We’re better off leaving that answer to the experts who provide a very scientific explanation on why it happens in the first of June, why the synchronous fireflies end up at Elkmont in the Smoky Mountains, why they sync their lights, and more. | Photo: Anna Hider. The Elkmont Campground is named for the abandoned resort town it sits next to. Camp at Elkmont Campground in the Smoky Mountains. But why? All the Details You Need: 2020 Synchronous Elkmont Fireflies Event in the Smoky Mountains. Elkmont Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg Tennessee. It is a two week window in June where thousands of fireflies blink in synchronized fashion near the Elkmont campground. In the application process, you will apply for a regular pass or a large-vehicle pass. Explore Elkmont Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee with Recreation.gov. The fireflies are best viewed in late May or early June. Hope someone on here wants it. The campground can be reserved online and we highly recommend getting a reservation as soon as you know the dates you plan on visiting the park. Hi/Low, RealFeel®, precip, radar, & everything you need to be ready for the day, commute, and weekend! Elkmont is pretty much full during the summer season regardless of any extra such as the fireflies. Fireflies 2020 - Elkmont Campground 6/11-14/2020. These fireflies are special because they synchronize — all lighting up at once! Fireflies are found on every continent except Antarctica. Elkmont Campground: Went for fireflies ... - See 174 traveler reviews, 184 candid photos, and great deals for Elkmont Campground at Tripadvisor. Successful applicants will be awarded a parking pass and charged $24 to help cover the cost of viewing supplies and nightly personnel to manage the viewing opportunity at Sugarlands Visitor Center and Elkmont. This will give you a little more flexibility in viewing the fireflies! I just dropped a reservation for 5/28-5/31 Memorial Day Weekend. There are 19 species of fireflies that live in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but Photinus […] With 220 sites you have many options for where you want to camp. If you’ve never visited to see the synchronous fireflies event at Elkmont, it’s time you do! If you book for fireflies, you will want to book a site that’s close to section N or you will have a nice walk to get to the location, we booked section G, so we had that nice walk. Elks basking in Snowfall and Sunshine, the Blue and Emerald hues of the Alpine lakes, the Oranges of the Aspens still tugging at the trees w... 14 Things to do in San Juan | Puerto Rico. However, to be able to see fireflies we camped 3 nights at Elkmont. This is a difficult reservation to get in early June because the synchronous fireflies make an annual appearance in the hills above the campground. Last year, almost 29,000 people from 50 states and 19 countries entered the lottery. In North America, there’s over 150 documented species of fireflies that have been found. Elkmont Campground is located just 8 miles from Gatlinburg inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Now you can make those memories with your kids at the synchronous Elkmont fireflies event in the Great Smoky Mountains. The synchronous fireflies at Elkmont put on quite a show each year which draws in thousands of visitors to the national park. Visit a Day or Two Before or After the Event. 600. They are the only species in America whose individuals can synchronize their flashing light patterns. Availability View. Make reservations online during summer or fall or call 877-444-6777, toll free. It is a bit of a walk from the campsite but you may be able to see pockets of fireflies within the campground. Elkmont – Area Recreation. In the national park alone, you can find over 19 species of fireflies. Elkmont Campground is the largest campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Between Friday, April 24, 2020 at 8 a.m. and Tuesday, April 28, 2020 at 8 p.m., visit http://www.recreation.gov/ for all official details and the application. There is no RV dump/fill station at Elkmont campground. Elite Member. The synchronous fireflies (the Elkmont fireflies) are only one of the species in the Smokies. The park holds a popular viewing event every year at Elkmont Campground, which thousands enter a lottery to attend. but if you happen to be early for Elkmont's bugs, you can try a lower elevation like Tremont, or higher if … Elkmont Campground is the largest and busiest campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with a total of 220 camping sites. Mysterious Synchronous Fireflies Due to popularity, the Elkmont campground closes access to all but registered campers or those with parking passes after 5:00 pm during the weeks of the firefly showing. Your entire life, you’ve probably been calling them “fireflies” or “lightning bugs.” But, in fact, they’re not flies or bugs at all–they’re actually beetles! The event has become so popular that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has had to limit the number of people that can view the fireflies each night. Visitor Tips and News About Mysterious Synchronous Fireflies. How Synchronous Fireflies Work. . … The reservations are non-refundable and