Founded
1934
Size
522,427 acres
Annual visitors
~13 million
Entry fee
Free
Parking pass
$5/day · $15/wk · $40/yr
Trail mileage
800+ miles
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most-visited national park in the United States — and somehow, it’s still free to enter. The park was established in 1934, straddles the Tennessee/North Carolina border, and protects 522,427 acres of some of the oldest mountains in North America.
For most visitors, the park is best experienced as a series of half-day trips out of a base town like Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Townsend, or Cherokee. The four big draws are the same every season: scenic drives (Cades Cove Loop, Newfound Gap Road, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail), wildlife(black bears, elk in Cataloochee and Oconaluftee, deer everywhere), waterfalls (Grotto Falls, Laurel Falls, Abrams Falls, Rainbow Falls), and history (the preserved cabins of Cades Cove and the Mountain Farm Museum).
Two operational notes that catch first-timers off guard: you do need a parking pass now ($5/day, $15/week, $40/year — buy at any visitor center or online), and cell service is essentially non-existent in most of the park. Download offline maps before you go.
Ticket Deals
Where to stay & book tickets
Reserve popular Gatlinburg attractions online before the busiest time slots and same-day prices start climbing.
Tap any live offer below to open the official ticket checkout for that attraction.
Choose your entrance
There’s no “wrong” entrance — but each base town offers a very different trip. Pick based on the kind of experience you want.
Gatlinburg (Sugarlands)
The most popular entrance — direct access from downtown Gatlinburg via US-441. Visitor Center has the best park orientation, exhibits, and clean restrooms before you head deeper.
Plan GatlinburgTownsend (Cades Cove)
The "peaceful side." Quiet, less commercial, and the closest entrance to Cades Cove and Little River swimming. Best choice if you want fewer crowds.
Plan TownsendPigeon Forge / Sevierville
Slightly farther but better for combining park time with theme parks, dinner shows, and family attractions on the Parkway strip.
Plan Pigeon ForgeCherokee, NC (Oconaluftee)
The southern entrance, in North Carolina. Connects directly to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Excellent for elk viewing in the Oconaluftee fields at dawn and dusk.
Plan CherokeeWhen to visit
Spring (Mar–May)
Wildflowers peak in late April. Synchronous fireflies in late May/early June (lottery only). Cooler trail temps, fewer crowds than summer.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Peak waterfall flow, all roads open, longest daylight. But also peak crowds, heat, and afternoon thunderstorms. Arrive at trailheads before 8am.
Fall (Sep–Nov)
Foliage peaks mid-October. The most crowded season — Cades Cove can be 4-hour traffic. Visit midweek if at all possible. Photographer's dream.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Quietest season, best lodging deals, occasional snow at higher elevations. Some roads (Newfound Gap, Cades Cove) close on snow days. Crystal-clear views without leaf cover.
In-depth guides
Our most-read park articles, written from real visits — not from a press release.
2026 synchronous firefly lottery dates
When the once-a-year lottery opens, how to enter, and what to bring on viewing night at Elkmont.
Read the guideCades Cove: how to beat the traffic
When to enter the 11-mile loop to actually see wildlife instead of bumpers, plus the bike-only days that change everything.
Read the guideScenic drives near Gatlinburg
Roaring Fork, Newfound Gap, Cades Cove Loop — ranked by scenery vs. crowd vs. drive time.
Read the guideBest places for sunrise & sunset
Where to be at first and last light. Spots that are worth the early alarm and ones that aren't.
Read the guideBear safety in the Smokies
What to actually do (and not do) when you see a bear on the trail. Recent incidents and what they teach you.
Read the guideRoaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
A "hike" without leaving your car — 5-mile one-way loop with old cabins, waterfalls, and tunnels of mountain laurel.
Read the guideReady to plan?
Book a hotel near your preferred entrance and start a packing list. The two things every visitor regrets forgetting: a paper map (no cell service in the park) and bug spray May–September.