Camping at Elkmont Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Our Family Experience

Jessica Winters

10m

6 min read

Wooded campsite B11 at Elkmont Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park with a blue SUV parked beside the tent pad.

Located inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Elkmont Campground offers a beautiful wooded setting just a short drive from the restaurants, shops, and family-friendly attractions of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. With peaceful surroundings, nearby waterways, and easy access to both the park and town, it's a great option for families planning a Smoky Mountains camping trip.

During our visit, we stayed at campsite B11 with our rooftop tent and loved the spacious layout, privacy, and natural surroundings. Although an overnight thunderstorm limited our time exploring, we still got to enjoy Gatlinburg, take a scenic drive through the national park, and even spot elk along the way.

In this guide, we're sharing our firsthand experience at Elkmont Campground, including a closer look at campsite B11, what to consider when booking, and helpful tips for planning your own family camping trip.

Elkmont Campground at a Glance

Location: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
Our campsite: B11
Cell reception: None (T-Mobile)
Camping setup: Rooftop tent
Distance to Gatlinburg: Approximately 16 minutes by car
Restrooms: Standard campground restrooms
What we loved: Spacious campsite, privacy, wooded surroundings, and nearby Little River
Would we stay again? Yes

Official Campground Information: For current campground details, amenities, and regulations, visit the National Park Service's Elkmont Campground page.

Our Experience Camping at Elkmont Campground

Elkmont Campground offers the kind of peaceful, wooded setting that makes camping in Great Smoky Mountains National Park so appealing. With tall trees, the nearby river, and campsites tucked into the forest, the campground feels surrounded by nature while still being conveniently located near Gatlinburg.

During our stay, we really enjoyed the overall atmosphere. The natural surroundings gave the campground a quiet, relaxing feel, and the combination of wooded campsites and nearby waterways made it easy to see why Elkmont is such an appealing place to camp.

For families looking to spend time outdoors while keeping Gatlinburg's restaurants and attractions within easy reach, Elkmont offers a great balance of nature and convenience.

Our Campsite: Elkmont Campground B11

Tent pad and metal fire ring at campsite B11 in Elkmont Campground, surrounded by trees and forest greenery.

We stayed at campsite B11 and were really happy with our choice! The site felt spacious and offered a nice amount of privacy, with no neighboring campsite on one side and a small babbling brook running behind it.

Surrounded by tall trees and greenery, it had that peaceful, tucked-away-in-the-woods atmosphere we love about camping.

Although listed as a tent-only campsite, B11 had an attached parking area that worked for our rooftop tent setup. The parking area was fairly sloped, though, which is worth keeping in mind if you're camping with a rooftop tent.

The site also included a designated tent pad, picnic table, and fire ring, making it a comfortable spot for a night outdoors.

Overall, we loved the combination of privacy, space, and natural surroundings and would happily book this campsite again!

Campground Restrooms and Facilities

The restrooms at Elkmont Campground were fairly standard for a national park campground, similar to what we've experienced at other campgrounds.

Although we didn't get a chance to explore all of the campground's facilities during our short stay, we were pleased with the overall setting and our experience.

Waterfront Campsites at Elkmont Campground

Little River flowing through Elkmont Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with a waterfront campsite visible along the river.

Some campsites at Elkmont are located right along the Little River, which would be such a fun spot for families camping during the warmer months!

These waterfront sites were already booked when we made our reservation, so if camping near the river is a priority, we'd recommend looking into availability early.

Although we really enjoyed our campsite, we'd definitely consider booking one of these waterfront spots on a future visit!

Exploring Gatlinburg, Tennessee

One of the biggest advantages of staying at Elkmont Campground is having Gatlinburg just a short drive away. The town sits right outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, making it easy to combine outdoor adventures with restaurants, shopping, and family-friendly attractions.

During our drive through Gatlinburg, we were pleasantly surprised by its charming themed buildings, colorful hanging flower baskets, and the sheer number of attractions throughout town. The area felt incredibly family-friendly, with plenty of opportunities to keep kids entertained beyond exploring the national park.

Although we didn't have time to experience many of Gatlinburg's attractions during this visit, it's definitely somewhere we'd love to return and explore further, along with nearby Dollywood!

Breakfast at Flapjack's Pancake Cabin in Gatlinburg

Bear-shaped pancakes decorated with chocolate syrup at Flapjack's Pancake Cabin in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

After an overnight thunderstorm brought rain to the campground, we packed up and headed into Gatlinburg for breakfast at Flapjack's Pancake Cabin.

