Dont pay that much to see the best of Great Smoky Mountains National Park let me be your guide through the park for less than $15 a day! United States - Great Smoky Mountains in August, How many days needed? How to Spend 3 Amazing Days in the Great Smoky Mountains Acreage For updated road information please call (865) 436-1200. Just outside of Smokemont itself is the Kephart Shelter hike. Needless to say, it's not the best bet if you're looking for a nice scenic drive, as this is frequented by experienced motorists and can get dangerous during high season. How To Visit Great Smoky Mountains tahapanbca February 6, 2023 Tourists 0 Comments Adventurous StewardsPink Adventure Tours understands the explorers heart, and our guides are the reason why. Pictured here, a slightly creepy mannequin stands outside the attraction (photo by Morgan Overholt/TheSmokies.com), Youve seen it while driving down the Parkway. Courtesy of Henryk Sadura/Getty Images/Tetra images RF. (This figure does not include the approximately 11 million travelers on the Gatlingburg-Pigeon Forge Spur.) Pack up from Moonshine Creek Campground and drive the 30 minutes to the Great Smoky Mountains Train Depot in I hiked the park's countless trails each summer so I'm excited to dive in and share with you the must-see, must-do attractions the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and surrounding area has to offer. 369 reviews. Bears in the Smokies. days Backcountry Campsites Everything you need to know to plan a trip to Great Smoky The parks hiking opportunities include a 71 mile portion of the Appalachian Trail, which runs right through the center of the park between Fontana Dam and Davenport Gap. If you're looking for a unique, kitschy experience check out one of the dinner shows that lines the parkway in Pigeon Forge for a truly entertaining and one-of-a-kind dining experience. The Apple Barn & Cider Mill, right off the Parkway in Sevierville, is a great stop for multi-generational visitors. Read Also: These Are the 4 Worst Times to Visit Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg. Don't believe us? Since youre in the campground area, youll have plenty of parking options, although there is parking right by the trailhead for the Elkmont Nature Trail. Both centers are staffed by volunteers who can answer any questions you may have. There are no motels or rental cabins within the park. 3 Day Great Smoky Mountains Itinerary For Adventure Lovers However, with over 2,000 miles of streams in the park, youre bound to Major roads stay open year-round, however secondary roads close seasonally once fall hits and open back up in the spring. However, if you make it to the Avent Cabin, you get an opportunity to put your name in the guest book located in the kitchen! 3 Days in Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains At 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 107 Park Headquarters Road The best places to see them are at Cades Cove, 1 on our list for its incredible amenities (photo courtesy of VRBO), When I book a mountain cabin, I want to be up in the mountains, with a view and some privacy. Come On In. How long to visit the park - Great Smoky Mountains National Park Spring is also the peak season to see wildflowers. At 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in It's a must-visit spot for any out-of-towners. It's a great option for more experienced hikers, as it's a pretty short, steep trail that offers incredible panoramic views at the top. Great Smoky Mountains Unlike the Grand Canyon and most other national parks, this one wont cost you a penny to enter. #1 inBest Places to Visit in the USA for 2023-2024. Sunrise at Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. July is the busiest month of the summer season while October 7.2 Explore Gatlinburg to the fullest. Make sure you look for the Wear Cove Gap Road to turn onto, then turn onto the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area Road S. Youll park in the picnic area and then cross the bridge to get to the trailhead. You also want to pick the best time of year to visit. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. In June, many visitors come to see the famous synchronous fireflies as well. Be sure to do your research in advance for any restrictions on where you can or can't ride. Like yesterday, the first stop is actually before you get to the focus of the day. Early spring (March to May) also sees fewer crowds and lower lodging rates. If youre considering a trip in this in-between stage, Id recommend either visiting just a tad earlier or a tad later. Best Times To Visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park Web8. The Smokies are also home to an astonishing variety of plant and animal life from lumbering black bears to dazzling displays of synchronous fireflies. The hike to the peak is only a half-mile from the Clingmans Dome parking area and it's fully paved, but be warned -- it's very steep. One of the newest additions to the Smoky Mountains area is a mountainside