One Day Itinerary for the Great Smoky Mountains with Kids
The Great Smoky Mountains are a wonderful National Park with so many incredible scenic drives, hikes, and views! It can be difficult to choose how to spend one day in the Smoky Mountains with kids because the park is really big. This one day itinerary for the Great Smoky Mountains will take you to the best views in the park, a beautiful waterfall, and leave some time for getting pancakes (a must in the Smokies!)
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Where to Stay in the Smoky Mountains
Choosing where to stay in the Smoky Mountains can be overwhelming. You’ll have a pretty different experience if you choose to stay in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, or Cherokee. We’ve got options for you in each place with a full guide on where to stay in the Smokies!
The Best One Day Itinerary for the Smoky Mountains With Kids
If you only have one day in the Smokies, I would highly suggest you get your buns out of bed as early as possible. Some areas of the park can get congested mid day, but we had a lot of success avoiding crowds in the park by getting out early. You will also have a better chance of seeing bears if you explore early in the morning (and here are more things to know before visiting the Smoky Mountains)
This one day itinerary for the Great Smoky Mountains explores one of the most beautiful roads in the park, Newfound Gap road. You’ll explore some of the best spots from Gatlinburg to Cherokee!
Stop #1: Sunrise at Newfound Gap Overlook
Start your day by heading up Newfound Gap road – our favorite scenic drive in the Smoky Mountains towards the Newfound Gap overlook. It’s a stunning place to see the sunrise. The drive from Gatlinburg takes about 30-40 minutes and the drive from Cherokee takes about the same. Once you’re at the top there are a few different fun activities.
Walk Along the Appalachian Trail
When you reach Newfound Gap Oconaluftee Overlook you can actually walk on part of the Appalachian Trail. We thought it was really cool to walk on part of the trail that so many people thru hike. We didn’t hike too far on the trail but we did get a tiny taste of the Appalachian Trail glory!
Take a Picture at the North Carolina and Tennessee State Line
Another fun activity you can do at Newfound Gap Overlook is to take a picture with the sign at the North Carolina and Tennessee State line. Now we have a super cute little photo souvenir of our kids!
Stop #2: Kuwohi – the Highest Point in Tennessee
Kuwohi is your next stop after Newfound Gap Overlook! It was formerly called Clingman’s Dome so you might hear that name as well. To get to the overlook you will take a short, but steep, paved path to the top! From there you can see beautiful mountain views in all directions.
It’s the highest point in Tennessee and there is a significant temperature difference from the valley below to the top of the mountain. There is a small visitor center at Kuwohi that you can stop in if you visit during normal hours. Kuwohi was one of our favorite things to do in the Smokies with kids.
If you want to flip flop stop number one and two that would also work. We chose this order for the stops because Kuwohi can be pretty dang chilly very early in the morning so letting the sun rise a little bit will help warm it up. Avoid making this mistake in the Smokies – our kids were too cold and we didn’t have as much fun as we could have here (but it was still one of our favorite stops)
TIP: keep in mind that Kuwohi can be very popular. If you visit mid day, you may encounter some crowds.
Stop #3: Oconaluftee Visitor Center
If you don’t get to the visitor center at Kuwohi (or are looking for a bigger visitor center), head to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.
It’s a great spot to talk to a ranger, get a National Parks passport stamp, and pick up some little souvenirs. Stopping at the visitor center is always one of our favorite things to do!
The Oconaluftee area is the “Southern Gateway” to the park, and is known for an elk herd that can make an appearance!
Stop #4: Mingo Falls
Mingo Falls was one of our favorite family friendly hikes in the Smokies! While it’s not technically inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it’s just outside and definitely worth a stop.
The trailhead is just outside of downtown Cherokee. You can reach the beautiful waterfall by climbing 161 stairs. Obviously the trail isn’t stroller friendly, but it’s short enough that our little ones could manage on their own.
Stop #5: Head Back to Sugarlands Valley
After enjoying Mingo Falls, make the drive back to the Sugarlands Valley. The drive is beautiful but can take about an hour (without traffic) so it’s a great time for the kids to get a little nap in.
We grabbed a quick breakfast in Cherokee to tide us over for the drive home at Mabel’s Kitchen. It’s a no frills kind of place that is attached to a gas station, but it’s quick and affordable which is just what we needed. Make sure to save some room for some Gatlinburg pancakes.
Enjoy a scenic overlook on the way back
Along the drive back there are several opportunities to enjoy scenic overlooks. Feel free to pull over and check out the views if you need to stretch your legs. A few popular overlooks are the Campbell Overlook, Webb Overlook or wherever you feel like stopping!
Stop #6: Eat Some Pancakes
With all the morning activities you have probably worked up an appetite! Lucky for you, Gatlinburg is known for having the famous pancakes!
Pancakes have a long history in the area starting in the early 20th century! It started as a hearty long lasting breakfast for loggers in the area. They wanted fuel that would keep them full for a long time – and pancakes were the natural choice.
A few of our favorite pancake spots in Gatlinburg are:
- Crockett’s Breakfast – a great choice if not everyone in the group wants pancakes
- The Pancake Pantry (our number one choice for pancakes – but there will be a line!) This is also the first pancake restaurant in Tennessee.
- Log Cabin Pancake House – the pancakes here were great, the other breakfast options weren’t as delicious in our opinion
Stop #7: Watch Sunset at the Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook
If you’re up for one last adventure for the day, head to the Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook for sunset. There isn’t much parking here, but you should be able to find a spot if you go a bit before sunset.
This overlook has incredible views of the mountains and valley below. It’s also just a couple minutes outside of downtown Gatlinburg so you won’t have to spend a bunch more time in the car.
Alternatively, if the kids are done with the scenic views and want to do something a little more exciting, you could head to Anakeesta or the Island at Pigeon Forge! If you are going to Anakeesta, read this guide to make sure you have time to add it into your evening.
I hope you enjoy your one day Smoky Mountains itinerary with kids (see this other itinerary if you have 2 days in the Smokies! or even this 3 day itinerary!) There is so much to explore in the park, but this quick trip will give you a taste of what the beautiful Smokies have to offer. If you’re looking for more trip planning resources, check out our Ultimate Guide to the Smoky Mountains with Kids!
