Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Nature’s Beauty in Tennessee and North Carolina

Great Smoky Mountains National Park encompasses 800 square miles (521,000 acres) of the states of Tennessee and North Carolina. It is one of the largest protected areas in the Eastern United States. Over 95% of the park is forested, which helps to make the Great Smoky Mountains one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park was first designated as a national park back in 1934. Over 9.2 million visitors came to the park in the year 2002. The park has visitor centers which are located in Sugarlands, Cades Cove and Oconaluftee. They are open every day of the year, except Christmas.

Recreational activities at Great Smoky Mountains National Park include: backpacking; hiking; fishing; camping, wilderness watching; bird watching; tours via automobile; nature walks; horseback riding (there are four different stables in Great Smoky Mountains National Park).

Entrance to the park is free. There is a fee for camping. Camping fees run anywhere from $12-20 a day. Campgrounds which allow RVs are located at: Abrams Creek; Balsam Mountain; Cades Cove; Cataloochee; Cosby; Deep Creek; Elkmont; Look Rock; and Smokemont.

Each campground has restrooms (cold running water). There are flush toilets, but the campgrounds have no showers or electrical or water hookups. Each individual site has a fire grate and a picnic table.

Maximum number of people in a campsite is six. The maximum stay is 7 days during the busy season (summer and fall), and 14 days during the off-season.
Pets are allowed but they must be on leashes. Quiet time in the campground is from 10pm-6am.

To get to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there are several highways which lead to the park. From Atlanta, follow US 441 and 223 North. US 441 goes into the park. If coming to the park from North Carolina, on I-40 go to US 19 West through Maggie. From there go to US 441N at Cherokee, which will lead you into Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

If coming from Tennessee, from I-40 take Exit 407 (Sevierville) to Tennessee Route 66 South. Stay on that until you get to US 441 South, which will take you into the park. If coming from Knoxville on I-40, take Exit 386B (US Highway 129 South) and go to Alcoa/Maryville. At Maryville, take US 321 North through Townsend and continue all the way to Tennessee Highway 73, which will lead into the park.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park provides some breathtaking scenery. You would be well advised to bring along some kind of camera to capture some of the finest scenes of nature that you will ever see.