How to get to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. >> The Sugarlands Visitor Center is on the Tennessee side, just south of Gatlinburg, inside the park boundaries. . It has some of the best hiking, fishing and wildlife viewing you'll find in the U.S. We're sharing the inside scoop with you so you can plan your next trip to the Smokies. The park is surrounded by bigger cities, but none that are close enough to stay in while visiting. Members of the Cherokee Nation lived in these mystical mountains long before European settlers arrived their roots here dating back more than 1,000 years. Tags are also available for purchase at the visitor centers and at kiosks in major parking lots. Turn onto TN-35 to US-321 North through Townsend. This entrance is closest to Cades Cove and offers lodging and restaurants while preserving the areas natural beauty. It's the perfect alternative entrance to avoid the busy main road in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. An entrance pass is not required to access Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Zion, the Great Smoky Mountains, Indiana Dunes and Glacier round out the top 10 most-visited national parks in the U.S. and they do not, at this time, have any COVID restrictions in place. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try At Maryville proceed on US-321 North/TN -73 East through Townsend. This entrance features the Oconaluftee Visitor Center where you can stop to pick up trail maps, talk to a park ranger about hiking recommendations, and browse through a museum with exhibits about the history of life in the Smokies. If youre coming from Nashville or Knoxville, this is a convenient way to enter the park without backtracking and avoids the crowds in Gatlinburg or Sugarlands. PHOTO BY: Zoonar GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo. Parking tags are required to be associated with a specific license plate number. In spring, the resident 1,600-plus black bears emerge from their winter slumber; more than 1,500 species of wildflowers begin to bloom, blanketing the park in multichromatic splendor; and mating fireflies light up the night sky in brilliant synchronicity. Some of the incredible animals you might run into while exploring the park include black bears, wild turkey, and elk. Your email address will not be published. The southern end of this 469-mile linear park begins just 0.2 miles outside GSMNP's Oconaluftee Visitor Center and extends into Virginia, connecting with Shenandoah National Park. All rights reserved. >> How Long Does It Take to Drive Through GSMNP? The park is always open and free to drive through or around. Then youll take exit 11A onto US-129 South. Any information published by Cond Nast Traveler is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. Your email address will not be published. This means that you can quickly be on your way to exploring all of the treasures in the park, including scenic hiking trails, fascinating historical structures and incredible wildlife! For outdoor recreation and an adrenaline rush, go white-water rafting on the Nantahala River in nearby Bryson City. This rugged and winding gravel road isn't for the faint of heart but provides a beautiful first impression of the park. From the south: From interstate highway I-75 take Exit 376 to I-140 E towards Oak Ridge/Maryville. Top 5 Places to See a Sunrise in the Smoky Mountains, Top 3 Ways to Avoid the Peak Crowds at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 4 Beautiful Waterfalls Along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Adventure Awaits: Your Ultimate Guide to Newfound Gap Road, Top 6 Historical Places in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, How to See Your Favorite Smoky Mountain Wildlife in the National Park, Top 10 Things to Know About the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Before You Go. Follow US-321 North/TN -73 East through Townsend. Hen Wallow Falls is a favorite with beautiful views and a 90-ft cascading waterfall. Youll take exit 20 off I-40 in North Carolina. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is America's most popular national park, several times over. Many make the journey to the park just for wildlife viewing opportunities. The next town north of Gatlinburg is Pigeon Forge, made famous as the home of Dolly Parton and her Dollywood amusement park. Its similar to Gatlinburg, but further from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so itll take longer to battle through traffic to get into the park from here. The menu at Birchwood Hall Southern Kitchen changes frequently, but diners can expect thoughtful dishes like local rabbit and foraged vegetable pasta. