Great Smoky Mountains National Park Parks and Outdoors Travel Guide

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Parks and Outdoors Travel Guide

Other Guides for Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Parks and Outdoors Destinations Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Travel Guides In or Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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Great Smoky Mountains
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park Parks and Outdoors Travel Tips

  • The most visited of all U.S. National Parks, Great Smoky Mountains National Park sits astride the Tennessee-North Carolina border amid the majestic southern climax of the Appalachian Highlands. The Smokies are within a day's drive of a third of the U.S. population, and very few places in the East are in their league as an outdoors-recreation destination.
  • This national park literally has hundreds of miles of trails for equestrians, including the only sections of the Appalachian Trail open to horseback riders. Also, five auto-accessible horse camps make riding the Smokies even easier. More than 40 backcountry campsites also welcome equestrians.
  • The Foothills Parkway was created for scenic driving. It begins at the western end of the park, near Chilhowee Lake, and travels atop Chilhowee Mountain. Look Rock observation tower is a must-stop. A short hike leads to a 360-degree vista. Continue past numerous other overlooks. Look Rock Campground makes for a good overnighting venue next to the Foothills Parkway. A disjunct section of the parkway travels a short distance on the eastern end of the park.
  • Nearly 500 miles of fishable streams criss-cross the Smokies, from the upper prongs of Forney Creek at over 4,000 feet to the mouth of Abrams Creek, where it spills into Chilhowee Lake at less than 900 feet. Brook trout are the only native trout, but after the logging days of the late 19th and early 20th century, both brook and brown trout were stocked. Now, these three species, along with smallmouth bass in the lowest streams, thrive here.


Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park sits astride the Tennessee-North Carolina border amid the majestic southern climax of the Appalachian Highlands. The most visited of our national parks draws more than nine million adventurers and sightseers each year. And for good reason—the Smokies are within a day's drive of a third of the U.S. population, and very few places in the East are in their league as an outdoor-recreation destination. Read More

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2 Questions | 2 Answers
  • Where to go to play in snow? I want to take my children to the smoky mountains, just to play in snow! We live down south and we don't get any snow. We don't want to ski, just enjoy the cold and snow. Any ideas?
    Read 1 answer or Answer this question
  • IVE NEVER BEEN THERE? what are the names of the campgrounds that has vac. the9th through the approx. the13th? we want to come from the smokies and camp there(Desota state) on the way home, we are from boaz.We have camped there before and it is beautiful, with the trees and falls around.
    Read 1 answer or Answer this question

Hotels

LeConte Lodge

250 Apple Valley Road
Sevierville, TN 37862 Map

Distance: 28.3 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0
3.0

Abrams Creek Campground

Happy Valley
Maryville, TN Map

Distance: 31.2 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0

Prospect Hill Inn

274 S. Main St.
Waynesville, NC Map

Distance: 26.1 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
4.0

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Attractions

Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest

expert favorite attraction
Nantahala National Forest
c/o Cheoah Ranger District, Route 1, Box 16A, Massey Branch Road
Robbinsville, North Carolina 28771

Distance: 21.8 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is a 3800-acre virgin forest that is part of the 17,000-acre Joyce... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0
4_0

Fontana Lake

expert favorite attraction


Distance: 11.5 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Fontana Lake, bordering the south side of Smoky Mountains National Park, is the ideal venue for... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0

Trout Streams

expert favorite attraction


Distance: 20.5 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Literally hundreds of miles of trout streams course through the Smoky Mountains, offering a... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0

Airports

Major Airports near Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Distance (mi.)
Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport 135.4 map
Charlotte Douglas Airport 142.7 map
Nashville Metropolitan Airport 187.9 map

Other Smaller Airports near Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Distance (mi.)
Knoxville Mc Ghee Tyson Airport 39.9 map
Asheville Regional/Hendersonville Airport 51.5 map
Greer Greenville/Spartanburg Airport 72.4 map

Flight Deals to Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Originating From
Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to Atlanta (ATL) $147
Memphis (MEM) to Atlanta (ATL) $151
Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Atlanta (ATL) $155
Kansas City (MKC) to Atlanta (ATL) $156
New Orleans (MSY) to Atlanta (ATL) $156

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