family-friendly adventure park called Anakeesta, right off the Parkway in Pigeon Forge. Heres Our Top 7, 12 Amazing Large Group Cabins in Pigeon Forge With Tips From a Local, What Its Really Like To Ride the Jurassic Jungle Boat Ride, 11 Best Places To Stay Near Dollywood From a Local, Pigeon Forge (The Island, a show or a museum). It only takes 30 minutes to get to Townsend, TN, which is the quiet side of the national park. While June and July are all Beach Boys and bright sunlight, August is a reminder of how fleeting everything is like weve crested a peak and are now plummeting ahead into autumn and winter. WebGreat Smoky Mountains National Park has hundreds of miles of horse trails and five drive-in horse camps. National and state parks are reopening in the US in phases - heres what we know, 7 reasons staycations are going to be our saviour in 2020, This corner of northeastern Utah is the wilderness only locals know about, You now need to pay to park at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. On Never Ending Footsteps, I aim to show you how you can explore this planet safely, adventurously, and affordably. The city boasts more breweries per capita than any other city in the U.S., including Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, Oskar Blues and more than 40 others. 8.2 Bring sufficient water and During the peak of the summer, there is no daytime lane closures, so you can trade crowds for lack of road delays if youre an extrovert who hates traffic. Its wise to plan well ahead so you can get your first choice when it comes to accommodation. Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers 522,427 acres, divided almost evenly between the states of North Carolina and Tennessee. Visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park's official online store for books, maps, and guides to the park. My Anytime is a great time for a quick visit lets say a weekend. Great Smoky Mountains Summer afternoon showers are very common in the Smokies. Web6.2 Clingmans Dome. Other popular access points are the Cataloochee Valley on the east side of the park, and Cades Cove in the west. Park Statistics - Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S. You can access multiple reports about park visitation by typing the park's name into the "Select a park" field at https://irma.nps.gov/Stats/Reports/Park. This airport is my #1 choice for flying into the Great Smoky Mountains area. Bring a towel and some flip flops if you want to get into the water (and you definitely do)! This trail is one of the easiest and most popular roundtrip hikes in the park leading to an 80-foot waterfall with incredible photo opportunities. Protected in the park are some 65 species of mammals, over 200 varieties of birds, 67 If there's an untouched beach, an up-and-coming city, or a recently-discovered travel hack, you can bet that we've already written about it. Its important to be mindful in order to protect wildlife from becoming dependent on humans for food or getting close to humans in ways that endanger both you and the animals who call the park home. on a Great Smoky Mountains Temperatures soar into the high 80s and low 90s in lower elevations, although evenings stay comfortably cool in the low 60s. We just got back from a Smokies trip in mid February. Also, be sure to check out our guide for 10 family-friendly activities in Gatlinburg. Cataloochee 384 miles total 238 are paved and 146 are unpaved. View the web story version of this article here. What is your favorite time to visit the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee or North Carolina? When completing the application, indicate the name of each position that interests you. Address: 107 Park Headquarters Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. The park also has some matchless scenic drives, including ridgeline roads where you can gaze out at the seemingly endless expanse of undulating peaks. "Number of recreational visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the United States from 2008 to 2022 (in millions)." The only thing needed to soak up these views is a car or bike and a little bit of patience, as the loop typically doesn't move quickly (especially on high-traffic weekends such as summer and fall holidays). Nestled in a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, one of only three major mountain ranges in the United States, lies Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Great Smoky Mountains National Park The tallest waterfall in the Smoky Mountains rests in the Greenbrier area of the national park. Highest Elevation You Can Reach by Road: 6,300 feet above sea level (Clingmans Dome Parking Lot) Established: June 15, 1934 this is national park #21. Make your first left and head up Smokemont Road until you come to the fork. The Little Cataloochee Trail follows an old road past old cabins and a church. All of the attractions within the park are free, including the Mountain Farm Museum, Cades Cove historic buildings and the panoramic overlook at Clingmans Dome, not to mention all of the hiking trails. While this is definitely the most strenuous trail youll see on day 1, it is by far the most rewarding as well! Know your airline's carry-on luggage size restrictions before you fly. $18.5 million base budget in Fiscal Year 2014. Other visitors enjoy taking scenic drives through the park to enjoy the fall foliage, which begins in mid-September when lodging rates are at offseason lows. Its also a good time to see some hiking trails, waterfalls and more. