Get off the beaten path to find a slice of the Smokies to call your own. It covers a section of Tennessee and North Carolina in the Southern USA that was once home to the Cherokee, and later by Scotch-Irish settlers. One can hire a cab from the airport. The park proudly carries the title of the most-visited national park year after year. By 1925, the federal government was ready to move forward and create one of the first national parks in the eastern United States, along with Shenandoah National Park to the north. Horseback riding stables are located in Cades Cove, Sugarlands and Smokemont. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, covering the Tennessee-North Carolina border is filled with scenic views, roaming wildlife and Southern charm. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. Get Interactive Coverage Maps for The Great Smoky Mountains National Park from each individual carrier. Camping – one of the best ways to experience the Smokies – runs less than $25 a night per site and as little as $14. However, you can also stay in North Carolina. The seven-mile long Clingman’s Dome Road leads to a parking lot. Great Smoky Mountains National Park draws nearly twice as many people as the Grand Canyon. National Park cancelation stamp at the Townsend Visitors Center outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. National and state parks are reopening in the US in phases - here’s what we know, 7 reasons staycations are going to be our saviour in 2020, This corner of northeastern Utah is the wilderness only locals know about, Another mysterious monolith appeared in California... and then suddenly disappeared, 6 of the best destinations for yoga travel, 10 wellness retreats to recharge post-pandemic, Mexico has 11 beautiful new “magical towns" to explore. Trailheads for some of the most popular hikes and some of the park's key historic sights are found along this two-lane road. The best times to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park are the summer (June, July and August) and the fall. Follow US-441 through Sevierville and Pigeon Forge into park. There are also public restrooms and soda and water machines. Like much of Appalachia, the Smokies were targeted by logging companies seeking rich stands of timber. Speaking of bears, they’re generally quite shy and avoid human contact, though if you do come across one, keep your distance and don’t disturb the bear. Gatlinburg, something of a resort village, is packed with hotels and guesthouses, and there are cabin rentals around the city and throughout the surrounding area – particularly near Cherokee, Bryson City and Pigeon Forge. Add to that the many free ranger-led programs run by the park – night hikes, storytelling by the campfire, morning porch talks (free coffee provided), Appalachian culture fairs – and you have the makings of one of America’s most remarkable budget-friendly getaways. For your convenience, here is a guide to each of the visitor centers in the park. National Park Maps. There are plenty of accommodation options outside the park, too. The allure of the Great Smoky Mountains is certainly no secret, and the park gets quite crowded during the busy summer months (Jun–Aug) and in the autumn when the leaves change color (Sep–Oct). However, you can take the night bus to Greenville, take the taxi to Greenville, take the bus to Asheville, then take the drive to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Between the two is the scenic Newfound Gap Road, which winds for 29 miles, neatly bisecting the park on the only pavement traversing the Smokies. As of August 28, 2017, senior passes will increase to $80. Much of the work was completed by the Civilian Conservation Corps throughout the Great Depression, and the national park was officially dedicated in 1940.Â, Another unique quality of the Smoky’s development was that it was one of the first parks designed with cars in mind. Unlike the first national parks out west, which were originally reached by trains and where visitors stayed in grand hotels financed by railroad companies, Great Smoky National Park came together with support and input from auto organizations like the American Automobile Associations (AAA).Â. The park’s beginnings Two factors acted as the driving forces of the Great Smoky Mountains’ founding: as a place to regain health and to conserve the environment. Great Smoky Mountains National Park sits on the border between Tennessee and North Carolina. We came into the park from Knoxville down highway 321. The recreational figure represents nearly twice as many tourists as the Grand Canyon, which received nearly 6 … Plentiful game and temperate climate likely drew them to … In the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, weather can vary season to season and even day to day! When you need a break from walking, you can let a trusty steed do the work. As early as the end of the 19th century, concerned residents of the area advocated for preservation of the land. Wherever you’re coming from, you’ll want a car, as there’s no scheduled bus service to the park nor any public transit available inside of it once you get there.Â, If you want to spend some time exploring the Smokies without camping or renting a cabin, there are numerous RV rental companies in Knoxville, Gatlinburg, and Pigeon Forge – the later being two towns that are unofficial gateways to the Smokies and home to attractions like Dollywood. It has some of the best hiking, fishing and wildlife viewing you'll find in the U.S. We're sharing the inside scoop with you so you can plan your next trip to the Smokies. Make sure you have sturdy walking shoes (preferably waterproof hiking boots), ample water and snacks, warm clothing (it gets chilly at higher elevations, even in the summer) and gear for rain (precipitation is a year-round possibility).Â. You can also make a road trip out of picking up a rental from outfitters like Voyager Campervans in Nashville and Escape Campervans in Atlanta.Â. You can reach the Smoky Mountain National Park from the McGee-Tyson Airport in Alcoa, Asheville Regional Airport, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport and Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte. It's also a good way to get from the north end to the south end of G'burg. Great Smoky Mountains National Park visitor centers no longer sell senior passes. There is also exceptional wildlife watching year round in the Smokies.Â, While you have a chance of seeing wildlife throughout the park, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is an excellent route if you’re hoping to peep the park’s animal residents, especially in winter time, at dawn, and in the evenings. The Cades Cove Visitor Center is located inside the park near the midpoint of the one-way Cades Cove Loop Road. It included a house, a barn, garden areas, and other buildings Louis E. Voorheis build when he owned the land. The highest point on the entire 2,200 mile span of the AT is the park’s own Clingman’s Dome – the “top of Old Smoky” made famous by singers like the Weavers and Hank Williams. In the unlikely event the bear approaches you, stand your ground, make yourself tall and make a lot of noise – which usually deters the bear. One of the great draws of the Smokies is its extensive trail system crisscrossing forested valleys and misty mountain slopes.

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