Tennessee Est. 1934

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Mountains Forest River

Plan a visit Check conditions

Established

1934

Size

522,427 acres

Visits in 2025

11.5M

Entrance

Free

Best season

April through June, October

Nearest airport

TYS McGhee Tyson (Knoxville)

Park Closure: Cherokee Orchard Road closed to pedestrian traffic +3 more Wildfire Tracker

Why Great Smoky Mountains is worth the trip

Tennessee · Established 1934

The Smokies are the most visited national park in the country by roughly double, and the reasons hold up. This is one of the most biodiverse temperate forests on Earth, an ancient range whose ridgelines exhale the blue mist that named it. It is also free to enter, forever, thanks to a condition written into the original land deed.

The move is dodging the crowds you already know about. Drive Cades Cove at first light for black bears and deer in the meadows before the loop road clogs. In early June, the synchronous fireflies at Elkmont blink in unison for a lucky lottery crowd. In October, the hardwood forest burns through weeks of color. Go midweek, go at dawn, and the busiest park in America turns out to have plenty of quiet left in it.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park drew 11.53 million visits in 2025, the most visited of the 63 national parks.

Start with our full Great Smoky Mountains guide, then use the planning below.

Visits are 2025 recreation visits from NPS Visitor Use Statistics (irma.nps.gov), read July 30, 2026.

Conditions today Check before you go

WeatherHigh 66°F · Sunny

Air qualityAQI 34 Good

WildfireNo active fires nearby Clear

NPS alerts2 closures posted 2 active

Air quality map Wildfire tracker

See live Great Smoky Mountains conditions in the all-parks tracker

The park reports a partial closure.

Top things to do in Great Smoky Mountains

Where we would start, and what we would plan a day around. Read the full guide.

Start here

15 Things to Do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Read the guide

Hiking · nps.gov Hike to Abrams Falls Walk 5 miles (8 km) roundtrip through rhododendron, hemlock, and pine-oak forest to a 25-foot (7.6-m) waterfall and scenic pool. Swimming in the pool... 02

Hiking · nps.gov Hike the Gatlinburg Trail Enjoy a riverside stroll approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) roundtrip through a cove hardwood forest along one of the only dog- and bike-friendly trails... 03

Hiking · nps.gov Hike to Chimney Tops Overlook Hike 3.5 miles (5.6 km) roundtrip on this popular but challenging trail to enjoy views of surrounding mountains and the Chimney Tops pinnacles. This... 04

Hiking · nps.gov Hike to Mount Le Conte on Bullhead Trail One of five routes to Mount Le Conte, the Bullhead Trail offers consistent views. The strenuous hike is 13.6 miles (21.9 km) roundtrip. Near...

Best hikes in Great Smoky Mountains

The trails that define the park, with the distance and elevation numbers that decide your day.

1 Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte The finest route up 6,593 foot Mount LeConte. 2 Kuwohi Formerly Clingmans Dome, at 6,643 feet the range's loftiest peak. 3 Charlies Bunion A commanding rocky crag reached along the Appalachian Trail. 4 Gregory Bald Perhaps the most celebrated high elevation bald in the Smokies. 5 Ramsey Cascades The tallest waterfall in the park, a 100 foot tumble.

All Great Smoky Mountains hikes

Before you go

Get the Great Smoky Mountains heads-up

Permit windows, closures and seasonal alerts, plus our best Great Smoky Mountains guides, in your inbox before you go. Free, no spam.

Plan your trip

Our guides for the big decisions, plus the gear, maps and lodging we would actually use for Great Smoky Mountains.

Things to Do Best Hikes When to Visit Fun Facts

Where do people stay when visiting Great Smoky Mountains?

Lodging, food and outfitters are in the gateway towns of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Townsend, and inside the park you can camp at Smokemont Campground, Cades Cove Campground and other park campgrounds.

Gatlinburg, TNGateway town
Pigeon Forge, TNGateway town
Townsend, TNGateway town
Smokemont Campground 142 sites · Reserve
Cades Cove Campground 161 sites · Reserve

Compare stays near Great Smoky Mountains

Maps & guides

Carry paper. Cell service dies fast inside most parks.

Great Smoky Mountains Trails Illustrated map

Waterproof National Geographic topo of the park.

View on Amazon

Great Smoky Mountains field guide

Trail-by-trail detail and planning help in print.

View on Amazon

America the Beautiful pass

$80 a year. Covers entrance fees at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.

Get the pass

What to bring

Field-tested picks we bring on park trips.

Bear Spray

Required carry in grizzly country. Practice the quick-draw before you need it. View on REI
Trail Shoes

Lightweight with good traction for maintained trails. View on REI
Rain Jacket

Mountain weather turns fast. Pack a shell even on clear mornings. View on REI
Merino Hiking Socks

Prevent blisters and keep your feet comfortable for miles. View on REI

Getting there

TYS McGhee Tyson (Knoxville) 45 mi
AVL Asheville Regional 60 mi
CLT Charlotte Douglas International 170 mi

NPS Official Page Reservations Google Maps

Some links in this section are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we would use ourselves.

Great Smoky Mountains map

VC Visitor Center CG Campground Nearby Park

When to go

Read our seasonal guide

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Live Webcams

Live

Purchase Knob Webcam

Live

Look Rock Webcam

Month-by-Month Conditions

Tap any month for details

Month

High

Low

Crowds

Roads

Jan

47°

26°

Light

Open

Feb

51°

28°

Light

Open

Mar

60°

34°

Moderate

Open

Apr Best

69°

42°

Moderate

Open

May Best

76°

51°

Heavy

Open

Jun Best

83°

59°

Heavy

Open

Jul

86°

63°

Heavy

Open

Aug

85°

62°

Heavy

Open

Sep

79°

56°

Heavy

Open

Oct

69°

44°

Peak

Open

Nov

58°

34°

Moderate

Open

Dec

49°

27°

Light

Open

Best months to visit Crowd level (low to peak)

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