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a mecca for outdoor lovers. This entrance is situated on the north side of the park and is about an hour south of Knoxville on US 441. Yes, you can drive through Great Smoky Mountains without paying anything. >> Do You Need a Reservation to Enter GSMNP? If you have the opportunity to choose a lesser-known entrance to the park, you should consider it. The summer is the peak season for visitors, but the park remains busy for most of the year. These areas have a ranger station to check in at before venturing into the parks backcountry for hiking or camping. Here are the top 3 ways to avoid the peak crowds at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: 1. Get instant access to discounts, programs, services, and the information you need to benefit every area of your life. Boutique hotel in look and feel, decidedly Marriott when it comes to service. That's right - exploring this natural wonder is free! As a matter of fact, these free campsites are yours. Great Smoky Mountains National Park stretches over 500,000 acres across Tennessee and North Carolina, and is known for its wildlife and historic homesteads. This entrance is an hour's drive southeast of Knoxville on US 441. This is the main entrance on the northern boundary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are two main entrances, one in Cherokee, NC and another in Gatlinburg, TN. Important dates for planning a Great Smoky Mountains National Park vacation. Backpackers can access primitive backcountry sites with a reservation plus five drive-in horse camps with primitive camping facilities, and hitch racks provide easy access to backcountry horse trails. From the south, youll follow US-74 West/US-441 North to exit 74, where youll merge onto US-441. December 7, 2021. It encompasses 522,419 acres (816.28 sq mi; 211,415.47 ha; 2,114.15 sq km), making it one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States. Blue Ridge Parkway, another NPS site, begins a half mile south of the Oconaluftee entrance. Our most popular newsletter for destination inspiration, travel tips, trip itineraries, and everything else you need to be an expert traveler in this beautiful world, Where to Eat, Play, and Stay, in Delray Beach, Florida, The Best Camping Spots in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, These Amtrak Train Routes Make Stops at Some of America's Most Scenic National Parks, Whats New at the Jersey Shore This Summer, This Summer's Most Exciting Hotel Openings, The Best Places to Stay Near Acadia National Park. Now that you are familiar with some of the major entrances to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, youll be ready to hit some of the parks famous hiking trails! Then you can enjoy the rest of the day once the lines start forming. Cherokee, NC entranceFrom the north: From interstate highway I-40, take Exit 27 to US-74 West towards Waynesville. Expert Booking Tips to Help Snag Busy Campgrounds. Full of souvenir shops, craft stores, restaurants and kitschy attractions (think . It's really not a secret but it is in Wears Valley. Youll find restaurants, shopping centers, museums, hotels, and more in this area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It has James Beard award-winning restaurants including The Barn (which accepts reservations from non-guests), known for its dishes crafted from seasonal and local ingredients. Stroll along its picturesque cobblestone streets and you'll find specialty shops showcasing everything from kitschy souvenirs to handmade candles, artfully blown glass and cuckoo clocks. How to Safely Install a 50 Amp RV Plug at Home, 10 Best Places for Free Camping in West Virginia, The Best RV Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), This is the Best RV Surge Protector on the Market. It's the least used entrance into Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The eastern part of town is closest to the parks most incredible waterfalls: Meigs Falls and Spruce Flats Falls. Great Smoky Mountains National Park does not charge an entrance fee. The entrance in Wears Valley, Tenn., is the best back door into the national park. The ever-present fog circling the range prompted the Cherokee to name the mountains shaconage, which translates to place of blue smoke. Euro-Americans later dubbed them the Great Smoky Mountains. PHOTO BY: Sean Pavone / Alamy Stock Photo. The ever-increasing number of visitors at Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) has caused a significant increase in the wear-and-tear on the parks infrastructure. Three major Tennessee cities are within an easy drive from GSMNP: Chattanooga is 108 miles southwest; Knoxville, just 32 miles north; and Nashville, 194 miles northwest. Cataloochee How to Get There: The Cataloochee entrance lies on the North Carolina side of the park. You can also manage your communication