Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee   If you're visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park from Gatlinburg, you won't be the only one, and why not take a little tour to Grassy Branch since you're here. A trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a pleasant choice when you have got to spend some time in the wilderness. At Great Smoky Mountains National Park you find plenty of outdoors recreation that you may employ. For you golfers we recommend close by Gatlinburg City Departments Golf Course, and Baskins Creek is one of the streams close by that might be worth stopping at. There     are so many enjoyable things to do to gratify everyone. Summertime brings highs in the 80's to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and through summer nights temperatures are in the 60's. For the period of the winter highs are mostly in the 40's with winter lows in the 20's overnight here at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It's a popular place to go to for people from Gatlinburg. One of the dominant characteristics of the surroundings of Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Piney Butt, and you simply ought to stop at Dudley Bluff if you're here at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Camping at Great Smoky Mountains National Park is good fun, Alpine Hideaway Campground is a good local campground; the peak of Briar Knob can be made out from Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a       are so many enjoyable things to do to gratify everyone. Summertime brings highs in the 80's to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and through summer nights temperatures are in the 60's. For the period of the winter highs are mostly in the 40's with winter lows in the 20's overnight National Park will keep you coming back over and over. The skiing at Ober Gatlinburg is pleasant; get your heart pumping on the brilliant whitewater of Little Pigeon River - West Prong. Yeah, come up here to the Great Smoky Mountains for a great time. Looking for some flowing water? Try Painter Branch, and dry warm beds await you at Baskins Creek Nestle Inn. There are some tremendous whitewater spots on Little Pigeon River - West Prong, and hiking is a popular thing to do around Great Smoky Mountains National Park; Laurel Falls Trail is a splendid local   trail. And if you're still looking for more outdoors fun stuff just keep reading. You can run the rapids of Little Pigeon River - Middle Prong right next door to Great Smoky Mountains National Park; Jack Hollow is another glorious place to have a look at close by. The magnificent splendor of Great Smoky Mountains National Park is there for your viewing happiness. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a rather wet place ordinarily with lots of rainfall; the month of March is the wettest with most of the rain, and October on the other hand is the driest. Why not take a refreshing hike along the Jakes Creek Trail, and some close by water includes Roaring Fork. Be careful coming to the Great Smoky Mountains, you might not ever wanna return home again. Go for a hike on the Cove Mountain Trail, and there's whitewater on Little Pigeon River - West Prong - Roaring Fork for all you adrenaline people. That right there is lots of entertaining things already but it goes on, the Great Smoky Mountains has it all. Gatlinburg Chateua is a great site to get some rest, and why not camp at Twin Creek Campground while you're here at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Some of the water close by flows, like Watercrease Branch, and a fine close by hotel is Mountain House Inn Downtown. Foothills RV Park and Cabins is a magnificent campground here, and after a long day outdoors Scottish Inns & Suites Gatlinburg is a great spot to spend a night or two. Having a splendid time at Great Smoky Mountains National Park is easy. You'll truly wish for more hours in a day to enjoy all the exciting things in the Great Smoky Mountains. Good hiking is available along the Sugarland Mountain Trail; Bent Field is a magnificent place here at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Whohoo, so many cool things in one place! Great Smoky Mountains National Park is peerless! If you need a place to stay Bales Motel is a fine choice; if you came for an overnight stay Trout Creek Campground is a good place to camp. 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     Gatlinburg Chateua, Gatlinburg .1 miles away Scottish Inns & Suites Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg .1 miles away Baskins Creek Nestle Inn, Gatlinburg .1 miles away Bales Motel, .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 * Distances listed are direct linear distances, actual travel distance may be different.