The allure of America’s most popular national park, Great Smoky Mountains, is undeniable, but when you start to add up flight costs, rental cars, lodging and meals, visiting this bucket list destination can appear out of reach. A trip to Great Smoky on a budget isn’t as easy as it may seem, but luckily we’ve got the tips to help you make it a reality. You can see the park’s gushing waterfalls, blooming rhododendrons and historic towns, all without stretching your wallet too far. Here’s how we save money when we visit the Smokies.
1. Yes, It’s Free to Go to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
If you’re on a budget and have picked Great Smoky Mountains as your next destination, congratulations, you’ve chosen a particularly affordable park to visit. Unlike most national parks, Great Smoky does not charge an entrance fee. You can drive through the park to your heart’s content, stopping for quick photo ops at pull-outs, but if you want to get out and explore, you’ll have to pay for parking. Luckily the parking tag is still more affordable than most park entrance fees. In 2025, it costs $5 per vehicle for a daily tag, $15 for a 7-day tag and $40 for an annual tag. You can pay for parking online at Recreation.gov, or in person at a visitor center or parking machine at certain lots. If you have an America the Beautiful or other interagency annual pass, this will not work in lieu of a parking tag.
2. Weigh Driving vs. Flying
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located in its namesake mountain range on the North Carolina-Tennessee border. While there are several major airports within a few hours of the park, the park itself is huge and there is no shuttle system or public transportation to access it. Regardless of whether you choose to fly or drive, you’ll need to have a vehicle to explore, so keep that in mind. If you live in the Midwest or South, road tripping might be your most affordable option. While you’ll need to factor in gas, lodging and meals along the way, plus wear and tear on your car, driving can save you a ton on flights and a rental car, especially if you’re traveling with a family.
Depending on what kind of vehicle you drive, you may be able to save on lodging costs by sleeping in your car. If you’re traveling in an RV, it’s easy. Along the way stay in campgrounds, catch a few hours of shut-eye in a Walmart parking lot, or opt for a unique and free night’s stay with Harvest Hosts. Even if you don’t have an RV, bigger vehicles like minivans and SUVs (or even hatchbacks if you’re short) are easy enough to turn into a bed for frugal and heavy sleepers with a couple of pads and sleeping bags.
The cheapest option, no matter where you’re coming from, may be a combination of flying and driving. Fly into a more affordable airport that may be several hours away, rent a car and then finish the trip on the road. Plus, when you drive you can take your time and see more along the way. Check out our favorite road trips to the Smokies from major cities in the region.
3. Find the Cheapest Place to Fly for a Trip to the Smokies
There are several major airports, as well as a few smaller regional airports, near Great Smoky, so deciding which airport to fly into won’t be a no-brainer. To get the best deal, use a tool like Google Flights to compare costs at different airports in the region. Unless you have frequent flyer miles or status on a certain airline, being open to flying any carrier, as well as flexible on dates, will save you the most money.
The closest major airport to Great Smoky is on the Tennessee side of the park. Knoxville’s Mcghee Tyson Airport is just over an hour from the Sugarlands Entrance. Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in Georgia is a little over two hours from the Oconaluftee Entrance and Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina is three hours from this entrance. Nashville, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia are both worth considering, too. They each have major international airports and are a 3.5-hour drive to the park.
You’re less likely to find a deal at a regional airport since they’re serviced by fewer airlines and rental car companies, but it’s still a good idea to check prices at Asheville Regional Airport in North Carolina, an hour and 15-minute drive from the park, and Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport in Tennessee, just under three hours from either side of the park.
4. Search for Smoky Mountain Hotel Deals
There’s only one lodge in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and it’s located in the backcountry where you’ll have to hike to stay there. LeConte Lodge is a hard-to-get reservation, and only for intrepid travelers, so most Great Smoky visitors stay outside the park instead. Gatlinburg, and its neighboring city of Pigeon Forge, is located right at the Sugarlands Entrance to the park and is the biggest place to stay nearby. Cherokee, North Carolina is the biggest place to stay near the Oconaluftee Entrance. Both areas offer major chain hotels, though you’ll find more restaurants, shops and activities on the Tennessee side.
The most popular way to stay near the park, though, is in a cabin. While “cabin” might bring to mind rustic abodes without plumbing, in the Smokies it can mean a literal mansion outfitted in woodsy decor. The region surrounding the park is teeming with cabin rentals. You’ll find both resorts with cabins and amenities, and independently owned rentals. While some of the more luxurious options can be a bit pricey, renting a more down-to-earth cabin can be a great option to save money, especially if you’re traveling with a family. Having lodging with a kitchen means you can prepare your own meals and save on restaurant costs, and many cabins come with the same amenities a hotel would like a pool or hot tub. Use booking tools like Airbnb or VRBO to peruse options, or check out local chamber of commerce websites like Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Cherokee for options. Remember, the best way to stay affordably near the park is always to book early.
