With halves in North Carolina and Tennessee, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited National Park in the U.S. Over 520,000 acres to wander, families can camp, hike or take a scenic drive. It also changes with the seasons. From spring wildflowers painting the forest floor to the synchronous fireflies that dazzle with a light show in the summer. The fall foliage attracts leaf peepers from all corners. Finally, the winter offers a snow-draped landscape to explore. Like any national park visit, planning is important. Here are the top things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Top Things to Do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Stop at a Visitor Center.
Visit a Few of the Top Areas
Take a Scenic Drive.
Hike in the Smokies.
See a waterfall.
Bike along a trail.
Take a horseback ride.
Earn a Junior Ranger Badge.
See some wildlife.
Camp in one of the campgrounds.
Why Visit the Great Smoky Mountains
This might be one of the top 10 most visited national parks; however, it doesn’t feel crowded. As a mountain park, I recommend taking a scenic drive through the Smokies. Another must-do is hiking to one of its waterfalls.
I recommend learning about the people of Appalachian and the Appalachian Mountains. If the weather is clear, then I recommend driving up to Clingman’s Dome to see for miles.
With its easy access to popular gateway areas of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, it is easy to day-trip into the park.
Visitor Centers in the Great Smoky Mountains
Travelers will find four visitor centers across the park. This is the place to grab maps or junior ranger booklets. Most visitor centers feature interpretive areas.
Staffed with Park Rangers, visitors can learn about seasonal park ranger programming. This is also where restrooms and refillable water stations are located.
Sugarlands Visitor Center
This is the main visitor center in the northern part of the park. Visitors will find an interpretive film along with exhibits on the park’s plants and animals with natural history exhibits. The Backcountry Permit Office is located here.
Located at 1420 Little River Road, Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (6:30 p.m. during the summer). Trolley Service from Gatlinburg is available.
Oconaluftee Visitor Center
For visitors traveling from the southern part of the park, the Oconaluftee Visitor Center is near the Cherokee entrance. This visitor center offers cultural history exhibits. The Mountain Farm Museum features a log farmhouse, a barn, a smokehouse, an apple house, a corn crib and other buildings.
Located north of Cherokee, North Carolina, entrance. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cades Cove Visitor Center
This visitor center shares Southern Mountain life and culture. There’s a gristmill that operates from spring through fall, and see the Becky Cable house and other historic structures. This route is closed to cars on Wednesday.
Located near the Townsend, Tennessee, entrance. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Kuwohi Visitor Center (formerly Clingmans Dome)
The tallest peak in the Smokies. This is the place for views of the Smokies.
Located at the base of the Clingmans Dome Observation Tower. Open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed from December 1 to March 31.
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Top Areas to Explore in the Great Smoky Mountains
Covering over 520,000 acres and including two states, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is huge. If it’s your first time, decide on a few areas to explore.
I recommend deciding on the Northern or Southern section of the park and using it as a home base. I also recommend traveling across the park on its scenic roads.
Cades Cove
On the north side of the park, this popular valley is south of Townsend, Tennessee. Along the 11-mile Cades Loop Road, visitors will find the highest concentration of historic buildings.
Additionally, Cades Cove features a visitor center, campground, and horse camp. There are wildlife viewing opportunities. This route is car-free on Wednesday, and cyclists take to the road.
Sugarlands and the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
This popular gateway is located just south of Gatlinburg and is home to several top waterfalls. Grotto Falls is a 25-foot (7.6 m) waterfall that you can walk behind on the Trillium Gap Trail. Rainbow Falls is another top destination.
The John Ownby Cabin is a historic log cabin built in the 1860s. The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a 5.5 one-way road close to Gatlinburg, just past the second parking area for Rainbow Falls.
The Sugarlands area has multiple picnic areas. The Visitor Center is located at Newfound Gap Road (US 441) and Fighting Creek Gap Road.
Metcalf and Elkmont
A hub for activity from early logging to a private resort area to a Civilian Conservation Corps camp. Find a large campground along with historic cabins, like the Appalachian Clubhouse in Daisy Town.
Metcalf Bottoms is home to the most accessible waterfall in the park, Meigs Falls. Another interesting area is the one-room Little Greenbrier School and the Walker homestead.
Located southeast of Sugarlands Visitor Center, along the Fighting Creek Gap Road.
Kuwohi and Newfound Gap
At 6,643 ft (2,024m), it’s the highest point in the park and in Tennessee. It’s also the third-highest peak on the East Coast. The Appalachian Trail crosses through the area.
On a clear day, the Newfound Gap Overlook and its observation deck offer views for miles. At 5,046 ft. (1,538m), it’s the highest drivable mountain pass, so this area offers some of the best views without a hike. There is also a seasonal visitor center off Kuwohi Road. Use Newfound Gap Road (US 441).