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. How long is needed for a good GSM trip? - Great Smoky Mountains WebI would give it at least a week; maybe more. Mountain Farm Museum the Foothills Parkway provides unique views of the Great Smoky Mountains. Gatlinburg, Clingmans Dome Tubing is one of the best ways to take in the scenery, especially in late summer/early fall when the leaves begin to change. There is no shortage of dining options in Gatlinburg, Sevierville and Pigeon Forge with everything from delicious donut shops, Mexican cantinas, family-owned eateries and lots more! Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most-visited national park in the country for a reason. Length: 3.9 milesElevation Gain: 833 feetType: Out and BackDifficulty: EasyEstimated Time to Complete: 2 hours. The park has increasingly become a year-round destination with eight monthly visitation records set during winter and spring months in 2021, a park release said. Great Smoky Mountains listed third-most dangerous national park You'll be hard-pressed to find a more impeccable combination of hospitality, amenities, cuisine, craft brews and wines from around the world. There is no electricity or plumbing, however, there are four flush toilets in outhouses. More than 11 million people visit Great Smoky Mountains each year to bask in the incredible diversity of plant and animal life, marvel at the remnants of historic Appalachian mountain culture, and hike deep into the seemingly For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. The National Park Service (NPS) says you can hike to 11 major falls and three you can drive to. Cabins: For the most authentic experience, I highly recommend a log cabin in the Smokies. The East Tennessee Great Smoky Mountains is open year-round, 24 hours a day (weather permitting). WebOnly have one day in Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Be especially aware if travelling via US-441, also known as Newfound Gap Road, as that tends to close a double-digit number of times throughout the colder months. Blackberry Farm resort is a James Beard and Southern Living award winner year after year, and for good reason. Horse Camp. #2. Picnic Areas It covers a section of Tennessee and North Carolina in the Southern USA that was once home to the Cherokee, and later by Scotch-Irish settlers. Because I live close, summer is the season I tend to avoid Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and Gatlinburg, ceding the cities to the tourists. Most of the annual snowfall occurs from January to March. Great Smoky Mountains The highest point on the entire 2,200 mile span of the AT is the parks own Clingmans Dome the top of Old Smoky made famous by singers like the Weavers and Hank Williams. The months with the lowest visitation tend to be in the winter and spring. Webfor Sevierville, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Townsend, Tennessee. It's since become home to some of the most exciting roller coasters, mouth-watering Southern food and annual festivals that attract visitors from far and wide. Here's how to get a tag, Ready for a challenge? Trailheads for some of the most popular hikes and some of the park's key historic sights are found along this two-lane road. We are not endorsed by, authorized by, or affiliated with any mentioned attractions. There are thousands of cabins to choose from across Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Townsend and more. Hi! It is true that the scenery was blah but the mountains were quiet and serene. The area experiences pretty mild winters for the most part, so even planning a trip in November or December would be a great time to take in the sights, and likely find discounted accommodations. So how many days should you allocate for your Smoky Mountain vacation? I like seeing a bit of fall color in the park. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit, Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter. Fall is almost as popular as summer because of the colors from the fall foliage in the Traffic & Travel Tips We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Those that prefer more of the touristy attractions can enjoy the day at Dollywood learning about Appalachia culture and riding some of the best roller coasters in the country, or explore all that Pigeon Forge has to offer in the form of mini-golf and moonshine tastings. 