Two of the largest campgrounds are found in the Tennessee side of the national park: Elkmont Campground and Cades Cove Campground. Prices are the same whether it is an RV or tent only site. Drive toward Cades Cove for about 7 miles until you see a sign for Elkmont Campground. The exact season changes from year to year so check the website. The Big Tent is what locals call the annual Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show in Arizona. Thank you for helping us protect our resources for future generations by, Parking it Forward!. 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). There was a nice stream directly behind us. According to when most visitors come to the Smoky Mountains, the best time to visit the Smoky Mountains national park is during the months of June, July, and October. GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WVLT) - A bear ripped into a tent at a popular campground Saturday, prompting Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials to warn against tents and soft-sided shelters at the campground until further notice. The beauty of the campground makes the experience well worth it. Elkmont is one of our go-to campgrounds in the Smokies because it has so many kid-friendly activities to do at or near the campground. Take a left at the sign for Elkmont Nature Trail, where you . Bears and other wildlife frequent the area. 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. and Tantrum Brewing Company. Elkmont Campground is open from the second week of March until December 1st. Technically, Clingmans Dome is open year-round. It is open from mid-March to late November each year. Three of the sites provide 5 amp electrical service for medical equipment. The sites along the river are highly recommended -- seek those out. 5. Special regulations apply in the park. And every time I explain it to people like that, I feel like I am setting up some sort of east side/ west side campground rap battle scenario that happens, which to be fair, would be absolutely fantastic and we should make that happen. The early morning also ups your chances of seeing wildlife, such as bears. Parking Pets Allowed Restrooms Wifi Wheelchair Accessible Credit Cards Accepted Affiliation National park Check In 1:00 PM Check Out 12:00 PM Max Length 35 ft Season End We have details, tips, and hacks to help you hike this spectacular trail, one of the most popular and iconic hikes in the Smokies. Gatlinburg Beware of broken glass and other debris when exploring. It is a pretty long walk between the two halves, at least 10 minutes. It is a bit hard to find so read this excellent write up by Hiking In The Smokies. Sample of the Elkmont campsite list from the recreation.gov website. Its close to great trails, the popular Cades Cove, has plenty of good restaurants, and its still close enough to Sevierville if you want to visit Dollywood or shop at the outlets. I drove around the campground a couple of times and settled upon Camp Site B10 which I felt was the best one available as it was backed up right next to the river.. The only hiccup to this is that they sometimes dont release next years reservations until January or even later. Campground road has large potholes, so be careful. On a weekend in the fall, it can be stop-and-go all the way from Sugarlands Visitor Center up to Clingmans, which is 20 miles. Q, Get your water at the Sugarlands Visitor Center (dump station) on the way to Elkmont. Potable water is available at spigots near each restroom; use of hoses is not allowed. Firewood may not be brought into the park unless it bears the USDA-APHIS-PPQ or state certification that it has been heat-treated. You can put up hammocks as long as you stay within your campsite and dont drill anything into the tree. That meant we had to go back into Pigeon Forge & south into the park. Each campsite has a fire ring, picnic table, and tent pad. You need a minimum of 7 people to use any of the group sites. Elkmont has one of the more thorough recreation.gov websites. Tents must be pitched on the pad. , 1. 3. Campsite L 14. Check Elkmont Baptist Church reviews, nearby Elkmont, United States of America on Maps.me - offline maps for Google android and Apple Iphone and ipad This section of the Elkmont Historic District was called Millionaires Row. 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 . Pets are not allowed on trails. Aim for an 8am arrival at the trailhead at the very latest. 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). Which means you can only park in the designated parking area which is actually pretty small. 1608 26th St, Sheffield, Colbert County, AL, 35660 has 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom and a total size of 1,100 square feet. There is a camp store that has ice, firewood and other things at reasonable prices. Our site was nice and level and felt private as we were the only ones on our little road. TN Violators are subject to fines. 7 groceries, 52 restaurants, 12 parks . Expert Answers: No, Elkmont Campground only has flush toilets, cold running water and utility sinks there are no showers. The beauty of the campground makes the experience well worth it. These were converted to 20-year leases in 1952, and renewed in 1972. And on some busy weekends in the late afternoon you can hit heavy traffic as people are returning to their hotels from the park so the drive can be an hour or more. In season, no walk0ins are allowed, and camping is strictly by reservation - go here to check availability and book online. It is also only 20 minutes from Gatlinburg, a kitschy mountain town loaded with family- friendly attractions. Please check the descriptions and measurements of individual sites.