101 Things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Written by Jason Barnette
on September 15, 2017
- Updated 3 months ago

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The most visited national park in the country has plenty to do - and this list will help get you started with inspiration and links to details.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most-visited national park in the country for a good reason: there are countless things to do spread across two states and thousands of acres. But sometimes it can be difficult to pick just one thing to do in the park. Other times you may find yourself in a rut doing the same thing over and over.

So here I have created a list of 101 things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to give you a little inspiration, a lot of suggestions, and maybe help you create your next adventure.

Newfound Gap Road – also known as U.S. Highway 441 – winds through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail has lots of hidden wonders to explore.
  • 21. Visit One of the Quiet Walkways
  • 22. Spend a Weekend at a Campground
  • 23. Visit the Tunnel to Nowhere
  • 24. Find the Place of a Thousand Drips on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
  • 25. Go Shopping at One of the Gift Shops
  • 26. Stop by the Oconaluftee Visitor Center
  • 27. Make a Donation to Help the Park
  • 28. Look Up While Hiking a Trail in the Forest
  • 29. Visit in the Fall for the Autumn Colors
  • 30. Visit a New Section of the Park
Sunset on the Foothills Parkway is a great way to spend an evening in the summer.

Plan a Road Trip with Google Maps

Use this step-by-step guide to create a custom map, add stops and a route, and upload to your mobile device.

The Porters Creek Trail at Greenbrier is a great place for a peaceful walk and often not crowded.
The Foothills Parkway – extended with a new section in 2018 – is one of the best places for a drive in the park.
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The Cable Mill is one of two functional grist mills in the national park – this one located in Cades Cove.
The elk tend to graze in a large field beside the Oconaluftee Visitor Center most evenings.
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4 Responses

    1. That is pretty amazing! I have not finished nearly as much of my own list haha. It’s such a big park with so much to do!

  1. You missed one. Get engaged. My daughter and her BF did do this past weekend on the Hyatt Rd in Cade’s Cove

    1. Haha! That’s amazing! Congratulations. You know with all the time I have spent in that national park I don’t think I’ve ever seen a marriage proposal. But I’ve seen lots and lots of pre-wedding portraits.

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