preferences by updating your account at anytime. It was impacted by the 2016 fires, but the downtown was spared. Trying to figure out where to fly in to.I live in California and my friend lives in NY. related to AARP volunteering. You have this perfect image of pulling up to the ranger station of a National Park, showing the ranger your America the Beautiful pass, and feeling giddy as you drive into a beautiful location. From the north, youll take exit 27 off I-40 to US-74 West. For current ranger-led activities, visit the park's calendar for details. Zero of them paid for entry. Honestly, this route doesnt provide a lot of advantages that the Townsend entrance doesnt already offer. Sugarlands is located at an important crossroads in the park, where Newfound Gap Road/US 441/TN 71 (the parks main north-south road) meets Fighting Creek Gap Road/Little River Gorge Road (the main east-west road for the western part of the park). Visit John P. Cable Mill, a fully operational gristmill built in 1867, in Cades Cove. >> Cades Cove Visitor Center is located about halfway around the full loop. Great Smoky Mountains sees, generally, three types of visitors: The Daily parking tag ($5) is for those that only allowed a single day to explore the vast amazingness that is the Great Smoky Mountains. Here's a quick rundown of the pros and cons of each, along with some other helpful information to plan your trip accordingly. Another one of the entrances to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the Townsend entrance, which is located about 25 miles west of Gatlinburg. Deciding where to stay near Great Smoky Mountains depends not only on what you want to do in the park but also on how much patience you have for traffic. Explore a historic mill. Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park, but there aren't many fully accessible trails. These additional entry points are usually small, one-lane-in-each-direction roads, sometimes paved, sometimes not, providing access to an isolated section of the park. It's also home to more than 67 varieties of fish, 234 species of birds and dozens of species of salamanders (the park has been called the Salamander Capital of the World"). Check out These Smoky Mountain Campgrounds That Are Perfect For RV Owners. How to Get to Great Smoky Mountains National Park {Entrances, Visitor Centers, Nearby Towns & Closest Airports}, How to Hike the Laurel Falls Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, We use cookies to give you the best experience. To view the autumn splendor without all the traffic, slip into the quieter North Carolina sector for a weekday visit. Surrounded by mountain peaks, the valley once served as hunting grounds for the Cherokee. Want to get listed and grow your business? Maybe easier access to Laurel Falls trailhead, but its debatable if its faster. (This rule doesnt make sense to us, and we hope they get enough feedback that theyll change the rules for annual tags.). From Pigeon Forge: Turn at red light #3 and take US-321 south into Townsend. Visitors come to enjoy the hiking, scenic drives, and plentiful wildlife. The main Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance on the southern border, Oconaluftee is right outside of Cherokee, NC. In North Carolina: Escape the crowds on the busier Tennessee side and relish in the Smokies wild beauty in the isolated Cataloochee Valley in the park's less-visited North Carolina section. Pick up a self-guiding tour booklet from a roadside box near the valley's entrance. One more alternative entrance to the hustle and bustle of the busy Gatlinburg entrance is Wears Valley. There's plenty to see and do in the park! It sees as many visitors as the next 3 most visited national parks combined (2022 data). A Wondrous Diversity of Life. Its an hour away from the Oconaluftee entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. What Are Studded Tires, And Are They Overkill? The pass is nontransferable. With no park entry fee to help offset costs, GSMNP has been forced to consider alternate methods of addressing the upkeep issue. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Those visiting during the busy season may want to consider using an alternative entrance. It can take a long time to get through the gates as the crowd lines up, which means less time exploring the park. There are three main entrances into The Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Gatlinburg, TN entrance From interstate highway I-40 take Exit 407 (Sevierville) to TN-66 South. Beware, this road is narrow and curvy, so drive with caution. From the south: Follow US-441/US-23 North. It originates from the picnic area also. You will be asked to register or log in. No, Great Smoky Mountains National Park doesnt use timed entry tickets. Asheville is within an hour