Things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Welcome to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Preserving one of the most biodiverse spots on the planet, Great Smoky Mountains is the most-visited national park in the US. Visitors—usually based out of Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge—get the chance to spot black bears, hike across ancient mountains, hunt for waterfalls, and bike or walk through the famous 11-mile (17-kilometer) Cades Cove, for free. Come autumn, the list of things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park gets even more impressive, as you’ll walk, hike, bike, or drive through some of the most striking fall foliage in the country.
Explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park by interest
Itineraries for your Great Smoky Mountains National Park trip
Top activities in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Explore our promoted experiences
All about Great Smoky Mountains National Park
When to visit
As the most-visited park in the National Park System, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park draws big crowds. More than 1.7 million visitors descended on the park in July 2021 alone. When it comes to weather, you’ll find a green rush in spring, warm stretches in summer, and plenty of grand foliage in fall. If you’re going to visit during this period, try showing up early, before most tourists have had their morning coffee.
Getting around
With 384 miles of roads, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is possibly the country’s best for a scenic drive. And while Cades Cove Loop and Newfound Gap Road are known for their traffic jams, the areas around Abrams Creek, Balsam Mountain, Cosby, Fontana Lake, and the Foothills Parkway stay far more secluded. No shuttles service the 800-square-mile park, so fill up that gas tank.
Traveler tips
Everybody hits Great Smoky Mountains National Park from theme-park-laden Gatlinburg—for something different, head to Townsend. Home to the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center and just a few hundred residents, Townsend is the place that in-the-know visitors don’t want anyone else to find out about. Pair hiking the Rich Mountain Loop, near the Townsend entrance, with a night at Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro and a plate of crispy barbecue oysters.