\r\n\r\nBears and other wildlife frequent the area. Where can I take a shower in Gatlinburg TN? and reservations. Campsite L2- you can see how the slope of the driveway makes it unsuitable for RVs or pop-ups. 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. The campground has cabins ,tiny homes, RV spaces, glamping tents. This is a wonderful camp with some great sites along the river. Walker Sisters Cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains. In their early-summer mating dance, rover fireflies start their flashing around . Smoky Mountain campgrounds are becoming more crowded every year. ", "Reservations required. Three handicap accessible ADA sites have 5 amp electrical service for use of medical equipment only.Proof of medical equipment required for use of electric hookup,. They look like my dogs chew toys. Camping in the Great Smokey Mountains is fairly primitive. There isnt a dump/fill stat Don't buy it at Marathon outside of park. There was a nice stream directly behind us. Well worth the early morning rise. All food, coolers, and equipment used to prepare and store food must be kept in a sealed vehicle or camping unit of solid, non-pliable material AT ALL TIMES when not in use. The National Park Service maintains over 800 miles of trails and more than 100 backcountry campsites and shelters where you can go winter camping in the Smoky Mountains. Dont be the reason why a bear has to get euthanized. Open House Schedule. The sites arent private, which didnt bother us. The river is very shallow next to sites. It made me nostalgic because it is just like the huge tent my Mom took me camping in as a child. Ours was not. Elkmont is a large campground with 220 sites on either side of the Little River. Campground with huge trees, lots of space between sites, sites laid out in interesting pattern rather than parallel rows. Where can I shower while camping in Smoky Mountains? Ive attached a map of where it is. Some sites are right along Little River as ours was (C2). All you need to know about the most visited national park in the country. So there is still some demolition debris around. This is an awesome hike with kids because it takes you from Little Greenbrier School to the Walker Sisters Cabin. What is the best time to visit the Smoky Mountains? Kids must wear helmets on bikes. The park is a sanctuary for a magnificent array of animal and plant life, all of which is protected for future generations to enjoy. Best campsites, best activities, how to explore the cove without people- all the hacks and know-how I have accumulated over the years to make your familys trip the best it can be. A mile or so up Jakes Creek Trail takes you an unmarked spur trail to Avent Cabin, one of the oldest in the park and built in 1845. This is campsite F12. C2, and others in that area are really nice. Kifel, s rtkelje a helysznen, mieltt megprblja parkolni a RV. After the park service purchased the land and the leases expired, over 70 buildings stood in the park with nobody to maintain them. But you can drive to Gatlinburg (20 min away without traffic) and usually get a good signal, especially if you have Verizon. You will find a good number of flush bathrooms spaced around the campground with mens and womens sides that each have 3-4 stalls inside and sinks. The nearby and popular Laurel Falls Trail leads to a spectacular 80-ft. waterfall. Unattended or improperly stored coolers, food and/or scented items may be impounded by campground staff. as well as all water containers, MUST be stored. Elkmont used to be open year- round but is now only open April/ May- Oct/ Nov. On a particularly sunny da Winter hiking in the Smoky Mountains is a unique experience for a handful of reasons. However, Clingmans Dome is effectively closed to vehicle traffic in the winter. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open 365 days a year. One of the sites is tent only, one is for a large RV/ motorhome, and one is for a smaller RV. The National Park Service website for the Smokies is the place to start. 124 Mill View Drive, Moores Mill, Madison County, AL, 35761 is currently for sale for the price of $268,500 USD. No cell reception!! Elkmont is closed for some of the winter, and offers reduced rates during part of the winter. These are our familys top 10 favorite activities when we camp at Elkmont. For more information please read our privacy policy. Reservations are required to camp in Elkmont Campground, which is typically open from mid-April to late November. The group campsites are maybe one of my best kept secrets for Elkmont and we often try to reserve these if we have at least 7 people, not hard to do in our large family that all live in the area. 