What is the best month for Great Smoky Mountains?


What is the best month for Great Smoky Mountains? Summer (June through August) Like most national parks, summer is the most popular time of year to visit Great Smoky Mountains.


What should you not miss in the Smoky Mountains?

9 Essential Attractions and Activities in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
  • Sugarlands Visitors Center. ...
  • Cades Cove Loop. ...
  • Roaring Forks Motor Nature Trail. ...
  • Newfound Gap Road. ...
  • Clingmans Dome. ...
  • Synchronous Fireflies. ...
  • The Sinks. ...
  • Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte.


What airport do you fly into for the Smoky Mountains?

The closest major airport to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is McGee-Tyson Airport (TYS) in Alcoa, Tenn., just south of Knoxville. The airport is served by five major commercial airlines: Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier and United.


Where is the best place to enter the Smoky Mountains?

The majority of visitors enter through the Sugarlands entrance on the park's north side (top star on map) by driving through Gatlinburg, Tennessee. This entrance is an hour's drive southeast of Knoxville on US 441. Gatlinburg is the busiest, most touristy gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.


Do I need bear spray in Smoky Mountains?

Encounters With Bears Treat bear encounters with extreme caution! Bear pepper spray may be carried by hikers within Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the strict purpose of protection against bodily harm from aggressive wildlife.


What do I need to know before going to Smoky Mountains?

12 things to know before going to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
  • It's free to enter, but not to park. ...
  • Enter a lottery in April for the summer firefly spectacle. ...
  • Book your trout fishing license in advance. ...
  • Mingus Mill is a good alternative to busy Cades Cove. ...
  • Consider a shoulder season visit to avoid the crowds.


Are there mountain lions in the Smoky Mountains?

There are eight to 10 reported sightings of mountain lions, also called cougars or pumas, in Great Smoky Mountains National Park each year.