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Welcome to the number one most visited national park in America, the Great Smoky Mountains! And for good reason too. This national park is one of the best parks on the East Coast and is home to incredible waterfalls, scenic mountain views, diverse wildlife, stellar hiking trails, and Native American and pioneer history.

With this Great Smoky Mountains itinerary, you’ll not only hit the highlights, but also visit some hidden gems. Plus, I’ll be covering where to stay, how long you need to visit, and tips to make your Smoky Mountain trip the best!

Great Smokies Overview

The Best Time to Visit the Smokies

Fall is hands down the best time to visit the Smoky Mountains for the most scenic views. The leaves change colors spectacularly and the temperatures are nice and cool for optimal hiking conditions. It’s truly one of the best places to visit in fall in the US!

However, autumn brings the most crowds and naturally, accommodation is more expensive and can book up quickly.

That said, if you’d rather opt for a less crowded time, spring is lovely. Plus, flowers start to bloom creating a beautiful scene.

Summer can get crowded as well, since kids are off school. Winter can be an adventurous time to visit, especially if the mountains get fresh snow. But, check for road closures, as some areas are not accessible in the winter.

Overall, fall is best for views, spring is best for fewer crowds.

How long do you need to visit the Smoky Mountains?

You’ll want 3 days in the Smoky Mountains to see the most. I recommend maximizing your PTO to extend a weekend by one day or visiting on a holiday weekend if you don’t mind battling the crowds.

You can still do a lot in just 2 days, especially for my non-hikers (hi, it’s me…I’m the problem it’s me).

Where should you stay when visiting the Great Smoky Mountains?

The closest big city is Knoxville, Tennessee. If you’re flying, you’ll likely fly into Knoxville into McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS).

The city is about an hour and a half from Great Smoky Mountain National Park, but accommodation may be cheaper there because it’s farther out. We’ve enjoyed the Graduate in Knoxville with a small town, college vibe with adorable rooms!

On that same note, Pigeon Forge is another bigger city (although smaller than Knoxville) just 25 minutes from the park so check for accommodation there as well. We’ve loved The Wayback Hotel in Pigeon Forge, a retro themed hotel best for adults. For families, Music Road Resort is in a great location to attractions nearby and has great reviews for only $115 a night.

To be closest to the park, check out Gatlinburg. This is a tourist mountain town with whacky attractions, shops, and plenty to do for adults (not just families) that will keep you entertained anytime you’re not in the park. However, it can get crowded since it is closest to the Smokies.

Depending on the season, you’ll find hotels like the Howard Johnson for only $45 a night.

I also highly recommend camping in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are several campgrounds that you can reserve up to 6 months in advance. Note that they are not all open year round because of winter closures, so check Recreation.gov for the most up-to-date calendars.

We absolutely loved the Elkmont Campground because of it’s proximity to a river (who doesn’t love the sound of water?).

Note that there are very specific rules regarding firewood and you’ll likely need to bring cash to purchase their pre-treated wood.

Related read → Camping tips for beginners

New in 2023: Parking Tags

One of the reasons Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park is because it has no entrance fee. Yepp, the $30 national park entrance fee is not in effect here. Huzzah!

However, new in 2023, you now need a parking tag for your car if parking longer than 15 minutes.

For all vehicle types and sizes, the available parking permits are as follows:

• $5 – daily tag
• $15 – weekly tag
• $40 – annual tag

You can purchase your tag at any Welcome Center or Visitor Center, plus there are a couple automated machines found in the park. Given those can be trickier to find, I’d definitely stop by the first Visitor/Welcome Center you see. On this itinerary it will be the Sugarlands Visitor Center, or if you’re traveling from South to North, the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.

One final note, the parking tags are license plate specific so have yours handy when you go to pay. If you have a rental car, I like to take a quick picture on my phone of the license plate so I have it whenever I need it.

Map of this Great Smoky Mountains Itinerary

Day 1

To start your itinerary, today you’ll be enjoying the northwest end of the park.

Sugarlands Visitor Center

Visit Sugarlands Visitor Center to pick up a free park map. Cell service is dodgy in the park, so a map is very helpful!