we didn’t get selected in the lottery. Start as soon as is possible to get your reservations online for campsites as I am sure you already know. Availability View. But as if that is not enough, once a year, we are invited to witness a rare phenomenon that is seen in only a few places in the WORLD – The Elkmont Synchronous Fireflies! The firefly lottery system is for viewing the synchronous fireflies in the Elkmont area inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park outside of Gatlinburg, TN. There are a limited amount of passes, so they fill up quickly – reserve as soon as possible! The La Rogativa statue in San Juan Welcome to the birthplace of humble Pinacoladas ... Now you get the idea. Synchronous fireflies are one of only a few species in the world known to synchronize their flash patterns as part of their reproductive process. If it wasn't for winning the $300 Gi... Rocky Mountain National Park | Hikes, Drives, Camping. Number of Camp Sites: 220 Cost per night: $17-$23 Camping Policies | Other Campgrounds The campground … Winners will be assigned a date to attend the event during the results period. The males will fly and flash and the females, remaining stationary, will respond with a … While the park offers a limited number of passes to see the fireflies in this area, there are still chances to see the display in other areas of the park. Elkmont Campground is one of 10 frontcountry camping options inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In fact, if you’ve ever visited the Elkmont Campground, possibly to see the synchronous fireflies, or hiked the Little River Trail then you’ve probably noticed there are several abandoned historic buildings in Elkmont TN and this is the Elkmont Ghost Town he discovered. Elkmont is sort of centrally located and has trails from the campground (although we drove to other trailheads). We definitely recommend you plan your evening so you eat a good dinner before heading to the national park. Fireflies like humid environments, so these water area provide the moisture in the air that’s just what they need. We are in the same boat….would be happy to kick in some serious gas money…. East TN camping club General Camping > General Camping > ELKMONT FIREFLIES. For 2020, vehicle passes will be distributed through a lottery system. This is the event communication private page. Every year thousands of visitors gather near the popular Elkmont Campground to witness this harmonious magic. Synchronous fireflies light up the trees along a trail at the Elkmont Campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on June 3, 2019. Get the forecast for today, tonight & tomorrow's weather for Elkmont, TN. Every year, in late May and early June, the Elkmont fireflies (sometimes also referenced to as Sugarlands Visitor Center fireflies) in the Smoky Mountains National Park light up the sky. Some tips may not be verified. Official dates for the shuttle service to the viewing area for this year’s fireflies event have not yet been announced. Mysterious Synchronous Fireflies. Submit your own tip. Naturally, word has spread about the natural lights show. These fireflies are special because they synchronize — all lighting up at once! VIEWING DATES:When you can view synchronous fireflies at Elkmont; enter lottery for parking pass The lottery will open at 8 a.m. Friday, April 26, and close at … The National Park Service recommends visitors: If you need other details about the Elkmont fireflies event in the Smoky Mountains, you can visit the National Park Service website by clicking here. Great Smoky Mountains National Park announced it will be lights out this spring, as the yearly synchronous firefly display near the Elkmont Campground has been canceled. Every year, in late May and early June, the Elkmont fireflies (sometimes also referenced to as Sugarlands Visitor Center fireflies) in the Smoky Mountains National Park light up the sky. Campground reservations in the Smokies can be made six months in advance. During their two-week mating ritual, the synchronous fireflies at Elkmont flash in unison. The event is ever-popular, as I mentioned before, and thus they instituted a lottery system to obtain the parking passes for the shuttle period. Map & Directions Camping at Elkmont Campground is on a reservation basis. RELATED: On the hunt for synchronous fireflies in the Great Smokies. We want to be as close to the action as possible. Fireflies, or lightning bugs, can be found all over the eastern parts of North America, but the Great Smoky Mountains is one destination that attracts thousands of visitors year after year to see the Elkmont fireflies. Pack a foldable chair or blanket for the viewing area, Cover your flashlight with red or blue cellophane to prevent interrupting the fireflies, Stay on the trail at all times and don’t catch the fireflies, Pack up your garbage, and don’t leave it in the national park. In previous years, the parking passes would go on sale and would sell out quickly on a first come, first served basis. Share. The park sells a limited number of passes to the synchronous firefly viewings at the Elkmont Campground, the site where the flashing is most intense. Like the past couple of years, parking passes for viewing the