Gatlinburg is not my favorite place due to my lack of interest in crowds or more knick-knacks to clutter up my house more than it already is. Beginning March 1, valid parking tag is required for any vehicle parking for more than 15 minutes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. By the time we left at 9am, the parking lot was filling up and the crowds were starting up the trail. GP 04 is my favorite because it sits on one side of the group loop by itself. 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). It is also ground zero if you want to see the amazing synchronous fireflies (or lightning bugs) light up the sky. Lots of wild turkeys in the area. No scooters or skateboards though. Explored Elkmont cabins and did trails in that area. Ive attached a map of where it is. 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. Campground road has large potholes, so be careful. Fortunately, the good news is that you can bike or walk the loop without cars on Wednesdays from early May to late September. Can you hike in the Smoky Mountains in January? The Elkmont campground is centrally located on the northern side of the national park between Gatlinburg and Townsend, Tennessee, just south of Wears Valley. No cell reception!! This is the kind we like. 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. Elkmont campground has 200 standard tent and RV campsites with paved driveways, gravel tent pads, fire rings, and picnic tables. Before the national park was established, there was a community here complete with a railroad line, a school, church and plenty of homes. The river is very shallow next to sites. Food Storage must be kept sealed in a vehicle (preferably the trunk) or in a camping unit constructed of solid, non-pliable material AT ALL TIMES when not in use. So whats a local to do? From Cherokee, NC: Take Newfound Gap Road (aka U.S. 441) North through the park into Tennessee. Gatlinburg Trailheads for Little River Trail, Jakes Creek Trail, and Elkmont Nature Trail are located adjacent to the campground. The campground is still open and is a popular place for visitors to come for the annual synchronous fireflies spectacle. The panoramic vistas from the viewing platform atop the tallest peak in the Smokies are undeniably spectacular but the traffic getting there is undeniably awful. It has 200 RV/ tent sites plus 2o walk in sites for tents only spread over 14 loops in the campground, labeled A-N. This is an extremely popular campground and is almost always completely booked. However, Clingmans Dome is effectively closed to vehicle traffic in the winter. What is the best tent for cold weather camping? Fee: $40 per night Dates Open: May 13 - October 30, 2022 Directions to Smokemont Campground Smokemont Campground is in the southeastern area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, about six miles from Cherokee, North Carolina. No threaded faucets or dump station at the campground. When Is It Open? It then suffered a series of fires and is now almost completely gone except for the chimney and some foundations. July 24, 2022by Hugo Warren Smokemont Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open year-round, though some sections are closed in the winter. The campground is open March 11 to November 27. Many tenters (sadly in the rain). The river is about 10 ft down just beyond the edge of the tent pad seen on M6. The call center will complete an application for the caller and results will be mailed on May 9th. Unlike many national parks, the only lodging option within the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is to camp in one of their campgrounds. You will need a permit if you are over 13 years old and you can buy those in Townsend, Gatlinburg, or Wears Valley. 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 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. It also means it gets dark before sunset. The sites are mostly flat. Turn left at the Elkmont Campground sign and proceed 1.5 miles to the campground office. We give you the lowdown on the best places to stay in or near Townsend. The trail isnt always wonderfully maintained so be prepared to go over fallen trees. 4. The nearest dump station is at Sugarlands Visitor Center about 15 min away. NO. Beginning March 1, 2023, valid parking tags will be required on any vehicles parking for longer than 15 minutes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. and reservations. 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. Camping at Elkmont Campground is on a reservation basis. 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. 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. No showers. The nearest picnic area is Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area, west of Elkmont on Little River Road. Trails in the area are delightful. In the lower elevations, snows of 1 may happen, but only several times a year. The sites along the river are highly recommended -- seek those out. except for the restored Spence Cabin on the Little River Trail. My Familys Favorite Historic Site In The Smokies" . 