The Ultimate Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains With Kids
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited USA National Park, and for good reason. This park has so many amazing features including waterfalls, beautiful fall colors, and epic viewpoints! This guide to the Smoky Mountains with kids has all you need to plan your family vacation including where to stay, how to get there, the best things to do, amazing kid friendly trails and so much more!
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Full Guide to the Smoky Mountains with Kids
In this guide to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with kids we will cover all the important things you need to plan your amazing family vacation. From when and how to visit, to wildlife tips, to where to stay, to all the best things to do, and more. We made a few mistakes on our trip to the Smoky Mountains so you don’t have to!
Highlights of the Great Smoky Mountains
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited National Park (by a long shot!) and it’s over 500,000 acres. You can explore forever in this park, but here are the highlights of the Smoky Mountains to get you started. Especially if you’re visiting for the first time.
Kuwohi:
Kuwohi, formerly known as Clingman’s Dome, is the highest point in all of Tennessee! Definitely one of the most beautiful places in all of the Smoky Mountains, and a must see on your vacation. The path is a short but steep paved trail that leads you to the top of the observation tower. The perfect stop for sunset!
TIP: It can get chilly up here, so make sure to bundle up!
Cherokee:
Cherokee is a North Carolina town on the opposite side of the park from Gatlinburg. It’s a more quiet town with some beautiful places nearby – check out Mingo Falls and the Oconaluftee Visitor Center area. You can even start your Blue Ridge Parkway journey from here.
Roaring Fork Motor Trail:
The Roaring Fork Motor Trail is one of the major highlights of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can hike at the Noah Ogle Bud Cabin or just take the scenic drive along the one way trail through the beautiful trees – it’s especially beautiful in the fall!
Cosby:
The Cosby area of the park is a less visited spot that is perfect for escaping the crowds (and check out how to escape crowds in the Smokies here!) We loved hiking here along the Cosby Nature Trail and enjoying the beautiful fall colors. We even got to see a bunch of turkeys in the area.
Cades Cove:
You can’t make a complete guide to the Smoky Mountzins and not mention Cades Cove. It’s one of the most visited areas of the park, for good reason. It’s a one way scenic driving loop that has hikes, beautiful views, a visitor center and more. It can get VERY crowded so try to go during weekdays and earlier in the morning.
How to Get to the Smoky Mountains?
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located half in East Tennessee and the other half in Western North Carolina – almost split perfectly in half! The closest major airport to the Smoky Mountains is McGhee Tyson located in Knoxville, Tennessee. It’s about 1 hour and 15 minutes drive from there. This is the route I would recommend if you are flying to the Smoky Mountains.
Gatlinburg is one of the towns right outside of the park and where most people have as their “home base” for their Smoky Mountains adventures.
Driving time to Gatlinburg from various cities:
- Knoxville to Gatlinburg: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Chattanooga to Gatlinburg: 3 hours
- Nashville to Gatlinburg: 4 hours 15 minutes
- Charlotte to Gatlinburg: 4 hours
- Atlanta to Gatlinburg: 4 hours
Best Time of Year to Visit the Smoky Mountains
You can visit the Smoky Mountains year round! But there are a few seasons that are the high season, for good reason. Here’s what you need to know for each season. We LOVED our trip in the fall. The fall colors were magical, and we were still able to escape the crowds despite visiting in the busiest month.
Smoky Mountains in the Fall:
October is the busiest month to visit the Smoky Mountains because so many people flock there to see the beautiful fall colors. Fall is a great time to visit for the colors and pretty perfect weather. Here are our tips to avoid crowds in the Smoky Mountains if you are visiting during the peak season.
Smoky Mountains in the Winter:
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open 365 days a year, but you might want to avoid this time of year unless you are okay with a little bit of cold weather or maybe even snow! The higher elevations in the park do get some snow. One benefit of visiting in the winter is less people because it’s the least visited time of year.
If you do decide to visit in the winter, be warned that a lot of the roads do close. Make sure to check the road status prior to making any plans.
Smoky Mountains in the Spring:
Visiting the Smoky Mountains in the spring can be great for seeing the beautiful wildflowers and also is when a lot of the wildlife have their babies. There typically are less crowds in the Spring compared to Summer and Fall. The main drawback to visiting in the Spring is that it can still be chilly at times – so be prepared for all types of weather. You can also see the fireflies in the Spring!
