Area Attractions & Local Information

Tips on Auto Touring

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park encompasses over one-half million acres, over 800 square miles, making it the largest national park in the East and one of the most pristine natural areas. An auto tour of the park offers panoramic views, tumbling mountain streams, weathered historic buildings, and uninterrupted forest stretching to the horizon.

There are over 270 miles of road in the Smokies. Most are paved, and even the gravel roads are maintained in suitable condition for standard two-wheel drive automobiles. Travel times on most roads will average 30 miles per hour or slower.

Driving in the mountains presents new challenges for many drivers. When going downhill, shift to a lower gear to conserve your brakes and avoid brake failure. If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, use L or 2. Keep extra distance between you and the vehicle in front of you and watch for sudden stops or slowdowns.

Relax, unwind, and enjoy your auto tour, in the moments ahead, the forest will close in around you, spreading over the road and creating a mood of isolation, a serene detachment from the hurried pace of the highways. Let beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park completely engulf you. We invite you to stop often, get out, and smell the woods; feel the soft mosses and springy humus.  Lean against the bark of a tree or sit on a rock along the way.  Listen to the songs of birds, the humming of insects many unique to the Great Smoky National Park.

Quiet Walkways and Nature Trails

Selected trails scattered throughout the Great Smoky National Park are designed as quiet walkways.  These paths are designed to encourage motorist to stop and enjoy a short stroll in a mountain forest.  Most parking areas for quiet walkways are only large enough for two or three vehicles, assuring users a sense of relative solitude. Eleven self-guiding nature trails are also located along park road.  These mountain trails feature inexpensive brochures keyed to numbered posts.  Most self-guiding nature trails are under a mile in length and many are loop trails.

Cades Cove: A “Cove” in Smoky Mountain language is a relatively flat valley between mountains or ridges.  This particular cove is a showcase for some of the most inspiring natural and cultural treasures that the southern Appalachian Mountains have to offer. In fact, there are few other places within the entire national park system where both wild nature and human history can be enjoyed in such an idyllic setting. The primary access to cades cove is the 11-mile, one-way Cades Cove Loop Road. If you are driving this narrow road, be sure to watch for bicyclist, pedestrians and wildlife along the way. If you wish to observe wildlife, please use one of the roadside pullouts so as not to block traffic.

How to Arrive

Plane
The nearest major airport in Tennessee (McGhee-Tyson, TYS) is Alcoa, 45 miles west of Gatlinburg. North Carolina's, Asheville Airport is 60 miles east of the park.

Car
Several major highways lead to the park. The following routes provide access to the three main entrances.

Gatlinburg, TN entrance: From interstate highway I-40 take Exit 407 (Sevierville) to TN Route 66 South, and continue to US-441 South. Follow US-441 to park.

Townsend, TN entrance: From interstate highway I-40 in Knoxville - Exit 386B US-129 South to Alcoa/Maryville. At Maryville proceed on US-321 North through Townsend. Continue straight on TN Highway 73 into the park.

Cherokee, NC entrance: From I-40, take US Route 19 West through Maggie Valley. Proceed to US-441 North at Cherokee into the park. From Atlanta and points south: follow US-441 and 23 North. US-441 leads to the park

Remember there are no gas stations or other related services available in the park.  Complete services are available in Cherokee, NC, Gatlinburg, TN, Pigeon Forge, TN and Townsend, TN.

Before you start your tour of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, be sure to stop by one of the parks welcome center to obtain valuable information on the area. Hours of operation may vary from season to season but usually by opening or closing one hour earlier or later.  Weather can also affect hours of operation.  Locations are as follows:

Smoky Mountain Visitor Center:  Located at the intersection of I-40 and Hwy 66 (exit 407) in the Smokies Stadium Complex. The Smoky Mountain Visitor Center is open all year round and hours of operation are from 9 to 5 EST. Here you can obtain useful information on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well as local tourist information on the cities of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.  There are restroom facilities, telephones and the Great Smoky Mountains Natural History association bookstore.

Gatlinburg Welcome Center:  Located on 441, 2 miles before you enter the city of Gatlinburg.  This facility features the Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association bookstore and gift shop and is open all year long from 9 to 5 EST.  There are also public restrooms, telephones and information on the city of Gatlinburg.  This location also features the trolley connection between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Or you can park your car and ridge the Gatlinburg trolley only.

Sugarlands Visitor Center:  Located 2 miles south of Gatlinburg just inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. One of the most comprehensive locations for information on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park because there are guided tours conducted seasonally, free admission to film videos of the park and natural history exhibits.  The Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association bookstore, gift shop, telephones, public restrooms and back country permit station are also offered in this facility. Open all year long with hours of operation from 8 to 5 EST.

Townsend Visitor Center:  Located on Hwy 321 in Townsend, TN.  Open all year long, closed Christmas; hours of operation are from 9 to 5 EST.  Features the Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association bookstore and gift shop as well as information on Townsend, TN., known as “the quiet side of the Smokies”. Public restrooms and telephones are also provided.

Cades Cove:  Located inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, on the famous Cades Cove Loop (about half way), an 11 mile, one way drive. Hours of operation are seasonal and can be affected by severe weather, especially in the winter months. Guided and self-guided tours are conducted seasonally. Please check at the visitor center and/or the website for times and locations. The visitor center features outdoor and indoor exhibits of Southern Mountain life and culture and includes the Cable Mill, a grist mill which operates spring through fall; the Becky Cable house, and other historic structures. Available facilities include the Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association bookstore and shop as well as public restrooms. Photo opportunities are abundant.

Oconaluftee Visitors Center:  Located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on 441, just 2 miles north of Cherokee, NC. Guided tours of farm life are usually conducted during peak tourist months, as well as self-guided tours available all year long. This facility features a Mountain Farm Museum which contains a unique collection of log structures and includes a farm house, barn, smokehouse, corn crib, applehouse and others. Also available are the Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association bookstore, shop, and public restrooms.  Photo opportunities are abundant; elks have also been seen grazing in the open fields.