and a half drive (or less) of five key entrances to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A bit west of Cherokee is Bryson City, just outside of the Deep Creek area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. At Exit 74 merge onto US-441. And when you're ready to bed down, beeline for The Swag. Reservations are required (recreation.gov) from May through October, with limited first-come, first-served sites also available from November through April. Not only will you end up paying more for your food if you dont bring your own, but youll have to stop what youre doing to scout out your meal. Though populations are variable, biologists estimate that roughly 1,500 bears live in the park. Traveling from Atlanta to Cherokee on U.S. Highway 23, a 16-mile detour along Georgia Route 384 North leads to Helen, Georgia, a charming mountain town that replicates a Bavarian alpine village (yes, in the Deep South). With millions of visitors traveling to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park every year, youll want some tips when you visit to avoid the crowds. As far as cabins in the area, I would check with Bear Camp Rentals . How to Get There: As mentioned before, the Wears Valley entrance is a great way to access the park. >> Are Parking Tag Sales Limited Per Day? There isnt a traffic signal, just a stop sign for Fighting Creek Gap Road to wait for the coast to be clear on Newfound Gap Road. You can get quite a bit done in those first few hours. It's hard to beat free entry, frequent elk and black bear sightings, amazing fall color, hiking and waterfalls galore, and the third highest peak east of the Mississippi River. The Cosby entrance is about a mile south of TN-32 on Cosby Entrance Road. Cond Nast Traveler may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. **You really should reserve at least 4 hours (or more in summer or fall) just for Cades Cove. It's best to bring your own food and enjoy one of the 12 picnic areas scattered throughout the park in forests and alongside rivers and creeks. There's actually a secret entrance to the Smokies! It's a good idea to start your visit at the Sugarlands center, just 2 miles from the Gatlinburg entrance, for a 20-minute orientation film that will give you a nice overview. If you're coming from Asheville, carve out time to tour the opulent Biltmore Estate before leaving the city. A Breakdown of inTech Flyer Adventure Trailers, A Breakdown of the Forest River No Boundaries, A Breakdown of the Winnebago Micro Minnie, 5 Reasons to Avoid Lower Broadway in Nashville, The Highest Rated RV Parks in Key Largo, Florida, 5 Reasons to Avoid Duval Street in Key West, Your Guide to Camping at Craters of the Moon, 5 Reasons to Avoid Beale Street in Memphis. Then take 73 East into the National Park. You'll also find vending machines at visitors centers. Hi, I'm Rachel, creator of Means to Explore! Limited Wi-Fi may be available at some locations. From one of several marinas, rent a pontoon boat for exploring on your own, or take a hiking tour via boat with Sunny Day Adventure Company. In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails On the south side, the town of Cherokee is right outside of the Oconaluftee entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You dont have to plan every detail, but it is important to know what youre expecting from your visit and how to go about seeing and doing those things. Titanic Museum features a replica of the doomed ship, while the Alcatraz East Crime Museum lets visitors get up close to Ted Bundys VW Beetle and OJ Simpsons White Bronco. You cant see it all in one day, but you can hit some of the best highlights if you start early. Just remember, you're in the mountains, so be prepared for many twists and turns, plus occasional steep inclines and declines. Although you might think the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone would be the most visited National Park, its actually the Great Smoky Mountains. However, parking tags will be required for all vehicles parking for longer than 15 minutes starting March 1, 2023. If youre headed to a national park, the odds are that youre hoping for a scenic and relaxing experience. Take Line Springs Rd off Wears Valley Road and there is an entrance into the park that will take you to Metcalf Bottoms which is in the park. Just 8 miles from the gateway town of Gatlinburg, Elkmont Campground is the GSMNP's largest and busiest camping destination, with 200 campsites, nine of them ADA-compliant (wide concrete driveways, raised fire rings and wheelchair-accessible picnic tables), alongside the Little River. Matthew Lovette. There are three entrances to Great Smoky Mountains National Park from Gatlinburg, and every one takes you into a section of the 800 square miles of unspoiled Appalachia. Each