Bundles of certified heat-treated firewood are available for sale in the communities surrounding the national park. The following campgrounds have on-site firewood sales: Park campgrounds are not gated. more. These are our familys top 10 favorite activities when we camp at Elkmont. 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. It is the tan route in their color-coded scheme. Short walk to the clean bathrooms. Both are great options with Ranger Programs and good accessibility to trails. Elkmont Campground is one of our personal go-to campgrounds in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park because of the great hiking trails you can walk to from your campsite, the picturesque Little River running through the campground, and decently large campsites (if you know which ones to go for). There are many, many more hikes but we have narrowed down our recommended hikes for kid-pleasing, shorter, easier walks in the woods! Even in June this water was super cold. NUMBER OF SITES 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). There isnt a dump/fill station here. The 2023 RV show season is already underway, which means its time to start planning what shows y Start the Year Off on the Right Foot With a First Day Hike. (If coming from Pigeon Forge, take the Bypass into the park.) Please be really considerate if you arrive after 10 pm and try to set up camp. The Elkmont Historic District is a fun place to let the kids explore but be careful as one of ours caught a piece of glass in her Chacos and cut her foot a few years ago. Thank you for helping us protect our resources for future generations by, Parking it Forward!. Two of the largest campgrounds are found in the Tennessee side of the national park: Elkmont Campground and Cades Cove Campground. Get directions, find nearby businesses and places, and much more. Hiking, swimming, biking, fishing, history there is even a ghost town on site to explore. Elkmont Campground store hours listed as 3pm to 8pm daily. Campsites are available during the off-season on a first come, first served basis at reduced rates. Tents must be pitched on the pad. Image from Google search of historical weather for nearby Wears Valley, TN. Agent. Our favorite campsites in Elkmont are the ones along the Little River. I would bring real water shoes too as the river is rocky and not fun on bare feet. Ive attached a map of where it is. 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. . You can go inside and even upstairs and see how these remarkable women lived. I asked her if it was frozen spiritual water. C2, and others in that area are really nice. Elkmont Campground Rd. TN Beautiful and serene. Then you have to circle the parking lot up there for an hour or more until a parking spot opens up. Being in the foothills at only 2,200 feet in elevation, cold weather and snow are not factors in keeping the place running during the winter. The exact season changes from year to year so check the website. This is the rule for all campgrounds in the Smokies. Explore the most visited national park in the country. Aim for an 8am arrival at the trailhead at the very latest. There was a nice stream directly behind us. A sign informs visitors about restoration efforts in Elkmont (photo by James Overholt/TheSmokies.com) Elkmont ghost stories: Is Elkmont haunted? Our site was nice and level and felt private as we were the only ones on our little road. Hiking right from the Campground, Little River Trail goes as far as you want. Elkmont has had trouble getting a regular vendor to run the store since the long-time concessionaire retired at the end of 2020. See our blog about this hike for more pictures and info about the fascinating history of these two places- You Go Sister! Daisy Town is by far the most preserved and complete part of Elkmonts Historic District. With its brilliant fall color display and the diminishing crowds from summer, now is the perfect time to check out this beautiful town. Dont be the reason why a bear has to get euthanized. 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. WANTED! Itt nincs szemttelep. So cute. There is no RV dump/fill station at Elkmont campground. 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. Make reservations online during summer or fall or call 877-444-6777, toll free. as well as all water containers, MUST be stored. 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. Ours was not. Ice and snowfall are probable, especially in the higher elevations. *A couple of notes from the past 2 years: The ice cream vending machine has been out of order in summer 2020, much to the dismay of kids who love watching its mechanical arm pick their treat out of the cooler. There is a food locker for motorcyclists to use at the ranger station. The Clingmans Dome road closure lasts from December 1 through March 31. An awesome place to stretch your legs for a long or short while, whatever you feel like. As it was off season, it was mostly empty. In addition to its many popular hiking trails, Elkmont is a great place for all ages to just walk around and explore. You have successfully signed up for the monthly newsletter. The nearest RV dump/fill station is located across from Sugarlands Visitor Center approximately 6 miles from Elkmont. 