Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Mailing Address:
107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Phone: (865) 436-1200
Fax: 865-436-1220
The Entrance Fee
Entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is free. The park is one of the only major national parks that does not charge an entrance fee.
The reasons for free entry to the national park date back at least to the 1930s. The land that is today Great Smoky Mountains National Park was once privately owned. The states of Tennessee and North Carolina, as well as local communities, paid to construct Newfound Gap Road (US-441). When the state of Tennessee transferred ownership of Newfound Gap Road to the federal government in 1936, it stipulated that "no toll or license fee shall ever be imposed" to travel the road.
At that time, Newfound Gap Road was one of the major routes crossing the southern Appalachian Mountains. It’s likely the state was concerned with maintaining free, easy interstate transportation for its citizens. North Carolina transferred its roads through abandonment, so no restrictions were imposed.
Go Back to Top
Park Open Hours, Seasons
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. However some secondary roads, campgrounds, and other visitor facilities close in winter.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Visitor Centers
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has total eight Visitor Centers.
Three Visitor Centers are located within the national park at Cades Cove, Oconaluftee, and Sugarlands. In addition, five Visitor Centers are located outside the park in the communities of Gatlinburg, Sevierville, and Townsend. All Visitor Centers are open daily year-round, except Christmas Day.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Cades Cove Visitor Center
Open every day except Christmas Day.
January 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
February 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
March 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
April - August 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
September - October 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
November 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
December 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location
Inside the park near the mid-point of the 11-mile, one-way Cades Cove Loop Road.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Oconaluftee Visitor Center
Open every day except Christmas Day
January - April 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
May 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
June - August
8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
September - October 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
November - December 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location
Inside the park, 2 miles north of Cherokee, NC, on US-441.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Sugarlands Visitor Center
Open every day except Christmas Day.
January - February 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
March 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
April - May 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
June - August 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
September - October 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
November 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
December 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location
Inside the park, 2 miles south of Gatlinburg on US-441.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Gatlinburg Welcome Center - Downtown
Open every day except Christmas Day.
10:00 a.m. -6:00 p.m.
Location
At traffic light #3 on the parkway in downtown Gatlinburg.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Gatlinburg Welcome Center - On the Spur between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg
Open every day except Christmas Day
October
Sunday - Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Friday- Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
November - April 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Location
Located 2 miles outside of Gatlinburg on US-441 South
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Sevierville Visitor Center
Open every day except Christmas Day.
8:30 a.m. -5:30 p.m.
Location
Highway US-66 in Sevierville
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Townsend Visitor Center
Open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
January - May 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
June - October 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
November- December 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location
Townsend, Tennessee, on US-321.
Go Back to Top
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Driving Directions
Driving Directions for Great Smoky Mountains National Park's three main entrances
Gatlinburg, TN entrance
From interstate highway I-40 take Exit 407 (Sevierville) to TN-66 South. At the Sevierville intersection, continue straight onto US-441 South. Follow US-441 through Sevierville and Pigeon Forge into park.
Townsend, TN entrance
From the north: From interstate highway I-40 in Knoxville take Exit 386B to US-129 South to Alcoa/Maryville. At Maryville proceed on US-321 North/TN -73 East through Townsend. Continue straight on TN-73 into the park.
From the south: From interstate highway I-75 take Exit 376 to I-140 E towards Oak Ridge/Maryville. Merge onto I-140 E via Exit 376B towards Maryville. Turn onto US-129 South (Alcoa Highway) at Exit 11A and travel towards Alcoa. Turn onto TN-35 and follow it to US-321 North. Follow US-321 North/TN -73 East through Townsend. Continue straight on TN-73 into the park.
Cherokee, NC entrance
From the north: From interstate highway I-40, take Exit 27 to US-74 West towards Waynesville. Turn onto US-19 and proceed through Maggie Valley to Cherokee. Turn onto US-441 North at Cherokee and follow the road into the park.
From the south: Follow US-441/US-23 North. At Dillsboro merge on US-74 West/US-441 North. At Exit 74 merge onto US-441. Follow US-441 through Cherokee and into the park.
Go Back to Top
Pets Policy at This National Park
Dogs are allowed in campgrounds, picnic areas, and along roads, but must be kept on a leash at all times. The leash must not exceed 6 feet in length. Dogs are only allowed on two short walking paths, the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail. Pets are not allowed on any other park trails.
