-: The most-visited national park in the U.S., with misty forested ridges, over 800 miles of trails, and historic Appalachian settler cabins — and, notably, no entrance fee.
Why Visit?: Great Smoky Mountains is the most-visited national park in the entire country, and it's easy to see why — misty, forested ridges, over 800 miles of trails, and a genuinely rich Appalachian history, all completely free to enter. It's one of the most accessible parks in the system for a wide range of visitors and budgets.
Because of that popularity, timing and location matter more here than at quieter parks — visiting early in the day or choosing the Cataloochee or Cosby areas over the busier Gatlinburg side can make a real difference in your experience.
To use this map - use the buttons on the bottom right to toggle between the Parks, Places to stay (lodging), and Spots to visit in the parks (Spots)
Things to Do: Cades Cove is the park's signature scenic drive, an 11-mile loop past historic homesteads with excellent wildlife viewing, especially at dawn or dusk. Clingmans Dome, the highest point in the park, offers a short but steep paved trail to a 360-degree observation tower.
For waterfalls, Laurel Falls is an easy, popular paved trail, while Ramsey Cascades is a longer, more strenuous hike to the tallest waterfall in the park — a good option if you want fewer crowds.
Closest airports: McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in Knoxville is closest, about an hour from Gatlinburg, with solid regional flight options.
Nearby Attractions: Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge offer a full range of family attractions right outside the park, and the Blue Ridge Parkway connects toward Asheville, North Carolina for anyone extending the trip.
Hiking Trails, Scenic Overlooks and More
The park’s signature hike — a scenic climb along a stream through rhododendron, past dramatic Arch Rock and the massive
One of the park’s classic summit hikes, climbing steadily to twin rocky peaks with sweeping views — mentioned by Gretchen
A short but steep paved climb to the highest point in the park, topped with an observation tower offering 360-degree
Where to Stay
The largest campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Elkmont sits along the Little River near the historic Elkmont ghost
Right at the start of the famous Cades Cove Loop Road, this campground puts you in one of the best
Products by Category
-
$23.42 – $29.93Price range: $23.42 through $29.93
-
$22.71 – $40.29Price range: $22.71 through $40.29
-
-
$38.58 – $68.38Price range: $38.58 through $68.38
-
$43.18 – $54.98Price range: $43.18 through $54.98
