Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the is the most visited national park in the country and a true monument to the beauty of the Appalachians.
Quick Things To Know Before Visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Entrance is free! Anyone parking for more than 15 minutes will need a parking tag.
- Here’s my favorite guide book & map for the park.
- Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park in the country so expect crowds.
- Don’t feed or approach wildlife! Seriously, there have been serious, even fatal, incidents. And in many cases, the animals involved have to be euthanized.
- The best time to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park is in the fall. Visitation declines (a bit), but there are excellent wildlife viewing opportunities and some of the best fall foliage is found anywhere in the world.
- Here’s my favorite hotel to stay in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Table of Contents: Things to Do at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Table of Contents: Things to Do at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Quick Things To Know Before Visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Top 5 Best Things to Do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Top 10 Things to Do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Top 15 Things to Do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Summary of the Top Things to Do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Map of Things to Do at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Planning your visit to the Smokies? Here’s my favorite hotel to stay in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Top 5 Best Things to Do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
1. Ascend Clingmans Dome
At 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in Great Smoky Mountains National Park & the state of Tennessee.
The observation tower at Clingmans Dome provides sweeping views of the park along with the surrounding mountains and lakes.
On clear days, you can see over 100 miles in any direction. This highest peak in the park is easy to access for visitors of all ages and abilities and is a must for any visit.
You can drive to the Clingmans Dome parking lot and take in spectacular views from there, but if you want to go to the observation tower you’ll have to walk a little further. The walk is short and paved, but it is up a steep incline and may take some people a longer amount of time. The views are well worth it.
2. Soak in the Views at Newfound Gap Overlook
Newfound Gap Overlook is one of my favorite spots in the park. With sweeping views of the famous rolling mountain scenery that makes the area so beautiful you’ll understand what I mean.
Get here in the morning and watch the mist roll through these old hills and you’ll see why they’re called the Great Smoky Mountains.
In the fall, this overlook is a feast for the eyes, with brilliant, kaleidoscopic reds, yellows, and oranges nearly everywhere you look.
This is a popular overlook right off of the road and may not have parking available at times. Make sure to safely pull your car off the road and watch for oncoming cars.
3. Drive through Cades Cove
The beautiful misty mountain valley of Cades Cove is perhaps the most popular spot in the park, with its historic cabins and abundant wildlife, including black bears.
In the summer and fall, cars line up, sometimes by the hundreds, to enter this loop road and glimpse a black bear or just to take in the spectacular scenery that makes the Smoky Mountains so unique.
The park service opens the road at sunrise, so keep that in mind. Every Wednesday from May 1 to September 25 are car-free days in Cades Cove, where you can hike or bike your way through the area free of traffic and noise.
Interested in Visiting Cades Cove? Check out 15 Things to See in Cades Cove (Helpful Guide + Map)
4. Tour Mingus Mill
The historic Mingus Mill was built in 1886 and continues to churn to this day. It’s a cool spot to explore with kids and see a piece of functioning pioneer history.
Step inside the mill and learn about the mill’s operations from a National Park Service interpreter.
Not only is this a beautiful historic mill, but it’s an operating grist mill and you can go inside and see how it works. In the winter, you might notice smoke coiling out of the old mill from the wood fire crackling inside.
5. Visit Cataloochee
Far from the hustle and bustle of Gatlinburg and the tourists, you’ll find this peaceful mountain valley. Known as Cataloochee, the valley was formerly home to a small mountain community before the park was established.
Now, you can explore the remaining historic homes and buildings and take in the peaceful mountain charm that once made this an ideal place to settle.
There’s a herd of elk that can be commonly seen grazing the pastures of the valley. You can also spot wild turkeys and a number of other interesting wildlife in this quiet corner of the park.
Cataloochee is accessed via a narrow, steep, gravel road that may not be suitable for some types of vehicles.