gateway town has its own personality, but most don't get as much press as well-known Gatlinburg. >> The Clingmans Dome Visitor Center is a small shop built into the side of the mountain next to the parking lot. To be honest with you,we hate paying for camping. Its the first place to get a park map for those entering from Gatlinburg, and its the only real restrooms at the crossroads of the park. There are over 800 miles of hiking trails. Provided by Touchpoints Closures & Alerts Black Bears More than 522,000 acres of natural beauty, for one thing. >> Does Great Smoky Mountains National Park have an Entrance Fee? And the Great Smoky Mountains National Park preserves Southern Appalachian culture with historic structures and a visitor-friendly Cherokee Indian reservation. When hunger strikes, the family-owned Granny's Kitchen dishes up generous portions of classic Southern cuisine. Food can be tricky to find in the park, and it comes with a higher cost. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is an American national park in the southeastern United States, with parts in North Carolina and Tennessee. You can also explore old farmsteads of the Appalachian people who once called these mountains home. It will be quieter than the Gatlinburg area but still have the convenience and amenities many travelers want. Avoid Cades Cove when entering into Smokey Mountains National Park. This post may contain affiliate links. Every trip to the Smokies begins with a drive on the Newfound Gap Road, so pack a picnic and see highlights along the way, including the Sugarlands Visitor Center, Newfound Gap . >> Are Parking Tags Transferable or Refundable? Check out some of the most popular hiking trails in the Smokies! Entrances get crowded and roadways back up during peak times and seasons, but there arent any fast pass or reservation systems to avoid this. Great Smoky Mountains has no entrance fee. Lastly, the locals that live nearby and want to make spontaneous trips to their local national park can get Annual parking passes ($40). 1:29. The following are all in isolated sections of the park that dont connect to the rest of the parks main roads. Table of Contents The Great Smoky Mountains National Park Entrance Fee: Good news! Yosemite is third with 3.8 million visitors, and Yellowstone rounds out the top four with 3.2 million visitors each year. Heres everything you need to know: which airports are closest, which nearby towns to stay in, and where to find every Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance and visitor center. The closest airport to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Knoxville, TNs McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS). Follow US-441 through Cherokee and into the park. You won't be eating lavishly here. Youll want to stop at the Cades Cove Visitor Center to see historical buildings such as the Becky Cable House and the Cable Mill, a grist mill that operates from spring until fall. National park annual passes cover entry fees, not additional/extra fees, and GSMNP doesnt have an entry fee. Fill up on barbecue ribs, pork chops and black-eyed peas at the lunch and dinner buffet. Or take it easy and sightsee from the comfort of your car on highways and motor trails (one-way scenic loops) that showcase park highlights. Many trails surrounding the lake are relatively flat, which makes them accessible for most guests, says Jason Swafford, the company's proprietor. Traffic in Gatlinburg is always terrible. Find out What Are The Most Dangerous Creatures in the Smoky Mountains? Reaching the only in-park accommodations (besides camping) requires a 5.5-mile hike and physical endurance, but you're rewarded with stellar sunrises and sunsets and star-filled night skies. The first tip is to avoid Cades Cove at all costs. With abundant wildlife and plant life, naturalists love to explore this area. It holds deep cultural connections for Appalachian culture and Cherokee people. In October, even cooler temperatures arrive, usually ranging from 40 to 50 degrees, along with a new surge of visitors. If you want to stay overnight in the park, be prepared to give your quads quite the workout. Delve deeper into the tribe's 11,000-year-old history through interactive exhibits and cultural displays at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. You can explore much of the park by car, with pull-off parking available to view the surrounding landscapes and short trails for venturing a bit farther. On the Newfound Gap Highway, take advantage of numerous pullouts to marvel at the scenic vistas. If you want a no-fuss meal, Smokies Cuban Cafe is a local favorite in an unassuming strip mall, known for its Cuban sandwiches, ropa vieja, and signature sweet (and strong) cafecito. Become a FREE CAMPING INSIDER and join the 100,000 campers that love to score the best site! Take US-321 to TN-32. This is the place to be for the elk rut in the early fall. Designed for those summiting Mount Le Conte, the park's third-highest mountain (elevation 6,594 feet), the Mount Le Conte Lodge can host up to 60 overnight guests in rustic one-room cabins and multiroom lodges. Camp under the stars. Learn more. Here, we break down what each of the six towns has to offer to help you decide where to stay for your Smokies getaway. It simply gives you the right to park anywhere in the park without getting towed or ticketed. Address: Cherokee Orchard entrance to the national park. Merge onto I-140 E via Exit 376B towards Maryville. Here are . 