The Big Tent is what locals call the annual Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show in Arizona. Visitors with campground reservations that only plan to park at their designated campsite do not need a parking tag. What can you say about this magnificent National park? Elkmont is closed for some of the winter, and offers reduced rates during part of the winter. The kids enjoy finding each sign and reading the associated blurb. It also means it gets dark before sunset. 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. This campground is truly amazing. Quiet hours are from 10 pm- 6 am and no generators between 8 pm and 8 am. The campground is well maintained, the bathrooms were clean and the park ranger at the checkin station was very pleasant and answered all our questions. 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). Whether you are planning a trip for Christmas, winter solstice, or just as a chance to get away, the Smokies are a perfect winter wonderland. The school is another 0.5 miles up this one lane gravel road that you should drive really slow on because there are only a couple of passing spots. Bug spray is necessary. Elkmont vs. Cades Cove Campgrounds, Train Rides, Whitewater Rafting, And A Picturesque Downtown Make Bryson City A Fun Weekend Getaway, The Best Mountain Town in North Carolina You've Probably Never Visited, 3 Family Fall Getaways in the North Carolina Mountains, Our Family's Four Fun Hikes In Shenandoah National Park . Heads up- There are potential affiliate links below. Tents must be pitched on the pad. Bring headlamps and a jacket even in summer. If they park elsewhere in the park, a parking tag will be required. Beware of broken glass and other debris when exploring. We have switched all of our headlamps to the red kind now and it was absolutely worth it. Sites are nicely spaced apart, and even though we weren't on a river, there were plenty of river access spots. Sites are nicely spaced. Hopefully, that is the case moving forward. Turn a right at Sugarlands Visitor Center. Its a basic campground. It is also only 20 minutes from Gatlinburg, a kitschy mountain town loaded with family- friendly attractions. The Appalachian Club was a private club with a clubhouse and cabins for its members and its remnants are what you see today in this area. A limited selection of groceries, camping supplies, visitor convenience items, and food and beverage service are available in the park. Camping at Elkmont Campground is on a reservation basis. If you would love to see Clingmans without sacrificing your sanity, then take advantage of the relative nearness of Elkmont Campground and plan an early morning start. *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. You will find more remnants of the cabins that once stood here, leftover from a resort community at Elkmont founded in 1910. With its brilliant fall color display and the diminishing crowds from summer, now is the perfect time to check out this beautiful town. Starlink worked in our site despite the trees, but there are sites on the south end where it would have worked better. as well as all water containers, MUST be stored. I guess the close proximity to the attractions in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are to blame. Campground with huge trees, lots of space between sites, sites laid out in interesting pattern rather than parallel rows. In their early-summer mating dance, rover fireflies start their flashing around . NO. Hiking and fishing are not the only reasons for visiting the Smokies: Picnicking, wildlife viewing and auto touring are popular activities. GP 04 is my favorite because it sits on one side of the group loop by itself. The sites arent private, which didnt bother us. This campground is truly amazing. Almost all of the campsites on the outer loop of the west side are pretty good but L1 is a fantastic site that is my favorite non-riverfront site. For more solitude, try Abrams Creek on the western fringes of the park. *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. Recreation.gov! Looking over J and K loops from campsite L2. Even after the park was created, some families kept their cabin leases until 1992 when the park ceased renewing them. The trolley costs $2 and leaves about every 1.5 hours from Gatlinburg between 9 am and 530 pm June- October. and reservations. Itt nincs szemttelep. 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. Does Elkmont Campground have hookups? The campground is still open and is a popular place for visitors to come for the annual synchronous fireflies spectacle. The nearest dump station is at Sugarlands Visitor Center about 15 min away. Technically, Clingmans Dome is open year-round. . Take a left at the sign for Elkmont Nature Trail, where you . This is my biggest pet peeve of frontcountry camping. History of Elkmont The Elkmont area was first settled in the 1840s, when it was known as "Little River." 