Great Smoky Mountains National Park Guide
Straddling the Tennessee-North Carolina border, Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park in the country, prized for its mist-covered ridges, old-growth forest, and rich wildlife.
How Much Time to Budget
Two days lets you drive the main corridors and fit in a couple of hikes. It’s also an easy add-on to a broader Appalachian or Blue Ridge Parkway road trip.
Don’t Miss
- Cades Cove loop road for wildlife viewing and historic buildings
- Clingmans Dome for the highest point in the park (steep paved trail to the summit)
- Newfound Gap Road, the main route across the mountains
- Laurel Falls, a popular and relatively easy waterfall hike
Best Time to Visit
Fall brings vivid foliage and heavy crowds along Newfound Gap Road. Spring offers wildflowers and thinner traffic. Unlike many western parks, the Smokies charge no entrance fee, though a parking tag is required for visits over 15 minutes.