1. The main park entrances are located along U.S. Highway 441 (Newfound Gap Road) at the towns of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Cherokee, North Carolina. Turn right onto Cove Creek Road. No, parking tag sales are not limited to a certain number per day, and they dont guarantee you a parking spot. One mile before you get to the trail, stop at the Noah Bud Ogle self-guided 0.7-mile nature trail for a walking tour of an authentic mountain farmstead, with one of the park's last remaining, fully operational tub mills. Everything You Need to Know About the Thousand Trails Parks in Colorado, What People Really Think About Arrowhead RV Campground. When will you visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park? At Maryville, stay on US-321 North/TN-73 East. The permanent tents have porches overlooking the forest, fire pits, full-sized bathrooms, WiFi, televisions, and kitchens (some come with kitchenettes, others offer full set-ups). You can purchase a parking tag at any of the visitor centers, the Gatlinburg Welcome Center, or the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. Turn onto US-19 and proceed through Maggie Valley to Cherokee. Chartered by Congress in 1934 and officially dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) offers near-endless outdoor fun from hiking (you can find trails for all ability levels) to boating, cycling, fishing and horseback riding. At the main intersection in Sevierville, continue straight onto US-441 South. The main park entrances are located along U.S. Highway 441 (Newfound Gap Road) in the towns of Gatlinburg, Tennessee and Cherokee, . Hikers flock to Cades Cove to access popular trailheads, including the 5-mile (round-trip) moderate Abrams Falls hike that leads through a gorgeous pine-oak forest alongside Abrams Creek to the namesake 20-foot waterfall that cascades into a long, deep pool. Located between Knoxville and Gatlinburg, Maryville is popular with cyclists, thanks to its easy access to several public parks connected by the seven-mile-long Maryville Alcoa Greenway. Its a convenient stop to get out and stretch your legs, explore the historic mill, and use the restroom after slowly crawling your way through traffic around the scenic Cades Cove loop. >> The Oconaluftee Visitor Center serves the North Carolina entrance on the southern park border. If you visit during a peak time or season or just get stuck behind a semi truck on Newfound Gap Road/US 441, it will slow you down. The tribe still has a presence here, and the Museum of the Cherokee Indian details their 11,000-year history. Hike Early in the Morning. By subscribing to our newsletter(s) you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement. AARP Membership-Join AARP for just $12 for your first year when you enroll in automatic renewal. Parking tags can be purchased online ahead of your visit, but you must print it out and have the physical copy on your dash while parked. Bears inhabit all elevations of the park. Required fields are marked *. If youre staying in the Pigeon Forge or Sevierville areas, this entrance may be the fastest way into the Great Smoky Mountains to avoid traffic. Its address may be Waynesville, but trust usthe mountaintop lodge feels like its own universe, bordering national park property along the Cataloochee Divide. Restroom Facilities: Restrooms can be found at visitor centers, picnic areas, and trailheads. Experience the park's beauty from a different vantage point on Fontana Lake, on GSMNP's southern border, which gives you access to the park's most remote areas and the adjacent Nantahala National Forest. Want to get listed and grow your business? Until it happens. The following drive times do not consider traffic. What entrance do you feel is the best option for enjoying the park? Winter snow and ice close some of the driving routes, including the popular road to Clingmans Dome, the park's highest mountain (elevation 6,643 feet). Regardless, once you get into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, youll see why its the most visited National Park in the U.S.