Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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Great Smoky Mountains at a glance
- Best time
- January–April, November–December
- Trip length
- 4–7 days
- Don't miss
- Cades Cove and Clingmans Dome
- Nearby city
- Gatlinburg, TN
Explore this park
About Great Smoky Mountains National Park
America's busiest park blends smoky vistas, historic structures, and fall foliage drives.
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, this is America's most visited national park. Plan your visit today!
Weather Information
Elevations in the park range from approximately 875 feet (267 meters) to 6,643 feet (2,025 meters) and the topography can drastically affect. Temperatures can vary by 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit from mountain base to top, and clear skies lower down do not guarantee equally pleasant weather at higher elevations.
Operating Hours
Primary roads are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round, weather permitting. This includes Newfound Gap Road (US-441), Little River Road, and Laurel Creek Road. Secondary roads are closed seasonally.
- MondayAll Day
- TuesdayAll Day
- WednesdayAll Day
- ThursdayAll Day
- FridayAll Day
- SaturdayAll Day
- SundayAll Day
Common questions
Planning Great Smoky Mountains
The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics.
Great Smoky Mountains has Recreation.gov reservations including Great Smoky Mountains Backcountry Permits and Whiteoak Sink Group Hiking Permits (4 total on Recreation.gov). About 11.5 million recreation visits were recorded in 2025. Confirm current rules on Recreation.gov and the Permits tab before travel.
See Permits tab →
