Great Smoky Mountains National Park Planning & Tips

The Art of Smart Timing
The Smokies is a year-round destination, with fabulous wildflower displays in spring, an abundance of ranger programs in summer, fiery fall foliage in autumn, and a snowy wonderland in winter. The most crowded time is during peak leaf season in October, with summer coming in a close second.

A particularly fun time to come is mid-June, when one of the species of firefly in the park blinks in unison as part of its mating ritual, providing a fabulous natural lights display your kids will always remember. You can see the synchronous fireflies in several places in the park, although the Elkmont area is the best-known spot. The luminous bugs don't really hit their stride until about 10 p.m., though, so come prepared to spread out a blanket or bring folding chairs so you can comfortably wait. Only one other place in the world (in southeast Asia) has synchronistic fireflies, so it's a rare treat.

While most campgrounds and some roads in the park are closed in winter (when there also aren't any ranger programs), there's still reason to visit at that time of year. Hikers are rewarded with better views because the leaves have fallen off the trees, and some of the park's waterfalls partially freeze, making beautiful frozen formations. The gateway communities put on a marvelous holiday lights display that runs from the beginning of November through Valentine's Day, and Ober Gatlinburg (a resort area accessible from a tram in downtown Gatlinburg) offers downhill skiing, a great tubing hill, and an indoor ice skating rink.

Getting Around
You won't find much public transportation in the park, although the surrounding communities of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg each have a public trolley system that works quite well. (One route does take visitors to the Sugarlands Visitor Center and into the Elkmont campground in the summer.) The overwhelming majority of visitors drive their own cars within the park, although many either walk or take the trolleys to get to the restaurants and attractions in the gateway communities outside the park. Parking is plentiful and free in Sevierville and Pigeon Forge, although in less-spread-out Gatlinburg, it can be trickier (although there are several lots where you can pay to park).

Off the Radar
The Townsend Y (or Wye) at the junction of two forks of the Little River, just inside the Townsend entrance to the park, is the locals' favorite spot for swimming and sunning. There's a wide pebble beach under the trees by the riverbank as well as a large grassy area perfect for spreading out a picnic. Many families rent oversized inner tubes in nearby Townsend and go tubing on the river here, or you can just go swimming. This is also a fun spot for skipping stones. In the summer, port-a-potties on the bank by the parking area provide restroom facilities.

Foothills Parkway West, running 18 miles from Route 321 just outside of Townsend to Chilhowee, is one of the best-kept secrets in the Smokies. This roadway runs parallel to the western edge of the park, just outside its main borders, although it is technically under the jurisdiction of the national park and contains an official park campground and picnic area (Look Rock). Because the road is on a ridgeline, it offers great views on both sides. Be sure to take the easy one-mile roundtrip hike to Look Rock Tower for a 360-degree view. The trailhead is near the midpoint of the parkway, just after the turnoff for the campground and picnic area.

Visitor Bureaus
Great Smoky Mountain National Park
Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce
Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism
Sevierville Chamber of Commerce
Cherokee Welcome Center