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Great Smoky Mountains National Park

America’s most-visited national park straddles the border of Tenn. and N.C. with a thickly forested collection of mountains, rivers and preserved pioneer communities. Some highlights include Cades Cove known for its abundant wildlife and a working grist mill, Clingmans Dome on the park’s highest point with a view of seven states, and dozens of waterfalls and cascades.

Got 24 hours? Get the most out of them with this guide. Take a hike, touch the past, cruise a view, and more.

River in Pigeon Forge. Photo by Jon Grim

Do you love to take vacation photos in national parks? We’re looking for photos that capture the essence of your experience, so whether it’s a landscape, a night skies photo, or a wildlife pic, send it our way. You could win a Tamron camera lens and be featured in a 2018 National Park Journal!

Woman hiking next to a cascade in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

How do you pack for the nation’s most visited park? Here are the top 13 items to bring to the park.

Autumn sunrise from Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The forests of Great Smoky Mountains National Park are noted for humid weather patterns. Shaped by elevation, slope, and exposure, these can change rapidly.

An aerial view of Lake Fontana in North Carolina

Options for trails and what to expect on the hike, from a moderate walk to a waterfall to a strenuous hike to the top of a mountain.

Female black bear. Photo by Grant Ordelheide

About 1,500 black bears live in the park. Females usually weigh about 100 lbs and males weigh 250, though bears as large as 600 have been found here.

Learn about waterfalls, mountains peaks, valleys, gaps, and overlooks inside the most visited national park in the United States.

The park’s largest animal, elk can weigh 700 pounds and reach 5 feet at the shoulder.

Rocking chairs outside of a vacation home

You can enjoy many types of campgrounds inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but there is only one lodge. Nearby gateways offer many hotels and cabins.

Where is Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

The park is in the eastern section of the United States straddling the border between Tennessee and North Carolina.

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Which entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park should I take?

Great Smoky has three main entrances and a smattering of smaller inlets. The Gatlinburg, Tenn./Sugarlands entrance is the most popular for tourists interested in attractions and auto touring. The Townsend, Tenn. and Oconaluftee/Cherokee, N. Carolina entrances cater more to the traveler interested in outdoor recreation and adventure vacations. The remote Cataloochee entrance is the best place for elk viewing, and the Lake Fontana entrance gives you access to lake sports and famous motorcycle rides right outside the park. The latter is also the way Appalachian Trail hikers enter the park.

Bear sculpture in Cherokee, North Carolina

The majority of visitors enter through the Sugarlands entrance on the park’s north side by driving through Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Hiking the Baxter Creek Trail near Mount Sterling in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Go hiking, paddling, fishing, and climbing in a park with lush valleys and high mountain tops. It's waiting for you to explore.

Appalachian Trail Sign inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Appalachian Trail (AT) travels 72 miles through Great Smoky Mountains National Park along the Tennessee-North Carolina border.

How should I get to Great Smoky?

Most people drive to the park. Check out our road trip ideas. There are four major airports within a day’s drive of the park including Knoxville, Tenn. and Charlotte, N. Carolina. Once you get to the park, you will need a car or tour transportation to get around unless you ride the Gatlinburg trolley.

Park gateway town, Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Getting there can be as fun as the park itself. Enjoy these scenic drives and road trips to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and other spots in Tennessee and North Carolina.

Convenient airports include McGee-Tyson, Asheville Regional Greenville-Spartanburg International, and Charlotte Douglas International. See maps.

The Gatlinburg Trolley driving through Pigeon Forge. Photo by Ron Miguel via Flickr

The Gatlinburg Trolley Tan Line stops at Sugarlands Visitor Center, Laurel Falls parking lot, and Elkmont Campground.

Where should I stay on my Smoky Mountain vacation?

There is only one lodge in the park and it has a lottery reservation system. However, there are several park campgrounds and horse camps. There are a plethora of lodging options near the park entrances including cabins, campgrounds, resorts, hotels, and a casino hotel.

Interior of a glamping tent at Under Canvas in the Gatlinburg area

Luxury Gatlinburg camping near the national park

In the heart of Cherokee tribal country with 360-degree mountain views

What is there to see and do at Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

Auto touring through dense forests, exploring preserved pioneer communities, hiking to mountain views and waterfalls, and wildlife watching (especially for bears) are the main attractions in the park. During autumn, the mountains are ablaze with color, making leaf-peeping season the busiest time in the park. See our list of the top ten things to do in the park and beyond.

A young elk buck peeks out from the forest on the edge of Cataloochee Valley in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

There are many types of animals in the Great Smoky Mountains, but dense forests can make them difficult to spot. Here’s a guide to better your chances.

Sunset over the Smoky Mountains in autumn

Don’t leave the park without ticking off at least one of these top ten Smokies to-dos including historic sites, grand overlooks, wildlife, and waterfalls.

Hyatt Lane in Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

See wildlife, colorful leaves, mountain peaks, and waterfalls, all from the convenience of your car. We show you the best pit-stops for exploring.

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Sunset view at Newfound Gap in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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