Flapjack's was a great family-friendly breakfast stop, and everyone enjoyed their meals. The kids loved their adorable bear-shaped pancakes, which were such a fun touch!

One thing we appreciated was the parking area directly in front of the restaurant, making it easy to get everyone inside without a long walk in the rain.

The restaurant also had an attached gift shop where we picked up a few souvenirs before heading out. Between the delicious breakfast and convenient location in Gatlinburg, it's a spot we'd happily visit again.

A Scenic Drive Through Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Although the rainy weather limited our time exploring, our route to our next destination took us right through Great Smoky Mountains National Park, giving us another opportunity to enjoy the scenery.

The winding mountain roads, lush forests, and tunnels made for a beautiful drive, even with the rain.

Getting to see the Smoky Mountains' famous “smoke” drifting across the mountains was so exciting and one of the highlights of our drive, along with spotting elk!

While we didn't get to stop and explore as much as we'd hoped, the drive itself was a memorable part of our visit and a great way to experience more of the park.

Spotting Elk in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

We were lucky enough to spot several elk grazing in a beautiful open meadow during our drive through Great Smoky Mountains National Park!

We even drove right past a male elk with some impressive antlers, grazing right alongside the road!

Seeing these incredible animals in their natural habitat was such an exciting experience for our whole family and something we'll definitely remember from our visit.

Wildlife Tip: If you spot elk while visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park, enjoy watching them from a safe distance. The National Park Service requires visitors to stay at least 50 yards away from elk and bears.

Is Great Smoky Mountains National Park Good for Families?

Absolutely! Even during our short visit, we could see why Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the surrounding Gatlinburg area would make a fantastic family vacation destination.

One of the things we loved about the area was how easy it would be to plan a trip that combines outdoor adventures with family-friendly attractions. You could spend your mornings exploring the national park and your afternoons enjoying everything Gatlinburg has to offer!

Whether you prefer camping surrounded by nature or staying in a hotel close to restaurants and attractions, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the Smokies with kids.

We only scratched the surface during our visit, but it's definitely an area we'd love to return to for a longer family vacation!

Would We Camp at Elkmont Campground Again?

Yes! We really enjoyed our stay at Elkmont Campground and would happily book another camping trip here.

Between the beautiful wooded surroundings, spacious campsite, and convenient location near Gatlinburg, there's a lot to love about this campground.

Next time, we'd love to try booking one of the waterfront campsites and spend more time exploring Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the surrounding area.

If you're planning a family camping trip to the Smokies, Elkmont Campground is definitely worth considering!

Watch Our Smoky Mountains Adventure on YouTube

Want to see more of our visit? Come along as we explore Gatlinburg, camp at Elkmont Campground, and enjoy a scenic drive through Great Smoky Mountains National Park, complete with some incredible wildlife sightings!

Frequently Asked Questions About Elkmont Campground

How far is Elkmont Campground from Gatlinburg?

Elkmont Campground is approximately a 16-minute drive from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, making it a convenient option for families who want to explore both Great Smoky Mountains National Park and town.

Can you camp with a rooftop tent at Elkmont Campground?

We stayed at campsite B11 with our rooftop tent, even though it was listed as a tent-only site when we booked. The campsite had an attached parking area that worked for our setup, although it was fairly sloped.

If you're planning to use a rooftop tent, we'd recommend checking individual campsite details and confirming your setup is permitted before booking.

Is campsite B11 at Elkmont Campground a good campsite?

We loved campsite B11! It was spacious and offered a nice amount of privacy, with no neighboring campsite on one side and a small brook running behind it.

The main thing to consider is the sloped parking area, particularly if you're camping with a rooftop tent.

Are there waterfront campsites at Elkmont Campground?

Yes! Some campsites at Elkmont are located along the river, making them appealing options for families who enjoy camping near the water.

The waterfront sites we were interested in were already booked when we made our reservation, so we'd recommend checking availability early if camping along the water is a priority.

Should you make reservations for Elkmont Campground?

Yes! Reservations are required at Elkmont Campground and can be made up to six months in advance.

We booked our campsite ahead of time and would definitely recommend planning early, particularly if you have a specific campsite in mind or want one along the water.

You can check availability and make reservations through Recreation.gov.