37738, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Just a short drive from the park, visitors can swing by Cherokee, North Carolina, for a visit to Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort, a Caesar's property, for some gaming action at the biggest casino in the area. Great Smoky Mountains While you have a chance of seeing wildlife throughout the park, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is an excellent route if youre hoping to peep the parks animal residents, especially in winter time, at dawn, and in the evenings. Length: 2.7 milesElevation Gain: 482 feetType: Out and BackDifficulty: EasyEstimated Time to Complete: 1.5 hours. If you have a short day, you can edit this itinerary to suit your needs, but you cant go wrong with any of these hikes. Elkmont is a former logging community and, you guessed it, former home to many elk. More than 11.3 million recreational visits in 2016. How many days do you need for a visit to Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Dolly Parton opened the theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, a short drive from the entrance to the national park, back in the late 1980s as a tribute to the Smoky Mountain culture that she calls home. Perhaps youve taken the bait. A map showing all the park's trails is available to download on the website or to purchase at the park's visitors centers (Sugarlands, Oconaluftee, Cades Cove or Clingmans Dome). Go Auto Touring on Historic Park Roads. Over 90 historic structureshouses, barns, outbuildings, churches, schools, and gristmillshave been preserved or rehabilitated in the park. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Whitewater Rafting or Float Trip. More than 77,413 overnight visits in 2013. The aptly named LeConte Lodge sits atop Mount LeConte, the third tallest peak in the park, and is one of the most distinctive lodging experiences in the Smokies. Maybe you prefer Gatlinburg to Pigeon Forge. Maybe you, Our site produces editorial content for the purpose of entertainment. Of course, starting in the morning will allow you to experience the full itinerary and take your time while doing it! Schedule a game of mountainside mini-golf. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates. 107 Park Headquarters Road However, if youre trying to avoid big crowds of people on your visit, we can help. Here's what you need to know. Head to the beach for an unforgettable time with your four-legged friend. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. That gives you the chance to explore the GSMNP as well as some of the towns. A visit to Blackberry Farm is one you won't soon forget. Dollywood is magical in December and holiday shopping is at its peak. See Elk at Cataloochee. First-timer's guide to Great Smoky Mountains National Park Alum Cave Trail (4.4 miles round-trip) is my personal favorite, and one of the most scenic hikes in the Smokies. Horseback riding stables are located in Cades Cove, Sugarlands and Smokemont. Primary roads such as Newfound Gap Road, Little River Road and Cades Cove Loop Road stay open year-round (weather permitting). Since 1995 this family owned whitewater rafting and tubing business has been the top rated outpost in the Smokies. If the Self-Guided Nature Trail got you excited about Smokemont, this is just the trail for you! I'm Lauren, the founder of Never Ending Footsteps. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers tons of recreational activities and attractions that are perfect for the whole family. Other nearby airports include Asheville, NC (an 80-minute drive), Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (a 3-hour drive), and Chattanooga (a 2.75 hour drive). Day 1: Eat Breakfast at the Pancake Pantry: Start your first day in the Smoky Mountains off on the right foot with a delicious breakfast! I find that typically, rain showers come and go and do not always interfere with your day as much as you might expect. Clingmans Dome (1 mile round-trip) is the highest point in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, at 6,643 feet, with truly unbeatable views. Just keep in mind that some trails and roads might be closed from November to March, so be sure to do your research in advance on the national park's official website. Closures are ever-changing, so always check with the parks website for new announcements. Backcountry camping is free, although you do need a reservation and a permit. Follow US-441 until you see a left turn for Smokemont Road to cross the Oconaluftee River. The second most heavily visited national park is Grand Canyon with 4.6 million visits, third is Yosemite with 3.8 million, fourth is Yellowstone with 3.2 million. WebSix days should give you a good taste of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. - We may visit the Smoky Mts in August, how many days are needed to get a good feel for the park? If you prefer not to sleep in a tent, the only option inside park boundaries is the LeConte Lodge, a delightfully old-fashioned collection of wooden cottages near the top of Mount LeConte (elevation 6594ft). 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