Free
Gatlinburg Trail
A flat, easy walk along a river from town into the park, one of the few trails open to dogs.
Home / Guides / Gatlinburg and the Smokies
Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
Gatlinburg and the Smokies
A mountain town at the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park: misty ridges, waterfalls, a valley of old cabins, and plenty of family fun in town.
Photo: Fall ridges near Newfound Gap, Great Smoky Mountains, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles Tennessee and North Carolina. There's no entrance fee, but you need a parking tag for any vehicle parked in the park.
Gatlinburg's Parkway is lined with attractions, and the Arts & Crafts Community loop has dozens of craft studios to poke into. Pigeon Forge and Dollywood are just north.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Cheap
Cades Cove loop
An 11-mile one-way loop through a valley of historic cabins, churches and wildlife. Parking tag required.
Cheap
Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome)
The park's highest point, with a steep paved walk to an observation tower. Road closed in winter.
Cheap
Newfound Gap Road
The scenic road across the park to North Carolina, with overlooks.
Cheap
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
A narrow one-way road past streams, old cabins and the trailhead to Grotto Falls.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Free
Arts & Crafts Community loop
An 8-mile loop of studios and shops of local craftspeople.
Paid
Gatlinburg SkyLift Park and SkyBridge
A chairlift up to a long pedestrian suspension bridge over the valley.
Paid
Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
A large aquarium on the Parkway, with a shark tunnel.
Book a tour or activity
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Smokies parking tag
Required for vehicles parked in the national park.
Also bookable, listed above
These are in the lists above, so we don't repeat them here.
- Gatlinburg SkyLift Park and SkyBridge Tickets
- Anakeesta Tickets
- Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies Tickets
- Dollywood Tickets
Part of our The Blue Ridge and the Smokies guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- Cades Cove at sunrise and the high peaks at sunset are separate trips.
- There are hundreds of miles of trails, so pick a waterfall a day.
- Asheville and the Blue Ridge Parkway are across the mountains for another leg.
Nearby and worth the drive
Ashevilleabout 1 h 45 · Guide ↗
The Blue Ridge Parkway and Biltmore.
Pigeon Forgeabout 15 min
Dollywood and family attractions.
Ready-made trips with Gatlinburg and the Smokies
Good to know
- National park: Parking tags and road status: nps.gov/grsm.
- Tourism: gatlinburg.com.
- We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: Fall ridges near Newfound Gap, Great Smoky Mountains, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Cades Cove meadows in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
Photo: The observation tower on Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome), Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Laurel Falls, Kaldari, Public domain