Great Smoky Mountain Visitor Information

One of our major cities is Pigeon Forge, located in the heart of the Smokies. When the Dollywood theme park opened in the late 1980s, this small town suddenly grew into a major travel destination with more than 11 million visitors annually.

Gatlinburg became a national attraction overnight with the opening of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in America. Gatlinburg has grown into a major mountain resort destination that offers a ski resort, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies and much more.

Sevierville is the county seat and hometown of Dolly Parton. Visitors can find an abundance of entertainment options on their vacation, such as the NASCAR SpeedPark, SkyLand Ranch, Rainforest Adventures Discovery Zoo and the area’s largest outlet mall. Sevierville also has wonderful golf courses, great dining and more.

We like to refer to Wears Valley as one of the best kept secrets in the Smoky Mountain area. Wears Valley is known for its calm, quiet atmosphere and beautiful scenery. Many visitors like to take at least a day to spend in Wears Valley, visiting local shops and eateries and exploring the hiking trails on the Wears Valley side of the mountains.

Sevier County is home to the popular areas of Sevierville (the largest city), Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, as well as smaller communities like Wears Valley. It takes its name from Governor John Sevier who played a part in settling the area. Today, Sevier County has become a popular vacation destination, filled with a variety of attractions and restaurants. Most notably, part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is within Sevier County.

With over 11 million visitors each year, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is, by far, the most visited national park in the United States. There’s over 800 miles of hiking trails, scenic driving tours and historic sites, so there’s a way for everyone to see the Smokies!