If you’re having a hard time finding lodging to fit your budget in the town’s major gateways, it’s worth looking further afield. Townsend, Tennessee is close to the park’s Cades Cove area. Maggie Valley is close to Cataloochee Valley. And the larger cities of Knoxville and Asheville are around an hour from the park, offering a wider variety of lodging options.
5. Stay at a Campground Instead
By far, the most affordable way to see Great Smoky Mountains National Park is by camping. The park has 10 designated campgrounds, all of which cost $30/night in 2025, making it the best deal around for an overnight stay. These campgrounds are justifiably popular, so you’ll want to make a reservation as soon as they open, six months in advance on Recreation.gov.
If you can’t snag a campsite inside the park, there are also a variety of National Forest and private campgrounds in the surrounding region that offer affordable options to stay.
6. Visit During Off Season
There’s hardly a bad time of year to go to Great Smoky, but there are definitely more popular seasons than others. Summer is the busiest time of year to try to see the park, followed by the month of October, when fall foliage usually peaks. For the best deals on lodging, flights and rental cars, skip the most popular seasons and instead opt to visit the park in spring, September, November or winter.
While you might encounter colder weather these times of year, much of the park sits low enough in elevation that you’ll still find decent hiking weather. Check out our pros and cons to visiting in every season.
7. Eat Affordably
There are no restaurants inside Great Smoky, so you’ll need to prepare your food yourself, or eat outside the park. The park has 11 designated picnic areas, which make great spots to assemble cold lunches, or even whip out the camp stove and cook something hot. Sites also have raised charcoal grills if you want to barbecue. There are a few small and specialty stores to buy food in downtown Gatlinburg, but for the best prices and widest selection, head to Food City on East Parkway in Gatlinburg, or in nearby Pigeon Forge you’ll find more options like Publix and Kroger. On the Tennessee side of the park there’s a Food Lion in Cherokee, or an Ingles Market in Bryson City. If your hotel offers free breakfast, fuel up for the day there.
If you plan on eating out, be aware that the Tennessee side of the park, including Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, is extremely touristy. It’s hard to find a restaurant that isn’t themed, and dinner shows are a popular offering. While this gives the whole place a Disney feel, it also means that many restaurants are expensive and have underwhelming food. Do your research ahead of time to decide which restaurants you want to spend your money at rather than wandering downtown with an empty stomach. You’ll also find various cheap chain options here like Five Guys, McDonald’s and Subway. The North Carolina side of the park is less touristy, and you’ll find a handful of locally owned restaurants, including cheap, casual options like BJ’s Diner, alongside chain options like Waffle House, Wendy’s and Subway. Nearby Bryson City and Dillsboro both offer charming downtown areas with plenty of restaurant options.
8. Fill Up Your Tank Cheaply
There are no gas stations in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so make sure your tank is full before you start driving Newfound Gap Road. Gas prices in Tennessee and North Carolina tend to be similar, so it doesn’t matter which state you fill up in, but avoid the stations right in downtown Gatlinburg. These are some of the most expensive in the area. If you drive a few minutes up East Parkway you’ll find much cheaper gas, or even better, fill up in Sevierville 30 minutes from the park and you may save as much as $0.60/gallon.
9. Find Free Activities
One of our favorite things about national parks is that once you enter them, pretty much everything you could hope to do inside their boundaries is free. Take a hike along the Appalachian Trail, or past one of the park’s many stunning cascades. Go for a scenic drive along Cades Cove, or on Wednesdays throughout the summer the route turns car-free so you can bike past historic structures if you brought your own wheels (there is a fee for bike rentals). Looking for a way to stay entertained for free after dark? You can apply for the lottery to see synchronous fireflies at the Elkmont area during their peak season in late May or early June. If you get lucky and score a permit, it does cost money, but you can also try your luck at spotting fireflies all summer long along Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Be sure to follow the same etiquette as the Elkmont event including keeping lights (including phones) off. Use a redlight flashlight if you need to see where you’re going, stay on trail and don’t disturb these magical insects.
In addition to self-guided activities, the park also offers a robust calendar of events and ranger-led excursions. Join park staff on wildflower walks, learn about air quality monitoring, search for salamanders or attend a music festival or harvest event. Check out the events calendar or inquire at a visitor center for the full schedule. Don’t miss a stop at the Mountain Farm Museum and Mingus Mill near the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. The mill offers demonstrations of cornmeal grinding at a working historic grist mill when it’s open.