Smoky Mountains in the Summer:
Summer is a very popular time to visit the Smoky Mountains. During the summer you can float the river, hike, and enjoy the beautiful meadows and waterfalls. You’ll have to do a little bit of work to escape the crowds, but it’ll be worth it!
How Many Days to Spend in the Smoky Mountains
If you want to really experience the Smoky Mountains, I would recommend spending 3-4 days. Especially if you are wanting to spend some time in Gatlinburg as well. There is so much to explore in this area, so you could spend weeks and not see it all, but 3-4 days is a great start.
If you only have one day in the Smokies or two days to spend , you will still have a great time, but if you can make the trip work for at least 3 days you won’t regret it.
The Best Things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains for Families
The Smoky Mountains is such a great place for families with so many incredible things to do with kids. Here are some of our favorite things to do in the Smoky Mountains with kids. We love hiking too, and with over 800 miles in the park, there are so many trails to enjoy. Here are our favorite easy hikes in the Smoky Mountains!
1. Visit Kuwohi
A can’t miss thing to do in the Smoky Mountains with kids is to walk to the highest point in Tennessee, Kuwohi. The view from the top is unmatched and while it’s a short but steep walk, it’s so worth the views – especially at sunset! Just make sure to bundle up it can get cold – one of the most common mistakes people make when visiting the Smokies for the first time!
2. Cherokee & Mingo Falls
Drive to the less popular area of the park, the North Carolina side for a little solitude and an incredible kid friendly waterfall hike. Mingo Falls is about 0.3 miles up a set of stairs to a stunning waterfall, and while it’s not technically part of the National Park, it’s just outside of it and so worth a stop.
3. Pancakes
Don’t visit Gatlinburg and not try pancakes! This area is famous for their pancakes because it used to be a staple for workers in the area. Now they even have a whole week dedicated to pancakes! Our favorite place was the Pancake Pantry, but we also had amazing pancakes at Log Cabin Pancake House and Crocketts.
4. Noah Bud Ogle Cabin & Roaring Fork Motor Trail
If you’re looking to do a scenic drive in the Smoky Mountains, you’ve definitely heard of Cades Cove. But don’t miss the less visited (although still busy) Roaring Fork Motor Trail. Just before the start of the trail, you can visit the Noah Bud Ogle Cabin and also do a short hiking loop if you’re up for it!
5. Visit Anakeesta
Okay this isn’t part of the Smoky Mountains National Park but it is SUPER fun and a really unique experience. I would highly recommend adding Anakeesta to your itinerary if you can afford it. Both us and the kids had a ton of fun there and thought it was worth dedicating half a day to.
Where to Stay for Exploring the Smoky Mountains
Almost everyone who visits the Smoky Mountains stays in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge. There are a TON of things to do in both of those areas (and a ton of people), but there are a few other places to stay as well. Here’s a full guide on how to choose where to stay in the Smoky Mountains!
Gatlinburg:
Gatlinburg is a ton of fun and if you’re visiting the Smoky Mountains for the first time, you’ll definitely want to plan a couple nights here. It’s kind of like a mix between Las Vegas and a cute mountain town, and unlike anywhere I’ve ever visited before.
Gatlinburg is really close to park access including the Sugarlands Visitor Center, the start of Newfound Gap Road, and several trails. I would recommend staying here for a few nights of your trip.
If you do decide to stay in Gatlinburg, parking can be a challenge. They do have a free trolley that you can use 365 days per year which was super easy and saved us some serious money on parking. Use the trolley locator on the Gatlinburg app!
Pigeon Forge:
Pigeon Forge is generally considered the “kid friendly” part of town – although I think anywhere you stay will be pretty kid friendly. Pigeon Forge has closer access to Dollywood, the Island, and several other family friendly activities, but it is farther from the National Park.
If you’re planning to do a lot of the more commercial type activities and less of the National Park, you could stay in Pigeon Forge. However, if you’re planning to spend the majority of your time in the National Park, staying in Pigeon Forge will add about 15-20 minutes one way (or more depending on traffic).
Cherokee:
Cherokee is the biggest town located on the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s WAY less touristy, and doesn’t have as many good restaurants as Gatlinburg. However, there are WAY less people here and it’s a great place to stay if you’re planning to explore the North Carolina side of the park and escape the crowds.