They’re printed on the back of seasonal newspapers so if you can’t find them, just look for stacks of newspapers. If you still can’t spot them, just ask them at the counter.

You’ll also see some specialized maps for specific things to see in the park like waterfalls, hikes, birdwatching, or historic structures. For a dollar or two, you can purchase one. These are helpful if you want to focus on one aspect in particular, but they’re not necessary.

Inside the visitor center, learn about local plant and wildlife with their indoor exhibits. Be sure to stop by the restrooms before you go farther on this itinerary.

Laurel Falls

To start exploring the park, I recommend visiting Laurel Falls first thing in the morning after you grab a map and make a bathroom stop. Laurel Falls is located west of the Sugarlands Visitor Center.

Parking is limited and since it can get quite crowded as the day goes on, it’s best to hit this spot first.

The trail itself is paved and is a 2.5-mile out-and-back trail with a 400-ft elevation gain. It’s an easy enough trail (if this girl with asthma can do it, I promise it’s okay). It takes about an hour and 15 minutes to complete.

The waterfall itself is gorgeous and multi-tiered. There is a bridge so you can walk over it and stairs to descend closer to its base. Be careful if climbing the rocks off the path as they can be slippery and muddy.

You’ll also be able to see the surrounding mountains from the trail once you get a bit higher, out of the forest area.

Meigs Falls

Once you have your waterfall fill (impossible, I know), make your way toward Cades Cove via Little River Road. Along this road, you’ll want to pull over at Meigs Falls. You can see this one from the road so it’s a great spot for low effort, high reward.

Cades Cove

Continue on Laurel Creed Road to Cades Cove Loop Road, which must be driven in a counter-clockwise direction. There will be signs directing you, so don’t sweat it!

Cades Cove is a picturesque valley with lots of places to stop, specifically for historic structures and wildlife. You can walk to John Oliver Cabin, Elijah Oliver Place, Cable Mill, and the Primitive Baptist Church, among other spots along the loop.

There are also horses, turkey, and occasionally bears that roam this area. Be safe and stay a safe distance away no matter what.

Cades Cove takes around 2-3 hours to drive, even though it’s only an 11-mile loop road. That is because the traffic is extremely slow, especially in the fall and summer. It’s a single lane road so be prepared to stop and be in the car (with no escape) for a couple hours.

What we did and what I recommend, is to pack a lunch (like my favorite, cold cut sandwich makings). Then when you find a good pull-off spot, you can take a break for lunch surrounded by the beauty of Cades Cove.

Elkmont Ghost Town

The last thing on the itinerary for today is to check out Elkmont Ghost Town.

The area was originally settled in the 1840s and gained popularity in the early 1900s when a lumber company was formed. However, the national park was established in 1934 and by 1992 the residents’ leases expired and the town was abandoned.

Now the historic structures sit there for travelers to visit.

Elkmont Ghost Town is located near Elkmont Campground so follow the signs for the campground at first. When you see a sign for the Elkmont Nature Trail turn left and you’ll find the parking lot for the ghost town.

Get out and walk around the town to get a feel for these historic buildings. You can walk inside some of them to see the size of rooms and feel the old wood floors creak under you. In the fall, it makes for an especially spooky time!

Dinner in Gatlinburg

For dinner, I recommend exiting the park and picking a spot in Gatlinburg. Big Daddy’s Pizzeria has great wood-fired pizza or try Delauder’s BBQ for a budget-friendly barbeque spot!

Day 2

Good morning! Start your day with coffee at Gatlinburg Grind or if you’re like me and prefer a full breakfast, Crockett’s Breakfast Camp is a yummy option in Gatlinburg.

Alum Cave Bluffs

Make your way into the park to Alum Cave Bluffs trail. This is another one of the most popular things to do in the Smokies so by visiting first thing in the morning, you’ll get prime parking and avoid the crowds.

The trail itself can be hiked in different lengths depending on what you want to see. The most popular (and my recommended hike) is the 2.3-miles to Alum Cave Bluffs. However, you can continue on for 8.7-miles to Mount Le Conte for incredible views.

On the Alum Cave Bluffs trail (the shorter one), you’ll see log bridges, a narrow tunnel, and a “cave” with mountains surrounding you. I put cave in quotes because it’s not really a cave, but more like a rocky overhang that makes you feel like you’re in a cave.

