Imagine a place with ancient mountains, tranquil forests, babbling brooks, and cascading waterfalls. Colorful flowers carpet its meadows in spring, while bold autumnal colors brush its forested ridges in fall. With such beautiful tapestries and diverse habitats, it is no wonder this magical place receives so many guests.
Julie and I have been fortunate to explore America’s most-visited national park a few times. We want to provide you with tips for a peaceful visit that allows you to experience nature’s beauty while avoiding the crowds.
What Is America’s Most-Visited National Park?
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is America’s most popular park by a landslide! According to National Park Service (NPS) , the park regularly sees over 12 million guests annually.
America’s most iconic national parks receive less than half the visitors. You read that right. Popular parks like Zion or the typically finish second with fewer than 5 million visits.
Why Are the Smokies So Popular?
Over half of the U.S. population lives within a day’s drive of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which spans the Tennessee and North Carolina borders and is near prominent cities like Asheville, North Carolina, and Knoxville, Tennessee.
The park has over 800 miles of trails, including sections of the Appalachian Trail and many scenic drives along rushing rivers. Gateway towns to the park, like Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Cherokee, North Carolina, have many restaurants, accommodations, and tourist attractions.
The combination of tourist attractions and natural beauty makes it an excellent vacation spot for families and outdoor enthusiasts alike. As a bonus, park admission is free.
Beyond its national park status, the region also holds a UNESCO designation.
Each season offers unique experiences and a breathtaking seasonal landscape. For those who enjoy seeing wildlife, the park gives visitors a realistic chance of spotting elk and black bears.
Is the Park Really That Crowded?
Julie and I have visited 24 national parks, ranging from the most to the , and some of our most iconic. A few things immediately struck our attention.
The park’s visitor centers are the most crowded we have seen. There were so many people that we did not explore the exhibits or look for souvenirs.
The visitor centers and popular trailheads had full parking lots, so people parked in the grass and along the street.
By 9:00, a line of cars had formed at the Cades Cove scenic loop. Shortly after 10:00, the procession came to a 5-mile-per-hour crawl.
In theory, our recent late March Smoky Mountains getaway should have yielded lighter crowds. However, the park was unusually crowded during our visit.
A ranger commented, “It is as busy as the Fourth of July.” Julie and I discovered more people here than on our summer trip to Yosemite and Sequoia. Yes, the crowds are noticeable!
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Monthly Visitation Statistics
Let’s look at the numbers to find out when to visit. The park is most popular from May through October when easily more than 1 million people visit each month. June, July, and October often top 1.5 million guests.
Winter is an excellent time to visit if you want more solitude and do not mind cold weather. January and February regularly receive the fewest visitors, typically around 500,000. While most of the park’s primary roads remain open weather permitting, some park sections and roads close seasonally in winter, including the popular Clingmans Dome area.
In this case, winter means the roads will most likely reopen in mid-April. While winter or spring is an attractive time to visit, seasonal road closures may prevent you from enjoying a few park highlights.
During our late-March visit, Clingmans Dome was closed. However, we had access to the Sugarlands, Cades Cove, and Oconaluftee Visitor Centers, and their surrounding areas. Those sections encompass fantastic hiking trails and scenic drives, more than enough to explore.
Tips for Visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park
While admission is free, parking fees apply. A parking pass costs $5 daily, $15 weekly, or $40 annually.
To avoid crowds, visit during non-peak months. Summer and fall foliage seasons are the most popular times. If you can, skip the park during these times.
Regardless of what month you visit, head to the park early in the morning (before 9:00) or in the evenings. As a bonus, these times improve your odds of wildlife sightings. Note that bears hibernate in the winter.
Stay in a cabin close to the park. Combine your proximity with an early start to get ahead of the masses.
The park has many . Try less popular sections for more solitude. Elkmont and Greenbrier offer excellent forested trails along flowing rivers. Julie and I experienced noticeably thinner crowds in these areas.
Check the events calendar for gateway towns like Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. These cities are chock full of restaurants and tourist attractions. While fun, it feels like a circus at times. If either town holds a special event, you can expect even more traffic and crowds.
Consider staying in Townsend, the “Peaceful Side of the Smokies.” You can escape Gatlinburg’s tourist attractions. As a bonus, you have a shorter drive to Cades Cove.
Pack light layers and be prepared to adjust clothing when exploring. Weather can change suddenly. Also, the temperature can drop or rise significantly as you change elevation.
If you love road trip adventures, drive the , where you can see a second national park, Shenandoah National Park.
Plan Your Smoky Mountains Adventure
Whether you enjoy hiking, history, or natural beauty, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has an adventure for you. Discover for yourself why it is America’s most popular park.
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