Stop in at any of our visitor centers stores and contact stations in and around the park, purchase gear or souvenirs that support the Smokies, and receive expert advice on the area from the Smokies Life knowledgeable team.
Stop in at any of our visitor centers stores and contact stations in and around the park, purchase gear or souvenirs that support the Smokies, and receive expert advice on the area from the Smokies Life knowledgeable team.
Located halfway around the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road at the Cable Mill historic area. The historic area features a working gristmill (closed in winter) blacksmith shop, cantilever barn, and other historic structures. There are occasional demonstrations and ranger-guided programs from spring to fall.
Located at the end of Clingmans Dome Road, 7 miles from Newfound Gap, this visitor center sits at an elevation of 6,300 feet. A 0.5-mile trail leads from the visitor center to the Clingmans Dome observation tower atop Clingmans Dome, the highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains and the third highest mountain in the East. Exhibits in the center provide an overview of the history of the area and the rare spruce-fir forest ecosystem.
Located on the southbound side of US 441 (The Spur) between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, TN, Gatlinburg Welcome Center is operated as a partnership between the City of Gatlinburg, the National Park Service, and Smokies Life. This center also functions as a park and ride with free parking for riding trolleys into Gatlinburg. Visitors can find information on lodging and attractions in Gatlinburg, the local trolley system, and everything related to Great Smoky Mountains National Park from hiking to horseback riding to fishing. Exhibits include a detailed 3-D map of the park.
Located two miles from the Townsend Wye on Tremont Road, this visitor center is affiliated with the acclaimed outdoor education institute. A number of hiking trails start from the visitor center and vicinity.
Located 1.5 miles north of Cherokee, NC, on Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441), this visitor center and museum were opened in 2011. The facility features a state-of-the-art interactive indoor museum on the history of the area and an outdoor museum with a furnished log home, smokehouse, springhouse, apple house, blacksmith shop, heirloom garden, and other features. Special events, demonstrations, old-time music jams, and ranger-guided walk and talks, including special Junior Ranger programs, are offered periodically from spring through fall.
Located two miles south of Gatlinburg, TN, this visitor center offers a renowned natural history museum, changeable park exhibits, and a staffed information desk. Outside visitors will find a number of hiking trails, including popular walks to Gatlinburg and Cataract Falls. A detailed 3-D map provides an excellent overview of the area. Ranger-led walks and talks, including special Junior Ranger programs, are scheduled here periodically from spring through fall.
Located on the ground floor of the historic Swain County Courthouse, the Swain County Visitor Center is a partnership between Swain County, NC, the National Park Service, and Smokies Life. In addition to housing the new Swain County Historic Museum on its second floor, visitors can find information on lodging and attractions in Bryson City--including the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad and Nantahala Outdoor Center--and others in the surrounding area. Visitors can easily access Great Smoky Mountains National Park from this location via Deep Creek Picnic Area and Campground, as well as Lake View Drive.
The Great Smokies Welcome Center is located on U.S. 321 in Townsend, TN, 2 miles from the west entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors can get information about things to see and do in and around the national park and shop from a wide selection of books, gifts, and other Smokies merchandise. Daily, weekly, and annual parking tags for the national park are also available.