Camping in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
As the most visited national park in the US according to the National Park Service, I fully hoped the Great Smoky Mountains, spanning the Appalachian Mountains between Tennessee and North Carolina, would live up to the hype. Having spent much of my childhood hiking and living up against the Rocky Mountains in Utah, I doubted that the small mountains in the East would. Boy was I wrong.
Besides Costa Rica, I had never before been surrounded by so much green as I was in the Smokies. I love trees and was blown away at how green and tree-ful my trip was.
I spent a week in mid-August exploring the vast national park, as well as the surrounding towns of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Cherokee. It has now been nearly three years since I visited, but I still love looking at the green photos and remembering one of the best camping trips I’ve been on.
My Favorite Scenic Drives
One of the most popular (and unavoidable) things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains is to take a scenic drive, looking for wildlife and enjoying breathtaking views. During my visit I explored two beautiful scenic drives.
Newfound Gap
Newfound Gap is the lowest pass through this part of the Appalachian Mountains, spanning from Cherokee, North Carolina, to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. It is the main road through the Smokies, so driving along here will be a part of any visit. I stopped at several lookout points along the road and was greeted with stunning views each time! I can’t wait until the day I get to visit during its autumn glory.
Roaring Fork
From Gatlingburg, there is an entrance to a beautiful, one-way motor trail, popular for its scenery and the kid-friendly hikes along the way. I spent half a day driving the loop and hiking on one of the trails. It was a rainy day, but that just made everything even more vibrant and green! I even spotted a deer, a salamander, and other small creatures while there.
Additional Drives: Cade’s Cove (Maybe I would have fulfilled my dream of seeing black bears if I drove along this valley!)
My Favorite Hikes
There are dozens of hikes throughout the national park, making it one of the best things to do in the Smoky Mountains. Since the park is so popular, you’ll want to choose a mixture of iconic hikes (that will be more crowded) and hidden gems that you can enjoy and have to yourself.
Clingman’s Dome
Being as accessible as it was (with a short, paved pathway to the top), visiting the highest peak in the Smokies was full of other people wanting to reach it. The steep hike wasn’t much to get excited over, but once I reached the observation dome at the very top, I was blown away at the miles of views on every side! Make sure to go on a clear day—the views would have been even more amazing if it wasn’t as cloudy and misty.
Grotto Falls
Waterfall hikes are plentiful in the Great Smoky Mountains! I enjoyed this hike along the Roaring Fork Motor Loop, but was worried I would pass the trailhead on the one-way road, so I ended up parking way before the actual trail and walked at least a mile longer than I needed to. However, the sights were beautiful and that’s where I saw a deer! Afterwards, I rewarded myself with ice cream from Mad Dog’s in Gatlinburg!
Laurel Falls
This was another kid-friendly, fun waterfall hike I did, right off the road near my campsite! Although the trail is paved, it is fairly steep most of the way up to the 80-foot waterfall and more difficult than I expected it to be. The scenery and views of this hike were stunning and the waterfall at the end was worth it, which is probably what makes it so popular.
Avent Cabin
This hike to a secret log cabin in the middle of the woods remains one of my favorite hikes, even after hiking in Zion’s National Park, New Zealand, and all over Utah’s Wasatch Front. I think I enjoyed it so much because it was a treasure hunt. The trail is not well-known and there is nothing marking the start of it from the main trail it branches off of (Jake’s Creek Trail), so I had to keep an eye on my map to know when to look for it. Once I found it, I was led across a log bridge, up a winding narrow path, and to the 1800’s-era log Avent cabin that I had all to myself!
Appalachian Trail
When I was a naturalist at a Georgia state park, I worked with someone who hiked the entire Appalachian Trail—all 2,190 miles of it! She’s my hiking inspiration and, although I only walked a few steps along the trail, I was excited to be there and think about the dedicated people who make that iconic trek from Georgia to Maine.
Additional Hikes: Alum Cave, Charlie’s Bunion, Spruce Flats Waterfall
Other Things to Do Nearby
Perhaps to accommodate the large numbers of people visiting the area every year, the small towns surrounding the Great Smoky Mountains are packed with exciting things to do—beyond hiking and driving around—especially for families.
Mingus Mill & Mountain Farm Museum
The Appalachians were historically a major place of early settlements because the quickly moving water down the mountains provided energy. This grist mill is a great example of how the water energy was used, as well as a beautiful area to explore. Nearby is a whole settlement where visitors can walk around and see how life was back then. I learned a lot about the people of Appalachia and even saw a herd of elk at the nearby meadow!
Sugarland Visitors Center
Close to Gatlinburg, this Smokies visitors center has a large display of the types of animals native to the area, as well as information about the park and its history. I enjoyed browsing and getting a few souvenirs here during my visit.
Wonderworks
Lining Pigeon Forge’s main street are dozens of whimsical buildings and family-friendly activities that can fill a whole week’s worth of time (reminiscent of the family attractions all over the place near Mount Rushmore). I didn’t make a lot of time for enjoying the city, so I just chose one attraction to visit—Wonderworks. This unique upside-down building had a variety of fun science-filled interactive exhibits.
Tubing on the Oconaluftee
The Oconaluftee River runs right through Cherokee, North Carolina, making it an easily accessible place to go tubing. Afterwards, while in Cherokee, enjoy a delicious upscale buffet at Harrah’s Casino (I liked it better than any buffet I’ve tried on the Las Vegas Strip!).
Additional Activities: Dollywood, Ober Gatlinburg (one of the top things to do in Gatlinburg), Titanic Museum
Where I Stayed
Nestled along a main road in the Great Smoky Mountains, lies a peaceful and shady campsite. I spent several days here and loved waking up in the morning to the gorgeous nature all around! This campground is also in a great location, close to Gatlinburg—but far enough away to feel secluded—as well as near several hiking trails.
Hotel in Cherokee
I stayed one night in Cherokee before driving home. I liked walking through the small town, finding Native American souvenirs and signs in the Cherokee language all over the place. It was a cool cultural experience, reminiscent of the American Southwest.
Overall, my trip to the Smokies was green and exciting and adventurous! I enjoyed my time hiking and camping, as well as exploring the small towns and the culture of the area. I would recommend this trip for families, nature lovers, and anyone looking to experience an iconic part of America’s East Coast region!
To get a better idea of the area, check out the Great Smoky Mountains National Park map on nps.gov.
I am a big nature lover, which is what made this trip so great, but I love big cities, too! Check out my trips to New York and Washington, DC and five days in Paris next!