Awesome Trips. C2, and others in that area are really nice. So it fills up fast. You can see whats left of some of the cabins on this trail on the right. 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. Like the Appalachian Clubhouse, the building is equipped with electricity and restrooms. These are popular trails in the park and Metcalf Bottoms is an extremely popular picnic area but you can get an early start because Elkmont Campground is only 5 miles away. Because the last trolley leaves Gatlinburg at 530pm, it is not an option if you want to go out for dinner but great if you want to head over to the Aquarium for the day or just get out of the campground on a rainy day without paying extortionate parking prices in Gatlinburg. Elkmont Campground Road A, TN 37738 For campground inquires, please call: 865-430-5560 FOR RESERVATIONS CALL 1-877-444-6777 Elkmont Campground details Campfire allowed Checkin time: 1:00 PM Checkout time: 12:00 PM Max num of people: 6 Max num of vehicles: 2 Max vehicle length: 27 Pets allowed Site rating: Standard Hike in distance to site: 80 Tent pads are 16 X 16 and you can usually fit 2 medium-sized tents on it. Camping in the Great Smokey Mountains is fairly primitive. Bryson City is a fantastic mountain town in western North Carolina that seems to fly under the radar of most visitors to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. as well as all water containers, MUST be stored. There arent 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 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 call center will complete an application for the caller and results will be mailed on May 9th. Parking Pets Allowed Restrooms Wifi Wheelchair Accessible Credit Cards Accepted Affiliation National park Check In 1:00 PM Check Out 12:00 PM Max Length 35 ft Season End Elkmont is strictly an overnight campground; there are no day-use facilities. If you need supplies not available, there are stores in Gatlinburg and Wears Valley which are between 15- 30 min away. Look out for lots of standing chimneys, educational signs, and of course the legendary troll bridge. Gatlinburg, TN 37738 865-430-5560 Reservations: 877-444-6777 Official Website GPS: 35.6598, -83.585 Add Photos View 29 Photos Overview Q&A Reviews (21) Amenities Overview of Elkmont Campground Reservations required. 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. Most have a lantern post of some kind although I would not count on hanging anything heavy from some of them. Reservation Rules Located eight miles from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Elkmont Campground is the largest and busiest campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. J-N Loops Have Some Of The Quietest Sites. The NPS set up Porta-potties.. we did not use them. Each and every year in the Smoky Mountains, for a magical few nights in June, one of the 19 species of fireflies (lightning bugs) in the park - the Photinus carolinus - synchronize their flashing pattern. We have details, tips, and hacks to help you hike this spectacular trail, one of the most popular and iconic hikes in the Smokies. In addition to its many popular hiking trails, Elkmont is a great place for all ages to just walk around and explore. Please be really considerate if you arrive after 10 pm and try to set up camp. Riverfront campsite B7. It was chilly outside, even in July. Caution: Bears and other wildlife frequent the area. With around 1,500 bears living in the park, it's not uncommon for visitors to spot one. The Elkmont Campground is a beautiful place that is located in the heart of the Smoky Mountains! A close up of campsite L2, one of my new favorites at Elkmont. Be the first to add a video for Elkmont Campground! Amenities Pet Friendly Reviews BringFido Guest Rating TripAdvisor Traveler Rating Elkmont Campground has received a rating of 4.5 out of 5 by 179 guests on TripAdvisor. That means it is 5 -10 degrees cooler than Knoxville but it is still hot during the middle of the day in the summer months when the sun is directly overhead. Elkmont Campground Rd. Campendium is an Amazon associate site and earns from qualifying purchases. My Familys Favorite Historic Site In The Smokies" . We wont beat around the bush here January is typically the coldest month of the year in the Smokies. more. Make reservations online during summer or fall or call 877-444-6777, toll free. This is a wonderful camp with some great sites along the river. Hiking in the park with pets is allowed only on roads and two trailsthe Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail. You have successfully signed up for the monthly newsletter. Bug spray is necessary. Email Us Terms of Service Privacy Policy Disclosures. The trail isnt always wonderfully maintained so be prepared to go over fallen trees. Bathhouses were nic I would guess that when it is full, it wouldn't feel so private. It has a glass bottom section at the highest point that reinforces all my instincts that people were not meant to be this high up. Ours was not. Others say it isnt bad at all but I would still err on the side of having deterrents. This is a wonderful camp with some great sites along the river. No cell signal whatsoever. All that's really left of the Wonderland Hotel are some chimneys. NUMBER OF SITES Nine of Elkmont's campsites are wheelchair accessible ADA sites. 4.5 miles. Reservations are required to camp in Elkmont Campground, which is typically open from mid-April to late November. In addition to traditional campsites, the Elkmont campground is also host to some historic buildings most frequently used for weddings. From the big animals like bears, deer, and elk, down to microscopic organisms, the Smokies are the most biologically-diverse area in the world's temperate zone. August 2, 2022by Hugo Warren Elkmont Campground does NOT have electric, water, or sewer hook-ups. He is an expert on camping gear and has helped design some of the most innovative camping products on the market. Is December good time to visit Smoky Mountains? Campsite List Seasons & Fees Rules & Cancellations What are the Smoky Mountains like in February? This campground is truly amazing. 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. By the time we left at 9am, the parking lot was filling up and the crowds were starting up the trail. Dispose of garbage promptly in dumpsters provided. Q, Get your water at the Sugarlands Visitor Center (dump station) on the way to Elkmont. The nearby and popular Laurel Falls Trail leads to a spectacular 80-ft. waterfall. GSMNP, Tenn. (WVLT) - A 7-year-old girl died early Wednesday morning after a tree fell on her tent in the Elkmont Campground, officials with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park said. An awesome place to stretch your legs for a long or short while, whatever you feel like. From Gatlinburg,TN: Take Newfound Gap Road (aka U.S. 441) South into the Park. One of my favorites is a local one called Hiking In The Smokies and it has excellent descriptions and mileage for all of the trails they have hiked in the park (and they have hiked a lot). Toward Cades Cove for about 7 miles until you see a sign for Elkmont Campground, which is typically coldest. 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