Elkmont fireflies in the Smoky Mountains will be distributed through a lottery system. Click HERE for more information on the Synchronous Fireflies Event! The fireflies glow in the dark, each with a specific flashing pattern. ForumerDeletedUser. With 200 sites, the campground is easily the largest and busiest campground in the park. When a female becomes interested in a male, she will blink back from the ground. One of the biggest questions that gets asked is how do synchronous fireflies work or why they sync up. Like many species, fireflies can be found in all sorts of habitats, from wooded areas to open fields. When you visit to see the Elkmont fireflies, you’re actually watching these lightning bugs in their annual mating ritual. The lottery system is a randomized computer drawing system to select applications. Elkmont Campground does NOT have electric, water, or sewer hook-ups. Unless you have already reserved a spot in the Elkmont Campground, you will need to purchase a parking pass for the firefly shuttle from the Sugarlands parking lot to the Elkmont viewing area. Click here to get your free checklist of family friendly hikes in the smokies. ForumerDeletedUser. Which campsite/ location # should we choose? Answer 1 of 9: Does anyone know if there are fireflies showing up at Elkmont Campground yet? RV Parks. Each year, typically in the spring, the fireflies' reproductive display happens throughout the Southern Appalachians, putting on quite the show. Seems strange, right? It was a lot of fun even though I didn't get very good video of the fireflies. Good spacing between sites. As usual, the demand for parking passes exceeds the number of parking passes available, and interest in the event continues to grow each year. Naturally, word has spread about the natural lights show. The lottery for the synchronous fireflies display at Elkmont has come and gone. Access to the Elkmont area has been limited to shuttle service since 2006 in order to reduce traffic congestion and provide a safe viewing experience for visitors that minimizes disturbance to the fireflies during this critical 2-week mating period. It is the closest campground to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. This year, there will be a total of 1,800 vehicle passes available for the event. Fireflies (also … Elkmont is the place to be to view the fireflies which is located within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Due to popularity, the Elkmont campground closes access to all but registered campers or those with parking passes after 5:00 pm during the … There is a $2 fee per person to ride the shuttle. Smoky Mountain Photos from Visit My Smokies, Top 6 Bakeries in Pigeon Forge and Sevierville You Can’t Miss, Top 7 Facts About Dolly Parton to Celebrate Her Birthday, Top 7 Things to Do in Pigeon Forge With Kids, 9 Fun Ways to Celebrate Smoky Mountain Winterfest 2020 [Plus Winterfest Kickoff Information], 6 Exciting Things to Do in the Smoky Mountains in September You Don’t Want to Miss, Rhonda Vincent to Headline Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival in Smoky Mountains, 2017 Dollywood Festival Schedule Announced, There will be a 3-day period open for visitors to apply to receive a parking pass. Fireflies 2020 - Elkmont Campground 6/11-14/2020. Unfortunately, not everyone can be accommodated for the event since, typically, the number of people entering for a parking pass is much greater than the number of passes available. If you missed your chance to enter or were not awarded a pass, don't be too disappointed. In the United States, when you travel west of the Rocky Mountains, chances are you’ll see very few glowing fireflies, if you are lucky enough to see any at all! To ride the trolley to Elkmont to see the fireflies, you'll have to purchase a parking pass for the synchronous firefly display. Elkmont Campground is the largest campground offering in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is cash only, so please bring exact change. Parking passes are non-refundable, non-transferable, and good only for the individual issue date. The fireflies are best viewed in late May or early June. It is also ground zero if you want to see the amazing synchronous fireflies (or lightning bugs) light up the sky. There is a limit of one lottery application per household per season. Every year in late May or early June, thousands of visitors gather near the Elkmont Campground located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, to witness the naturally occurring phenomenon of “Photinus carolinas,” a firefly species known for flashing synchronously. Should be during fireflies. Since the national park has released its official … Explore Elkmont Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee with Recreation.gov. All visitors hoping to view the fireflies during these dates must have a parking pass distributed by the annual lottery. Clean bathrooms with cold running water and a utility sink. In the past the historical district of Elkmont was a pioneer community, a Results of the lottery will be determined on May 7, 2020. Advance parking passes are free and available online on a first come basis (limited number day-of passes available at location). The cost of this is only $2.75 for a vehicle carrying 6 passengers.However, the park service distributes the parking passes via a lottery system due to overwhelming demand to view the fireflies. You can expect the event to last between 3-4 hours (from the time you park to the time you arrive back to your car). Elkmont TN Ghost Town History . No crowds will watch them this year. There is no fee to enter the lottery in 2020. You will also choose 2 possible dates that you will be able to attend over the event period. Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have announced this year’s dates for firefly viewing in Elkmont. All applications will go through a randomized lottery system to determine results. To ensure that the natural habitat of the fireflies remains intact, the NPS has implemented a lottery system to score parking passes and shuttle rides out to a firefly viewing area. At an elevation of 2,150 feet, the area enjoys a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. We were lucky enough to hear about the Fireflies at Elkmont, and we jumped on the opportunity and went. The Elkmont fireflies are an incredible phenomenon - a huge population of fireflies come together at Elkmont (and all across the Smokies for that matter) and perform what can best be described as a "synchronized light show". Therefore, the ONLY two ways to see the synchronous fireflies at Elkmont is by getting your campsite like I did or get the parking passes through the lottery system. And, of course, we have plenty of Elkmont fireflies lighting up the sky during the annual synchronous fireflies event. I only want to say that your method of telling yours thoughts about the topics are very interesting and amazing. Don’t you remember running outside on those hot summer nights to watch the fireflies light up all around you? The Elkmont fireflies are an incredible phenomenon - a huge population of fireflies come together at Elkmont (and all across the Smokies for that matter) and perform what can best be described as a "synchronized light show". Parking passes are required to see the Elkmont fireflies. Park officials will run shuttles into the area to see the fireflies from May 30 through June 6. Located eight miles from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Elkmont Campground is the largest and busiest campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See 11 traveler reviews, 25 photos and 5 blog posts. To learn more about other great events in the area, take a look at our Smoky Mountain events calendar. We want to reserve a camping site at the Elkmont Campgrounds for our Honeymoon so that we can enjoy the fireflies and the Great Smokies from the ground instead of a cabin. Fireflies have been bringing families together for hundreds of years. However, it is surrounded by extensive history, river access, hiking trails and is also home to world famous synchronized fireflies. All lottery applicants will be notified by e-mail on May 7 that they were “successful” and awarded a parking pass or “unsuccessful” and not able to secure a parking pass. It’s located about 6 miles from the Sugarlands Visitor Center and is one of the park’s more centrally located campgrounds. What Are My Chances of Getting a Parking Pass? It is also ground zero if you want to see the amazing synchronous fireflies (or lightning bugs) light up the sky. Synchronous fireflies (Photinus carolinus) are one of at least 19 species of fireflies that live in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Arrival times will be assigned to lottery winners to relieve traffic congestion. To ensure that the natural habitat of the fireflies remains intact, the NPS has implemented a lottery system to score parking passes and shuttle rides out to a firefly viewing area. The fireflies in the Smokies -- unlike most fireflies -- light up in unison. 63 likes. That paved road is trail. Take note that the application will not be visible online until the lottery is open. Elkmont Campground is an ideal basecamp to visit the wonders of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Share with: Link: Copy link. We made reservations for May 31 to June 6 in the hopes of seeing the fireflies. 1636 Articles to Help You Plan & Better Experience the Smoky Mountains. This is the event communication private page. The campground is the largest and busiest campground in the park. There is a road near the entrance to Elkmont which winds up into the woods, and that's where the fireflies are best watched (at least in our experience). The fireflies in the Smokies -- unlike most fireflies -- light up in unison. Synchronous Fireflies | Elkmont Campground, Little... Cades Cove | Scenic Loop Drive and Campground. Flying is damn cheap this time of the year! Elkmont Campground: Synchronized Fireflies - See 173 traveller reviews, 187 candid photos, and great deals for Elkmont Campground at Tripadvisor. Since there have been so many people interested in the event in recent years, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has distributed parking passes (which allow you to be a part of the event) through a lottery system. Lottery winners will be charged a $1 application fee. Viewing for the synchronous fireflies is in Elkmont. VIEWING DATES:When you