Oconaluftee and Mountain Farm Museum
The southern gateway, north of Cherokee, North Carolina, the Oconaluftee area is a large river valley. The Chasteen Creek Cascade slides 15 feet down sandstone. The Mingus Mill is also in the Oconaluftee area
The Mountain Farm Museum is a collection of log buildings reconstructed in this area. Visitors can walk through a farmhouse and outbuildings, like a springhouse, barn and blacksmith shop. Located next to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, there are picnic sites in the area.
Deep Creek
The Deep Creek area is known for its creeks, waterfalls and fishing. Top waterfalls include the Indian Creek Falls and Tom Branch Falls, located close to each other.
Visitors can use the 1,200-foot (366 m) tunnel at the end of Lakeview Drive to reach hiking trails. Deep Creek features several seasonal campgrounds and picnic areas.
It is located on the southern edge of the park, north of Bryson City, North Carolina and west of Cherokee.
Cataloochee and Balsam Mountain
Cataloochee is home to the park’s two main elk herds, and Cataloochee Creek is noted for wild trout. The road into the area is narrow and winding as it ventures through the mountains.
The Caldwell Place preserves a two-story frame house, a historic barn and a spring house built in 1906. The Beech Grove School is a historic two-room schoolhouse built in 1901.
This area is located on the east side of the park on the North Carolina side. There is camping, including a horse camp.
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Scenic Drives in the Great Smoky Mountains
As one of the easiest ways to explore the park, here are the scenic drives in the Smokies. This is one of the top things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Cades Cove Loop
An 11-mile one-way road near the west side of the park
Newfound Gap Road
A 33-mile road that bisects the park from north to south
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
A 5.5-mile one-way narrow road near Gatlinburg
Upper Tremont Road
A 2-mile road on the east side of the park, just south of Townsend.
Hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains
Find 70 miles of the Appalachian Trail (AT), the legendary trail that bisects its namesake mountain range from Georgia to Maine. This is one of the top things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Clingmans Cove—.5-mile paved trail to lookout and highpoint in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Kephart Prong Trail—4-mile roundtrip trail between Newfound Gap and Smokemont
Porters Creek—2-mile roundtrip trail near Greenbrier Cove
Charlies Bunion—4-mile one-way trail to the scenic rock outcropping on the AT
Alum Cave Trail—2.5-mile one-way trail with 1,000-foot elevation change, south of Sugarlands VC
Forney Ridge Trail—1.8-mile one-way trail to Andrews Bald, near Clingmans Dome
Rainbow Falls—2.7-mile one-way to falls
Laurel Falls—2.6-mile paved round trip trail between Sugarlands and Cades Cove
Check out the Hike the Smokies for Families booklets ($1.00) available at any visitor center. You can hike miles and collect mileage stickers.
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Waterfalls in the Great Smoky Mountains
Visiting a waterfall is one of the top things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Several waterfalls don’t require a hike.
Meigs Falls
A 28-foof-tall fall, located off Little River Road, 13 miles west of Sugarlands Visitor Center.
The Sinks waterfall
A 15-foot waterfall, located off Little River Road, 12 miles west of Sugarlands Visitor Center.
Place of Thousand Drips
A low-flow fall, located off Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail at Stop 15.
Waterfalls Hikes
Tom Branch Falls and Indian Creek Falls—A 1.6-mile round-trip hike on Deep Creek Trail to Tom Branch, a 75-foot-tall cascade falls and Indian Creek, a 25-foot falls.
Laurel Falls—A 2.6-mile round-trip hike on Laurel Falls Trail to the 80-foot-tall falls.
Lynn Camp Prong Cascades—A 1.3-mile walk on Middle Prong Trail on Tremont Rd.
Biking in the Great Smoky Mountains
Bicycling is allowed on most roads, but not best suited for Newfound Gap Road.
Cades Cove Loop—11-mile one-way paved road. Rentals are available in the nearby campground. The road is closed to vehicles on Wednesdays.
Gatlinburg Trail—1.9-mile multi-use trail near Gatlinburg, TN.
Oconaluftee River Trail—1.5-mile multi-use trail near the Oconaluftee Visitor Center
Mountain biking isn’t permitted on other hiking trails in the park.
Horseback Riding in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Find four authorized concessionaires in the park. Age and weight restrictions apply. Reservations are recommended. Rides are offered from mid-March to the end of November.
Cades Cove—Offering hayrides, carriage rides and guided one-hour. trail rides.
Smoke Mount—Offering wagon rides and guided trail rides from one hour to four hours.
Smoky Mountains—Offering 45-minute trail rides
Sugarlands—Offering one to four-hour guided trail rides.
Fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
With 2,900 miles of streams, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park protects the largest wild trout habitats in the eastern U.S. Fishing is permitted year-round with a valid Tennessee or North Carolina license, and both licenses are valid in the park and don’t require a special trout license.
The daily limit is five trout with size restrictions. Fishing licenses are available outside of the park’s boundaries.
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Kids and Pets in the Great Smoky Mountains
Traveling with your kids or pets is part of the fun. Great Smoky Mountain National Park makes a great trip with lots of activities and things to see.
There are special activities for kids. As for pets, the Smokies is a haven for wildlife, so care must be taken when traveling with your pets in the park.
The Junior Ranger Program
The Junior Ranger Program is the go-to program for families to learn more about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s free and takes about two hours to complete. My kids love the badges that the Rangers present them after completing their booklet.
You can pick up a booklet at any visitor center, complete the age-appropriate activities, and return for a souvenir badge and certificate.
In addition to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Junior Ranger Badge, earn a World Heritage in the U.S. Junior Ranger badge.
BARK Program
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park welcomes pets as long as they practice the principles of the BARK program. For more information, visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park page for visiting with pets.
B–Bag waste and dispose of it in the trash
A–Always leash your dog for their safety and others
R–Respect wildlife
K–Know where you can go
Due to the wilderness, dogs are not allowed on most trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, except for the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee Trail. Pets are allowed in campgrounds, picnic areas and along the roads inside the park.
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Wildlife Viewing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Synchronous Fireflies
As the only species of fireflies, or lighting bugs, in North America to flash in unison, their mating season is a nighttime light show. Beginning in late May, the fireflies start their annual mating ritual that typically lasts for about two weeks of the insect’s 21-day adult life span.
Fireflies use bioluminescence to produce cool light, which means the energy used is 90% light and not heat, unlike traditional lightbulbs. The mating season is determined by the air and soil temperatures where the firefly larvae live.
To see this natural show, the National Park Service uses a lottery system available on Recreation.gov. Each applicant can request two dated parking spots. For the 8-day window of reservations, a total of 1800 parking spots are granted for $25 each night. Each application is $1.
If the applicant wins the lottery for a parking spot, the fee is $24. Parking is at the Sugarlands Visitor Center, and a $2 per person shuttle fee applies to get to the area.
Remember to use a red filter on your flashlight to prevent upsetting the fireflies’ nightly show.
Bears in the Great Smoky Mountains
The Great Smoky Mountains are home to the American black bear. As the largest protected area on the East Coast, the park is home to about 1,500 black bears.
Though encounters are rare, Park Rangers offer some guidelines to reduce bear encounters:
Remain observant.
Hike in groups.
Keep campsites clean.
Make noise while hiking by wearing bear bells and talking.
Don’t approach bears or let bears approach you.
If a bear notices you, you are too close. Back away slowly and if attacked, fight back. Don’t play dead.
Other Animals in the Smokies
As a mountainous forest region, the Smokies are home to many animals. Animal viewing is one of the top things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Elk
White-tailed deer
Coyote
Gray and Red Fox
Beaver
Woodchuck
240 Species of Birds
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Wildflowers in the Great Smoky Mountains
Find over 1,500 different flowering plants in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s often called the Wildflower National Park and a top park for flowers.
Spring wildflowers, like the trillium, begin in early February. We continue to see wildflowers throughout the season, including the lady slipper orchids and the dwarf iris.
Flowering shrubs like mountain laurels, flame azaleas and rhododendron offer a flowery show, too. The park also hosts the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in April, which has several days of programming.
Summer blooms include Turk’s cap, Butterfly weed and black-eyed Susan. Consider hiking the Oconaluftee River Trail, Deep Creek Trail or the Gregory Ridge Trail in Cades Cove for the best wildflower viewing.
Fall Color in the Great Smoky Mountains
Plan an autumn trip to the Smokies for one of the top places to see fall color. With about 100 native tree species, find several types of maples along with American beech, scarlet oak, sweet gum and hickories.
The fall color season runs from September to November, depending on elevation. Take a scenic drive for the easiest way to see fall color, though expect traffic delays.
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The History of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Chartered in 1934, the land was purchased from individuals and lumber operations. The Civilian Conservation Corps arrived as a Works Progress Administration program in 1933 and stayed until 1943.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the national park in 1940. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
The People of the Great Smoky Mountains
Cherokee People
Part of the Iroquois nation, the Cherokee people have lived in the Great Smoky Mountains for 1,000 years. Living in communities near fertile rivers, they constructed homes of saplings or logs.
The Cherokee society is maternal and lineage is traced through a mother’s side. The Cherokee language is a written language with 86 characters.
