Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles Tennessee and North Carolina. The mountains are part of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Appalachian Mountain range.
Covered in woods, laced with rivers, dotted with waterfalls and often shrouded in the haze that gives it its name, it is an incredibly beautiful place to explore in every season. Hiking is a major activity here, and part of the famous Appalachian Trail crosses through the park. It is America’s most visited park, seeing over 12 millions visitors each year.
Table of Contents
Great Smoky Mountains National Park at a Glance
⭐ States: Tennessee and North Carolina
⭐ Main attractions: Forests, waterfalls, wildflowers, fall foliage
🛏️TOP HOTEL PICK: Check availability now
🚘FIND THE CHEAPEST CAR RENTAL: Search Discover Cars for the best deals
✈️FIND THE CHEAPEST FLIGHTS: Search Skyscanner for the best deals
🧳GET TRAVEL INSURANCE: Get insured with Travelex before you go
📱TAKE AN AUDIO TOUR: Buy an audio tour now
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Travel Guide
Planning a trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park can be overwhelming – but it doesn’t have to be. Use this Great Smoky Mountains National Park guide for all your trip planning. Click on the links below to go to detailed guides and answers to your questions.
How to Plan a Trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The park is not only the most popular park in the US, it’s also large, so you need to plan your trip carefully.
Read More: 10 TIPS FOR VISITING GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
This guide will help you with what you should AVOID doing when you plan a trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Read More: 7 MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN PLANNING A TRIP TO GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
Entrance Fee for Great Smoky Mountains National Park
There is no entrance fee for the park. It’s one of only 16 National Parks that is free to enter.
However, you will need a parking tag if you want to park anywhere in the park for more than 15 minutes.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Visitor Centers
There are several Visitor Centers.
ℹ️ The Sugarlands Visitor Center is near Gatlinburg TN and is convenient for the park’s North District. It’s open year-round except Christmas Day, but hours vary seasonally.
ℹ️ The Oconaluftee Visitor Center is near Cherokee NC and is convenient for the park’s South District. It’s open year-round except Christmas Day, but hours vary seasonally.
ℹ️ The Cades Cove Visitor Center is located roughly half-way through the Cades Cove Loop Road. It’s open year-round except Christmas Day, but hours vary seasonally.
ℹ️ The Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome) Visitor Center is located at the top of Kuwohi, the tallest peak in the Smokies. It’s closed December – early April.
There are also two historic gristmills: Cable Mill in Cades Cove and Mingus Mill near Oconaluftee.
Best Tours of Great Smoky Mountains
🎧 Get a self-guided audio tour of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Best Hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
There are some really great hikes, ranging from very easy to challenging.
Read More: BEST HIKES IN GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
Where to Stay In and Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Lodges Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park
🛏️ LeConte Lodge is the only lodging inside the national park. It sits atop Mount LeConte, the park’s third highest peak, and is only accessible by foot. It’s generally open from mid-March through mid-November.
Campgrounds Inside Mount Rainier National Park
⛺ There are ten front country/ developed campgrounds inside the national park.
⛺ There are also plenty of opportunities for backcountry camping (with a permit)
Accommodations Outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park
There are plenty of great vacation rental properties around Gatlinburg, TN.
Read More: BEST VACATION RENTALS NEAR GATLINBURG
The main gateway towns are Gatlinburg in Tennessee and Bryson City and Cherokee in North Carolina.
➡️ Find a hotel in Gatlinburg on Expedia.
➡️ Find more vacation rentals in or near Gatlinburg on VRBO.
➡️ Find a hotel on the North Carolina side on Expedia.
➡️ Find a vacation rental on the North Carolina side on VRBO.
How to Get To Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The most common ways to get to Great Smoky Mountains National Park are to drive or fly to a nearby airport and pick up a rental car there.
Read More: HOW TO GET TO GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
🚗 If you need a rental car, find one on RentalsCars.com
✈️ If you’re looking for a flight, find a good deal on Skyscanner
The Nearest Airports to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
See all the airports near Great Smoky Mountains National Park with the pros and cons of each of them.
Read More: THE AIRPORTS NEAR GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
This is the closest airport to each side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Read More: THE NEAREST AIRPORT TO GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
✈️ If you’re looking for flights, use Skyscanner to scan the Internet for the cheapest deals.
How to Get Around Great Smoky Mountains National Park
There are no NPS shuttles in Great Smoky Mountains National Park; however, there are several private companies that offer shuttles to various points in the national park. These can be a great alternative to driving and trying to find a parking space.
Parking is limited, but driving does give you flexibility. Be sure to get a parking tag though!
🚗 If you need a rental car, find one on RentalsCars.com
The Best Time to Visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The park is open all year.
A quick summary of the best time to visit the national park for different interests and priorities.
Read More: BEST TIME TO VISIT GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
Take a look at what the park’s like in each season and month to help you decide when to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Read More: VISITING GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
How Long to Spend in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
How many days you should go to Great Smoky Mountains National Park for depends on when you have time off, how much time you have, your budget, and your interests. However, I recommend at least three days too see the main park highlights and do some hikes.
Travel Insurance for Great Smoky Mountains National Park
In addition to working out the logistics of your trip using this travel guide, Great Smoky Mountains National Park planning should also include travel insurance. Protect yourself against trip cancellation, loss or theft of your property, or any medical emergencies.
A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can compare Travel Insurance plans here or get a quote right now:
To save this guide to Great Smoky Mountains National Park for later, Pin It to your National Parks board:
About the Author
James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.
He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and most of the national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.
Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for many of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, and other resources will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.
As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including USA Today, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.