The synchronous fireflies (the Elkmont fireflies) are only one of the species in the Smokies. 600. The fireflies in the Smokies -- unlike most fireflies -- light up in unison. Submit your own tip. A bit of helpful information if you’re searching to find fireflies: look near water. Like many species, fireflies can be found in all sorts of habitats, from wooded areas to open fields. 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. The nearest RV dump/fill station is located across from Sugarlands Visitor Center approximately 6 miles from Elkmont. Are you allowed to take a taxi there and not use the parking? Campground reservations in the Smokies can be made six months in advance. 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. 8 posts ELKMONT FIREFLIES ELKMONT FIREFLIES. In the application process, you will apply for a regular pass or a large-vehicle pass. 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". 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. Visitor Tips and News About Mysterious Synchronous Fireflies. Synchronous Fireflies | Elkmont Campground, Little... Cades Cove | Scenic Loop Drive and Campground. Availability View. Fireflies (also … Elkmont is the place to be to view the fireflies which is located within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are a limited amount of passes, so they fill up quickly – reserve as soon as possible! Hi/Low, RealFeel®, precip, radar, & everything you need to be ready for the day, commute, and weekend! There is a great camp store next to the campground that has supplies, ice cream, ice, and firewood. Have a beautiful day!Nifty Tips.Nifty Future Tips.Nifty Futures Tips.Future Tips.Nifty Abbreviation. Number of Camp Sites: 220 Cost per night: $17-$23 Camping Policies | Other Campgrounds The campground … 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. Arrival times will be assigned to lottery winners to relieve traffic congestion. 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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. Naturally, word has spread about the natural lights show. The Elkmont Campground is named for the abandoned resort town it sits next to. A select group of people from all over the world get to watch as synchronous fireflies take over the Elkmont Campground in the Great … https://www.ankionthemove.com/2019/06/synchronous-fireflies-elkmont.html Fireflies like humid environments, so these water area provide the moisture in the air that’s just what they need. 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. The La Rogativa statue in San Juan Welcome to the birthplace of humble Pinacoladas ... Now you get the idea. 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). All the Details You Need: 2020 Synchronous Elkmont Fireflies Event in the Smoky Mountains. 63 likes. Winners will be assigned a date to attend the event during the results period. There are 19 species of fireflies that live in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but Photinus […] 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. You must obtain a parking permit from the national park service to view the Synchronous Fireflies at Elkmont. Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have announced this year’s dates for firefly viewing in Elkmont. The trolleys will begin returning from Elkmont when filled to capacity, which will likely be after 9:30 p.m. Since the national park has released its official … 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. Elkmont Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg Tennessee. Share with: Link: Copy link. The fireflies are best viewed in late May or early June. Results of the lottery will be determined on May 7, 2020. Last year, almost 29,000 people from 50 states and 19 countries entered the lottery. With 200 sites, the campground is easily the largest and busiest campground in the park. Hope someone on here wants it. 65 likes. 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, … 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. 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. . For 2020, vehicle passes will be distributed through a lottery system. 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. This will give you a little more flexibility in viewing the 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 … Explore Elkmont Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee with Recreation.gov. It is also ground zero if you want to see the amazing synchronous fireflies (or lightning bugs) light up the sky. 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. Good spacing between sites. 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. On average, the National Park Service typically allows about 2,000 persons per night for their viewing at Elkmont. Synchronous fireflies light up the trees along a trail at the Elkmont Campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on June 3, 2019. It is cash only, so please bring exact change. 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. Fireflies 2020 - Elkmont Campground 6/11-14/2020. Elkmont Campground does NOT have electric, water, or sewer hook-ups. The flashing is actually a mating ritual unique to this species of fireflies. 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. I only want to say that your method of telling yours thoughts about the topics are very interesting and amazing. Should be during fireflies. We definitely recommend you plan your evening so you eat a good dinner before heading to the national park. These fireflies are special because they synchronize — all lighting up at once! The lottery system is a randomized computer drawing system to select applications. 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. Map & Directions Camping at Elkmont Campground is on a reservation basis. That paved road is trail. 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. Lottery winners will be charged a $1 application fee. One of the biggest questions that gets asked is how do synchronous fireflies work or why they sync up. In the past the historical district of Elkmont was a pioneer community, a … RELATED: On the hunt for synchronous fireflies in the Great Smokies. This is a difficult reservation to get in early June because the synchronous fireflies make an annual appearance in the hills above the campground. It was a lot of fun even though I didn't get very good video of the fireflies. Some tips may not be verified. However, to be able to see fireflies we camped 3 nights at Elkmont. When you visit to see the Elkmont fireflies, you’re actually watching these lightning bugs in their annual mating ritual. 