Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Visitor Centers:
Hours of operation vary by season. To see current hours of operation as well as to see the amentities offered at each visitor center, visit the park's website.

• Cades Cove Visitor Center: Open daily, except on 12/25. Hours vary by season.
• Oconaluftee Visitor Center: Open daily, except on 12/25. Hours vary by season.
• Sugarlands Visitor Center: Open daily, except on 12/25. Hours vary by season.
• Clingmans Dome Visitor Contact Station: Open April through November. Hours vary by season.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. However, some secondary roads, campgrounds, and other visitor facilities close in winter. For more information on seasonal closures and to check current conditions, visit the park's website.

Due to the varied elevation and topography in the park, local weather can be unpredictable. The temperatures are greatly varied between mountain tops and valley floors, and the weather can also be drastically different. The park's lowlands average about 55 inches of rain per year while Clingmans Dome receives up to 85 inches per year. Visitors are advised to plan ahead and be conscious of the weather when planning a trip to the park.

Fees & Passes:
There is no entrance fee for Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

• Purchase an annual pass for all national parks sites, $80

Camping:
The park maintains ten developed campgrounds. Campsites at Cades Cove, Cataloochee, Cosby, Elkmont, and Smokemont may be reserved online or by phone at (877) 444-6777. Advance reservations are required at Cataloochee Campground. All remaining park campgrounds are filled on a first come, first served basis. For more information about camping reservations, campground amenities, and seasons of operation, visit the park's website.

• Abrams Creek: 16 sites. Open late May to mid-October. Sites filled on a first come, first served basis.
• Balsam Mountain: 46 sites. Open late May to mid-October. Sites filled on a first come, first served basis.
• Big Creek: 12 sites. Open early April to late October. Sites filled on a first come, first served basis.
• Cades Cove: 159 sites. Open year round. Reservations can be made online.
• Cataloochee: 27 sites. Open late May to late October. Reservations required and can be made online.
• Cosby: 157 sites. Open early April to late October. Reservations can be made online.
• Deep Creek: 92 sites. Open early April to late October. Sites filled on a first come, first served basis.
• Elkmont: 220 sites. Open mid-March to late November. Reservations can be made online.
• Look Rock: 68 sites. Sites filled on a first come, first served basis.
• Smokemont: 142 sites. Open year round. Reservations can be made online.

Backcountry Camping:
Advance reservations and permits are required for all overnight stays in the backcountry. To make reservations, please visit the park's website.

Lodging:
The LeConte Lodge is the only lodging located within the park. It is located on the top of Mount Le Conte and is only accessible on foot. Reservations must be made in advance and can be made online or by calling (865) 429-5704.

There are limited options for food and beverages located within the park. Cades Cove Campground Store sells limited groceries and camping supplies and has a snack bar that serves breakfast, sandwiches, wraps, soup, chili, pizza, and soft serve ice cream. The Elkmont Campground Concession offers some snack items, beverages, and a limited selection of camping supplies. Smokemont Riding Stables sells snacks, beverages, firewood, and ice. Vending machines can be found at most of the visitor centers. Visitors looking for more dining options can visit the nearby towns located just outside the park.

Guided Tours:
Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers a variety of ranger-led programs from spring to fall. All programs, unless otherwise specified, are free and open to the public. To learn more about these ranger-led programs and to see the current events calendar, click here.

REI Adventures:
REI offers over 30 national park trips led by expert guides capable of taking you off the beaten path to discover hidden gems that many visitors never see.

Check out REI Adventures' national park offerings here.

Visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park have a multitude of options when it comes to ways to explore the park. Whether hiking, biking, camping, fishing, horseback riding, picnicking or simply enjoying the scenery from the road, Great Smoky has plenty of opportunities for visitors to enjoy all that the park has to offer. For visitors looking for other adventures in the area, check out the nearby options for mountain biking and rock climbing in the area.

If you're interested in learning more about hiking in Great Smoky, please consider purchasing a copy of GSMP: Hiking Trails of the Smokies. The guide covers all 150 official trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park with in-depth narratives and invaluable profile charts that show mileage, elevation change, and major stream crossings at a glance.

To download the park's free trip planner to help plan your visit, click here.