Great Smoky Mountains National Park Custom Search The national park, in the states of North Carolina and Tennessee, encompasses 800 square miles of which 95 percent are forested. World renowned for the diversity of its plant and animal resources, the beauty of its ancient mountains, the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, and the depth and integrity of the wilderness sanctuary within its boundaries, it is one of the largest protected areas in the east.     CONTACTS Email - grsm_smokies_information@nps.gov Fax- 865-436-1220 Write to Great Smoky Mountains National Park 107 Park Headquarters Road Gatlinburg, TN 37738 Phone Visitor Information (TDD) - (865) 436-1200 TRAVEL BASICS Operating Hours, Seasons The park is open year-round. Visitor centers at Sugarlands and Oconaluftee are open all year, except Christmas Day. Cades Cove visitor center has limited winter hours. Getting There 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. In Tennessee: 1)From I-40 take Exit 407 (Sevierville) to TN Route 66 South, and continue to U.S. 441 South. Follow U.S. 441 to Park. 2.) From I-40 in Knoxville - Exit 386B U.S. Highway 129 South to Alcoa/Maryville. At Maryville proceed on U.S. 321 North through Townsend. Continue straight on TN Highway 73 into the park. In North Carolina: From I-40, take U.S. Route 19 West through Maggie Valley. Proceed to U.S. 441 North at Cherokee into the park. From Atlanta and points south: follow U.S. 441 and 23 North. U.S. 441 leads to the park. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - No train or bus service accesses the park. Weather & Climate Elevations in the park range from 800 feet to 6,643 feet and topography affects local weather. Temperatures are 10 to 20 degrees cooler on the mountaintops. Annual precipitation averages 65 inches in the lowlands to 88 inches in the high country. Spring often bring unpredictable weather, particularly in higher elevations. Summer is hot and humid, but more pleasant in higher elevations. Fall has warm days and cool nights and is the driest period. Frosts occur starting in late September. Winter is generally moderate, but extreme conditions occur with increasing elevation. FEES/PERMITS Entrance Fee ENTRANCE TO GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK Free! Due to deed restrictions imposed when the Park was established, there are no entrance fees. Enjoy your visit! Activity Fee FRONT COUNTRY CAMPING There are 10 Front Country (drive in) campgrounds in the Park. Permits BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING PERMIT Free! Permit required for staying overnight in the backcountry. CAMPING Abrams Creek Campground First-come, first serve. This campground has 16 sites and is at elevation 1,125 feet. It has no electric hookups or shower facilities, running water and bathroom facilities only. Balsam Mountain Campground First-come, first serve. This campground has 46 sites and is at elevation 5,310 feet. No campground has electric hookups or shower facilites, only running water and bathroom facilities. Big Creek Campground First-come, first serve. This campground has 12 sites and is for tents only. It sits at elevation 1,700 feet. No campground has electric hookups or shower facilities, only running water and bathroom facilities. Group camping is also available. Reservations can be made either on line or by calling 1-800-365-CAMP. Cades Cove Campground Make Reservations by Phone at 1-800-365-CAMP Open All Year Reservations accepted up to five months in advance for May 1- Oct. 31 occupancy. Other dates first-come, first-serve. This campground has 159 sites and sits at elevation 1,807 feet. No campground has shower facilities or electric hookups, only running water and bathroom facilities. Cades Cove Campground Store sells convenience items, groceries, camping supplies, and a limited selection of hot and cold deli items. There are no other food facilities in the park. Numerous convenience stores and restaurant establishments are located in outlying communities. Group camping is also available. Reservations can be made either on line or by calling 1-800-365-CAMP. Cataloochee Campground First-come, first serve. This campground has 27 sites and sits at elevation 2,610 feet. No campground has electric hookups or shower facilities, only running water and bathroom facilities. Group camping is also available. Reservations can be made either on line or by calling 1-800-365-CAMP. Cosby Campground First-come, first serve. This campground has 175 sites and sits at elevation 2,459 feet. No campground has shower facilities or electric hookups, only running water and bathroom facilities. Group camping is also available. Reservations can be made either on line or by calling 1-800-365-CAMP. Deep Creek Campground First-come, first serve. This campground has 92 sites and sits at elevation 1,800 feet. No campground has electric hookups or shower facilities, only running water and bathroom facilities. Group camping is also available. Reservations can be made either on line or by calling 1-800-365-CAMP. Elkmont Campground Make Reservations by Phone at 1-800-365-CAMP Reservations accepted up to five months in advance for May 1-Oct. 31 occupancy. Other dates first-come, first-serve. This campground has 220 sites and sits at elevation 2,150 feet. No campground has electric hookups or shower facilities, only running water and bathroom facilities. Group camping is also available. Reservations can be made either on line or by calling 1-800-365-CAMP. Look Rock Campground First-come, first serve. This campground has 92 sites and sits at elevation 2,600 feet. No campground has electric hookups or shower facilities, only running water and bathroom facilities. Smokemont Campground Make Reservations by Phone at 1-800-365-CAMP Open All Year Reservations accepted up to five months in advance for May 1-Oct. 31 occupancy. Other dates first-come, first-serve. This campground has 142 sites and sits at elevation 2,198 feet. No campground has electric hookups or shower facilities, only running water and bathroom facilities. Group camping is also available. Reservations can be made either on line or by calling 1-800-365-CAMP. LODGING Le Conte Lodge Le Conte Lodge, accessible only by foot, sits atop 6.593 Mt. LeConte, the park's third highest peak. Reservations are required. Reservations