Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Plan Your Visit
The park is open year-round. Visitor centers at Sugarlands, Oconaluftee, and Cades Cove are open all year, except Christmas Day. Hours of operation vary throughout the year.
Local Partners & Information Resources
Great Smoky Mountains Association
Friends of the Smokies
Great Smoky Mountains Institute
Smoky Mountain Field School
Discover Life in America
Getting There
Plane
The nearest major airport in Tennessee (McGhee-Tyson, TYS) is Alcoa, 45 miles west of Gatlinburg. North Carolina"s, Asheville Airport is 60 miles east of the park.
Car
Several major highways lead to the park. The following routes provide access to the three main entrances.
Gatlinburg, TN entrance: From interstate highway I-40 take Exit 407 (Sevierville) to TN Route 66 South, and continue to US-441 South. Follow US-441 to park. Townsend, TN entrance: From interstate highway I-40 in Knoxville - Exit 386B US-129 South to Alcoa/Maryville. At Maryville proceed on US-321 North through Townsend. Continue straight on TN Highway 73 into the park. Cherokee, NC entrance: From I-40, take US Route 19 West through Maggie Valley. Proceed to US-441 North at Cherokee into the park. From Atlanta and points south: follow US-441 and 23 North. US-441 leads to the park.
Public Transportation
No train or bus service accesses the park.
Getting Around
The park"s two main roads, Newfound Gap (U.S. 441) and Little River, remain open throughout the year, except for temporary closures due to severe weather conditions. Click on link to view seasonal opening dates for secondary roads . Roads are listed near the bottom of the page. Please scroll down the page to view information. Parson Branch Road is currently closed due to flood damage. No date for reopening the road has been set. For more information on road conditions, contact the park at (865) 436-1200.