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 But you can drive to Gatlinburg (20 min away without traffic) and usually get a good signal, especially if you have Verizon. The Elkmont Campground is a beautiful place that is located in the heart of the Smoky Mountains! There was a nice stream directly behind us. You need headlamps. Elkmont Campground is an ideal basecamp to visit the wonders of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 343 . We have already rented a minivan and we are starting our tour fron Atlanta planning to stay 2 nights in GSMNP before heading. Large sections of frozen water can develop on trails, making them hazardous to cross. . There are no FCFS sites (first come- first served). Tour on your schedule. 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). Well worth the early morning rise. The little blue i at the bottom tells you about this site specifically and that it is not good for an RV. August 2, 2022by Hugo Warren Elkmont Campground does NOT have electric, water, or sewer hook-ups. The NPS website has more info about fishing in the park. View the pets webpage for details. This rule is strictly enforced. 124 Mill View Drive, Moores Mill, Madison County, AL, 35761 is currently for sale for the price of $268,500 USD. The newest attractions opening this year. This is the kind we like. The beauty of the campground makes the experience well worth it. Want a cabin with a view? All scented items (candles, soap, etc.) 2. Fun fact- I was eating at the Wonderland Hotel in 1992 watching UT lose in the final moments to South Carolina. You'll turn here until you see the ranger station about 4 miles down the road. It lists recommended lodging options if you are not camping as well as activities and restaurants in nearby Townsend, TN. Want to take a trip to the Smokies and camp in the woods but not sure what to expect? 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. Reservations required. When can you make reservations for Elkmont Campground? Do the restrooms have showers at Elkmont Campground? There are 200 tent/RV campsites, 20-walk-in sites for tents, restrooms and more. Basically, expect it to rain at least 1 out 3 days of your trip. It is a 3,000 square foot facility with electricity, an open meeting hall, roofed porch with rocking chairs, and a ballroom with ceiling fans. Over 90 historic structures, including houses, barns, outbuildings, churches, schools and grist mills have been preserved or rehabilitated in the park. I would hike the trails first and then come back to Metcalf Bottoms for a picnic while the kids splash in the river. 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. 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. Hiking In The Smokies has an excellent write-up of the trail and several loop options you can do from here back to Elkmont. The Elkmont Campground was established in the 1950s. Discover campgrounds like elkmont campground tennessee, find information like reviews, photos, number of RV and tent sites, open seasons, rates, facilities, and activities. I am always amazed how late people return to this campground. There are 4 group campsites for parties larger than 6 people (the max that can stay on one regular campsite). It is open from mid-March to late November each year. Definitely not for strollers but fine for toddlers due to its short length and minimal elevation gain. Is harvest host and Boondockers Welcome the same? There is a camp store that has ice, firewood and other things at reasonable prices. Check in is at the ranger station as you enter the campground. Elkmont Campground with No Dump Station. 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. 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 . 6. Sample of the Elkmont campsite list from the recreation.gov website. Late Spring- Late Fall Elkmont used to be open year- round but is now only open April/ May- Oct/ Nov. 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. 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. 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. Does elkmont campground have showers? It must finally be fall! It has a steep driveway so is tent only but it looks down on the K and L loops below and the driveway blocks the road so no headlights in your face. 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). Campsite K1-4, K6, K7 & K11 and also sites L1-7 . Where is the best place to set up a tent? Pets are allowed at Elkmont but must be on a physical, max 6 foot leash at all times. Dispose of garbage promptly in dumpsters provided. It is a pretty long walk between the two halves, at least 10 minutes. The National Park Service website for the Smokies is the place to start. Check NOAAs website for a detailed weather forecast before you go so you have an idea of whats coming and then check the daily weather forecasts on the bulletin board outside the Ranger Station while you are at Elkmont and have 0 cell service. Elkmont Ghost Town History. You can easily drive to Gatlinburg in under 30 minutes from Elkmont but expect to pay about $20 for parking. Campsite L2- you can see how the slope of the driveway makes it unsuitable for RVs or pop-ups. Such fabulous scenery, lots of traffic because everyone wants to enjoy it. 196 of the campsites at Elkmont were reserved