Why America’s Most Visited National Park Is The Great Smoky Mountains

Did you know the Great Smoky Mountains are within a short drive for over half of the U.S. population? Spanning parts of Tennessee and North Carolina, Great Smoky Mountains National Park encompasses over a half million acres, including a 70-mile stretch of the iconic Appalachian Trail. It’s the perfect escape to nature during any season of the year. Keep reading to find out why the Great Smoky Mountains continues to be the most visited national park in America: 

History of the National Park

In the early 1800s, settlers arrived in the Great Smoky Mountain area, and it became a populated area for families, loggers, and farmers. During the Depression in 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps was founded to provide jobs for the unemployed, and the work to establish the national park began. The very next year, Great Smoky Mountains National Park opened, and people started coming to the area to take in its natural beauty. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt officially dedicated the park on September 2, 1940, and a memorial monument was erected, which you can now see off of Newfound Gap Road. 

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open year-round, though some trails and areas may be closed at times due to bad weather or increased bear activity. Entrance to the park is free, but parking passes are now required for vehicles parked longer than 15 minutes. 

What to Do in the Great Smoky Mountains

Whether visitors come for a day or a week, there are a variety of places to explore. The unspoiled scenery is breathtaking! Mountains, meadows, forests, rushing streams, clear pools, and cascading waterfalls preserve a vision of America as it once was, and there are numerous lookouts where visitors can pause to enjoy the panoramic vistas such as Clingmans Dome, Rocky Top, and Andrews Bald. In the spring and summer, thousands of wildflowers bloom, while October and November bring vivid autumn foliage and crisp, cool weather.

Exploring Historic Sites

Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s collection of historic structures includes cabins, barns, schools, churches, and even a working grist mill! You’ll learn a lot about Smoky Mountain history at places like the Walker Sisters Cabin, the Little Greenbrier School, and the Dan Lawson Cabin, as the park is one of the few places in the country to see preserved buildings in the natural settings they were built for. 

Scenic Drives & Wildlife Viewing

Cades Cove and Roaring Forks Motor Trail are favorite spots for observing the park’s large populations of black bears. There are also 40 types of salamanders, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, turtles, owls, and 200 other bird species you may catch a glimpse of during your time in the Great Smoky Mountains. 

Hiking

There are over 850 miles of trails, with routes ranging from easy walks and half-hour roundtrips to challenging hikes and multi-day backpacking treks. A few Smoky Mountain hiking trails we recommend are the Middle Prong Trail, Porters Creek Trail, Alum Cave Trail, and Ramsey Cascades Trail. 

Other Popular Activities

The Great Smoky Mountains offer many additional activities, such as picnicking and camping. Biking along the Cades Cove Scenic Loop and trail rides on horseback are also popular. For fishermen, more than 2,000 miles of streams are open for angling and feature abundant populations of wild trout and smallmouth bass.

Top Vacation Spots: Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge

Within a few steps of the main entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, visitors find themselves on the main street of Gatlinburg, well-known for its live music, shows, restaurants, shops, arts and crafts community, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, Ober Mountain’s Aerial Tramway, and Anakeesta. A few miles north of Gatlinburg is Pigeon Forge. It’s the home of Dollywood, the Titanic Museum, the Country Tonite Theatre, outlet stores, and more restaurants and shops.

Where to Stay in the Great Smoky Mountains

There are many Smoky Mountain lodging options to consider. From campgrounds to cabin rentals, we are the best place to find the best one for your family or traveling group. Whether you need an affordable place to stay for a night or two or require a large cabin rental that can accommodate many guests. Browse our extensive selection of places to stay in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville. We can’t wait to welcome you to the Great Smoky Mountains!