Top Things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
What to do and see in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park: The Best Things to do Good for Kids
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1. Little River Road
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 218 reviews
Scenic road through the Great Smokies.
Reviewed By crystalm37 - Gatlinburg, United States
It snowed our first night in town so we decided to venture into the Smokies. Little River Road had amazing views of the mountains. Most of the ride from Sugarlands Visitor Center to Miegs Falls was a Winter Wonderland with white fluffy snow! It was beautiful!
2. Newfound Gap Road
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 744 reviews
Reviewed By MaryKop - Colorado Springs, United States
Being from the west, we miss all the deciduous trees turning green in the spring..such a beautiful drive, winding road with pull outs to enjoy all the creeks and waterfalls, etc...worth it--we spent hours wandering along this road.
3. Chimneys Picnic Area
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 325 reviews
Reviewed By melissabubash - Cincinnati, United States
I ended up in Chimneys Picnic Area because my husband and I were going to hike the Cove Hardwoods Nature Trail (our legs needed a break...the trail was disappointing after the massive hikes we'd already completed). The picnic area though was absolutely beautiful. Great sites to hang out for the day including picnic tables and grills. We were there Memorial Day weekend and at the trail head around 9am and people were already staking out spots for the day. So I would recommend going very early to get the prime spots along the stream.
4. Foothills Parkway
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 577 reviews
Reviewed By CountryChick94 - Velpen, United States
Did a June motorcycle trip in the Smokies, and the Foothills Parkway was great. The "missing link" was our favorite stretch. The missing link has enough curves and hills to give you the joy of a mountain ride without the challenges of the Tail of the Dragon. The road is very well cared for, not much traffic, and a lot of pull-offs for site seeing. Ask the locals if you need to know how to get to the missing link. They're happy to tell you why it's called that and how to get there!
5. Upper Tremont Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 80 reviews
Reviewed By KevinD3795
Beautiful place worth the drive. I little out of the way but what a gorgeous drive - October a great month to go too!
6. Roaring Fork
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,313 reviews
Reviewed By tgny23 - Alexandria, United States
Definitely worth driving through Roaring Fork! A one way drive through the Smoky Mountains with so much to see! We went over several bridges and were able to enjoy Little Pigeon Stream before it became an actual river. There are several old abandoned structures from yesteryear to explore and appreciate. There are are few great spots to stop and take a photo of downtown Gatlinburg from above the town. We were intent on seeing a bear, but we never did locate one, but several others I talked with did see a bear. Take it all in, it’s breathtaking.
7. Middle Prong Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 25 reviews
Reviewed By Boxerfriend - Lake Villa, United States
I had wanted to do Grotto Falls but roaring forks road was closed. Needed something to fit my family and my husband who kaboshed Rainbow falls. Stunning trail! Nice and wide path with a slow incline. Amazing river views with small waterfalls along the way. Enough room for the boys 13 and 10 to play lightsaber type imaginings. The goal was to find Indian Flat Falls and head back. The falls are not marked and not on an “official” part of the trail. After the trail forks from Jakes creek, you stay right. The trail will narrow and become more challenging. At this point my kids were getting pretty crabby with me. The trail becomes more of a mountain type trail with switchbacks. After you cross a wood bridge and about 3-4 switchbacks look for beaten down path at a very large face rock wall on the right with the trail making a sharp left. Oh boy my whole family was about to give up. Don’t give up!! We were treated to a 2 tier waterfall with rocks to relax on and have lunch or a snack all to ourselves!!! It was so amazing and so worth it. My husband isn’t admitting it was worth it, definitely refreshed everybody though. Ended up being 8 miles and took us 5 hours including our rendezvous with the waterfall. So so awesome!!! Go for it!!
8. Newfound Gap
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 225 reviews
Newfound Gap in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the lowest drivable pass through the Great Smoky Mountains. Standing at an elevation of 5,048 feet. Newfound Gap captures the essence of the Smokies: like the Park, it lies half in Tennessee and half in North Carolina. Newfound Gap provides wonderful mountain views atop this high ridge. Clothed in a mixture of spruce-fir and northern hardwood forests it supports a wide variety of plant and animal life. Millions of people drive through Newfound Gap annually. Also at Newfound Gap is the Rockefeller Memorial. A two-tiered stone structure, this monument is a thank you to the Rockefeller family's $5 million donation to complete the Park's land acquisition. Without this generous gift, the dream of a Great Smoky Mountains National Park would remain unfulfilled. It was at this spot in 1934 that President Roosevelt dedicated the National Park.
Reviewed By California_momofsix
Great place to stop when driving through SMNP on the main road. Beautiful views, plenty of parking in a paved lot, indoor bathrooms. There are two fun photo opportunities here, a sign marking the state border and a sign marking the Appalachian trail which crosses the road here. You can see the distance to walk to Maryland, and you can say you have walked on the Appalachian trail. For most of us, that may be as close as we will ever get to walking the Appalachian trail. Seems to be busy at all hours, but in our experience people didn't crowd us and it was easy to maintain social distancing. Felt very safe.
9. Clingmans Dome
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,972 reviews
The highest peak in the park.
Reviewed By E93QZthomasc - Ridgeland, United States
Be in shape to hike this half mile straight up trail to Clingmans dome,, you can drive up and dont have to do the hike It is ABSOLUTELY Amazing!The drive , traffic and views are awesome, went in November and saw snow and Ice, (not on the road) Huge Icicles on the Huge ountain Rock .the Cedar trees and views are spectacular the smell of the cedar tries, awesome, Live Christmas trees everywhere, WATCH YOUR STEP, Do Not get to close to the edge ! you are a mile high !
10. Quiet Walkways
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 46 reviews
Reviewed By Therese62 - Saint Louis, United States
Quiet trails are marked along the Park Road...the Hike to Lynn Camp Prong Cascades is a quiet trail, so you can hear the water rushing and birds in the trees-most people respect the quiet, even the little ones
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