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. Its located in the North Huntsville neighborhood and is part of the Madison County School District. There were port-a-potties which were serviced almost daily while we were there and the water fountains and spigots outside the restroom buildings were still operational. Sites are nicely spaced apart, and even though we weren't on a river, there were plenty of river access spots. I wonder if this one is any easier to set up. It has its drawbacks (it can get really crowded, no showers, some of the campsites are small) but its nice family friendly feel plus the great trails and the refreshing Little River on a hot summers day make it a campground we return to over and over again. Daily and weekly parking tags are available on Recreation.gov, or you may purchase them at the park. Do the restrooms have showers at Elkmont Campground? No but it does have specific sites that are restricted to tent only.. There is no RV dump/fill station at Elkmont campground. We also stayed in J12 which is right on the river, but a little furthe more. 4.5 miles. If you are looking for a fun day out with the family that combines some inexpensive outside time with views of the mountains, good food, and even a chance to run across a swinging bridge, then the Townsend Historical Trail might be just the thing. It does not, however, have heat or air conditioning; there is a room with ceiling fans and a as fireplace. Discover campsites, ranches, vineyards, farms, glamping, public parks and more. 107 Park Headquarters Road Pets are not allowed on any other park trails. The "Main Street" of Daisy Town in Elkmont. Return to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Frontcountry Camping page. Restaurants that will be open Thanksgiving . more information on current conditions Great Smoky Mountains National Park Frontcountry Camping, Cades Cove (at Cades Cove Campground Store). Read on to learn all about the history of Elkmont and the newly opened cabins. I would hike the trails first and then come back to Metcalf Bottoms for a picnic while the kids splash in the river. In fact, The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is the busiest park in the nation. The river is often also moving fast and flip flops easily get swept away. Home Tours. Port o potties. Bagged ice is $4.97 in park. The Elkmont season is generally late spring to late fall (March/ April/ May thru Oct/ Nov) and you can reserve sites 6 months in advance. Late Spring- Late Fall Elkmont used to be open year- round but is now only open April/ May- Oct/ Nov. We stayed here for Fall Leaves in the Smoky Mountains in our van. Empty trail up to Clingmans Dome at 8am on weekday in the summer. This is an extremely popular campground and is almost always completely booked. The campground is also host to 20 walk-in campsites. Over 90 historic structures, including houses, barns, outbuildings, churches, schools and grist mills have been preserved or rehabilitated in the park. Cost of fire wood is around $6. I repeat- There is no electricity/ water/ sewer hookups at any campsite in Elkmont. Is December good time to visit Smoky Mountains? August 3, 2022 by Hugo Warren Reservations are required to camp in Elkmont Campground, which is typically open from mid-April to late November. Unfortunately, we could not enjoy the area because it rained, and snowed both days that we were there! 196 of the campsites at Elkmont were reserved last night. Sh Up for a long weekend at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, camped at the Elkmont campground with a site right on the river. "], open_seasonally_text => ["March-Nov.", "March - Nov."], phone_reservation => ["(877) 444-6777", "877-444-6777"], website => ["https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232487", "https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/elkmont-campground.htm"]. Table of Contentsshow 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 isnt a dump/fill station here. Elkmont Campground has some 220 tent and RV campsites, but it is unsure how many people were ordered to leave. I asked her if it was frozen spiritual water. Campsites are available during the off-season on a first come, first served basis at reduced rates. Elkmont Campground Name: Elkmont Campground Nearest Gateway City: Gatlinburg, TN Elevation: 2,150' Individual Camp Sites: 220 Fee: $25 to $27 per night Dates Open: April 29 - October 30, 2022 Group Campsites: 4 (15 - 30 persons) Fee: $30 to $60 Dates Open: April 29 - October 30, 2022 It usually has bathrooms with running water but since they are doing maintenance on the sewer system they had porta potties. . Recreation.gov! You cannot get a generator waiver anymore, so if you need electricity overnight for a medical device, you need to reserve one of these sites. Firewood was $10 for a small bundle. Be prepared for generator noise. Facilities that remain open in the off-peak season November-April have some first come, first serve sites available. Email Us Terms of Service Privacy Policy Disclosures. Tent pads are 16 X 16 and you can usually fit 2 medium-sized tents on it. Turn left at Sugarlands Visitor Center. Elkmont Campground is open from March 8 through November 30, 2013. as well as all water containers, MUST be stored. VISITING THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS IN WINTER. If you want to bring 2 large tents, then make it easier on yourself and reserve 2 campsites. No upcoming open houses. Since the west side of the campground, especially the south end ( J- N loops), will only have traffic for people staying in this part of the campground, it is quieter and you have a lot less headlights spotlighting your tent, which can really ruin a trip for me. Go for the newer lights with the red light option as it really saves your night vision and is way less annoying for your tent mates and campsite neighbours on that late night bathroom run. January and February are typically the coldest months of the year in the Smokies. Generator use is prohibited from May 15 through October 31 in loops A, B, L, M and N. You must check-in with the campground office staff UPON ARRIVAL to complete your reservation. 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