After this hike, if you’re hungry for lunch, I vote lunch break! Again, it’s easiest to pack a lunch so you don’t have to drive in and out of the park a bunch of times.

Clingman’s Dome

Next on the itinerary is Clingman’s Dome. This is the highest point in the Great Smokies and features a manmade observation tower with 360° mountain views. Depending on air quality, you can see up to 100 miles in all directions.

The trail to Clingman’s Dome is paved and only 0.5-miles, however, it is extremely steep. No, seriously…this is the trail that made me think that I had asthma. So even though it’s short in length, bring ample water and take breaks as you need them.

A fun part of this trail is that the Appalachian Trail (AT) crosses the trail to Clingman’s Dome, so if you’ve never hiked the AT, you can step foot on it during this hike.

Chimney Tops Trail

The final to-do for today is the Chimney Tops Trail. It’s one of the most popular hikes. It gains 1400-feet in elevation in 2-miles so it’s not for the faint of heart. But, you will be rewarded with some amazing views of not only the mountains but the “chimney tops” rock pinnacles themselves!

For dinner, if you aren’t camping, again I recommend picking a spot in Gatlinburg. Alternatively, drive a little farther to Pigeon Forge, which has endless options and entertainment.

Day 3

More Things to Do in the Park

For your final day at the Smokies, there are a few things you can do:

• Hike to Charles Bunion via the Appalachian Trail (4 miles one way) – Charles Bunion is a stone outcrop with sweeping mountain views
• Visit Rainbow Falls (5.4-miles roundtrip) – On sunny afternoons, a rainbow is formed in the mist of this 80-foot waterfall
• Take a driving tour – Drive the length of the park and back to be sure you see it from all angles.
• Make use of the specialty maps to do something tailored to you! Looking for waterfalls, hikes, history? Those maps will guide you best!

Explore Gatlinburg to the fullest

Alternatively, Gatlinburg has plenty to do so you can easily spend a day or at least an afternoon exploring the town.

One popular spot is Skylift Park, which has the longest pedestrian cable bridge called SkyBridge and a ski lift (called the SkyLift) that you can ride for more scenic views!

Prices for Skylift Park vary seasonally ranging from $35-$50 per person with no student tickets, unfortunately.

Gatlinburg also has some really cute shops to explore. I loved Byrd’s Cookie Company, who makes mini (crunchy) cookies of lots of interesting flavors like toasted pumpkin, rocky road, and cupcake. You can taste before you buy so check them out!

There are also a few museums like Ripley’s Odditorium Museum, Hollywood Star Cars Museum, and even a Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum.

Tips for Visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Here are some tips that will make your trip the Great Smoky Mountains safe, comfy, and just better!

Get gas before entering the park

There are no gas stations inside the park so don’t drive in even close to empty. It’s best (and safest) to start your day with a full tank of gas.

Bring sufficient water and snacks

As with any outdoor adventure, you want to come prepared in the food and water department. Since you’ll have a car, invest in a cooler to hold cold drinks and food. The nearest grocery store is in Pigeon Forge (called Kroger), where you can purchase everything including the cooler and ice.

For hiking snacks, salty foods are helpful in replenishing the salt your body loses when sweating!

And don’t forget drinks with electrolytes like Gatorade.

Be prepared with bear spray

Wildlife is beautiful, but can also be scary so come prepared for the worst. If you are driving in, you can purchase some on Amazon ahead of time.

Unfortunately, you cannot bring bear spray in your checked or carry-on luggage as it typically exceeds the volume limits. If you’re flying in, I recommend stopping at Nantahala Outdoor Center to check for bear spray there. If they don’t have it, hopefully they can recommend where to get it locally.

What to pack for the Smokies

Here are some essentials that you don’t want to forget for your trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

• Bear spray (see above for the best way to go about this if flying in)
• Camelbak or a similar backpack with water bladder. Carrying your water on your back can make hiking easier.
• Cooler for cold drinks and food
• Small first aid kit (this one can clip onto your backpack)
• Hiking boots
• Sunscreen
• Biodegradable soap (helpful for washing hands, dishes, hair, etc.)

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