Operating Hours for Visitor Centers
Sugarlands Visitor Center (near Gatlinburg, TN)
- January – February – 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- March – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- April – May – 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- June – August – 8 a.m. 7 p.m.
- September – October – 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- November – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- December 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed Christmas Day)
Cades Cove Visitor Center (near Townsend, TN)
- January – 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- February – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- March 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- April – August – 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- September – October – 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- November – 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- December – 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed Christmas Day)
Oconaluftee Visitor Center (near Cherokee, NC)
- January – February – 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- March – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- April – May – 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- June – August – 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- September – October – 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- November 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- December 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed Christmas Day)
Picnic Areas
There are 11 picnic areas in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Big Creek, Chimneys, Cades Cove, Collins Creek, Cosby, Deep Creek, Greenbrier, Heintooga, Look Rock, Metcalf Bottons, and Twin Creeks. Open all year are Cades Cove, Greenbrier, Deep Creek, and Metcalf Bottoms. The remaining picnic areas are closed during the winter. Picnic pavilions are available at Collins Creek, Cosby, Deep Creek, Greenbrier, Metcalf Bottoms, and Twin Creeks. All of the picnic pavilions cost $25 per use, with the exception of Twin Creeks and Greenbrier. The pavilion at Twin Creeks ranges from $40 to $80, and the pavilion at Greenbrier costs $12.50
Horseback Riding
There are three concession horseback riding stables in the Tennessee side of the park that offer guided horseback rides from mid-March through late November. The three horseback concessions located on the Tennessee side of the park are: Smoky Mountain Riding Stable; Sugarlands Riding Stable; and Cades Cove. In addition to horseback rides which cost $30 per horse per rider for one-hour rides, Cades Cove Riding Stable will offer their customary carriage rides and hay rides, and wheelchair accessible carriage and hay rides.
About the National Park Service
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 395 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.