10 Things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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Plan the perfect trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This guide featuring 10 awesome things to do on your trip.

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To kickoff our full time RV adventure we made it to our first National Park, The Great Smoky Mountains. We visited the Smokies toward the end of fall so we were still able to see the magnificent colorful leaves and bundle up in our winter jackets. We’d heard nothing but great things about the Smoky Mountains such as it’s gorgeous scenic drives, amazing hikes, rushing waterfalls, and epic mountain views.

Occupying half a million acres and covering 2 states there are endless adventures to be had in the Great Smoky Mountains. Spring wild flowers, lush green summers, colorful fall leaves, and frozen waterfalls in winter make anytime a great time to visit the Smokies. Whether you have just one day or a couple days to spare, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a great place to visit.

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 #1. VISIT A WATERFALL

If you enjoy a good waterfall then look no further than the Great Smoky Mountains. With 85 inches of rainfall per year the Smokies is a breeding ground for beautiful waterfalls. From the popular Laurel Falls to the underrated Abrams Falls, it’s no wonder this area draws such a crowd.

The most popular waterfalls are located on the north side of the park and include Grotto Falls, Rainbow Falls, Laurel Falls, and Abrams Falls.

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#2. VISIT CLINGMANS DOME OBSERVATION TOWER

For outstanding 360 degree views of the Great Smoky Mountains you’ve got to make the visit to Clingmans Dome. Located on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the park and the highest part of the application trail. It’s also one of the best spots to enjoy a Smoky Mountain sunrise or sunset.

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#3. CADES COVE

Cades Cove was one of our favorite spots we visited in the Smokies. A lush green valley surrounded by gorgeous mountains with a good chance to spot some wildlife, yes please.

Located on the west side of the park, Cades Cove offers overnight camping, historic buildings, great hiking trails, and of course the 11 mile scenic loop drive. It’s best to allow for at least 2 hours to drive through Cades Cove so you may want to pack a lunch and enjoy a picnic.

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#4. HIKE THE TRAILS

One of the best ways to see all that the Smokies has to offer is on one of the 800 miles of hiking trails. From beautiful cascading waterfalls to breathtaking mountain views the Smoky Mountains is a hikers paradise. Some of the most popular trails are the Alum Cave Trail, Laurel Falls, Rainbow Falls, and Chimney Tops.

Check out our guide hiking the Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte.

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#5. STAY IN THE SMOKIES

For a truly unique experience stay overnight at the only lodge inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, LeConte Lodge. Located at 6,400 feet this is the only non camping accommodation in the park and can only be reached by hiking 5.5 miles on the Alum Cave Trail. In addition to the lodge there are ten developed campgrounds, five drive in horse camps, as well as tons of backpacking sites inside the park.

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#6. START THE DAY WITH A SUNRISE

Our favorite way to start the day in a National Park is with catching the sunrise. It’s one of the best ways to experience the calm and peaceful moments of the park before the crowds start to come in. We stopped at an overlook on our way to hike the 13 miles to LeConte Lodge and the view took our breath away. There is nothing like the morning glow on the Smoky Mountains.

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#7. END THE DAY WITH A SUNSET

Complete your day in the park with a breathtaking sunset over the Smoky Mountains. Clear blue skies, mountains as far as the eye can see, and a magical orange glow on the horizon, it’s no wonder this is the country’s most visited National Park. Our personal favorite spot to watch the sunset is at Clingmans Dome.

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#8. HAVE A DOGGIE DAY

The first national park Griffin and Lucy ever visited was the Great Smoky Mountains. Many national parks are known for not being very dog friendly but the Great Smoky Mountains actually has quite a few adventures that dogs are welcome on such the 4.0 mile Gatlinburg Trail and the 3.0 mile Oconaluftee River Trail.

Check out our post Everything we did with our dogs in the Great Smoky Mountains for more information on dog friendly things to do.

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#9. TAKE A SCENIC DRIVE

If hiking isn’t your thing then taking a drive through the Great Smoky Mountains is a great way to explore the park. New found Gap, Little River Road, Cades Cove, Balsam Mountain Road, Roaring Fork are some of the most popular and breathtaking roads to drive in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

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#10. EXPLORE NEARBY TOWNS

Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are popular towns located on the north side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s home to many shops, restaurants, and hotels. We stayed in the area of Wears Valley and absolutely loved it. Some of our favorite things we did is get coffee at the Artistic Bean ( one of our favorite coffee shops to date. ), ride the Alpine Coaster and visit the Christmas Place.

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Let us know what are your favorite things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the comments below!

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HEY THERE!

WE’RE MIKE & DEANDRA.

Two adventure seekers traveling the U.S in our 37 FT. travel trailer with our two companions, Griffin & Lucy. We share our life on the road and travel guides to our favorite destinations.

This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.