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! Advance parking passes are free and available online on a first come basis (limited number day-of passes available at location). If you’ve never visited to see the synchronous fireflies event at Elkmont, it’s time you do! In fact, they are the only species in America who can synchronize their light patterns, so it’s quite a sight! At an elevation of 2,150 feet, the area enjoys a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. Each year, typically in the spring, the fireflies' reproductive display happens throughout the Southern Appalachians, putting on quite the show. You will also choose 2 possible dates that you will be able to attend over the event period. Parking passes are required to see the Elkmont fireflies. Elkmont is sort of centrally located and has trails from the campground (although we drove to other trailheads). Seems strange, right? Fireflies have been bringing families together for hundreds of years. It is the closest campground to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. 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. Unfortunately, not all fireflies light up the dark night sky! Don’t you remember running outside on those hot summer nights to watch the fireflies light up all around you? The parking pass permits parking at Sugarlands Visitor Center and allows guests to ride the shuttle to the Elkmont viewing area. But why? In the national park alone, you can find over 19 species of fireflies. How Synchronous Fireflies Work. 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. 1636 Articles to Help You Plan & Better Experience the Smoky Mountains. Elkmont Campground is one of 10 frontcountry camping options inside the 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. Clean bathrooms with cold running water and a utility sink. RV Parks. the key to seeing the fireflies is timing. The campground is the largest and busiest campground in the park. They are the only species in America whose individuals can synchronize their flashing light patterns. Elkmont Campground: Synchronized Fireflies - See 173 traveller reviews, 187 candid photos, and great deals for Elkmont Campground at Tripadvisor. All applications will go through a randomized lottery system to determine results. Start as soon as is possible to get your reservations online for campsites as I am sure you already know. Like the past couple of years, parking passes for viewing the Elkmont fireflies in the Smoky Mountains will be distributed through a lottery system. 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. In previous years, the parking passes would go on sale and would sell out quickly on a first come, first served basis. The fireflies in the Smokies -- unlike most fireflies -- light up in unison. 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. I … Fireflies 2020 - Elkmont Campground 6/11-14/2020. Elkmont Campground is an ideal basecamp to visit the wonders of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Official dates for the shuttle service to the viewing area for this year’s fireflies event have not yet been announced. Of course, the Elkmont fireflies have made their home in the forest of the Smoky Mountains! Thanks for this amazing article. | Photo: Anna Hider. 3 nights. This year, there will be a total of 1,800 vehicle passes available for the event. No crowds will watch them this year. Synchronous fireflies (Photinus carolinus) are one of at least 19 species of fireflies that live in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Every year thousands of visitors gather near the popular Elkmont Campground to witness this harmonious magic. In North America, there’s over 150 documented species of fireflies that have been found. And, of course, we have plenty of Elkmont fireflies lighting up the sky during the annual synchronous fireflies event. 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. We want to be as close to the action as possible. Fireflies are found on every continent except Antarctica. However, it is surrounded by extensive history, river access, hiking trails and is also home to world famous synchronized fireflies. Flying is damn cheap this time of the year! What Are My Chances of Getting a Parking Pass? Take note that the application will not be visible online until the lottery is open. ForumerDeletedUser. 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. Now you can make those memories with your kids at the synchronous Elkmont fireflies event in the Great Smoky Mountains. There is a $2 fee per person to ride the shuttle. There is a limit of one lottery application per household per season. 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. Elkmont Campground is located just 8 miles from Gatlinburg inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is also ground zero if you want to see the amazing synchronous fireflies (or lightning bugs) light up the sky. 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. Make reservations online during summer or fall or call 877-444-6777, toll free. The lottery for the synchronous fireflies display at Elkmont has come and gone. Explore Elkmont Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee with Recreation.gov. We are in the same boat….would be happy to kick in some serious gas money…. We made reservations for May 31 to June 6 in the hopes of seeing the fireflies. With 220 sites you have many options for where you want to camp. We joined the crowds walking up the road. but if you happen to be early for Elkmont's bugs, you can try a lower elevation like Tremont, or higher if … Synchronous fireflies are one of only a few species in the world known to synchronize their flash patterns as part of their reproductive process. Visit a Day or Two Before or After the Event. The reservations are non-refundable and we didn’t get selected in the lottery. When a female becomes interested in a male, she will blink back from the ground. 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). We were lucky enough to hear about the Fireflies at Elkmont, and we jumped on the opportunity and went. The first trolley usually leaves the Sugarlands Visitor Center parking lot around 7 PM. Elkmont Campground: Went for fireflies ... - See 174 traveler reviews, 184 candid photos, and great deals for Elkmont Campground at Tripadvisor. This parking pass gives your vehicle access to the parking lot at Sugarlands Visitor Center on the evening of your visit. The park holds a popular viewing event every year at Elkmont Campground, which thousands enter a lottery to attend. Parking passes are non-refundable, non-transferable, and good only for the individual issue date. Elkmont – Area Recreation. Elkmont is pretty much full during the summer season regardless of any extra such as the fireflies. ... After parking your vehicle, you and your group will ride the trolley to the Elkmont campground area. To learn more about other great events in the area, take a look at our Smoky Mountain events calendar. 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 Photinus carolinus, also known as Elkmont fireflies are synchronous fireflies (meaning they flash in unison) that dwell in Great Smoky Mountains Naional Park. 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". Went camping with Will and Dawn. | Photo: Anna Hider. 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