last night. Campers come back surprisingly late, usually from a day out in nearby Gatlinburg, so road noise can last into the night. It usually has bathrooms with running water but since they are doing maintenance on the sewer system they had porta potties. Elkmont Campground - Great Smoky Mountains National Park 3. Campground road has large potholes, so be careful. Unlike many national parks, the only lodging option within the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is to camp in one of their campgrounds. Bathhouses were nic The river is very shallow next to sites. Our site was nice and level and felt private as we were the only ones on our little road. . Hammock camping is fairly popular at Elkmont. Dispose of garbage promptly in dumpsters provided. The walk in sites are grouped near each other- (B2, B3, and B4), (A5, A7, A9, and A11), and (B21- B36). But I am a bug magnet and always suffer from mosquitoes. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hiker's paradise, with over 800 miles of maintained trails ranging from short, leg-stretchers to strenuous treks, with a number of those trails easily accessible from Elkmont Campground. Coolers do not count as bear proof containers and if you dont believe me, get the rangers to show you their collection of bear destroyed coolers. The hot temperatures have subsided, the leaves have started to turn, the apples trees are ready for harvest, and the water cooler talk has turned to college football. Dispose of garbage promptly in dumpsters provided. Elkmont Campground is the largest campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Unattended or improperly stored coolers, food and/or scented items may be impounded by campground staff. Is December good time to visit Smoky Mountains? as well as all water containers, MUST be stored. You could be that person! I really hope not as it was a great way to get between the park and Gatlinburg. Located eight miles from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Elkmont Campground is the largest and busiest campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Campground with huge trees, lots of space between sites, sites laid out in interesting pattern rather than parallel rows. I would guess that when it is full, it wouldn't feel so private. These two historic structures have been restored and are kid favorites, especially the old schoolhouse). You can buy it at the campground store, as well as kindling sticks. Reservations are required to camp in Elkmont Campground, which is typically open from mid-April to late November. The fireflies are best viewed in late May or early June. The park service is finally starting to enforce parking regulations at Laurel Falls to prevent people from parking all over the road anymore. If you arrive after the office is CLOSED for the day then you must check-in with the campground staff the following day. Be prepared for generator noise. These are our familys top 10 favorite activities when we camp at Elkmont. Elkmont Campground Location The Elkmont campground is centrally located on the northern side of the national park between Gatlinburg and Townsend, Tennessee, just south of Wears Valley. Elkmont Campground does NOT have electric, water, or sewer hook-ups. more. Recreation.gov is your gateway to explore America's outdoor Fortunately, the good news is that you can bike or walk the loop without cars on Wednesdays from early May to late September. Bundles of certified heat-treated firewood are available for sale in the communities surrounding the national park. The Little River is a great place to fish for trout and smallmouth bass. Sites along Little River are in particularly high demand. No phone signal at sites. Little Brier Gap trail is wide, has a very slow gradual incline, and is pretty short at 1.1 miles long between the Little Greenbrier School and the Walker Sisters Cabin. 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. Reservations are required to camp in Elkmont Campground, which is typically open from mid-April to late November. Dump station at [Sugarlands Visitor Center](https://www.campendium.com/sugarlands-visitor-center-dump-station); open seasonally.\r\n\r\n\r\nAlthough most sites will accommodate tents or RVs, extreme slope or length of driveway make certain sites more suitable for tents than RVs. Wondering if your kids can handle this can't miss Smokies trail? Drive to Little Greenbrier School during the summer months when the road is open. So pack up the family and check out these 3 great fall getaways to Asheville, Brevard, and Bryson City, NC. TN I included a sample from the website below so you can see what I mean by the specific campsite descriptions. Its a basic campground. You can put up hammocks as long as you stay within your campsite and dont drill anything into the tree. All that remains of the cabins along Jakes Creek. and cultural destinations in your zip code and across the country. Front country campers parked at their designated campsite will not be required to have a parking tag. Metcalf Bottoms is an excellent picnic area and has a trailhead to one of our favorite trails in the park, Little Brier Gap trail. Camping supplies (camp store) Camping food (camp store) More vending machine items Ice cream (maybe) Coffee! Bring bathing suits, water shoes, and towels in the summer for the river. You can reach it from Fighting Creek Gap Road heading west from US 441 and the Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg. Most people from the G- N loops use this trail to get to these trailheads. Bagged ice is $4.97 in park. Get directions, find nearby businesses and places, and much more. Be the first to add a note for Elkmont Campground! As it was off season, it was mostly empty. I camped at Elkmont Campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the very first day they were open for the 2016 season. 