GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS

Last Updated on December 19, 2023 by Ranchers

The Great Smokies are the most visited national park in the country. Shockingly, it gets more visits than Yellowstone, Grand Canyon and Yosemite combined. Hiking, wildlife, scenic drives and a little bit of history are all available in the park.

How much time should I spend?
Allow a full day for Newfound Gap Scenic Road. Add in another day to visit Clingmans Dome, Cades Cove Loop, or one of the other scenic drives. Give yourself another day or more to take advantage of the numerous hiking trails available. If you still have time, continue to explore the park, or spend some time in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, or Sevierville.

With all that is available in the park and close by, we would recommend at least 3 days in the park. In no particular order, here are our recommendations for making the most of your time in the Great Smokies.

Take a scenic drive

Newfound Gap Road – If you are only going to spend a day in the park, this is probably the road you will want to take. Also known as Rte. 441, the road takes you from Gatlinburg, TN to Cherokee, NC. You will pass by four great overlooks – Campbell, Chimney Tops, Morton, and Oconoluftee Valley, as well as trailheads to Alum Cave Trail to Mt. LeConte and the Chimney Tops Trail. Naturally, the road also takes you up to Newfound Gap at 5,046 Ft.

There are at least a half dozen other scenic drives in the park. With almost 400 miles of paved roads within the park boundary, you could spend three days just driving. We would recommend the following:

Cades Cove Loop – This 11 mile loop offers the opportunity to see wildlife from the comfort of your own vehicle. The National Park Service offers the following possible sightings – white-tailed deer, black bear, coyote, ground hog, turkey, raccoon, skunk, and other animals. Allow yourself 2-4 hours on the loop in addition to commute time through the park.

Little River Road – This is a 25 mile one-way route but if you are staying in Gatlinburg, it is likely the route you will take to Sugarlands Visitor Center, so bonus there. Perhaps the most impressive sight along this route is The Sinks waterfall.

Roaring Forks Motor Trail – A short 5 mile road, but it is also one of most scenic en route to Mount LeConte. You will also drive by the historic Noah “Bud” Ogle farmstead.

Clingmans Dome Road – A short 7 mile road, but perhaps the busiest road in the park. This route takes you to Clingmans Dome, one of the most popular sightseeing spots in the entire park. Be prepared to ‘lot vulture’ or park considerably down the hill on one of the pullouts for this tourist hotspot.

Take a hike

If you thought there were a lot of roads in the park, there are over 800 miles of hiking trails. While it is not possible for us to comment on anywhere close to all the trails in the park, we thought we might include a short, two middles, and a long hike as examples of what you can expect.

Spend some time in town

Although we are averse to the Disneyland-like atmosphere of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, the towns are not without their charms. We leave it to you to discover what they are.
However, we can absolutely vouch for the small slice of heaven on earth known as the Buzzed Bull Creamery in Pigeon Forge. It is an elaborate science experiment designed to make you salivate for ten to fifteen minutes waiting for your glorious frozen adult beverage to spew forth.

Another eatery in Pigeon Forge we can absolutely rave about is the Local Goat. Literally everything on the menu is delicious, but if you want to judge for yourself I highly recommend reservations.

Although Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are not exactly our speed, a stroll around Sevierville was more to our liking. Childhood home to Dolly Parton, the downtown area is a throwback to a time long past.