National Park Service · Tennessee

Spence Cabin

National Park Service · Tennessee, United States · in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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Sites
1
Hookups
1 electric, 1 with water
Season
April 1 to October 31
Drinking water
Yes
Restrooms
Yes
Pets
No
Elevation
2,283 ft
Dark sky
Bortle class 3
Cell coverage
T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
Lake
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Nearest town
Gatlinburg
Address
500 Elkmont Road, Gatlinburg, TN, 37738
Phone
865-436-1261
Activities
Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Historic Sites

1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.

About

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.

Fees

The fee is $200 per day. Due at checkout a $400 damage deposit is also charged but will be refunded if the facility is left in good condition. This Fee can not be refunded if the reservation is cancelled prior to paying the remainder of your balance.

Customers who cancel facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will forfeit the use fee.

Weather, month by month

MonthTypical highTypical lowColdest nightHottest dayYears with a night below 32°F
January43°28°-5°63°10 of 11
February53°33°16°70°10 of 11
March61°40°0°75°7 of 11
April68°45°29°81°2 of 11
May75°56°40°85°0 of 11
June81°63°53°92°0 of 11
July83°67°59°89°0 of 11
August83°67°58°90°0 of 11
September78°62°50°90°0 of 11
October66°46°32°80°1 of 10
November58°38°13°70°4 of 10
December50°32°16°66°9 of 10

Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.

Nearby campgrounds

All public campgrounds in Tennessee · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-08-14. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.