What to Pack for a Great Smoky Mountains Park Vacation

Are you headed to Great Smoky National Park? Straddling the states of North Carolina and Tennessee, you will find yourself surrounded by rolling hills, forests, wildlife and cultural relics. Here are the top 13 items to pack to bring to the park.

1. Sturdy Hiking Boots to Help You Really Experience the Smoky Mountains

A good pair of hiking boots is a must. To make the most out of your trip, pack a pair of supportive, waterproof and breathable hiking boots. These will allow you to navigate both wet trails beside waterfalls and dry trails up mountainsides with ease and enable you to explore farther than you maybe would have.

To get you started on your research, our staff loves LOWA’s lineup of hikers ranging from waterproof boots, to lightweight shoes. If you’re not going more than a couple of miles down the trail, you can pack light with a hiking shoe that can go from the trail to the restaurant. We love the Lowa Locarno Low hiking shoes. www.rei.com.

2. A Rain Jacket For a Wet Place

The lowlands of Great Smoky get an average of 55 inches of rain per year, but that number rises to 85 inches per year at Kuwohi. Bring your rain jacket to avoid getting caught in the rain. Temperatures, especially if you are higher up in the park, can drop dramatically when it rains, turning a warm day into one that feels freezing. When it rains and temperatures plummet, you want a jacket that can keep you warm and dry. Be sure to take cover from thunderstorms and lightening.

Tip: Pick a jacket that claims to be waterproof or watertight, not water resistant. Check out the many brands of rain jackets at www.rei.com.

3. Food to Fuel Adventures in the Park

There are no restaurants in Great Smoky Mountains Park so you’ll need to bring a sack lunch for a day trip or food for meals while camping. The Cades Cove Campground Store does have a limited variety of groceries. The store also has grab-and-go breakfast items, hot and cold sandwiches, pizza and soft-serve ice cream. Elkmont Campground Concession has snack items, ice cream and beverages. Smokemont Riding Stables has vending of snacks and beverages.

4. Daypack for Extraordinary Hikes in Hardwood Forests and Over Log Bridges

Make going for a hike on Kephart’s Trail or Porters Creek much more comfortable with a daypack. Place all your (and your family’s essentials) like extra layers, extra snacks, a flashlight, binoculars, pocket knife, whistle and simple first-aid kit in it.

Daypacks don’t need to be the big expensive kind that backpackers use. If you’re just going out for the day, a smaller 18-30L size will work just fine and many can also double as a personal item on an airplane. Here are some good options for daypacks made specifically for travel on www.rei.com.

5. A Couple of Water Bottles or a Hydration System

Combat the effects of the park’s summer heat by drinking water. Drinking water ensures you won’t get dehydrated, which can lead to headaches and more serious conditions like heat cramps and heat stroke. Plan to drink .5 -1 liter per hour of hiking.

Read more: Why Reusable Water Bottles Are Important

6. Clothing Layers for Great Smoky Mountain Temperature Extremes

In the summer months, expect afternoon temperatures to climb into the 90s before cooling down in in the evening in the 60s and 70s. Know that the higher you go, the cooler the temperatures with the 6,593-foot Mount Le Conte rarely getting over 80F during the day.

Be sure to pack light layers for daytime and others that will keep you warm in the evenings for when the sun sets and cooler air moves in. You will be surprised at how quickly temperatures drop as the sun sets.

7. A Star Chart or Star App to See the Southern Skies

You’ll find some dark skies in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. With a star chart, you’ll be able to identify some of the formations you may never have seen before, especially if you are coming from an urban environment. Or use technology and download the SkyView® Free app for iPhone or Android, which enables you to identify stars and so on by pointing your phone at them. You may be able to see up to 15,000 stars in the park’s sky in comparison to 500 in an urban sky. It’s far out!

8. A Tablecloth for One of the Park’s 13 Picnic Sites

It’s the little things that make a big difference. When you stop at one of the park’s 13 picnic sites to eat lunch, pull out your tablecloth to go from downhome to gourmet in a matter of seconds. You’ll also avoid getting hard-to-remove splinters when you lean against the table.

9. Insect Repellent to Combat Bugs

Spend more time enjoying the scenery instead of swatting bugs. If you don’t want to use strong chemicals, there are plenty of bug sprays available these days that are derived from natural ingredients and are safer for use by children.

Our pick is the family-friendly Sawyer 20% Picaridin Insect Repellent. Consumer Reports has ranked this formula as the best protection against mosquitoes. Sawyer’s insect repellent is also very effective for ticks and biting flies, and it won’t damage gear or equipment. Learn more at Sawyer.com/picaridin

10. Headlamp to Read or See at Night

Read at night in your tent comfortably with your headlamp or use this great lighting device to safely walk to and from evening ranger talks.

Taking photos of the night skies? A headlamp with a red light option will help you change your camera settings in the dark with minimal annoyance to your travel mates.

11. A Sun Hat, Sunglasses and Sunscreen to Protect Yourself from the Sun

You only need to get one sunburn at altitude before you realize how strong the sun really is, especially since Great Smoky Mountain National Park’s elevations ranges from 875 to 6,643 feet. Bring a wide-brimmed hat, which is preferable over a baseball cap, to cover your entire face.

Then, apply sunscreen over all exposed skin, including the back of your neck. Sunglasses will protect your eyes from being burned and polarized lens will help you see views more clearly. Don’t forget you are a lot closer to the sun than at sea level.

12. A Park Map

Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers a lot of ground. It can take hours to drive from one part of the park to another. It’s good to have a map. You can wait until a park ranger hands you a map at a visitor center, or you can plan ahead and get your maps now. Download a free PDF map or get the detailed topographic NatGeo Great Smoky Mountains National Park Map at REI.com. Driving the Blue Ridge Parkway on the way to Great Smoky? Get the NatGeo Blue Ridge Parkway topographic map at REI.com as well. It covers over 600 miles of the National Scenic Highway from Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.