Great Smoky Mountains
At a glance
- 1 mile to the park entrance
- Permits at Sugarlands Visitor Center
- 26-mile Newfound Gap Road
- Parking tags from $5 a day
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in America, and for good reason. Our Gatlinburg hotel is located just one mile from the Gatlinburg entrance to the park that takes you to the Sugarlands Visitor Center, where you can watch a short movie about the park, pick up a park map, or walk through the museum. This is also where you would pick up your camping, hiking, or fishing permits. It’s a great place to start your visit to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The park is home to more than 100 miles of hiking trails, gorgeous scenic drives, waterfalls, wildlife viewing opportunities, and so much more. Some of the best hikes in the Smoky Mountains are Laurel Falls, Alum Cave Trail, and Abrams Falls. One of the top scenic drives in the park is Newfound Gap Road, which is 26 miles long and crosses the park to the southeast.
You can take the road all the way to the North Carolina side of the Smoky Mountains. Other popular scenic drives are the Cades Cove Loop Road, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, and Foothills Parkway. These are just a few of the many things you can do when you visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can also have a picnic, go fishing, go horseback riding — the opportunities are endless!
See the park right now
These views come straight from the National Park Service and update about every 15 minutes.
LIVENewfound Gap
High in the center of the park on the Tennessee–North Carolina line, this camera looks south over the mountains.
View Now the Newfound Gap webcam (opens in a new tab)
LIVEKuwohi
From the park’s highest peak, formerly known as Clingmans Dome, this camera looks west across the Smokies.
View Now the Kuwohi webcam (opens in a new tab)
Parking in the National Park
Parking tag prices
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park requires parking tags for all vehicles parked for 15 minutes or longer within the boundaries of the Smokies. The park offers daily tags for $5, weekly tags for $15, and annual parking tags for $40. If you purchase an annual parking tag, it must be displayed in the front, lower passenger side windshield. Daily and weekly tags must be placed face-up on the front, lower passenger side of the dashboard. There are a few options for purchasing parking tags — in person, from an automated fee machine, and online. Daily, weekly, and annual parking tags are available to purchase in person at visitor centers, the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont Store, and the Gatlinburg Welcome Center. Daily and weekly tags are available for purchase by credit card at the automated fee machines. Annual parking tags are available online for those choosing to purchase and ship, and daily and weekly parking tags are available to purchase online and print at home. To purchase your parking tag online, visit Recreation.gov!
For more information on the parking tag requirement in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, visit the National Park Service website.