After the signing of the Treaty of New Echota, the Cherokee People were evicted and forced to move to Oklahoma. More than 4,000 people died in the Trail of Tears.
The Walker Sisters
After the Civil War, the Walker family had 13 children in Little Greenbrier Cove. Though some married and moved on, five unmarried daughters inherited the farm after their father died in 1921.
The sisters worked the farm together and stayed on with a lifetime lease after the park was created. They welcomed visitors to the area and sold crafts and traditional food for many years.
Their original farm became known as Five Sisters Cove and included the Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse, built by their father and brother. Both the log house and schoolhouse are still standing.
The CCC
During the Great Depression FDR created the Civilian Conservation Corps to put young men to work building many national and state parks. Using native construction materials located on-site, the CCC corps built roadways and trails and constructed buildings across the U.S.
Nearly 4,000 enrollees worked in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. During their time there, they constructed many of the roads, fire watch towers and other structures throughout the park.
The CCC grew native trees and reforested areas of the park clearcut by lumber companies. They also built fish ponds to hatch trout for the park’s rivers.
CCC stone masons built the guard rails and the Elkmont Bridge during their tenure.
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Lodging in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
LeConte Lodge
Accessible by hiking a 5 to 8-mile trail, LeConte Lodge sits near the top of Mt. LeConte. Enjoy rustic accommodations with a hot breakfast and dinner. Light is by lantern, and sleep in bed with Hudson Bay wool blankets. Rates start at $176 per person per night.
Camping in the Great Smoky Mountains
Nightly camping fees start at $30 a night.
Abrams Campground
Open April – October
Reservations Required
16 sites with a 12-foot RV limit
Potable water and flush toilets
Balsam Mountain Campground
Open May – October
Reservations Required
43 sites with a 30-foot RV limit
Potable water and flush toilets
Big Creek Campground
Open April – October
Reservations Required
12 sites and No RVs
Potable water and flush toilets
Cades Cove Campground
Year-round
Reservations required
161 sites with a Dump Station and 35-foot RV limit with a 40-foot motor home limit
Potable water and flush toilets
Cataloochee Campground
Open April – October
Reservations Required
27 sites with a 31-foot RV limit
Potable water and flush toilets
Cosby Campground
Open April – October
Reservations Required
157 sites with a 25-foot RV limit
Potable water and flush toilets
Deep Creek Campground
Open April – October
Reservations Required
92 sites with a 25-foot RV limit
Potable water and flush toilets
Elkmount Campground
Open March – November
Reservations Required
211 sites with a Dump Station, a 32-foot RV limit and a 35-foot Motorhome limit
Potable water and flush toilets
Look Rock Campground
Open March – November
First Come, First Serve
68 Sites with no RV limit
Smokemont Campground
Year-round
Reservations Required
142 sites with a Dump Station, a 35-foot RV limit and a 40-foot Motorhome limit
Potable water and flush toilets
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Gateway Towns
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Located to the north of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As a four-season destination, travelers will find dining, lodging and attractions in the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area. There is a shuttle to the Sugarlands Visitor Center from Gatlinburg. The McGhee Tyson Regional Airport (TYS) is just south of Knoxville, about 40 west of Gatlinburg.
Cherokee, North Carolina
Located at the southern entrance of the park, visitors will find an assortment of lodging and dining along with the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. This is the closest town to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Air travelers can use the Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) for air transportation, about 60 miles east of Cherokee.
Townsend, Tennessee
Located 20 miles south of Knoxville, Tennessee, Townsend is closest to the Cades Cove area. Here, you can find traveler services and activities.
Weather in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Winter: Highs—low 40sF (4 to 7C) Lows—20sF (-3 to -5C)
Spring: Highs—60sF (15 to 19C) Lows— (16 to 19C)
Summer: Highs—70sF ( 22 to 25C) Lows—50sF (11 to 14C)
Fall: Highs—60sF (15 to 19C) S Lows—40sF (4 to 9C)
Rainfall is consistent year-round, with 5 to 7 inches ( 140 to 180mm) monthly.
Details on Visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Unique to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a parking tag is required. This is a physical tag that can purchased in the area at visitor centers, kiosks or through Recreation.gov. It must be displayed on the vehicle’s dashboard.
Daily Parking Pass $5
Weekly Parking Pass $15
Annual Parking Pass $40
Note: It is still free to pass through the park.
There are EV recharging stations at the Sugarlands and Oconaluftee visitor centers. You can pick up a free visitor map at any visitor center. GPS directions are frequently incorrect inside the park. Check for seasonal road closures before departing. Cellular service is unreliable in the park.
U.S. Highway 441 (Newfound Gap Road) bisects the park.
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