can be made by calling (865)429-5704 or by FAX at (865)429-5705, by Email at reservations@leconte-lodge.com, or on-line at www.leconte-lodge.com . For More Information on this lodging please call (865) 429-5704 FACILITIES Visitor Centers *CADES COVE VISITOR CENTER Open All Year Location - *Inside the park near the mid-point of the 11-mile, one-way Cades Cove Loop Road. Special Programs - Ranger-led programs are conducted seasonally. Check at the visitor center for times. Exhibits - Indoor and outdoor exhibits of Southern Mountain life and culture. Includes Cable Mill, a grist mill which operates spring through fall, the Becky Cable house, and other historic structures. Available Facilities - Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association bookstore and shop. Public restrooms. *OCONALUFTEE VISITOR CENTER Open All Year Location - *Inside the park, 2 miles north of Cherokee, NC, on US 441. Special Programs - Ranger-led programs conducted seasonally. Check at the vistor center for location and times. Exhibits - The adjacent Mountain Farm Museum contains a fascinating collection of log structures including a farmhouse, barn, smokehouse, applehouse, corn cribs and others. Demonstrations of farm life are conducted seasonally. Available Facilities - Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association bookstore and shop. Public restrooms and telephones. Soda and water machines. Backcountry permit station. *SUGARLANDS VISITOR CENTER Open All Year Location - *Inside the park, 2 miles south of Gatlinburg on US 441. Special Programs - Ranger-led programs conducted seasonally. Check at the visitor center for locations and times. Exhibits - Free admission to 20-minute film with Dolby Digital Surround Sound. Extensive natural history exhibits. Available Facilities - Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association bookstore and shop. Public restrooms and telephones. Soda and water machines. Backcountry permit station. GATLINBURG WELCOME CENTER Open All Year Location - Located 2 miles outside of Gatlinburg on 441 South Available Facilities - Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association bookstore and shop. City of Gatlinburg information. Public restrooms and telephones. SMOKY MOUNTAIN VISITOR CENTER Open All Year Location - At I-40 exit 407 (Highway 66) in the Smokies Stadium complex. Available Facilities - Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association bookstore and shop. Sevier County, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville information. Public restrooms and telephones. TOWNSEND VISITOR CENTER Open All Year Location - Townsend, Tennessee, on US 321. Available Facilities - Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association bookstore and shop. Townsend and local area information. Public restrooms and telephones.   Map Detailed Map Contact Info Phone, Email, Address, GPS coordinates Campgrounds Nearby List of Nearby Campgrounds Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near Great Smoky Mountains National Park.   Campgrounds Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Timberwinds Log Cabin Rentals, Pigeon Forge, 0 miles away Accommodations by Sunset Cottage, Gatlinburg, 1 miles away Parkside Cabin Rentals, Gatlinburg, 1 miles away Dudley Creek Travel Trailer Park, Gatlinburg, 1 miles away Twin Creek Campground, Gatlinburg, 2 miles away Twin Creek Recreational Vehicle Resort, Gatlinburg, 2 miles away Trout Creek Campground, Gatlinburg, 3 miles away   Marinas Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Gator Point Marina and Cabin, Sevierville , 13 miles away Mountain Cove Marina, Sevierville , 14 miles away Lighthouse Pointe Marina, Dandridge , 15 miles away Indian Creek Boat Dock, Dandridge , 19 miles away   Hotels Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Scottish Inns & Suites Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg , 0 miles away Mountain House Inn Downtown, Gatlinburg , 0 miles away Reagan Resort Inn, Gatlinburg , 0 miles away Smokyland Motel, Gatlinburg , 0 miles away Fabulous Chalet Inn, Gatlinburg , 0 miles away Four Seasons Motor Lodge, Gatlinburg , 0 miles away Best Western Twin Islands, Gatlinburg , 0 miles away   Trails Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Cove Mountain Trail, Sevier County , 4 miles away Sugarland Mountain Trail, Sevier County , 4 miles away Laurel Falls Trail, Sevier County , 6 miles away Jakes Creek Trail, Sevier County , 7 miles away Meigs Mountain Trail, Sevier County , 10 miles away   Ski Areas Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Ober Gatlinburg, Tennessee , 3 miles away, 600 foot drop, 3 lifts, 8 runs Cataloochee, North Carolina , 30 miles away, 740 foot drop, 4 lifts, 10 runs Scaly Mountain, North Carolina , 42 miles away, 225 foot drop, 4 lifts, 10 runs Sky Valley, Georgia , 42 miles away, 210 foot drop, 2 lifts, 5 runs Wolf Ridge, North Carolina , 70 miles away, 700 foot drop, 5 lifts, 20 runs   Whitewater Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Whitewater Outfitter - Wildwater Limited, Sevier County , 1 miles away, Whitewater outfitter Little Pigeon River - West Prong, Sevier County , 1 miles away, Class II - 6.6 miles long (Gatlinsburg to 1st bridge in Pigeon Forge) Little Pigeon River - West Prong, Sevier County , 2 miles away, Class II-V - 2.6 miles long (Campbell Overlook to 1st bridge in Gatlinsburg) Little Pigeon River - West Prong - Roaring Fork, Sevier County , 3 miles away, Class I-IV - 1 miles long (Roaring Fork Motor Trail) Little Pigeon River - West Prong, Sevier County , 4 miles away, Class IV-V - 2.5 miles long (Chimneys Picnic Area to Campbell Overlook)   Public Lands Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville - NC , 66 miles away Panther Creek State Park, Tennessee , 31 miles away Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina , 32 miles away   Golf Courses Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Gatlinburg City Departments Golf Course, Pigeon Forge , 5 miles away Eagle's Landing Golf Course, Sevierville , 9 miles away Bent Creek Golf Village, Gatlinburg , 12 miles away Creekside Plantation Golf Course, Seymour , 18 miles away River Islands Golf Club, Kodak , 18 miles away   Lakes Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park Douglas Lake, Sevier County , 14 miles away