Sun & Summit Destinations
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Itinerary
Mountain overlooks, a historic valley full of wildlife and the gateway towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
- Best time
- Mid-to-late October for fall color, late April to May for wildflowers. Summer is busiest
- Getting there
- McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in Knoxville is about an hour from Gatlinburg
- Park pass
- No entrance fee, but a parking tag is required for any car parked longer than 15 minutes. Buy daily, weekly or annual tags online or at visitor centers
- Stay
- 4–5 nights in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge or Sevierville
Day 1: Newfound Gap Road
Drive the main road across the park from Gatlinburg toward Cherokee. Stop at Sugarlands Visitor Center, then the overlooks at Newfound Gap on the Tennessee–North Carolina line. Take the spur road to Kuwohi, the park's highest point (formerly called Clingmans Dome), when it's open; the paved path to the observation tower is short but steep.
Day 2: Cades Cove
Go early. The 11-mile one-way loop through Cades Cove passes log cabins, churches and open meadows where deer, turkeys and black bears are often seen in the morning. Allow 2–4 hours; traffic stops whenever someone spots a bear.
Day 3: A waterfall hike
- Grotto Falls: an easy-to-moderate hike where the trail passes behind the falls
- Abrams Falls: a longer hike that starts from the Cades Cove loop
- Rainbow Falls: a strenuous climb with a big payoff after rain
- Check the park's trail closures page first; trails close for repairs and bear activity
Day 4: The gateway towns
Spend a day in town: Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, the Gatlinburg SkyLift and SkyBridge, or the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, a narrow loop with old homesteads just outside Gatlinburg.
Where to stay
These resorts are in very different spots. Pick the one that fits how you want to spend the trip.
Stay in Great Smoky Mountains, TN
Tell us your dates and we'll find a Club Wyndham or RCI resort and send you a quote.
