Great Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park
Why pick this one
Great Smoky Mountains National Park spans 522,427 acres across Tennessee and North Carolina and offers 10 developed campgrounds plus backcountry camping.
Best for
- multi-day camping trips
- mountain and waterfall hikes
- wildlife viewing including elk and black bears
- scenic drives through Cades Cove
- exploring Appalachian and Cherokee cultural history
- visitors seeking a park with no entrance fee
Look elsewhere if
- Visitors specifically seeking the Laurel Falls Trail during its rehabilitation closure
- Travelers needing a compact attraction rather than an 800-square-mile national park
Specialties
- waterfall and mountain hiking
- backcountry camping
- wildlife watching
- auto touring
- historic and cultural exploration
Certifications
- National Park Service
What makes them different
- Covers 522,427 acres divided almost evenly between Tennessee and North Carolina
- Contains more than 22,000 documented species
- Offers 10 developed campgrounds plus backcountry camping
- Has no entrance fee, while parking tags are required for vehicles parked longer than 15 minutes
- Includes an 11-mile, one-way scenic loop around Cades Cove
Distilled from this business's own website.
Contact & Location
- Phone
- +18654361200
- Website
- http://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm
Services
- national park access
- developed campground camping
- backcountry camping
- hiking trails
- picnicking
- biking
- wildlife viewing
- scenic auto touring
- visitor centers
- park education and interpretation