Elkmont Campground

Elkmont is a developed 211-site campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, at 2,150 feet. It is the closest family campground to Sugarlands Visitor Center and a useful base for Little River access and nearby hikes. Reserve ahead: reservations are required and can be made up to six months in advance.

The campground sits under deciduous and evergreen forest. Some sites are beside the river or creek; others back onto the forest. There are 25 tent-only sites and 22 walk-to or boat-to sites, so check the reservation map for the access and setting of a specific site rather than assuming every site is riverside. Each site has a level tent pad, picnic table, fire ring and paved parking.

River access and wooded surroundings are the draw, though this is a developed campground, not a secluded backcountry camp. How quiet it feels depends on the site and neighboring campers. Quiet hours are 10 pm to 6 am, and generators are prohibited from 8 pm to 8 am.

NPS lists seasonal flush toilets and potable water. Ten sites are designated accessible, with accessible paths to restrooms and parking. There are no showers, electrical hookups, cell service or internet. The seasonal camp store carries limited groceries and camping supplies, plus ice and firewood; bring what you need for meals. There is no dump station at Elkmont; the nearest one listed is at Sugarlands Visitor Center, about six miles away.

Each site allows up to six people and either two motor vehicles or one vehicle with a trailer. Stays are limited to 14 consecutive days. Check the current season and facility status before travel, since the campground and some services are seasonal.

Elkmont began as a Little River Lumber Company and Railroad company town in 1908. By 1918, more than 1,500 people lived here, making it Sevier County's second-largest town. The company owned nearly 80,000 acres that later became part of the national park.

A railroad once ran 18 miles from Townsend through Elkmont. The campground's straight, level main drive follows its former rail bed. The town had a commissary, church, school, hotel, tavern, machine shop and workers' houses; the Appalachian Club and Wonderland Club later leased land on opposite sides. Logging ended in the area by 1925, the rails were removed, and the town closed as operations moved to Tremont.