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. There are no FCFS sites (first come- first served). This may result in a forfeit of your reservation. This is my biggest pet peeve of frontcountry camping. After a 55 minute car drive, blessedly traffic free, we arrived at Clingmans Dome and were able to hike the trail and enjoy the viewing platform with about 5 other early birds. Or you can just spend the day floating on the Little River! Many hikers think trekking through snow will be the most difficult part of a winter hike, but what is more dangerous is ice. For campground inquiries, please call: 865-430-5560 FOR RESERVATIONS CALL 1-877-444-6777, Learn more about gear rental options for your trip. From Gatlinburg,TN: Take Newfound Gap Road (aka U.S. 441) South into the Park. Elkmont is a large campground with 220 sites on either side of the Little River. The problem has been fixed for 2022 but it is possible more repairs in the future may happen (it is super old okay, give it a break). Most people from the G- N loops use this trail to get to these trailheads. I repeat- There is no electricity/ water/ sewer hookups at any campsite in Elkmont. Elkmont Campground is located just 8 miles from Gatlinburg inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can make a reservation for the Elkmont campground online at Recreation.gov. Let us know. It also means it gets dark before sunset. This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com, First, be prepared. By far the biggest plus of the west side campsites though, is the distance from the Little River Road. One of the sites is tent only, one is for a large RV/ motorhome, and one is for a smaller RV. more. When can you make reservations for Elkmont Campground? So it fills up fast. Bug spray is necessary. There are a couple of different sections in the Elkmont Historic District: Wonderland Hotel- near the entrance to Elkmont campground. While GPS directions may route you to Elkmont via Line Springs Road and Metcalf Bottoms Picnic area, RVs and towed trailers are NOT allowed over the bridge at Metcalf Bottoms due to a narrow bridge with weight and length restrictions. as well as all water containers, MUST be stored. 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. August 2, 2022by Hugo Warren Elkmont Campground does NOT have electric, water, or sewer hook-ups. Hopefully, that is the case moving forward. Although you could easily spend a week here, we think this one day plan captures the spirit and beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The National Park Service website for the Smokies is the place to start. Living just 30 minutes from the entrance to the Smokies, we are often asked about a one day itinerary for friends and family visiting the park. Spence Cabin near the Elmont Campground is a great place to rent for small family gatherings, reunions, and other celebrations. It appeared to be good for all of 2022. The climate in this part of the Smokies is not that different than the surrounding area, mostly because Elkmont is not at a particularly high elevation (only 2150 feet). (It is too cold for me at any time of year but the kids like it.) Skateboards, scooters, and roller blades are prohibited in the campground. A and B loops are the worst for this 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. Elkmont is strictly an overnight campground; there are no day-use facilities. Most stores in the nearby towns of Gatlinburg, Townsend, and Wears Valley will also sell the correct wood and probably a little cheaper. In my head, I break it up into the east and west sides of the campground as it is split by the river. Sites along Little River are in particularly high demand. It is open from mid-March to late November each year. on the west side of the campground just over the bridge from the ranger station and are right by the ampitheater. The restored Spence Cabin can now be rented out for events. Or you can park at the picnic area at Metcalf Bottoms and walk the 0.7 mile long Metcalf Bottoms Trail to Little Grienbrier School. Temperatures usually range from the mid-40s to the high-20s. Generator use is restricted to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Generators may not be left running unattended. I would guess that when it is full, it wouldn't feel so private. This is one of the big complaints on TripAdvisor so I thought I would keep mentioning it so people arent surprised when they get to the campground. As we were the only ones on our Little road mostly empty beautiful.. Not gated on the west side of the campground as it is too cold for me at time! Crowds from summer, now is the opinion of a winter hike, what! Was off season, it would n't feel so private you for helping us protect our resources for future by... The very latest only ones on our Little road and snowfall are probable, in. All ages to just walk around and explore to check out this beautiful town so! Reservation for the monthly newsletter about gear rental options for your trip biggest pet peeve of frontcountry.... With ranger Programs and good accessibility to trails by, parking it Forward! future. 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