Top 10 Things to Do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
6. Hike the Appalachian Trail
You might say the Appalachian Trail is the Route 66 of hiking trails. Completed in 1937, this legendary trail stretches some 2,200 uninterrupted miles from the mountains of north Georgia to the heart of Maine, passing through 14 states in all.
The Appalachian Trail cuts through the heart of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and there are a number of opportunities to hop on the storied trail in the park, even for a short walk.
Clingmans Dome provides one of the easiest opportunities to hike a stretch of the AT.
7. Check out the Ocanaluftee Mountain Farm Museum
At the south entrance of the park, you’ll find the Ocanaluftee Visitor Center. Adjacent to the visitor center is a walking trail along the Ocanaluftee River that takes visitors through the Mountain Farm Museum.
The museum is actually a cluster of preserved historical pioneer buildings, including a blacksmith shop, a cabin, a barn, and others.
Here, you can walk through the history of the area, exploring old buildings and learning about the pioneer way of life while the scenic Ocanaluftee River rushes along just behind the treeline.
This is also a great spot to see some of the park’s elk.
They’ve been known to congregate in this area in the early morning, particularly in the fall.
8. Tour the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
The Roaring Forks Motor Nature Trail is a 5.5-mile one-way loop through a beautiful section of forest dotted with historic buildings.
Along the way you’ll pass cascading streams, a historic grist mill, and plenty of serene nature.
The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail offers the ability to slow down off of the main roads and enjoy the beauty of this area from your car.
There are also a number of hiking trails along the road, taking visitors to scenic waterfalls.
9. Fontana Lake
Fontana Lake marks the southern end of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and dips into Nantahala National Forest.
The lake is a great spot for a picnic lunch away from the crowds in the busy parts of the park.
The lake is a good distance away from most other points of interest in the park so you’ll want to keep that in mind when planning your trip.
10. View the Elk
A lot of people don’t realize that you don’t have to head out west to see elk! That’s right, elk are native to the woodlands of the Eastern United States and were largely extirpated in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
But thanks to the National Park Service these magnificent mammals are once again roaming the forests and meadows of places like the Great Smoky Mountains and are a delight to see.
Early morning is the best time to see the elk. I’d recommend calling the park and asking a ranger where you might have the best odds of safely viewing them, depending on the time of year you’re going. Remember to keep a safe and respectful distance!
Top 15 Things to Do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
11. Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway
That’s right, the famed Blue Ridge Parkway begins in Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
Why not hit the parkway when you’re done visiting the Smokies and wind your way all the way up to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia?
No matter what your plans are, I recommend hopping on the Blue Ridge Parkway for at least a few miles and enjoying the scenery.
12. Explore Deep Creek
The Deep Creek area offers numerous hiking trails following streams and offering views of several of the region’s many waterfalls.
Bicycles are allowed on portions of Deep Creek and Indian Creek trails, and there’s a campground that is open seasonally from April to late October.
Hiking is relatively easy in the Deep Creek area and suitable for most visitors. Don’t forget to grab your Tennessee or North Carolina fishing license and try your hand here!
13. Hike to Andrews Bald
Named for an 1840s cattleman who grazed his cattle high up here, Andrews Bald is a grassy ridge top offering spectacular views of the surrounding area.
To get there, you’ll take Forney Ridge Trail from the Clingman’s Dome parking lot. From there, you’ll descend for about a mile before ascending for the last half mile to reach Andrews Bald. In all the trail is 1.8 miles one-way.
I wouldn’t recommend this trail for those who aren’t prepared for a little huffing and puffing as you’ll traverse 1200 feet of elevation change, and the way back can be a bit steep. I’d rate the trail’s difficulty as moderate.
14. See the Chimney Tops
Think the Angels Landing of the eastern United States. Chimney Tops is one of the most popular trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and has attained Angels Landing-like status as a must-do hike in the park.
Is it a must-do, and for that matter, is Angels Landing? No, especially not with the crowds, but if you come in the offseason it’s worth checking out if you’re up for a challenge.
