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.
- 1. Visit the Cable Mill at Cades Cove
- 2. Watch a Black Bear in a Tree – from 75′ away
- 3. Visit the Look Rock Observation Tower
- 4. Stop by the Clingmans Dome Visitor Center
- 5. Bring Your Own Horses to a Horse Campground
- 6. Spend a Weekend at an Off the Beaten Path Campground
- 7. Tour Inside the Historic Buildings
- 8. Look for Wild Turkeys in the Park
- 9. Visit Mingus Mill
- 10. Go Tubing at Deep Creek
Sign up and be the first to read new road trip itineraries and destination guides.
Yes! I would like to receive updates, special offers, and other
information from Road Trips & Coffee.
- 11. Visit the Elkmont Historic District
- 12. Enjoy the View at a Scenic Overlook Along Clingmans Dome Road
- 13. Leave No Trace Behind
- 14. Admire Meigs Falls From the Comfort of Your Car
- 15. Take the Long Hike to Chimney Tops
- 16. Arrive in June or July for Blooming Rhododendron
- 17. Spend a Night Camping in the Backcountry
- 18. Stop By the Sugarlands Visitor Center
- 19. Visit the Historic Churches of Cades Cove
- 20. Get Up Early to Watch Fog on the Mountains
- 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
- 31. Walk the Nature Loop Trail at Cosby
- 32. Watch the Deer Grazing in a Field
- 33. Volunteer to Help the Park
- 34. Hike the Lakeshore Trail Around Fontana Lake
- 35. Spend a Night at Le Conte Lodge
- 36. Visit the Twentymile Area
- 37. Visit the Remote Cataloochee Valley
- 38. Spend a Day Fishing
- 39. Pull Up a Chair During Sunset
- 40. Go For a Horse Drawn Carriage Ride in Cades Cove
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.
- 41. Go for a Scenic Drive on Little River Road
- 42. Take a One-Way Road Leaving the Park
- 43. Hike the Alum Cave Trail
- 44. Enjoy the View at a Scenic Overlook Along Newfound Gap Road
- 45. Stop by the Cades Cove Visitor Center
- 46. Enjoy the Cascades and Waterfalls on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
- 47. Hike the Appalachian Trail Through the Park
- 48. Book a Guided Tour of the Park
- 49. Pick Up a National Park Passport at a Gift Shop
- 50. Take a Day Trip into the Park
- 51. Pick Up Maps and Brochures at a Visitor Center
- 52. Learn About the History of The Sinks
- 53. Hike the Summit of Mount Le Conte
- 54. Enjoy a Ranger-Led Program
- 55. Hike to Grotto Falls
- 56. Walk the Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail
- 57. Discover Small, Hidden Waterfalls
- 58. Watch a Sunset in Cades Cove
- 59. Explore the Mountain Farm Museum
- 60. Go Horseback Riding in the Park
- 61. Enjoy a Picnic at the Chimney Tops Picnic Area
- 62. Arrive Early for a Sunrise View
- 63. Hike to Ramsey Cascades
- 64. Buy a Book About the Park at a Gift Shop
- 65. Go for a Road Trip Along the Foothills Parkway
- 66. Enjoy a Quiet Bicycle Ride on a Wednesday Morning in Cades Cove
- 67. Hike to Abrams Falls
- 68. Hike to Laurel Falls
- 69. Visit the Greenbrier Area
- 70. Visit Cataract Falls Behind the Sugarlands Visitor Center
advertisement
- 71. Spend a Winter Weekend at Cades Cove or Smokemont Campground
- 72. Hike to Tom Branch Falls in Deep Creek
- 73. Watch a Sunset at Clingmans Dome
- 74. Let the Kids Splash Around at Grotto Falls
- 75. Spend a Day at Cades Cove
- 76. Hike to Rainbow Falls
- 77. Arrive in the Spring for the Flame Azaleas and Mountain Laurel
- 78. Share Your Favorite Photos of the Park
- 79. Watch the Llamas Carrying Supplies to Le Conte Lodge
- 80. Spread Out a Blanket for a Picnic in Cades Cove
- 81. Go for a Scenic Drive on Newfound Gap Road
- 82. Visit in the Summer for the Warmer Weather
- 83. Watch a Sunset at the Morton Overlook
- 84. Witness the Synchronized Fire Flies Event
- 85. Look for Elk at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center
- 86. Enjoy the View From the Clingmans Dome Parking Area
- 87. Enjoy One of the Trails Around Clingmans Dome
- 88. Visit Newfound Gap Scenic Overlook
- 89. Collect All the National Park Passport Stamps for the Park
- 90. Watch Mingus Mill or Cable Mill in Action
- 91. Walk the Appalachian Trail Across Fontana Dam into the Park
- 92. Spend a Night at the Mile High Campground on Balsam Mountain
- 93. Look For the Chimneys on the Little River Trail
- 94. Visit in the Winter for the Snow
- 95. Take a Leisurely Walk Through Daisy Town
- 96. Snag a Selfie at the Entrance Sign
- 97. Visit an Historic Cabin
- 98. Drive the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
- 99. Stay Late to Count the Stars
- 100. Visit Clingmans Dome
- 101. Visit all 18 Waterfalls in the Park
4 Responses
By my count, I’ve completed 79 of the items on your 101 list, although none recently!
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!
You missed one. Get engaged. My daughter and her BF did do this past weekend on the Hyatt Rd in Cade’s Cove
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.