Spence Cabin

Star0.15
42 reviews
500 Elkmont Road, Gatlinburg, TN

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Year-round

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Unknown

Pets

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Spence Cabin
No fees available
Campsite Fees
Standard Site Fee$0.00
Hookup Site Fee$0.00
Premium Site Fee$0.00
Hike and Bike Site Fee$0.00
Group Site Fee$0.00
Food Storage Locker Fee$0.00
Total Campsite Fees$0.00

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What Campers Say

0.15

Mixed Reviews

Based on 42 reviews

Most mentioned

cleanhiking

"Reviewers overwhelmingly love Spence Cabin, consistently giving it 5/5 stars and describing it as a beautiful, peaceful, and uniquely charming venue. Most feedback centers on small weddings and gatherings, highlighting the riverside setting, historic character, and suitability for intimate events rather than overnight camping."

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Best Time to Camp at Spence Cabin

Spence Cabin embraces its historic character with authentic lighting that echoes its storied past, creating an atmosphere of rustic charm throughout your stay. The main room features a cozy gas fireplace for cooler evenings, while ceiling fans in both the main space and screened porch offer gentle relief during warmer months. Without modern climate control, the cabin invites you to experience the mountains as early visitors did, connecting with the natural rhythms of the seasons.

Spring (Mar-May)

Wildflowers bloom, mild temperatures, fewer crowds. Great for hiking and photography.

Best
Summer (Jun-Aug)

Peak season with warm days. Most facilities open. Reserve ahead.

Fall (Sep-Nov)

Beautiful fall colors, cooler temps, quieter campgrounds. Ideal for peaceful trips.

Winter (Dec-Feb)

Off-season, limited services. Check for closures before visiting.

Planning Tips

    About Spence Cabin

    Nestled in the heart of the Elkmont Historic District, Spence Cabin offers an intimate mountain retreat where history meets celebration. This charming facility welcomes small family gatherings, corporate meetings, and memorable weddings with its cozy meeting rooms, warming kitchen, and a delightful 192-square-foot screened porch overlooking the Little River's tranquil waters.
    Spence Cabin is a historic cabin facility intended for small-group use (gatherings, meetings, reunions, weddings) rather than typical tent/RV campsites.
    Historical SignificanceStep back in time at Spence Cabin, a treasured piece of Appalachian heritage within the Elkmont Historic District, recognized on the National Register of Historic Places since 1994. This authentic cabin shares its valley with numerous other historic structures, each telling stories of the families and communities who once called these mountains home. The district stands as a testament to the early 20th-century logging and resort era that shaped the Smokies, offering visitors a tangible connection to the region's rich past.
    Weather and SeasonsSpence Cabin embraces its historic character with authentic lighting that echoes its storied past, creating an atmosphere of rustic charm throughout your stay. The main room features a cozy gas fireplace for cooler evenings, while ceiling fans in both the main space and screened porch offer gentle relief during warmer months. Without modern climate control, the cabin invites you to experience the mountains as early visitors did, connecting with the natural rhythms of the seasons.
    ElevationThe cabin rests in a serene valley setting where Jakes Creek joins the Little River, cradled within the lush montane alluvial forest that thrives along these historic floodplains. This relatively flat, narrow valley provides easy access and gentle terrain, making it an ideal gathering spot for visitors of all ages and abilities.
    Natural Features and SceneryDiscover Spence Cabin cradled in a serene valley where Jakes Creek flows into the Little River, creating a lush montane alluvial forest that thrives in the rich floodplain soils. Ancient trees tower overhead while the gentle rush of mountain water provides a constant, soothing soundtrack to your stay. The valley feels like nature's own amphitheater, with dramatic ridges rising on all sides—Sugarland Mountain standing guard to the east, Meigs Mountain to the west, Blanket Mountain to the south, and Cove Mountain completing the embrace to the north. This protected pocket of wilderness offers both intimacy and grandeur, where you're surrounded by peaks yet settled in peaceful lowlands.
    Geological RegionThe cabin rests in a narrow valley carved by millennia of flowing water, where Jakes Creek joins the Little River in a landscape shaped by ancient geological forces. This montane alluvial forest thrives in the fertile floodplains, nestled between four distinctive mountain ridges—Sugarland, Meigs, Blanket, and Cove Mountains—that create a natural sanctuary within the Smokies.
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    Campsite details

    AccessibilityMost of the cabin is accessible; one bathroom is accessible; the riverside patio is not accessible.
    Sites SizeCabin (meeting facility)
    Total Campsitesnull campsites
    Recommended CampsitesParking for nine cars is located about 100 yards from the cabin, with two additional spaces at the cabin; guests planning events should consider bringing extra seating, cooking/warming equipment, and outdoor furniture as furnishings are limited.