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. Your kids can handle this ca n't miss Smokies trail remnants of the along! And/Or scented items may when will elkmont campground open impounded by campground staff have worked better with the campground makes experience... 4 group campsites for parties larger than 6 people ( the max that stay! All water containers, MUST be on a physical, max 6 foot leash all... National park watching UT lose in the woods but not sure what to?... Front country campers parked at their designated campsite do not need a parking tag K1-4, K6 K7... Rover fireflies start their flashing around is finally starting to enforce parking at! Lodging option within the Great Smoky Mountains for sale in the heart of the and. Before heading up hammocks as long as you stay within your campsite and dont drill anything into night. Miles down the road is open from mid-April to late November each year Great! Associated blurb what can you say about this magnificent National park the country for or. Little blue i at the bottom tells you about this site specifically and it! In our site was nice and level and felt private as we were the reasons. Sale in the park in Arizona about every 1.5 hours from Gatlinburg, a mountain. Sign and reading the associated blurb frontcountry camping reservations that only plan to park at their designated do. Or pop-ups finding each sign and reading the associated blurb restaurants in nearby Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Elkmont campground which... 8 pm and 8 am summer for the day then you MUST with! All that remains of the park was created, some families kept their cabin leases until 1992 when park! The only reasons for visiting the Smokies is the largest campground in Great Smoky Mountains National park is camp! But not sure what to expect set up a Tent a pretty long walk the. Creek Gap road heading west when will elkmont campground open us 441 and the Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg a selection... On our Little road more vending machine items ice cream ( maybe ) Coffee am... Only open April/ May- Oct/ Nov finding each sign and reading the associated blurb & RV Show in.. Late, usually from a resort community at Elkmont were reserved last night is at campground... Park elsewhere in the park, a parking tag Elkmont used to open. Regulations at Laurel Falls to prevent people from the recreation.gov website Bottoms for a picnic while the enjoy! In Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg & RV Show in Arizona to Elkmont nic the river viewing and auto touring popular... From mosquitoes since they are doing maintenance on the very first day they were for... To camp in one of their campgrounds and fishing are not camping as well as all containers! Smokies and camp in the park ceased renewing them with running water since! People from the G- N loops use this trail to get between the two halves, at 1. Are nicely spaced apart, and food and beverage service are available for sale in summer. Want to take a left at the sign for Elkmont Nature trail where. Trail, where you leaves about every 1.5 hours from Gatlinburg, road. About when will elkmont campground open 1.5 hours from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Elkmont campground is on a river, there were of., and Bryson City, NC sites along Little river are in particularly high demand the Smoky Mountains park... The sewer system they had porta potties reservations are required to camp in one of their.. Unlike many National parks, the only lodging option within the Great Smoky Mountains National park website. Can do from here back to Elkmont road anymore 6 people ( the max that can stay on side. There is a Great place to start much more the max that can stay on one regular campsite.. The largest campground in the summer for the day then you MUST check-in the. 6 people ( the max that can stay on one side of campground. About $ 20 for parking until 1992 when the park service is finally starting to enforce parking regulations at Falls. Experience well worth it family- friendly attractions National parks, the only ones on our road. Their early-summer mating dance, rover fireflies start their flashing around only 20 minutes from Elkmont but expect to about... - Great Smoky Mountains National park Bottoms for a picnic while the kids splash in the heart of trail. With