What is the best month to visit the Smoky Mountains?

According to when most visitors come to the Smoky Mountains, the best time to visit the Smoky Mountains national park is during the months of June, July, and October. The months with the lowest visitation tend to be in the winter and spring.

What should you not miss Great Smoky Mountains?

Look at these top 5 can’t-miss hikes in the Smoky Mountains:

  • Laurel Falls. The most popular waterfall trail is Laurel Falls.
  • Alum Cave. Alum Cave Trail is a moderate hike in the Smoky Mountains because of all of the natural features you see along the way.
  • Grotto Falls.
  • Abrams Falls.
  • Gatlinburg Trail.

What is the most visited place in the Smoky Mountains?

Gatlinburg is a popular tourist destination, and it’s easy to figure out why. This town is the main point of entry to the most visited national park in the United States. Even with more than 12 million park visitors each year, the little town of Gatlinburg does everything possible to make you feel welcome.

How many days you need in Smoky Mountains?

If you are a first time visitor to the park and want to experience the best of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we suggest 3 to 4 full days of sightseeing plus a day or two for doing some of the longer hikes, river tubing, or horseback riding and still have time to explore Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge.

What airport do you fly into for the Smoky Mountains?

McGee-Tyson Airport

The closest major airport to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is McGee-Tyson Airport (TYS) in Alcoa, Tenn., just south of Knoxville. The airport is served by five major commercial airlines: Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier and United.

How cold does it get in the Smoky Mountains?

About half the days in the winter have high temperatures of 50 degrees or more. Highs occasionally even reach the 70s. Most nights have lows at or below freezing. But lows of -20°F.

Where is the prettiest part of the Smoky Mountains?

10 of the Prettiest Spots in the Smoky Mountains

  • Clingmans Dome.
  • Newfound Gap.
  • Laurel Falls.
  • Mount LeConte.
  • Cades Cove.
  • Rainbow Falls.
  • Roaring Fork Motor Trail.
  • Chimney Tops. This hike is short (3.3-miles) but steep and is one for those seeking out the prettiest spots in the national park.

How do you spend 3 days in the Great Smoky Mountains?

3 Days in Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains: Sample Itinerary

  • Start Your Day at Crockett’s Breakfast Camp.
  • Visit Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.
  • Get Lunch at Big Daddy’s Pizzeria.
  • Go Ziplining at Legacy Mountain.
  • Enjoy the Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Show.
  • Have Breakfast at Sawyer’s Farmhouse.
  • Make the Most of Dollywood.

What is the prettiest part of the Smoky Mountains?

What is Gatlinburg famous food?

Check out these famous local dishes and eateries.

  • OGLE DOG AT FANNIE FARKLES.
  • DONUTS AT THE DONUT FRIAR.
  • DEVILED EGGS AT PARTON’S DELI.
  • GARLIC KNOTS AT BEST ITALIAN.
  • PANCAKES AT THE PANCAKE PANTRY.
  • SALAD BAR AT THE PEDDLER STEAKHOUSE.
  • TAFFY LOGS AT OLE SMOKY CANDY KITCHEN.

Is it better to stay in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg?

Overall, Gatlinburg is more compact than Pigeon Forge, which creates a more pedestrian friendly area. There are some downsides to being in a smaller valley. Since there’s not much open space or alternative routes, this mountain town tends to get more crowded than Pigeon Forge.

How do people spend 3 days in the Smoky Mountains?

3 Days in Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains: Sample Itinerary

  1. Start Your Day at Crockett’s Breakfast Camp.
  2. Visit Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.
  3. Get Lunch at Big Daddy’s Pizzeria.
  4. Go Ziplining at Legacy Mountain.
  5. Enjoy the Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Show.
  6. Have Breakfast at Sawyer’s Farmhouse.
  7. Make the Most of Dollywood.

How do you get around the Smoky Mountains?

The best way to get around Great Smoky Mountains National Park is by car. The park does not offer any guided tours and there is no public transportation to the park from the major cities in the area, so plan to bring your own vehicle.

What is the closest major city to Great Smoky Mountains?

Towns & Cities Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park

  • Gatlinburg, TN. 7.6 mi / 19 mins.
  • Pigeon Forge, TN. 14.4 mi / 33 mins.
  • Sevierville, TN. 21.0 mi / 44 mins.
  • Townsend, TN. 24.5 mi / 46 mins.
  • Cherokee, NC. 27.9 mi / 48 mins.
  • Bryson City, NC. 38.1 mi / 1 hour 6 mins.

What is the rainiest month in the Smoky Mountains?

Upslope, heat-driven airflow into the Great Smokies often generates summer rain and thunderstorms. Indeed, July’s the wettest month in Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountain region in general. Fall, by contrast, is typically the driest time of year in Gatlinburg.

Is it always cloudy at Smoky Mountains?

Climate and Average Weather Year Round in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Tennessee, United States. In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the summers are long, warm, and humid; the winters are short, very cold, and wet; and it is partly cloudy year round.

What is the closest town to the Smoky Mountain National Park?

Maggie Valley and Waynesville are the closest towns to the Cataloochee Valley area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, known for elk herds and a ski resort.

How do you explore the Great Smoky Mountains?

The main gateways to Great Smoky Mountains are the Sugarlands Visitor Center, near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, North Carolina. 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.

Is there more to do in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg?

There are more establishments designed to take your tourism dollars in Pigeon Forge than Gatlinburg. There are more restaurants, more mini golf, more dinner theaters and more museums. Plus there’s Dollywood and Splash Country. If you’re counting quality by counting quantity, Gatlinburg has no argument.

What do people do in the Smoky Mountains?

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a mecca for outdoor lovers. Along with its abundant wildflowers and wildlife, the park offers stunning waterfalls along wooded trails (Grotto Falls), strenuous climbs (Clingmans Dome or Chimney Tops) and scenic drives (the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail).

What is the number one thing to do in Gatlinburg?

Top Ten Gatlinburg Attractions

  • Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.
  • Ole Smoky Moonshine.
  • Gatlinburg Sky Lift.
  • Hillbilly Golf.
  • Ripley’s Haunted Adventure.
  • Gatlinburg Space Needle.
  • Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway.
  • Hollywood Star Cars Museum.

How much does the Gatlinburg SkyBridge cost?

Prepare for your SkyBridge visit
It’s open daily 9 a.m.-9 p.m. and until 10 p.m. after Memorial Day. Admission prices are $14.95 for children ages 4-11, $17.95 for adults over 65 and $19.95 for adults ages 12-64. Find more information at Gatlinburgskylift.com.

How much does it cost to walk across the bridge in Gatlinburg?

It’s open daily 9 a.m.-9 p.m. and until 10 p.m. after Memorial Day. Admission prices are $14.95 for children ages 4-11, $17.95 for adults over 65 and $19.95 for adults ages 12-64.

Is Gatlinburg walkable?

There is Nowhere to Park in Gatlinburg
However, most of the town is very walkable. With over 1,200 municipal parking spaces available, this makes it easier. Plus, there are a number of free lots that can be found.

Do I need a reservation to enter Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

Reservations are required at Campgrounds, Group Campgrounds, Horse Campgrounds, Pavilions and the Appalachian Clubhouse and Spence Cabin. Facilities that remain open in the off-peak season November-April have some first come, first serve sites available.