    Best Campsites

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    Reserving a campsite

    Groups
    • Advertised as ideal for small family gatherings, family reunions, meetings, training sessions, or small weddings/receptions
    • contains multiple meeting rooms and outdoor patios for group use.
    Tents
    Tents are not allowed
    RV vehicles
    RV vehicles are not allowed
    Primitive
    Primitive are not allowed
    Reservable
    Reservations are not allowed

    Site layoutThe cabin contains four small meeting rooms (118 to 165 sq ft), one larger room (432 sq ft) with a gas fireplace, a warming kitchen, two bathrooms (one accessible), a screened porch (192 sq ft), riverside and stone patios, and parking in a nearby loop. The building has no central heat or air conditioning but has ceiling fans in the main room and screened porch and a gas fireplace in the main room. Most of the cabin is accessible except the riverside patio.

    Accomodation available

    GroupGroup campsites are offered for larger parties such as families, schools, or organizations. These sites provide space and facilities to accommodate multiple people camping together.
    Cabin lodgingCabin lodging is available for campers seeking a more sheltered and comfortable experience. These enclosed accommodations offer protection from the elements and are ideal for those who prefer not to camp in tents.

    Amenities available

    Lodging and accommodations
    Flush toilets
    Electricity hookups

    Activities you can enjoy

    Recreation opportunities center on hiking and fishing within and near the Elkmont Historic District, with access to river-side scenery and a self-guided nature trail. The site is adjacent to natural features of the Little River valley and historic cabins.
    Hiking
    Numerous hiking trails are within or near Elkmont including the Little River, Jakes Creek and Laurel Falls Trails; the lower Little River Trail is an old roadbed and relatively easy to hike, and the Laurel Falls Trail is paved and accessible. The self-guided Elkmont Nature Trail is nearby.
    Fishing
    Fishing is popular both above and below Elkmont on the Little River.
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    Campground rules

    • Pets are not allowed
    • The main meeting room has a gas fireplace. No cook stove is available in the warming kitchen; electrical outlets may be used for warming devices. The facility notes guests may bring a portable gas barbecue grill (policy details not specified).

    Hazards

    General hazardsThe site is located within floodplain areas of the Little River and Bearwallow Creek (montane alluvial forest at the confluence of Jakes Creek and the Little River). Most of the cabin is accessible except for the riverside patio.

    Weather at Spence Cabin

    32
    °F
    Dec 11
    Thursday
    Overcast
    Precipitation: 0%
    Humidity: 85%
    Wind: 7.5 mph
    Overcast

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    Good to know

    Proximity to water featuresThe screened porch (192 sq ft) and stone patio face the Little River; a smaller patio is located on the bank of the Little River. The site is at the confluence of Jakes Creek and the Little River.

    Campground Map

    500 Elkmont Road, Gatlinburg, TN
    Driving directionsDrive south from Gatlinburg, TN on Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) for 1.7 miles and turn right onto Little River Road toward Cades Cove. Proceed 5 miles to Elkmont Campground road and turn left. Go 1.4 miles and turn left just before the campground office (sign says Elkmont Nature Trail 0.3, Little River Trail 0.6 and Jakes Creek Trail). After crossing the bridge, take the second left into the parking lot; parking for Spence Cabin will be on your right as you make the loop through the parking lot.
    Access via Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) from Gatlinburg, then Little River Road to Elkmont Campground road; follow local campground signage to the parking loop.
    Nearby places
    Gatlinburg (directions reference starting point and 1.7 miles on Newfound Gap Road)

    Reviews from booking and map sources

    0.2
    42 reviews
    Mixed Reviews
    Mixed Reviews
    Spence Cabin has mixed reviews, placing it in the bottom 85% of campgrounds based on reviews
    Reviewers overwhelmingly love Spence Cabin, consistently giving it 5/5 stars and describing it as a beautiful, peaceful, and uniquely charming venue. Most feedback centers on small weddings and gatherings, highlighting the riverside setting, historic character, and suitability for intimate events rather than overnight camping.
    Review Summaries
    Based on 42 reviews

    What Campers Love

    Guests praise the gorgeous setting along the river/creek, with stone patios and porches that make ceremonies, photos, and picnics feel idyllic and intimate. The cabin’s historic pink exterior, quaint...
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    Based on 42 reviews

    Common Concerns

    The most frequent concern is lack of modern amenities: no cell service, no air conditioning, no mirrors anywhere in the cabin, and limited/indirect heating (only a gas fireplace on a timer). Several...
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    Based on 42 reviews

    Pro Tips & Recommendations

    Reviewers strongly recommend downloading directions/GPS in advance and arranging transportation or clear parking/direction instructions for guests due to no cell reception and limited parking. For...
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    Based on 42 reviews

    Seasonal Insights

    Several reviews note that the river and tree shade help keep the area cooler in hot, humid summer months, and mid‑May events were described as comfortable even without A/C. On cold or drizzly days,...
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    Based on 42 reviews

    Camper Quotes

    "Spence Cabin was the most perfect location for our wedding that I could’ve dreamed of. The fact that it’s right by the river and shaded by trees that it helped keep the area cool in the middle of...
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    Based on 42 reviews

    Site-Specific Reviews

    All detailed site reviews are for Spence Cabin itself (Loop: SPENCE CABIN) on Recreation.gov; there are no numbered campsites. Reviewers consistently describe it as ideal for small weddings and...
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    Based on 42 reviews

    Camper Reviews by Outdoorithm campers

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    Last updated December 10, 2025
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