Campsites at Elkmont Group Campground (2026 Guide)

Plan your visit with complete visitor guide, all campgrounds, and hiking trails.

Site Breakdown and Fee Structure

The Elkmont Group Campground has exactly four sites, each with different capacities and price points. Knowing which one fits your group saves you both money and headaches at booking time.

Site #1 - The Big One

At $53.00 per night as of 2026, Site #1 is the most expensive option and also the largest. It accommodates up to 30 people, making it suitable for scout troops, church youth groups, or extended family reunions. The caveat: no RVs or trailers are allowed on this site. Your group will need to arrive in passenger vehicles and set up tents only. The parking area handles multiple vehicles, but the number of parking spots isn't specified in the official data - plan to carpool if your group is near the 30-person limit.

Sites #2 and #4 - The Mid-Size Options

Both Sites #2 and #4 cost $35.00 per night and allow a maximum of 20 people. These are the standard group campsites and tend to book first because they hit the sweet spot between capacity and cost. A group of 15 to 20 people will find these sites comfortable.

Site #3 - The Budget Choice

Site #3 is the most affordable at $26.00 per night, with a 15-person maximum. For smaller organized groups - say, a family reunion of a dozen people or a small hiking club - this is the site to target. At roughly $1.73 per person per night if you fill it, it's hard to beat on value.

What You Get (and Don't Get)

The group campground provides a primitive camping experience with the convenience of flush toilets and drinking water, similar to the main Cades Cove and Elkmont campgrounds. Each site has tent space, a fire ring, and picnic tables. There are no electric hookups, no dump stations at the group sites, and no RV accommodations on Site #1 specifically.

Reservation Process and Season

Reservations are required for all four group sites. The campground opens in late April and closes October 31st each year. As of the 2026 season, the operating dates are confirmed: the campground opens April 2026 and closes October 31, 2026.

The park service recommends booking well in advance - group sites in popular areas of Great Smoky Mountains National Park often fill weeks or months ahead, especially for summer weekends. Reservations can be made through Recreation.gov or by calling the park's information line at (865) 430-5560.

Parking Tag Requirement

Most visitors miss this detail until they arrive: all vehicles parking for longer than 15 minutes require a parking tag. As of 2026, the options are $5 for a daily tag, $15 for a weekly tag, or $40 for an annual pass. This applies to every vehicle in your group. Factor this into your per-person cost calculations.

Activities and Trails Near the Group Campground

The Elkmont area has some of the best trail access in the park, and your group won't need to drive far from the group campground to reach several excellent hikes.

Hike Little River Trail

This trail follows what was once a railroad bed used for logging operations in the early 1900s. The grade is gentle and wide, making it accessible for groups with varied fitness levels. You'll walk alongside the Little River with multiple creek crossings and views of the surrounding cove hardwood forest. The trail continues for several miles, but your group can turn around at any point to adjust the distance.

The Little River, Cucumber Gap, Jakes Creek Loop

This 5.4-mile (8.7 km) loop is a favorite among experienced visitors to Elkmont. It connects three trails and passes remnants of the old Elkmont summer colony - stone chimneys, building foundations, and the historic Appalachian Clubhouse. The loop is shady and pleasant, with streamside sections and moderate elevation gain. For a group of reasonably fit hikers, this makes a solid half-day outing.

Walk Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail

If your group includes children or less experienced hikers, this half-mile (0.8 km) loop near the Sugarlands Visitor Center offers a quick walk with stream views, rock walls, and historic stone chimneys. It's paved and mostly flat.

Drive Foothills Parkway Sections

The parkway offers three distinct driving segments. The Walland to Wears Valley section (14.75 miles, 23.74 km) climbs to nearly 2,500 feet and provides views across the valley. The Chilhowee to Walland section runs 16.6 miles (26.7 km). Both are worth a sunset drive if your group has vehicles and wants a low-effort activity after a day of hiking.

Current Alerts and Conditions Affecting Your Trip

The park has several active closures as of 2026 that may affect your group's plans:

Hyatt Lane in Cades Cove is closed due to bear activity. This doesn't directly affect Elkmont, but if your group planned to drive the Cades Cove Loop Road, be aware that Hyatt Lane - a shortcut across the loop - is unavailable.

Park Headquarters Road is closed for rehabilitation work on the Sugarlands water and wastewater systems. This road closure may cause minor detours if you're heading to the visitor center.

Straight Fork and the one-way section of Balsam Mountain Road (Heintooga Round-Bottom Road) are closed.

Heintooga Ridge Road is closed for the season.

Rangers at the visitor center emphasize checking the park's alerts page the week of your trip. Closures change frequently based on weather, wildlife activity, and maintenance schedules.

What to Pack for a Group Stay

The group campground has drinking water and flush toilets, but beyond that, your group is self-sufficient. Bring:

• Tents and ground tarps - The sites are tent-only, and the ground stays damp longer here than at higher-elevation campgrounds.
• Coolers and food storage - Bear-proof food storage is mandatory. The park recommends using bear-proof canisters or storing food in hard-sided vehicles. Never leave food unattended on picnic tables.
• Camp chairs and lanterns - The sites have fire rings and tables, but ambient light is minimal after dark.
• First aid kit - The nearest medical facilities are in Gatlinburg, about 20 minutes away by car.
• Rain gear - Elkmont receives significant rainfall. A group that arrives without rain jackets will have a long weekend.

Most visitors underestimate how cool the nights can get, even in summer. Elkmont's elevation is around 2,100 feet, and temperatures can drop into the 50s°F at night during June and September.

Practical Takeaways

• Reserve early. The four group sites serve the entire park. They fill quickly for spring and fall weekends.
• Match your group size to the right site. Booking Site #1 ($53) for a group of 12 wastes money that could go toward Site #3 ($26). Know your exact headcount before you reserve.
• Every vehicle needs a parking tag. At $5 daily per vehicle, a 10-car group pays $50 per day in tags alone. The weekly tag ($15) saves money if you're staying more than three days.
• Cell service drops out in much of the Elkmont area. Download directions, reservation confirmations, and trail maps before you leave Gatlinburg.
• Pack for rain. The Smokies get more precipitation than any area in the eastern US outside the Pacific Northwest. This is not an exaggeration.

Final Thoughts

The Elkmont Group Campground offers something rare in Great Smoky Mountains National Park: a dedicated space for organized groups that isn't a backcountry site requiring a 5-mile hike to reach. The combination of flush toilets, drinking water, and proximity to some of the park's best trails makes it a practical base for scout trips, church retreats, and family reunions. The season runs only from late April through October, and the four sites mean space is limited. Groups that plan ahead and book early will find this campground delivers exactly what the park promises - a place to gather in one of the most visited national parks in the country, without competing for space in the main campground loops.

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For more information, see our complete Great Smoky Mountains National Park Guide.