Rising above the flat expanse of the southeast lies the Appalachian Mountains, preserved here as Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

A visit on a semi-cloudy day reveals a meandering road with plenty of pull-outs to enjoy quaint stream side hikes. Climbing higher, and entering the clouds, you’ll witness their moniker to understand where smoky was derived.

Outskirt cities, such as Gatlinburg TN, that border the park thrive on anticipated visitors – but the city charms will always pale to the wonders within the park. Take time to clamber along the Appalachian Trail. Seek wonders beyond the populated stops to understand and appreciate the true wonders found in the clouds.

There are places here so special because of their location and history that envy blights their existence. People crawl along the roads, trails and entrances like unwanted ants at a picnic. Fortunately, for the most part they exist linearly, and the majority of this park is preserved for the wildlife inhabitants and those seeking serenity.

The history here, as the starting point of the Trail of Tears, is gut-wrenching. The forced removal of many people followed yet again at the establishment of this National Park.

The park’s coveted history and nature is part of the story – and certainly one in which it is important to learn and understand when you visit. The walk through Ocanaluftee Visitor Center is incredibly informative and provides a glimpse of how life was once lived in the Appalachian Mountains.

Tips:

• The early bird gets the worm. As the most visited national park – expect an incredible number of fellow visitors. Arrive early to find parking at visitor centers.
• It is free to drive continuously through the park, but you need a parking pass if you plan to stop anywhere within the park boundaries. These passes are inexpensive at only $5 and are available at the visitor center kiosks. With large numbers of visitors, parking becomes difficult and the kiosk lines are long. You may also purchase a pass inside Sugarlands Visitor Center. If the kiosk line is long when you arrive, have another member of your party try the visitor center while you wait in the kiosk line. At worst, you pay twice – a minimal park donation.
• Use your safest, best driving manners. Motorcycles frequent the scenic drive through the park.
• The climb up Clingmans Dome Trail to the Observation Tower is worth the effort. You can park at the Kuwohi parking area near the Kuwohi Visitor Center
• Follow the best park advice ever given – if you want to go where there are no people – go to where there are no people. Most visitors stick close to the roadways, hike a bit further for a bit of serenity. We enjoyed the opportunity to hike the Appalachian Trail which we accessed near Newfound Gap – we headed eastward. There were few people once we started hiking
• Pack a lunch and enjoy a picnic along one of the scenic rivers – but please only park in designated pull outs.

Junior Ranger Badge:

This badge is earned by completing a very nice booklet that costs a small donation. It covers:

• Riparian zones
• Observation skills
• Maps and Orienteering
• Graffiti
• Cherokee stories and culture
• The scientific method
• Historical quotes
• Writing Reviews such as the following:

Kephart Prong Trail

“It was a wide trail next to a river with lots of mushrooms and bugs. There was some poison ivy though so watch out and stay on the trail!” – Autumn Brister

Remember:

In September 2024, Hurricane Helene caused unsurpassed damage to this area. As of this posting in February 2025, a substantial number of alerts are posted on the Smoky Mountain National Park website. It is always important to check individual national park website alerts for information prior to planning and visiting your next national park. They are easily located on the main menu on the right by clicking the triangle below ‘ALERTS’.

When to Go:

We enjoyed visiting at the beginning of June. It was busy, but we were still able to find parking at trail heads and within the visitor center parking lots. The weather was lovely, a little humid but comfortable enough to enjoy hiking and being outdoors.

Outdoor opportunities and the activities that are available in nearby Gatlinburg, TN make this a wonderfully fun national park to visit as a family. Recreational activities can involve intense hiking trails, or modest scenic drives with a night out in town, making this particular park accessible and interesting to a variety of vacationing types – which probably explains its popularity.

Our family does try to enjoy the deep connection to the landscape and environment when we enjoy our national parks – but we did have a blast trying drinks at the Ole Smokey Distillery and milkshakes at The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar. While visiting the area, we stayed at Embassy Suites by Hilton Gatlinburg, which is new and boasts a beautiful outdoor pool complete with gas fireplaces. The suite style room with 2 queens was perfect for our family of four.

Posted on February 18, 2025

Visited June 2024

Sample Itinerary