fees, RV limits, trails & mountain biking

Elkmont Campground

National Park Service campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

$10nightly fee
211overnight sites
Reservablebooking
Not statedseason (agency text)
35 ftmax RV/trailer length
41named USFS/NPS trails within 5 mi (91.5 mi)
0.0 mibike trails within 5 mi
2,150 ftelevation (agency text)

How it compares

  • With 211 sites it is the #1 largest of 84 Tennessee campgrounds that publish a site count (busy, more amenities).
  • Its lowest fee ($10) is equal to the Tennessee median of $10/night.
  • There are 50 other campgrounds in our data within 25 miles; 0 of them list a lower starting fee.
  • 79% of Tennessee campgrounds that publish a length limit accept a rig this long (35 ft).
  • Electric sites go up to 5 amp service (3 electric sites).
  • 100% of sites with a shade rating are listed as shaded or partly shaded.
  • Pets allowed on 211 of 211 sites; campfires allowed on 211 (subject to seasonal fire bans).
  • Straight-line distance: Knoxville ~28 mi, Asheville ~58 mi, Chattanooga ~106 mi.

Site mix

Tent-only25
Electric3
Walk-in/hike-in22
Accessible10

Amenities & rules

Fire pitsGrillsPicnic tablesQuiet areaTent padsPets allowedTentsRVs/trailers10 accessible sites

Fee notes from the agency: Individual Campsites: A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. Customers that check out early or do not…

Trails within 5 miles

TrailClosest pointMapped miles within 5 miSource
Elkmont Nature Trail0.1 mi0.6NPS
Little River Trail0.4 mi5.2NPS
Jakes Creek Trail0.5 mi3.5NPS
Laurel Falls Quiet Walkway0.8 mi0.3NPS
Sugarland Mountain Trail0.8 mi7.0NPS
Laurel Falls Trail0.9 mi3.7NPS
Cucumber Gap Trail1.0 mi2.2NPS
Meigs Mountain Trail1.1 mi5.5NPS
Avent Cabin access1.5 mi0.1NPS
Huskey Gap Trail1.9 mi3.9NPS
Hickory Flats Quiet Walkway1.9 mi0.2NPS
Big White Oak Quiet Walkway2.3 mi0.4NPS

+ 29 more named trails.

Mountain biking nearby

No bike-legal trails are mapped within 5 miles in OpenStreetMap or Forest Service data.

Ratings come only from OpenStreetMap mtb:scale / IMBA tags. Untagged trails show as "Unrated", and we never guess. Check conditions and maps on Trailforks or MTB Project.

Activities listed

Auto TouringBikingCampingFishingHikingHistoric & Cultural SiteHorse CampingHorseback RidingInterpretive ProgramsPicnickingWildlife Viewing

Nearest campgrounds

CampgroundMilesStateFee/nightSitesHookupsMax RVPetsBookingTrails ≤5 mi
Elkmont Group Camp
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
0.2TN$104 — —yes Reserve39 (88.6 mi)
Appalachian Clubhouse
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
0.4TN$300— — —— Reserve41 (94.0 mi)
Spence Cabin
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
0.5TN$200— — —— Reserve42 (94.5 mi)
King Branch #20
National Park Service
1.5TN—12 — —— ?39 (83.5 mi)
Mile 53 #21
National Park Service
2.6TN—12 — —— ?41 (93.6 mi)
Lower Jakes Gap #27
National Park Service
2.7TN—12 — —— ?28 (78.2 mi)

Hookups: E = electric (max amps), W = water, S = sewer. "—" means the agency doesn't publish it. Trail counts are named USFS/NPS trails within 5 miles. 🟢 = kid-friendly (green-rated) bike trail nearby.

From the managing agency

Overview Located eight miles from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Elkmont Campground is the largest and busiest campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. At an elevation of 2,150 feet, the area enjoys a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. Recreation The Little River runs through the campground offering visitors the option to camp waterfront. 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. 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, w… read the full description on Recreation.gov