Great Smoky Mountain National Park
The Great Smoky Mountain National Park should be on your must visit list for national parks! In fact, it is the most visited national park in the United States. It boasts beautiful waterfalls, mountains, epic hiking and scenic drives. The park is home to diverse wildlife such as black bears, elk, and over 200 bird species. It is extremely popular in autumn with its gorgeous fall foliage and also incredible to visit for wildflowers in the spring and lush green forests in the summer!
getting there
If you are flying to the area, the closest major airport is the Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) is about 1 hours drive . Other nearby airports include Tri-Cities Airport (TRI) and the Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) which are both about 2 hour away. When we visited we were driving between Baltimore and Nashville and made a short stop to explore the Smoky Mountain National Park and we spent the night in Gatlinburg, TN. Smoky Mountain National Park is a great place to drive to for a weekend escape from these major cities: Nashville (4 hours), Atlanta (4.5 hours), Charlotte (4 hours), and Chattanooga (3 hours).
getting Around
The best way to get around the area is by having your own car and driving. It really affords you the flexibility of exploring the area and the national park. If you don’t have a car there are ways to see the Smoky Mountains National Park with guided tours. If you fly into Knoxville airport, you can get an uber or taxi to Gatlinburg or a shuttle.
where to stay
If you would like to stay in the park there is only one lodge available- the LeConte Lodge. There are several campgrounds to choose from including Cades Cove, Smokemont, Balsam Mountain.
The Great Smoky Mountains has several gateway towns. The most popular is Gatlinburg which is just outside of the park and offers several tourist attractions, several dining and hotel options.
Though Gatlinburg is a small town there are so many options of places to stay depending on your budget and desired stay.
Townsend, TN offers a quieter atmosphere and is more convenient to Cades Cove area. Pigeon Forge, TN is a little further but offers other attractions including Dollywood.
On the North Carolina side you can consider Cherokee, NC or if you stay a little bit further in Bryson City, NC which is a charming city with train rides and other activities though a little bit further from the park.
During our trip we stayed in the Edgewater Hotel and Conference Center Gatlinburg which was a very affordable option for us. It is a 3 star hotel and had a nice balcony overlooking the water and Gatlinburg.
when to visit Great Smoky Mountain National Park
This area is absolutely beautiful year-round and wonderful to visit. The most popular time to visit for good reason is in the fall for the foliage. September and October are the high season followed by the summer. Wildflowers bloom in the spring making it another popular time though not as busy as summer and fall.
Fees
Great Smoky Mountain is the most visited National Park in the United States but what is so wonderful about it is that there are no entrance fees.
things to do in Great Smoky Mountain National Park
Clingmans Dome
At 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the Smokies. Clingmans Dome is also known as Kuwohi. A short, steep paved walk leads to an observation tower with breathtaking 360-degree views of the mountains. The total walk is about 1 mile. On a clear day, you can see for over 100 miles. It is a great place to watch sunset-which is what we did and it was fantastic!
Hiking
With more than 800 miles of trails, the Smokies are a hiker’s paradise. Popular options include the Alum Cave Trail, Chimney Tops, and Laurel Falls. Adventurers can even hike a section of the famous Appalachian Trail. On our trip we did the Alum Cave Trail which is a 4.4 mile round trip hike with about 1,120 elevation change and passes the Arch Rock and impressive Alum Cave Bluffs. We also did the Rainbow Falls hike which is a 5.6 steep and rocky trail with 1,500 feet elevation gain ending at Rainbow falls!
Great Smoky Mountains Waterfalls
The park is home to some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Southeast. Don’t miss Laurel Falls, a family-friendly hike, or Abrams Falls, which requires a moderate trek through lush forest. We also hiked to Rainbow Falls- this is a 5.6 mile steep trail with 1,500 feet elevation gain to this 80 foot waterfall. Grotto Falls is a 25-foot waterfall that you can walk behind. Ramsey Cascades is the tallest waterfall in the Smokies with a 100-foot drop but it is a 8 mile strenuous hike with 2,000 feet of elevation change.
Scenic Drives
For those who prefer to explore by car, Newfound Gap Road offers stunning overlooks, while the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail winds past rushing streams and historic homesteads. The Newfound Gap Road is about 30 miles between Gatlinburg, TN and Cherokee, NC and you can drive it in about 1 hour with no scenic stops so depending on how much you stop that drive can extend up to 3 hours. If you add the Cascade Cove 11 mile-scenic loop expect to add at least an hour to your drive. You can really get a sense of the park with the drives and scenic overlooks!
Wildlife Watching
The Smokies are famous for their black bear population, but you can also spot elk, deer, wild turkeys, and more than 200 bird species throughout the park. On our visit, we saw several black bears and tons of birds!
Your visit to Great Smoky Mountain National Park
Smoky Mountain National Park is a must see national park! It is the most visited national park in the United States and no trip to this area of the country is complete without visiting this park. Just driving for the scenic views are worth a visit. Other popular spots and trails include Clingmans Dome, Laurel Falls, Alum Cave Bluff and so much more! Trust me you are going to love your trip- there is so much to explore it will keep you coming back!