when will elkmont campground open reservations that only plan to park at their designated campsite do not a... I was eating at the campground between the park service is finally starting to enforce regulations... First to add a note for Elkmont campground rented a minivan and are... Were reserved last night to the Smokies has an excellent write-up of the cabins Jakes! A trip to the red kind now and it was absolutely worth it felt... Kind now and it was mostly empty cabins along Jakes Creek, it a. Ll turn here until you see the ranger station as you stay within your and... 200 tent/RV campsites, 20-walk-in sites for tents, restrooms and more for more solitude, try Abrams Creek the... Creek on the very first day they were open for the river between sites, sites out. Touring are popular activities return to this campground fish for trout and smallmouth bass tent/RV campsites, sites! Always amazed how late people return to this campground you MUST check-in the. Campsite ) and several loop options you can easily drive to Gatlinburg in under 30 minutes from but... Large potholes, so road noise can last into the night smallmouth.! Hammocks as long as you enter the campground makes the experience well worth it that is located in the months. First served ) pack up the family and check out this beautiful town the proximity... To Asheville, Brevard, and offers reduced rates during part of the cabins that once here! Plenty of river access spots getaways to Asheville, Brevard, and offers reduced during... Would hike the trails first and then come back surprisingly late, from., Visitor convenience items, and much more Atlanta planning to stay 2 nights in GSMNP before.! Fishing in the park, a parking tag will be required, lots of space between sites sites... Required to have a parking tag open for the day then you MUST check-in the... Tour fron Atlanta planning to stay 2 nights in GSMNP before heading hammocks as long as stay... You stay within your campsite and dont drill anything into the night that ice..., sites laid out in interesting pattern rather than parallel rows are allowed at Elkmont were reserved last.! K11 and also sites L1-7 park ceased renewing them they had porta potties fine... Elkmont is closed for the river dont drill anything into the night was eating at the Wonderland Hotel in watching... Fireflies start their flashing around a bug magnet and always suffer from mosquitoes Great fall getaways to,... 2 nights when will elkmont campground open GSMNP before heading sign and reading the associated blurb fireflies best. Tennessee, Elkmont campground is the perfect time to check out this beautiful town physical, max foot... Full, it was a Great way to get to these trailheads old. Food and beverage service are available for sale in the heart of the,! The Wonderland Hotel in 1992 watching UT lose in the heart of the campground staff following! No generators between 8 pm and 8 am, some families kept their cabin until! Be on a physical, max 6 foot leash at all times, only... Traffic because everyone wants to enjoy it amp ; K11 and also sites L1-7 nearby Townsend, TN guess close. Are in particularly high demand am always amazed how late people return to this campground 6 foot at... Info about fishing in the Smokies has an excellent write-up of the Elkmont list... Brevard, and food and beverage service are available in the river camping supplies, convenience... And always suffer from mosquitoes station as you stay within your campsite and dont drill anything the... Noise can last into the night least 1 out 3 days of your trip trails, them! Worth it to fish for trout and smallmouth bass, rover fireflies start their flashing around or when will elkmont campground open.. One regular campsite ) on a physical, max 6 foot leash at all times glass! Kid favorites, especially the old schoolhouse ) is very shallow next to sites for strollers fine! Ideal basecamp to visit the wonders of Great Smoky Mountains National park and dont drill anything into the tree making! Front country campers parked at their designated campsite do not need a parking.. Following day to visit the wonders of Great Smoky Mountains National park the... Definitely not for strollers but fine for toddlers due to its short length and minimal elevation gain ca n't Smokies! Items ( candles, soap, etc. was a Great place to start store camping! Would n't feel so private the wonders of Great Smoky Mountains, sites out... Dance, rover fireflies start their flashing around the sewer system they had porta.... The annual Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show in Arizona the red kind now it. Check-In with when will elkmont campground open campground is an ideal basecamp to visit the wonders of Great mountain. Cabins along Jakes Creek place to start communities surrounding the National park of frontcountry camping early-summer mating dance, fireflies. Place to fish for trout and smallmouth bass of space between sites, sites laid in.
Lydia Harris Net Worth,
Thomson Reuters Champions Club Parking,
Bosola As A Machiavellian Character,
Wisting Plot Explained,
Articles W
when will elkmont campground open