If you’re looking for more solitude and less paid activities, Cherokee would be a great place to stay. Just keep in mind that it’s a completely different experience than Gatlinburg. It’s also really close to the start of the Blue Ridge Parkway if you are adding that to your itinerary.
Other Nearby Towns:
Some of the other nearby towns to the Smoky Mountains National Park are Townsend, Pittman Center, and several other little towns. If you are planning to stay in one of these smaller towns, you can still have a totally awesome vacation. Just make sure to check how far of a drive it is from where you’re staying to the major highlights you are wanting to explore!
What Passes Do You Need for Smoky Mountains National Park?
Lucky for you, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is actually FREE to visit and doesn’t require a park pass at all. There’s a pretty cool story behind why (read the NPS story here!) but there is still a parking fee that you will need to pay.
Unless you’re planning to literally never leave your car, please don’t do this there is so much more to the Smokies, then you will need a parking tag for the park. If you’re parking for longer than 15 minutes you’ll want to purchase a parking tag.
It’s still cheaper than a park pass. You can purchase them at a few locations in town including REI, the visitor centers, the Gatlinburg Welcome Center, at several kiosks around the park, or online to ship to you before you go. Although, paying ahead and having it shipped to you is probably not necessary. It’s easy to find a place to get a parking tag.
For more information on the parking tags, check out the NPS Fees & Passes page.
Packing List for the Smoky Mountains
The weather in the Smoky Mountains makes it accessible year round! But there are a few things you should add to your packing list when you visit.
Temperatures can vary from 10-20 degrees from the valley down to the top of the mountains (Kuwohi). If you are planning to drive Newfound Gap Road and stop along the way or visit Kuwohi you will want to bring some warm layers. We visited in October and didn’t bundle our kids up enough when we went to Kuwohi and we had some unhappy kids!
In addition to packing some layers, here are a few other items you’ll want to make sure you pack in addition to all of the things you would normally pack:
- Hiking shoes
- A hat/other sun protection
- Swimsuits & Sandals (depending on season and accomodations)
- Camera
- Bug protection
- Sunglasses
- Bear spray
Bears of the Smoky Mountains (And Other Wildlife)
If you’ve heard anything about the Smoky Mountains, you’ve probably heard about the famous black bears of the region. We were lucky enough to see 3 bears during our last trip to the Smokies and it was such a memorable part of the trip. There are over 1500 black bears in the Smoky Mountains, so there is a good chance you’ll get to see one!
We grew up in the Rocky Mountains of Montana so we have learned bear safety from a very young age. Here’s a few tips to keep you and your family (and the bears!) safe. And here are some of the other things to know before visiting the Smokies!
Give Wildlife Distance
Intentionally getting closer than 50 yards (150 feet) to a bear is illegal inside the park. Keep a healthy distance between you and bears as well as all other wildlife. If you want to get a closer view, bring a nice camera with a zoom or binoculars.
Leave Your Dog at Home
Dogs and bears are NOT a good mix. Dogs are involved in most bear altercations, and are not allowed on any trails inside the park except the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail.
Pack Out Your garbage
Bears are attracted to food and garbage, so if there’s one way you can do your part to protect bears, it’s to make sure all your garbage is packed away. Even leaving food in your car at night downtown can be risky! If you have questions about this, ask your host or a park ranger.
When and Where to See Bears
Bears are most active in the early morning and evening. Bears exist at all elevations in the park, but we had the most luck seeing them at the lower elevations. Be especially cautious when you are driving so that you don’t accidentally hit a bear.
For more information on bear safety and what to do if you see a bear, check out the National Park website – if you aren’t familiar with bears, I would recommend doing some reading ahead of time!
Leave No Trace Principles
As always, when you visit any outdoor space, make sure to leave no trace. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the area (I’ll help you with that!) so you can stay safe and take care of the wildlife and landscape you’re visiting.
Also minimize your trash, make sure to check campfire regulations, don’t take things home with you from the forest, respect wildlife, and overall just take care of the area as best as you can! It’s important to protect the area so we can enjoy it for years to come.
These are all great lessons to teach your kids when they are enjoying wildlife.
Map of the Smoky Mountains
I hope you enjoy your trip to the beautiful Smoky Mountains with kids. This park is definitely special, and one that you could visit over and over again without ever running out of things to do. Let me know in the comments what your favorite things to do in the Smoky Mountains are!
