Great Smoky Mountains
National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the U.S., with over 12 million visitors annually, it far surpasses others like Yellowstone, which sees about 3.8 million.
Spanning over 522,000 acres across Tennessee and North Carolina, the park boasts more than 19,000 species of plants and animals, hundreds of waterfalls, 150 hiking trails, and 2,000 miles of rivers and streams. About 36% of the park, or 187,000 acres, is designated as old-growth forest, making it one of the largest in North America .
Visitors can enjoy misty mountains, lush pine forests, vibrant fall foliage, blooming spring flowers, cascading waterfalls, and diverse wildlife. It’s no wonder the Great Smoky Mountains are America’s favorite park!
Great Smoky Mountains At a Glance
Great Smoky Mountains National Park sits on the border between western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, making it relatively easy to reach from several major East Coast cities. If you’re flying here, the closest options are Knoxville, TN (1 hour), or Asheville, NC (1.5 hours).
Although Great Smoky Mountains National Park is technically free to enter, a parking tag is required. This will cost $5 per day, $15 per week, or $40 annually. Unfortunately, the America the Beautiful Pass does not cover this fee.
Reservations are not required to enter the park.
The best time to visit the Smoky Mountains is undoubtedly in the fall, from late September through October, when peak foliage transforms the landscape into a vibrant display of red, orange, and yellow. While the temperatures can be a bit cool, the breathtaking autumn colors make it well worth the trip.
Different Areas of the Park
There are four main areas of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cades Cove, Sugarlands, Kuwohi and Oconaluftee. There’s a visitors center located in each section, and depending on which state you are coming from will depend on which sections you are likely to want to explore.
9 Best Hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
With 800 miles of trails and over half a million acres of beautiful wilderness to explore, the opportunities for hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are seemingly endless. As a result, picking a hike (or hikes) in the park can be a daunting task.
In this article, we’ll break down our favorite hikes in the Smoky Mountains and tell you everything you need to know to plan your perfect hiking trip.
