Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee   Yeah, come up here to the Great Smoky Mountains for a pleasant time. While you're here at Great Smoky Mountains National Park you can take a hike along the Sugarland Mountain Trail; since you're here at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, checking out Dudley Bluff is a must. Dry warm beds await you at Best Western Crossroads Inn, and the skiing at Ober Gatlinburg is tremendous. At Great Smoky Mountains National Park you find loads of outdoors recreation, so you may have fun while you're here. Get your heart pumping on the magnificent whitewater     of Little Pigeon River - West Prong; why not a little side tour to Watercrease Branch. If you need a site to stay Mountain House Inn Downtown is a brilliant choice, and if you get bored of Great Smoky Mountains National Park you could also stop by close by Hidden Mountain Lake Number One. Not enough hours in a day to enjoy this site. If the weather is good here at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you can go for a hike along the Laurel Falls Trail, and Scottish Inns & Suites Gatlinburg is a great site to get some rest. The Jakes Creek Trail is a glorious hiking trail near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and some of the water close by flows, like Grassy Branch. Dry warm beds await you at Baskins Creek Nestle Inn; Bent Field is right here at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You'll in fact wish for more hours in       of Little Pigeon River - West Prong; why not a little side tour to Watercrease Branch. If you need a site to stay Mountain House Inn Downtown is a brilliant choice, and if you get bored of Great Smoky Mountains National Park you could also stop by close by Hidden Mountain Lake Knob, and you might also want to pay a visit to Jack Hollow since you're here at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A golf course in close proximity to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Gatlinburg City Departments Golf Course, and getting to Baskins Creek from Great Smoky Mountains National Park is trouble-free. There are so many enjoyable things to do for young and old to love. Throughout the long summer days highs here at Great Smoky Mountains National Park get into the 80's, and throughout summer nights temperatures are in the 60's. Highs   during the wintertime are frequently in the 40's, and through the dark hours in the wintertime at Great Smoky Mountains National Park temperatures plunge to the 20's. If you love the outdoors you'll love it here in the Great Smoky Mountains. A lake close by is Hidden Mountain Lake Number Two. The glorious beauty of Great Smoky Mountains National Park is there for your viewing wellbeing. There's so much to do here at Great Smoky Mountains National Park that you need to camp here for a while, Twin Creek Campground is a wonderful place for that, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park is not far at all from Gatlinburg. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is nice enough to spend more than a day at, Twin Creek Recreational Vehicle Resort is a nice local campground; Margerita Craig Lake is a nearby lake that you could check out. That right there is heaps of amusing things already but it goes on, the Great Smoky Mountains has it all. If you come at the right time of year, Little Pigeon River - West Prong offers some good whitewater, and hey, Painter Branch is a nice local stream. Now, you may think that's heaps but there's even more exciting stuff to do here at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Whitewater paddling is not for everyone but if it's for you then we recommend Little Pigeon River - West Prong - Roaring Fork. You'll need more than a day to discover everything Great Smoky Mountains National Park has to offer, you can camp at Dudley Creek Travel Trailer Park. I can't stop, cause I'm havin' a tremendous time here at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Best Western Twin Islands is a great spot to get some rest; Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a glorious location to visit for more than one day, Accommodations by Sunset Cottage is a glorious location to camp nearby. It's a popular place to go to for people arriving from Gatlinburg. Be careful coming to the Great Smoky Mountains, you might not ever wanna go home again. Looking for some flowing water? Try Roaring Fork, and going for a hike along the Cove Mountain Trail will let you absorb the natural beauty of this vicinity. A visit to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a wonderful selection when you have to get out. Man, is there a load of enjoyable things to do near Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Stay the night at Parkside Cabin Rentals; nearby you stumble on the Meigs Mountain Trail which is a tremendous hiking trail. Great Smoky Mountains National Park gets a good deal of water; during March this area sees the most rain while October is typically the driest month. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a wonderful wilderness neighborhood where everyone has a good time. 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 $12-20 for Day 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. $12 each night. 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. $14 each night. 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. $12 each night. 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. $14-17 each night. 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. $12 each night. 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. $14 each night. 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. $14 each night. 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. $14-20 each night. 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. $14 each night. 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. $14-17 each night. 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. 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Tennessee Outdoors Index Campgrounds Near or in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee Paddling Rivers Near or in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee Other National Parks Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee Trails Near or in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee Hotels Near or in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee Lakes Near or in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee Beaches Near or in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee Golf Courses Near or in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee Ski Areas Near or in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee     Scottish Inns & Suites Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg .1 miles away Baskins Creek Nestle Inn, Gatlinburg .1 miles away Mountain House Inn Downtown, Gatlinburg .2 miles away Best Western Twin Islands, Gatlinburg .2 miles away Best Western Crossroads Inn, Gatlinburg .3 miles away Howard Johnson Inn Gatlinburg Tn, Gatlinburg .3 miles away Best Western Zoder's Inn, Gatlinburg .4 miles away Red Carpet Inn Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg .4 miles away Rodeway Inn Skyland, Gatlinburg .4 miles away Sleep Inn , Inn & Suites, Gatlinburg .5 miles away * Distances listed are direct linear distances, actual travel distance may be different.