campgrounds.fyiIndependent · federal campgrounds · no paid placements
← All campgrounds
ELKMONT GROUP CAMP
ELKMONT GROUP CAMPELKMONT GROUP CAMP
NPSGreat Smoky Mountains National Park · Tennessee

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.
Sites4all reservable
Elev.2,238ft
Comf.Feb-Dec11 months
Max rigtents
Electricnonesites
From Knoxville1h11real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27

At 2,238 ft, Elkmont Group Camp has a 11-month comfortable window (Feb-Dec). Winter nights average around 33°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. All 4 sites are reservable in advance, so plan ahead. Popular weekends book out. Of the sites, 4 walk-in. Within about 4 miles: 11 named hiking routes, 14 peaks, lake or river access.

The campground at a glance

01 · CHARACTER
QuietCoolRoomyShadeRV-fitReserv.

Reads strongest on shade and reservability. Softest on roomy sites.

Six axes, each scored relative to every other federal campground in the region: quiet (miles to a major road), cool (elevation), roomy (average site spacing), shade, RV-fit (longest rig), and how reservable it is. All six come from data, nothing hand-tuned.

When to go

02 · CLIMATE
JFMAMJJASOND
avg highavg lowfrost-freedriest · Nov
Feb-Dec
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
60%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
Apr 12
Last spring frost; first fall frost Nov 1.
68°F
Average July low.

Getting there

03 · ACCESS
01
Knoxville
42 mi
1h11
02
Chattanooga
141 mi
3h12
03
Nashville
221 mi
4h30
04
Memphis
433 mi
8h20
By drive time
Knoxville · 1h11Chattanooga · 3h12Nashville · 4h30Memphis · 8h20Camp

Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 3.3 mi away.

Picking your site

04 · 4 SITES
Color byShow only

4 mapped sites · dot color = seclusion · click a dot for details. Basemap © OpenStreetMap.

0
Pull-thru
4
Walk-in
0
50-amp
0
Accessible
0
Prime
4
Sites

What's within four miles

05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER

Trails & Peaks

Named hiking routes
11
Trail segments
72
Peaks
14
Viewpoints
4

Water & Access

Lake / river access
yes
To nearest major road
3.3 mi
Method

We synthesize public data layers: RIDB and Recreation.gov facility and site records, Open-Meteo climate normals, OpenStreetMap roads, trails, and water, OSRM drive times, and USGS elevation. We take no bookings, no ads, and no paid placements. Independence is the entire point.

Check availability on Recreation.gov →