The trail ascends more than 1400 feet in the span of 2 miles and used to culminate in some rock-scrambling as you reached the summit.
Now, the final quarter of a mile is off limits with a barred gate warning of the closure. Unfortunately, due to the fires of 2016, you can’t summit Chimney Tops any longer, but you can enjoy the adventure along the way while still getting epic views.
Getting to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The park is conveniently located around the mountain tourist town of Gatlinburg, TN, which is just south of the larger tourist town of Pigeon Forge.
You can fly in to McGhee Tyson Airport (Knoxville, TN) on most domestic airlines, from there you can rent a car and make your way into the park which is a little more than an hour away.
Summary of the Top Things to Do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Clingmans Dome
- Newfound Gap Overlook
- Cades Cove
- Mingus Mill
- Cataloochee
- Appalachian Trail
- Ocanaluftee Mountain Farm Museum
- Fontana Lake
- View Elk
- Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
- Blue Ridge Parkway
- Deep Creek
- Andrews Bald
- Chimney Tops
Map of Things to Do at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Helpful Related Articles
Great Smoky Mountains NP Guide: Expert Guide to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Best Hikes Great Smoky Mountains: 15 Best Hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Visiting Cades Cove: Cades Cove Visiting Guide (Helpful Tips + Map)
Tennessee National Parks: 15 AMAZING Tennessee National Parks Worth Visiting (Guide + Photos)
Best East Coast National Parks: Top 10 Best East Coast National Parks Ranked
National Monuments Ranked: ALL 128 US National Monuments Ranked (Best to Worst)
National Parks Ranked: ALL 63 US NATIONAL PARKS RANKED By Experts
Free Downloadable National Parks Map: LIST & MAP of National Parks By State (+ Printable Checklist)
Most Visited National Parks: Top 10 Most Visited US National Parks
Georgia National Parks: 10 Amazing Georgia National Parks Worth Visiting
South Carolina National Parks: 8 Epic South Carolina National Parks Worth Visiting
North Carolina National Parks: 12 Epic North Carolina National Parks Worth Visiting
National Parks Road Trip: 10 EPIC National Parks Road Trips (Expert Guide)
Virginia National Parks: 30 EPIC Virginia National Parks Worth Visiting (Helpful Guide + Photos)
Pennsylvania National Parks: 22 EPIC Pennsylvania National Parks Worth Visiting (Guide + Photos)
Maryland National Parks: 27 EPIC Maryland National Parks Worth Visiting (Helpful Guide + Photos)
Maine National Parks: An Epic Guide to Maine’s National Parks
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Thank you for this!! I’ve been looking for a good list for a while and this one pretty much checks all the boxes. What time of year is best other than the fall (which I know is the time you recommend)? I’m planning a trip with my family and this is great. Do you have a printable version of this?
Hey Janice,
Thanks for dropping in! I’d say Spring is another great time to visit GSMNP just make sure to avoid spring break when all the schools are out! Waterfalls & blooms will be beautiful.
We’ll shoot you an email with a PDF!
Best,
Will
I would like to say that the road to Cataloochee is not as bad as they are describing. My family, who lives out west, makes an annual trip to GSMNT, and have been in every season love going to Cataloochee. We have always made sure to stay at least a day there and drive on the road both there and back. We used to drive in a beat-up minivan before we got our Jeep, and even in the worst weather we never had a problem. I will say that it is a very small one-lane road that for most of the time you are stuck behind some impossibly slow car but it is so worth it.
That’s a fair point coming from the west. We get a lot of comments from folks who are not used to bumpy roads so we lean on more caution is better. Really appreciate you sharing your insights as I’m sure it will be really helpful for everyone else considering.
Best,
Will
This is such a great overview of the Great Smoky Mountains! If you’re ever in Texas, consider checking out the RV parks in Midland, TX. They offer a fantastic way to relax and experience the beauty of the area while being close to local attractions. Thanks for sharing these tips!