Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-232436
When Elkmont Group Camp reopens
Elkmont Group Camp's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
0
Openings · last 90 days
2
Only 2 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18 – Oct 31, 2026 · of 4 monitored sites
Of the 176 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Oct 31, 2026): 39 open for online reservation · 137 reserved.
Where the open windows are
77.8% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 39 of 176 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Oct 31, 2026Not open online77.8%
Open site-nights39 / 176
Reserved (of online inventory)137 / 176
Weekday openings28
Weekend openings11
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 28 fall on weekdays and 11 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Oct 2026October holds the most room. 21 of 124 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 4 sites| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night.
Best-availability sites
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| GP02 | 16 |
| GP03 | 10 |
| GP04 | 9 |
| GP01 | 4 |
The 4 sites with the most open site-nights in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateFri · Sep 18
Next open weekendFri · Sep 18
The next bookable night is Sep 18; the first open weekend starts Sep 18. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
39 open site-nights across 4 sites at Elkmont Group Camp, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 8 2-night, 5 3-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 20 at site GP02.
All 4 sites with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP02 | Not recorded | None | 16 | 4 nights | Sep 18, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 7, Oct 11, Oct 14, Oct 15, Oct 18 +4 more |
| GP03 | Not recorded | None | 10 | 4 nights | Sep 18, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Oct 12, Oct 13, Oct 14, Oct 29 |
| GP04 | Not recorded | None | 9 | 5 nights | Sep 20, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 14, Oct 15, Oct 18 |
| GP01 | Not recorded | None | 4 | 2 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Oct 1, Oct 7 |
About Elkmont Group Camp
Overview
Situated in the stunning Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this site offers an ideal setting for group camping excursions and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds.
Recreation
Visitors can enjoy high-quality backcountry fishing in the cool waters of the nearby Little River and countless other streams and rivers that snake through the mountains, with trout available in abundance.
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, with a number of those trails easily accessible from Elkmont Campground, including the popular Laurel Falls Trail, which leads to spectacular 80-ft. waterfall. The Elkmont, Little River and James Creek Trails are also accessible.
Hiking and fishing are not the only reasons for visiting the Smokies: Picnicking, wildlife viewing and auto touring are popular activities.
With around 1,500 bears living in the park, it's not uncommon for a visitor to spot one. From the big animals like bears, deer, and elk, down to microscopic organisms, the Smokies have the most biological diversity of any area in the world's temperate zone. The park is a sanctuary for a magnificent array of animal and plant life, all of which is protected for future generations to enjoy.
The park also holds one of the best collections of log buildings in the eastern United States. Over 90 historic structures, including houses, barns, outbuildings, churches, schools and grist mills, have been preserved or rehabilitated in the park.
Facilities
Elkmont Group Camp offers four tent-only sites, accommodating anywhere from 15-30 guests per site. Modern amenities like flush toilets and drinking water make for a comfortable outdoor experience. Each site has picnic tables and fire rings with grills, creating the perfect atmosphere for family meals or late night s'mores.
The campsite provides easy access to hiking trails, historical buildings, horseback riding trails and waterfalls.
Elkmont Campground tends to book up during peak months but additional camping is offered nearby at the Cosby Campground and Cosby Group Camp.
Natural Features
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World-renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, Great Smoky Mountains is America's most visited national park.
At 2,150 feet elevation, Elkmont Group Camp provides a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park preserves a rich cultural history of Southern Appalachia. From the prehistoric Paleo Indians to early 19th-century European settlements, the park strives to protect the historic structures, landscapes and artifacts that tell the stories of the people who once called these mountains home.
Elkmont is also known for its historical and cultural significance as a former logging community and summer resort getaway.
Nearby Attractions
Gatlinburg, one of the Smokies' famous tourist towns, is located about 9 miles from the site, offering organized rafting trips, museums, restaurants, galleries, an aquarium, skiing and more.
4 monitored sitesNo hookups4 shadedPets OKFire pitsMax party 30
Getting there
From Cherokee, NC: Take Newfound Gap Road (aka U.S. 441) North through the park into Tennessee. Turn left at Sugarlands Visitor Center. Follow Little River Road approx. 4.5 miles. Turn left at the Elkmont Campground sign and proceed 1.5 miles to the campground office. From Gatlinburg, TN: Take Newfound Gap Road (aka U.S. 441) South into the Park. (If coming from Pigeon Forge, take the Bypass into the park.) Turn a right at Sugarlands Visitor Center. Proceed 4.5 miles to the Elkmont entrance and turn left at the Elkmont Campground sign. Go 1.5 miles to the campground office.
434 Elkmont Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738865-430-5560 OR 865-436-1261
CampingDay Use AreaFishingHikingHistoric & Cultural SiteInterpretive ProgramsVisitor CenterWildlife Viewing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-232436 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-232436 · Elkmont Group Camp · Gatlinburg TN10 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Elkmont Group Camp?
Reservations for Elkmont Group Camp are made through Recreation.gov. 77.8% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation; 39 of 176 remain open. Campsite Sniper has also detected 2 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Elkmont Group Camp?
Campsite Sniper detected 2 site-date openings here over the last 90 days, none in the last 7. A free alert watches around the clock and pings you the moment one appears.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Elkmont Group Camp?
5 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 20 at site GP02. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which month has the most availability at Elkmont Group Camp?
October 2026, with 21 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 124.
When is the next open date at Elkmont Group Camp?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Fri, Sep 18 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 18. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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