Park Information

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Information

Enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors when you choose lodging near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

A vacation in Tennessee would not be complete without seeing the inspiration of this beautiful area. From arts and crafts to hiking and nature walks, you will be amazed by what these mountains have to offer.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park encompasses more than one-half million acres, making it the largest national park in the East. An auto tour of the park offers panoramic views, tumbling mountain streams, weathered historic buildings, and uninterrupted forest stretching to the horizon.

There are more than 270 miles of roads in the Smokies. Most are paved, and even the gravel roads are maintained in suitable condition for standard two-wheel drive automobiles. Travel times on most roads will average 30 miles per hour or slower. If you really want a hands-on experience, the Smoky Mountain Field School offers nature workshops and hiking adventures.

Since March 2023 parking permits are required for the GSMNP. The Park is implementing the pass to generate additional funds. Funds generated from this program will maintain trails, restoration of grounds, and increase park ranger availability. There are hundreds of historical buildings and structures that require upkeep. In 2021 the Great Smoky Mountains National Park saw 14.1 million visitors. This is more than Yosemite (3,200,000), Yellowstone (4,800,000), and The Grand Canyon (4,500,000) combined!

This fee will only apply when parking for 15 minutes or longer, and does not apply to simply driving through the park. Tribal citizens are exempt from the parking fee. The cost will be $5 per day, $15 for a seven-day tag, and $40 for an annual tag. Annual tags can be ordered here. Daily and weekly passes can be ordered from here.

The basics:

A digital copy of the tag is not valid, and park staff cannot print the tag for you.
The vehicle displaying the tag must have a matching license plate as listed on the tag.
Display the parking tag on the dashboard.
Parking tags are not replaceable, refundable, transferable, or upgradable.
Daily and weekly parking tags expire at 11:59pm ET on the date printed on the tag.
Parking tags are not required for motorists who pass through the area or who park for less than 15 minutes.
Parking tags are not location-specific.

PLEASE NOTE: passes must be printed to be valid. 100% of the funds raised by this parking fee will stay in the Park. This small fee will provide many benefits and help the park succeed in the future! The park is a wonderful place to enjoy the natural wonders. Book a stay at one of the beautiful Smoky Mountain Bed and Breakfast Associations Inns, and we’ll help you experience the Park!

Points of Interest

Alum Cave Bluffs

At 100-feet high and 51/2 miles round-trip, this trail can become somewhat strenuous towards the end. The bluffs rise 1,360 feet above New Found Gap and travel through Arch Rock, a tunnel that was created by erosion.

Andrews Bald

Just two miles south of Clingmans Dome, and one of the easiest balds to hike to, Andrews Bald is a great picnic spot that offers beautiful views.

Cades Cove

A view of Cades Cove, 6,800-acre valley near Townsend, Tennessee, provides a representative sample of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s natural and cultural history as well as its recreational opportunities. There are many things to see and do here including a day hike to Abram’s Falls. An 11 mile, one-way road gives visitors a chance to tour the area with 19 designated points of interest that are numbered and indicated on a pamphlet that can be easily obtained at any of the Visitors Centers. For more information, view Cades Cove information from the NPS.

Chimney Tops

Consisting of twin rock formations, one of which contains a natural chimney in the rock, this area is quite scenic with small streams and dense forest. The trail is very popular and is often crowded in season. The hike is fairly easy except for the last few hundred feet which is a hands-and-knees scramble up the rock. From the chimney tops, you can see the twin summits located along New Found Gap Road.

Clingman’s Dome

At an elevation of 6,643 feet, Clingman’s Dome is the highest point in the Smokies. The 54 foot observation tower provides a 360º view of the surrounding mountains. On a clear, pollution-free day, this view extends as far as 100 miles and into 7 states. The average distance, however, is roughly 22 miles.

Newfound Gap

At 5,048 feet high, Newfound gap offers wonderful mountain views with very little effort, as it is located just off Hwy 441. Both the Appalachian Trail and the North Carolina / Tennessee state line cross through Newfound Gap from east to west.

Mount LeConte

At 6,593 feet, this peak is the third highest in the Park. Although the summit of LeConte is tree-covered and offers no views, impressive views are available at Cliff Tops and Myrtle Point on the other side of the summit. The summit can be reached via several trails including Alum Caves Trail (4.5 miles), Rainbow Falls Trail (6.5 miles), Bullhead Trail (6.5 miles), Trillium Gap Trail (7 miles) and the Boulevard (8 miles). The Rainbow Falls / Bullhead combination makes one of the Park’s best loops.

Recreational opportunities

The Park has front country (developed) and backcountry (backpacking) campsites. The procedures and facilities for each are different. There also are a limited number of Group Tent Camping areas. Please visit the NPS site for more information concerning camping in the Park.

Nature information

The Smoky Mountains are a premier wildlife viewing area. Early in the morning and late in the evening make the best viewing times. Cades Cove and Cataloochee have large open spaces and provide excellent opportunities for viewing wildlife. Wildlife sightings are common throughout the Park and may include bears, elk, deer, fox, wolves, and wild hogs.