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Great Smoky Mountains National Park – horses grazing in a field📷 Photo by David Hertle on Unsplash
National park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Old-growth forest, remains of mountain farms and one of the most varied collections of plants and animals in any temperate park.

Established
1934
States
TN, NC
Entrance fee
None (parking tag)
Best season
Apr–Jun, Oct

Before you go

  • There is no entrance fee, but you need a parking tag to stop for more than 15 minutes.
  • Cades Cove fills early. Arrive at dawn or visit on a vehicle-free morning.
  • Synchronous fireflies appear near Elkmont in late May or early June, and you need a lottery permit to see them.

Crossing the park

Newfound Gap Road (US-441) links Gatlinburg and Cherokee, climbing past the turnoff for Clingmans Dome. Allow two hours for the crossing with stops.

FAQs

Which entrance is best?

Gatlinburg (TN) is the busiest. Cherokee (NC) connects directly to the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Places to see

Clingmans Dome observation tower TN1© Acroterion · CC BY-SA 4.0
Editor's pick
Views

Clingmans Dome

The highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains, reached by a steep paved path to a spiral observation ramp.

Bryson City, NC
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail – Noah Ogle Place - October 2023 - Sarah Stierch 02© Missvain · CC BY 4.0
Views

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

A narrow one-way 9 km road past old-growth forest, cascading streams and historic cabins, starting from…

Gatlinburg, TN
Cades Cove - October 2023 - Sarah Stierch 01© Missvain · CC BY 4.0
Editor's pick
Nature

Cades Cove

A mountain valley with log cabins, churches and a mill, circled by an 18 km one-way loop road where deer,…

Townsend, TN
Look Rock, Foothills Parkway – 2017-05-17 19 41 30 Panoramic view east and south from the Look Rock Observation Tower at Look Rock along Foothills Parkway in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, within Blount County, Tennessee© Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0
Views

Look Rock, Foothills Parkway

A 800 m paved path climbs from the Foothills Parkway to an observation tower with a 360° view of the…

Walland, TN
Tail of the Dragon – Deals Gap-Welcome to NC© Washuotaku · CC BY-SA 4.0
Views

Tail of the Dragon

US-129 at Deals Gap: 318 curves in 11 miles. Popular with motorcyclists; not for long RVs.

Robbinsville, NC
Bridal Veil Falls, US Highway 64, Cullasaja River Gorge, Highlands, NC - 53044551645© w_lemay · CC BY-SA 2.0
Nature

Bridal Veil Falls

A waterfall beside US-64 west of Highlands, where an old loop of road once let cars drive behind the…

Highlands, NC
Dry Falls, US Highway 64, Cullasaja River Gorge, Highlands, NC - 53044548340© w_lemay · CC BY-SA 2.0
Editor's pick
Nature

Dry Falls

A 65-foot waterfall on the Cullasaja River with a paved path and steps that lead behind the curtain of…

Highlands, NC

Campsites nearby

  • Deep Creek CampgroundCampsite
    12 mi from
    TentsCaravansDrinking waterToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
    OSMAdd to trip
  • Country Girls RV ParkMotorhome stopover
    14 mi from
    MotorhomesElectricityWi-Fi
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • Cherokee / Great Smokies KOA HolidayMotorhome stopover
    15 mi from · 514 pitches
    MotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalWi-Fi
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • River Valley CampgroundMotorhome stopover
    16 mi from · 160 pitches
    MotorhomesElectricityWaste disposal
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • Happy Holiday RV VillageMotorhome stopover
    19 mi from
    MotorhomesElectricityWaste disposal
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • Look Rock CampgroundCampsite
    22 mi from
    TentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterToiletsWaste disposal
    OSMAdd to trip

All campsites in North Carolina · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026

Trip guides

The Blue Ridge Parkway, end to end – gray rock formation on brown sand during daytimePhoto by The AIRDEEz on Unsplash
BRP
Classic American drives

The Blue Ridge Parkway, end to end

465 mi12 stops4 days