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Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Elkmont is the largest campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, tucked along the Little River just outside Gatlinburg. It sits near the old Elkmont Historic District, a former logging and resort community whose weathered cabins still stand along the river. The campground is also the park's designated viewing area for the synchronous fireflies, the famous light show that draws a lottery-only crowd for about two weeks each late spring.
211 campsites|Tennessee
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Campsite Types
Standard (no hookups)
164 sites
No hookups · tents and small rigsRV OKTent OK
Tent only
25 sites
No hookups · tents onlyTent OK
Walk-to
22 sites
No hookups · walk-in tent sites, no vehicle accessTent OK
Prefer a cabin or cottage nearby?
Gatlinburg's cabins and chalets are minutes from Elkmont, a solid option if the firefly-season dates are booked solid.
See cabins & rentals near Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park →We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Guide to Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Best Campsites
For Families:Standard sites nearest the river give kids easy access to wading and swimming holes
For Tents:Walk-to and generator-free sites keep things quiet if you're tenting
For RVs:Standard sites throughout the campground accommodate RVs, though there are no hookups anywhere here
When to Go
Late spring through fall. The synchronous firefly event in late spring is the single hardest stretch to book — a separate parking lottery applies then. Summer and October leaf season are also busy.
Tips
- →The whole campground is generator-free, so it's quieter than most large Park Service campgrounds
- →If you want to see the synchronous fireflies, you need a separate parking pass through the park's lottery — a campsite reservation alone doesn't get you in
- →Little River Trail is an easy, mostly flat walk right from the campground
- →No hookups anywhere here, so come prepared for dry camping
Highlights
Largest campground in the Smokies at 211 sitesAlong the Little River, a short walk from swimming holesHome to the park's synchronous firefly event each late spring, subject to a separate parking lotteryNear the historic Elkmont cabins and old resort communityLittle River Trail and Jakes Creek Trail both start at the campgroundClose to Gatlinburg for supplies and restaurants
Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park — Frequently Asked
Is Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park hard to book?+
Yes — Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a federal campground booked through recreation.gov, and its sites fill up on weekends and during peak seasons. Late spring through fall. The synchronous firefly event in late spring is the single hardest stretch to book — a separate parking lottery applies then. Summer and October leaf season are also busy. Reserve early on recreation.gov, and set a Camp.land alert to catch cancellations the moment they open.
How many campsites does Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park have?+
Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park has 211 campsites, including Standard (no hookups), Tent only, Walk-to.
How far in advance should I book Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park?+
Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a federal campground, so sites are booked through recreation.gov — typically up to 6 months in advance — not the Texas state park system. If your dates are already full, set a Camp.land alert and we'll email you the moment a cancellation opens.
How can I get a last-minute campsite at Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park?+
Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park occasionally has same-day or cancellation openings on recreation.gov, especially midweek. Camp.land watches Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park for cancellations and emails you the instant one opens, with a direct booking link.
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