A Local’s Opinion On The Best Campground In The Smokies

Unlike many national parks, the only lodging option within the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is to camp in one of their campgrounds.

Two of the largest campgrounds are found in the Tennessee side of the national park: Elkmont Campground and Cades Cove Campground. Both are great options with Ranger Programs and good accessibility to trails. Not sure which one is right for you? We have camped extensively at both and offer our pro’s and cons of each. Here’s the breakdown:

Elkmont Campground In The Smokies

Elkmont’s campsites seem a bit more private and the setting more remote with lots of trees and rhododendron. The Little River runs right through it creating a nice background noise when you fall asleep at night.

It’s also more centrally located to other points of interest in the park such as Metcalf Bottoms, Sugarlands Visitor Center, and Newfound Gap. Another bonus is that you can pop over to Gatlinburg for a meal or do some kitschy but fun touristy stuff for a day. Although it’s the larger of the two campgrounds, ELkmont seems less crowded than Cades Cove.

There are lots of trees in Elkmont providing good shade.

A typical campsite in Elkmont

A typical river front campsite in Elkmont

Some of the best campsites are on the outside edges, surrounded by the forest.

The Little River provides a nice backdrop of sound while you are sleeping as well as endless opportunities for kids to play.

The kids could spend hours rock- hopping and splashing in the Little River.

Daisy Town is Elkmont's "ghost town," the remains of former vacation cabins from before the area became part of the national park.

Pros- What We Like About Elkmont Campground

Walk-in campsites for tent campers
A nature trail
Trailhead access to Jake’s Creek Trail and Little River Trail which are great hikes for any level hiker.
More centrally located--closer to Newfound Gap if you’re interested in hikes like Alum Cave, Charlie’s Bunion, the Chimneys, Andrews Bald, etc.
An ice cream vending machine (my kids think it’s magical)
A “ghost town” to explore at night or during the day.

Cons

Reserve way ahead of time to get a river site
No showers, but Cades Cove doesn't have showers either

See our simply awesome blog “Everything You Wanted To Know About Elkmont Campground In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park” to learn all the details.

Cades Cove Campground In The Smokies

The best thing about Cades Cove Campground is not the campground itself but its amazing proximity to one of the most beautiful (and visited) areas of the park, which is both a positive and a negative.

Cades Cove is easily one of the most beautiful places in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The campground sits adjacent to the 11-mile, one-way loop road around Cades Cove which offers spectacular views, historic buildings, and wildlife-viewing opportunities. That being said, it attracts lots of cars and visitors to this area of the park.

Although it offers more amenities (horseback riding, bike rentals, General Store), the campground itself is not as nice as Elkmont as most sites are close together and offer little privacy. It seems better suited to RV camping.

Typical campsite in Cades Cove campground

There are mostly RVs or campers in Cades cove versus tents. Probably because the sites are quite close together.

RV in a campsite at Cades Cove campground

Map of Cades Cove with the campground marked

The campstore and bike rental place in Cades Cove

Traffic can be brutal around the loop of Cades Cove. Definitely go on a car- free Wednesday if you can or go early in the morning.

Pros- What We Like About Cades Cove Campground

Its location next to beautiful Cades Cove
Trailhead access to Anthony Creek Trail, Abrams Falls, and John Oliver Cabin Trail
Great sunrises and sunsets from Cades Cove (a photographer’s dream)
Bike rentals at the camp store. The 11 mile loop road is closed to cars on Wednesdays May-September. This is really the only time you should consider biking it as it is too congested otherwise and is a pretty miserable experience.
Visitor Center on site
Horseback riding
Nice picnic area
Wildlife watching (deer, bears)
General Store

Cons

Lots of car traffic and people
Limited privacy
More open-- not as much developed understory beneath the trees
Tucked away from other points of interest in the park

See our simply awesome complete guide to Cades Cove Campground including best tent sites and more.

Conclusion

I would choose Elkmont for an overall great camping experience while visiting the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. This is my hands-down winner.

However, I would consider Cades Cove Campground for the added convenience of biking the Cades Cove Loop without cars on a designated car-free day and photographing its amazing sunrises and sunsets.

*DON’T FORGET YOUR PARKING PASS!* As of March 2023, you will need a parking pass to park anywhere in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for more than 15 minutes. Parking passes can be bought online, at all Visitor Centers, and at a few other places, like the Townsend Visitor Center. Passes are $5 for the day, $15 for the week, and $40 for a year. They are not transferable either, meaning you will need one for each car you plan on driving into the park. The GSMNP website has lots of details and FAQ about the new parking passes. These new passes will help pay for some much needed maintenance throughout the park, including at rest areas and campgrounds. You won’t need a parking pass to park at your campsite in either Elkmont or Cades Cove, but you will need a pass if you take your car anywhere else in the park.