Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Year Established: 1934
Annual Visitors: 14.16 Million
Size: 522,427 Acres
States: North Carolina | Tennessee

Best Time to Visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park

June to November

If you are planning to visit more national parks, check out our complete list of all US National Parks.

Best Experiences in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

• Cades Cove
• Clingmans Dome
• Hike Alum Cave Trail
• Trek to Chimney Tops
• Sit in the pews of abandoned churches in Cades Cove.
• Watch the sunset from Morton Overlook.

A Brief History

Rising mist makes a thin layer of blue vapor that reflects light and fills the air. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is in the southern Appalachians. It has 384 miles of mountain roads where people can get lost in the misty scenery.

This is the most popular visited park in the country. Part of its huge popularity comes from the fact that it is one of the few that is free all year long. People who go to the park can see Rainbow Falls, where the falling water makes light-bending bands, and the park’s large, dense forests.

The park is known as the Salamander Capital of the World. It also has over 1,500 species of flowering plants and hundreds of types of ferns and fungi. The hellbender is one of the 30 types of salamanders that live here. It can grow to be 29 inches long. As the sun goes down, people can look at the 18 different kinds of fireflies that light up the night. The synchronous fireflies are the only species of lightning bug in North America that flash their lights in a coordinated way.

About Great Smoky Mountains National Park

14.16 million people can’t be wrong. The US’ most-visited national park sees more visitors than Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon combined, drawn to the region’s history, geography, and the Appalachian Trail. However, popularity has disadvantages.

The appeal of Great Smoky’s landscape causes frequent traffic jams and tailbacks on Highway 441. It’s even slower on the 11-mile road around Cades Cove as wildlife watchers keep a lookout for black bears.

Explore the village’s wooden cabins, churches, and mills. Highlights include the John Oliver Cabin, built in 1822 by the first permanent European settlers who displaced the Cherokee tribe.

Off-roading can help avoid congestion. Alternatively, Elkmont is also a historic district.  The abandoned 20th-century resort’s eerie atmosphere contrasts with Cades Cove’s crowds.

Elkmont’s older buildings include painter Mayna Treanor Avent’s studio. Leave your car and walk to avoid the crowds. A 2.5-mile paved walk to Laurel Falls or a 20-mile hike to Clingmans Dome are both options. One of the most popular routes is an out-and-back from Newfound Gap to Charlies Bunion. The park contains 70 miles of the Appalachian Trail.

Great Smoky RV Camping

If you are looking for nearby RV camping options in the Great Smoky National Park or in North Carolina or Tennessee, consider checking out our other post:

• Best RV Parks in North Carolina
• Best RV Resorts in North Carolina
• Best RV Parks in Tennessee
• Best RV Resorts in Tennessee

Visitor Information

Fees

Any car that parks in the Smokies after March 1, 2023, will need a valid parking tag. People who drive through the area or park for less than 15 minutes will not have to get a parking tag. Each tag will only be good for one car. You will be able to buy parking passes both online and onsite.

Daily Parking Tag

$5.00 per vehicle

Weekly Parking Tag

$15.00 per vehicle

Valid for up to 7 days

Annual Parking Tag

$40.00 per vehicle

Contacting Great Smoky Mountains National ParK

Phone Number

(865) 436-1200

Visitor Centers

Clingmans Dome Visitor Contact Station

Depending on the weather, you can see the Smokies from afar and get answers to your questions about the park. Shop and look around a small bookstore. Public restrooms are available.

Cades Cove Visitor Center

Here you can find visitor services, information about hiking, and hands-on exhibits. It is the place where many hiking trails in the Sieur de Monts area start. During the spring, summer, and fall, park rangers are around.

Sugarlands Visitor Center

As you enter the park’s North District from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, the Sugarlands Visitor Center is a great place to start. Through natural history exhibits, you can learn about the park’s plants and animals. Enjoy seasonal programs led by park rangers. Shop and browse in the park’s bookstore. You can use public bathrooms and drink machines. The office for backcountry permits is also here.

Oconaluftee Visitor Center

The Oconaluftee Visitor Center is a great place to start when you enter the park’s South District. It is near Cherokee, North Carolina. Visit displays about culture and history. Enjoy seasonal programs led by park rangers. Shop and browse in the park’s bookstore. Find places to use the bathroom and drink machines.

The nearby Mountain Farm Museum has a bunch of log buildings, like a farmhouse, barn, smokehouse, applehouse, corn crib, and more.