The largest campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Elkmont sits along the Little River near the historic Elkmont ghost town, a genuinely atmospheric former resort community now slowly being reclaimed by the forest. Sites have flush toilets and potable water, some with electrical hookups, and the campground puts you close to several excellent hikes including the Little River Trail. Elkmont is also famous for its synchronous firefly display each early summer (typically late May to early June), when thousands of fireflies flash in unison — a genuinely rare phenomenon that draws crowds and requires a separate lottery-based parking pass during that specific window. Outside firefly season, this remains one of the most convenient and popular campgrounds in the Smokies given its size and central location.