Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-234712
When Spence Cabin reopens
Spence Cabin's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
1
Openings · last 90 days
5
Only 5 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 1 monitored site
Of the 44 tracked reservation dates (Sep 18 – Oct 31, 2026): 7 open for online reservation · 36 reserved · 1 closed.
Where the open windows are
84.1% of tracked reservation dates are not currently open for online reservation. 7 of 44 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Oct 31, 2026Not open online84.1%
Open reservation dates7 / 44
Reserved (of online inventory)36 / 43
Weekday openings6
Weekend openings1
Of the open reservation dates on mapped day-use units, 6 fall on weekdays and 1 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Oct 2026October holds the most room. 4 of 31 reservation dates are still open there.
Holiday windows — day use
Units open per date · of 1 day-use unit| Window | Date | Units 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 date.
Availability by day-use unit
Most open reservation dates · tracked window| Unit | Open reservation dates |
|---|---|
| Spence Cabin | 7 |
This day-use unit currently has 7 reservation dates available.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateTue · Sep 22
Next open weekendFri · Oct 9
The next bookable date is Sep 22; the first open weekend starts Oct 9. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Reservation dates
7 available reservation dates across 1 day-use unit at Spence Cabin, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
All 1 day-use unit with current availability
| Unit | Open reservation dates | Consecutive dates | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spence Cabin | 7 | 1 date | Sep 22, Sep 24, Sep 29, Oct 5, Oct 9, Oct 14, Oct 22 |
About Spence Cabin
Overview
Spence Cabin is an ideal place to hold a small family gathering or family reunion away from the hustle and bustle of nearby towns. It is also an excellent location for a meeting or training session for a small group of people, or for a small wedding or reception. The outdoor patios are great places to relax and enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of the Great Smoky Mountains.
The cabin is situated within the Elkmont Historic District, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.
Recreation
There are numerous hiking trails within or near Elkmont, including the Little River, Jakes Creek and Laurel Falls Trails. The lower section of the Little River Trail is an old roadbed and relatively easy to hike. The Laurel Falls Trail is paved and accessible.
The self-guided Elkmont Nature Trail is nearby. The most unique feature of the area is the Elkmont Historic District with a number of cabins still standing.
Fishing is popular both above and below Elkmont.
Facilities
The cabin has four small meeting rooms ranging in size from 118 to 165 square feet. One larger room is 432 square feet, and has a gas fireplace. The rooms have between two and six electric outlets. There is also a warming kitchen, which contains a refrigerator and microwave oven. No cook stove is available, but electrical outlets can be used for warming devices such as slow cookers. The lighting is consistent with the historic use of the cabin and is rather dim.
The building has no heat or air conditioning, but it does have ceiling fans in the main room and screened porch, as well as a gas fireplace in the main room.
Most of the cabin is accessible, with the exception of the riverside patio. Two bathrooms are available, one of which is accessible. A 192 square foot screened outdoor porch faces the Little River, as does a nice stone patio. A smaller patio is located on the bank of the Little River. Parking for nine cars is located about 100 yards from the cabin, with an additional two spaces located at the cabin.
Furnishings are limited to 40 folding chairs, four 6-foot diameter round tables, eight 2.5-by-6 foot rectangular tables and six rocking chairs. Guests may set up the furniture in any configuration that will suit their needs. Guests may also wish to bring additional items such as a portable gas barbecue grill, slow cookers and lawn chairs.
Natural Features
The Elkmont Historic District sits in a relatively flat and narrow valley at the confluence of Jakes Creek and the Little River. It encompasses a tract in a montane alluvial forest, which occurs primarily within the floodplains of the Little River and its tributary, Bearwallow Creek.
The valley is surrounded by steep ridges, including Sugarland Mountain to the east, Meigs Mountain to the west, Blanket Mountain to the south and Cove Mountain to the north.
1 monitored unitDay use1 shadedWaterfrontRiverfrontMax party 20
Getting there
Spence Cabin is located near Elkmont Campground. Drive south from Gatlinburg, TN on Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) for 1.7 miles and turn right onto Little River Road toward Cades Cove. Proceed 5 miles to Elkmont Campground road and turn left. Go 1.4 miles and turn left just before the campground office (sign says Elkmont Nature Trail 0.3, Little River Trail 0.6 and Jakes Creek Trail). After crossing the bridge, take the second left into the parking lot. Parking for Spence Cabin will be on your right as you make the loop through the parking lot. (The nearest street address is 500 Elkmont Road, Gatlinburg, TN.)
500 Elkmont Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738865-436-1261
CampingFishingHikingHistoric & Cultural Site
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-234712 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-234712 · Spence Cabin · Gatlinburg TN12 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Spence Cabin?
Reservations for Spence Cabin are made through Recreation.gov. 84.1% of tracked reservation dates are not currently open for online reservation; 7 of 44 remain open. Campsite Sniper has also detected 5 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick the unit on the map to see its reservation calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this facility 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 Spence Cabin?
Campsite Sniper detected 5 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.
Which month has the most availability at Spence Cabin?
October 2026, with 4 open reservation dates in the current snapshot of 31.
When is the next open date at Spence Cabin?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Tue, Sep 22 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Oct 9. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
Let the app watch this shelter
Pick dates
Choose the reservation dates you want at Spence Cabin.
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Get the ping
When a selected date becomes available, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.