Newfound Gap

Newfound Gap sits at 5,046 feet where Tennessee meets North Carolina, and honestly, it's one of those spots that delivers exactly what you hope for from the Smokies. The views stretch for miles across layered ridgelines, and on clear days you can see why this became the most visited national park in America. We always stop here during our drives across the park — it's basically the halfway point on the 33-mile scenic route from Gatlinburg to Cherokee.

The coolest part? You can literally step onto the Appalachian Trail from the parking lot. There's a paved walkway that takes you right to the state line marker and the AT crossing — no hiking boots required. Our kids love saying they've been on the famous 2,100-mile trail, even if it's just for a photo. The Rockefeller Memorial platform is worth the short walk too, especially if you're into the park's history from Roosevelt's 1940 dedication.

One thing though — get there before 10am if you're visiting between June and October. The parking lot fills up fast, and the narrow mountain road gets backed up with traffic. We learned this the hard way on a July weekend when we spent 20 minutes just waiting to get into the lot.

Pack layers no matter what season you visit. It's always 10+ degrees cooler up here than down in Gatlinburg, and we've seen snow at Newfound Gap when it was just rain in town. The road stays open year-round unless there's severe weather, but winter can be unpredictable at this elevation. The restrooms are open all year though, which is clutch when you're traveling with kids on the winding drive up.