can view synchronous fireflies at Elkmont; enter lottery for parking pass The lottery will open at 8 a.m. Friday, April 26, … I know the trolleys don't start running for the event until June 6, but we are camping there this weekend and hope we'll be able to see some. Went camping with Will and Dawn. Elkmont during the synchronized fireflies: Elkmont Campground - See 174 traveller reviews, 190 photos, and cheap deals for Elkmont Campground at Tripadvisor. Elkmont is a region situated in the upper Little River Valley of the Great Smoky Mountains of Sevier County, in the U.S. state of Tennessee.Throughout its history, the valley has been home to a pioneer Appalachian community, a logging town, and a resort community. the average peak activity at Elkmont's elevation is the 2nd week of June. The Elkmont Campground is named for the abandoned resort town it sits next to. All entries will be accepted from Friday, April 24, 2020 at 8 a.m. until Tuesday, April 28, 2020 at 8 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time). the key to seeing the fireflies is timing. | Photo: Anna Hider. The parking pass permits parking at Sugarlands Visitor Center and allows guests to ride the shuttle to the Elkmont viewing area. Thankfully, we’ve got plenty of glowing lightning bugs in the Smoky Mountain area! There is a great camp store next to the campground that has supplies, ice cream, ice, and firewood. You must obtain a parking permit from the national park service to view the Synchronous Fireflies at Elkmont. The annual "light show" that draws thousands of people to see rare synchronous fireflies at Elkmont in the Great Smoky Mountains is canceled for 2020. The first trolley usually leaves the Sugarlands Visitor Center parking lot around 7 PM. https://www.ankionthemove.com/2019/06/synchronous-fireflies-elkmont.html This parking pass gives your vehicle access to the parking lot at Sugarlands Visitor Center on the evening of your visit. Thanks for this amazing article. Have a beautiful day!Nifty Tips.Nifty Future Tips.Nifty Futures Tips.Future Tips.Nifty Abbreviation. Is there any online site where people who may not have 6 on their car offer to take others into the visitor center? Elkmont is strictly an overnight campground; there are no day-use facilities. I … We joined the crowds walking up the road. The Photinus carolinus, also known as Elkmont fireflies are synchronous fireflies (meaning they flash in unison) that dwell in Great Smoky Mountains Naional Park. On average, the National Park Service typically allows about 2,000 persons per night for their viewing at Elkmont. The annual flickering of these rare fireflies signals the beginning of their mating season during which hundreds of nearby males will simultaneously shine their lights in the hope of attracting a mate. The nearest RV dump/fill station is located across from Sugarlands Visitor Center approximately 6 miles from Elkmont. A select group of people from all over the world get to watch as synchronous fireflies take over the Elkmont Campground in the Great … The trolleys will begin returning from Elkmont when filled to capacity, which will likely be after 9:30 p.m. The synchronized display is actually a mating ritual in which the male attracts the female by flashing a yellow-green light twice per second, in timed bursts of four to eight flashes. The river is on the left side. Elkmont is just outside of Gatlinburg past the Sugar Lands Visitors Center towards Townsend. 65 likes. During the “event,” Elkmont is closed at a certain time at night with the exception of shuttle users and campers in Elkmont Campground. Female fireflies don’t do too much flying, and they stay near the ground, so the males are usually the ones lighting up the sky. Unfortunately, not all fireflies light up the dark night sky! Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. A bit of helpful information if you’re searching to find fireflies: look near water. This busy campground is huge with loops A-N. We stayed in Loop A and although our site did not back up to the creek, we could easily hear it. It’s difficult to determine your odds because we don’t know how many people will submit an application. ... After parking your vehicle, you and your group will ride the trolley to the Elkmont campground area. 3 nights. The trolley ride to Elkmont to view the Gatlinburg synchronous fireflies costs $2 per person for a roundtrip fare and is cash only in exact change. but you only have a two week window, and it could happen anywhere between mid-May and mid-June, so it's easy to miss the synchronous bugs. 600. The flashing is actually a mating ritual unique to this species of fireflies. The ONLY site you need to plan your Smoky Mountain vacation. There are 2 of us and we would love to see if we could make arrangements with somebody with room. Are you allowed to take a taxi there and not use the parking? 8 posts ELKMONT FIREFLIES ELKMONT FIREFLIES. Of course, the Elkmont fireflies have made their home in the forest of the Smoky Mountains! In fact, they are the only species in America who can synchronize their light patterns, so it’s quite a sight! Elkmont Campground is an ideal basecamp to visit the wonders of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.