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. Parks near 17695 Broken Spur Dr include Falcon Meadow RV Campground, Wonderland Ranch, and Peaceful Valley Scout Ranch. That meant we had to go back into Pigeon Forge & south into the park. You have successfully signed up for the monthly newsletter. The campground is also host to 20 walk-in campsites. While most Elkmont residents' leases expired . 4.5 miles. Reservations are required to camp in Elkmont Campground, which is typically open from mid-April to late November. M4 and M6 in the background. All of these sites are located near accessible restrooms. Half the size for half the price plus it's not the correct type. Wood is $10/bundle at the campground so get some in town if you can. As part of an almost yearlong project, the Levi Trentham Cabin, Mayo Cabin, Mayo Servants' Quarters, and Creekmore Cabin were restored. We were just passing through in July 2021 from Ohio back to Louisiana. Skateboards, scooters, and roller blades are prohibited in the campground. 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. But they 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. The National Park Service website for the Smokies is the place to start. 107 Park Headquarters Road You could be that person! 1608 26th St, Sheffield, Colbert County, AL, 35660 has 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom and a total size of 1,100 square feet. But you can drive to Gatlinburg (20 min away without traffic) and usually get a good signal, especially if you have Verizon. Restoring any closed widgets or categories. We enjoyed Little River Trail near Elkmont and Gatlinburg trail near Sugarlands visitor center. Where can I shower near the Smoky Mountain National Park? The Little River is a great place to fish for trout and smallmouth bass. Somebody built their daughter a kid-sized play cabin adjacent to the familys cabin in Daisy Town. While we were there in late June, Laurel Falls was mobbed - at least a hundred cars parked along road to traverse trail that is uneven & very narrow in sections. You will find more remnants of the cabins that once stood here, leftover from a resort community at Elkmont founded in 1910. 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. The park is a sanctuary for a magnificent array of animal and plant life, all of which is protected for future generations to enjoy. 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. For more solitude, try Abrams Creek on the western fringes of the park. Reservations are required to camp in Elkmont Campground, which is typically open from mid-April to late November. But Elkmont is only 2.5 miles from the trailhead so it is a little easier to get here early in the morning. The bathrooms were clean, and the campground appeared well cared for. Spence Cabin near the Elmont Campground is a great place to rent for small family gatherings, reunions, and other celebrations. I repeat- There is no electricity/ water/ sewer hookups at any campsite in Elkmont. Most people from the G- N loops use this trail to get to these trailheads. Answered: Hi , we are a group of 8 persons 4 adults and 4 children ( 11-14 years) next August we will make tour of the Deep south . 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. The nearest RV dump/fill station is located across from Sugarlands Visitor Center approximately 6 miles from Elkmont. You can see whats left of some of the cabins on this trail on the right. Sites along Little River are in particularly high demand. Campendium is an Amazon associate site and earns from qualifying purchases. There isnt a dump/fill stat Great hiking in the area and the old resort town of Elkmont is not to be missed. Short walk to the clean bathrooms. Is smokemont campground open? Our favorite family hikes in the Smokies are not too long nor exhausting and typically have a highlighted feature such as a waterfall, creek, or historic cabin that the kids will enjoy. 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. Dunkin' was slated to open today at 2536 Helena Road, Suite D, and the location at 5413 US Highway 280, Suite 100 . 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. For more information please read our privacy policy. Recreation.gov! This is campsite K8. With no one else in the picture. This is the rule for all campgrounds in the Smokies. Can you camp in the Smoky Mountains in the winter? Campers on these beautiful wooded sites will have a short walk from their parking area to their tent pad. Others say it isnt bad at all but I would still err on the side of having deterrents. I have been able to buy wood sometimes and sometimes not. Most have a lantern post of some kind although I would not count on hanging anything heavy from some of them. N2 and N3 are still nice campsites that I would stay in but just be prepared for early morning hikers. You Go Sister! Half the size for half the price plus it's not the correct type. The newest attractions opening this year. Bathhouses were nice and clean, There is a very small store at the entrance for those things that you may have forgotten. 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.

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