Mariah Adventures

By Mariah Cannon

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The Great Smoky mountains are one of those must see places in Tennessee, well… Let’s face it – the whole South! Great Smoky Mountain National Park is one of the mot visited national parks in the United States, and for good reason. With an abundance of beautiful trees, creeks that go for miles, countless black bears, and tons of history – who would not want to go here?!

In this two day Smoky Mountain National Park guide, I’m going to share all of the best things to do and see to make the most out of your time there.

This is a jam packed itinerary, I designed it based on what I did in the park the multiple times I went and things I would do when I go back. My intention is not for everyone to fit everything in to their two days, but to take bits and pieces from it, maybe learn something new about the park, and make planning stress free! Take from it what you will and enjoy your time in one of our nations most beautiful parks.

Best Time to Visit

Truthfully, the Smoky are great to visit relatively anytime throughout the year. (Be sure to check with local weather apps and check wildfire maps before you go always!) However, depending on what you want to go for, this may help determine when the best time for you to go is!

Winter: Snow, roads may be closed, less crowds, not as much access or amenities.

Spring: Bear cubs, everything starting to green up and bloom, roads and amenities start to open more.

Summer: Wildflowers, crowds, afternoon/evening storms, warm weather, everything is open.

Fall: Beautiful foliage and you can’t go wrong with any trail/area in the park, early season snow depending on the year, things starting to end seasonal operations.

Getting to Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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I highly recommend getting a rental car for your time in Great Smoky Mountain National Park as their is lots of driving from destination to destination and is saves the stress of being shuttled/meeting for tours. If you plan on flying into the park, here are the nearest airports:

• The McGhee Tyson Airport; (TYS) is 1 hour away from the Gatlinburg entrance
• Asheville Regional Airport; (ALV) is about 1 hour from the Cherokee entrance
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport; (CLT) is 2 1/2 hours from the Cherokee entrance and 3 hour and 45 minutes away from the Gatlinburg entrance.

All of these airports offer rental car services!

I am providing an itinerary entering from the Gatlinburg entrance, however – you can absolutely switch the days and plans around to make it work from any entrance!

Where to Stay Near the Park

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Deepening on where you’re coming from, there are a few different gateway towns that you can make stay at while exploring the park.

Gateway Towns to the Smoky Mountains

1. Townsend, NC – 5 minutes, 2 miles
2. Gatlinburg, TN – 10 minutes, 1.5 miles
3. Cherokee, NC – 10 minutes, 3 miles
4. Pigeon Forge, TN – 20 minutes, 10 miles

I’ve stayed in both Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg – I enjoyed both of them for several reasons and we’ll talk about those in a second – both are super touristy and there is a lot of visitors, especially in the warm seasons. If you’re looking for more solitude, Townsend and Cherokee may be a better fit!

I will say also, there are so many places to stay in and around GSMNP, some ranging from cheap to very very expensive – pick what is best for your family and whom you’re traveling with. Sometimes the experiences outside the hotel room are worth more than the moments spent inside the hotel room – pick where your money goes!

The whole GSMNP area is very rustic, bear, western, cottage themed if you will. You should have no trouble feeling immersed into nature and loving your stay!

Staying in Townsend

Here are some epic places to stay within Townsend:

1. Dancing Bear Lodge is a beyond cute rustic charm lodge area to stay in while visiting the park.
2. This log cabin airbnb is another cute rustic feeling option with a little more seclusion than a lodge.
3. If you’d prefer a little more nature, the Townsend KOA is a fun, family friendly, nature filled place to park a camper, tent, or rent a small cabin!

Staying in Gatlinburg

1. The Apply Lodge is a fun, very on theme, hotel in Gatlinburg that has a very high rating and close proximity to town!
2. An A-frame cabin with mountain views and wildlife sightings… What more could you ask for?!
3. Greenbrier campground is a fun option with so many amenities and something for the whole family!

Staying in Cherokee

1. Harrah’s Cherokee Hotel & Casino is a wonderful option for couples or people traveling without kiddos to enjoy a nice hotel room and some casino fun!
2. Staying on the rustic theme, Birdsong Cottage is a fun cabin airbnb that immerses you into nature!
3. For those traveling with their families, the Cherokee Family Adventure RV Resort is the ideal spot with so many amenities, nature, and different camping options.

Staying in Pigeon Forge

1. This glamping experience with Under Canvas might just be one of the coolest within the Smoky mountains.
2. A Christmas lovers dream is laying in the heart of Pigeon Forge, The Inn at Christmas Place is a more expensive option, but so fun for families and Christmas enthusiasts. It’s on my bucket-list to stay here.
3. For airbnb’s, this cute cabin in Pigeon Forge called TheGrandOldOsprey is a fan favorite, stunning cabin with close proximity to nature and to town!

Things to Know Before You go

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• GSMNP is a free to enter park, however a parking fee of $5 for a day, $15 for a week, or $40 for an annual pass is active. If you live close or plan to spend more than a day or two in the park, the week pass is a great deal and keeps you covered. If you live relatively close to the smokies and might consider coming back a few or more times, the annual parking pass pays for itself. They have several self serve pay stations that take both card and cash at each entrance for you to get your parking pass.
• Please be sure to practice the 7 leave no trace (LNT) principles and pack out anything you pack in and leave it better than you found it. Keeping land open to the public means taking care of it!
• As I mentioned earlier, this park is a very busy park pretty much all year round. Make sure to arrive to popular trails in the park early and plan more popular areas for sunrise or sunset options.
• There are a lot of off the beaten path areas and trails within the park that many don’t go to because they focus on the major, social media famous spots. Don’t be afraid to follow a mark on the map or stop in and ask a ranger at the station where their favorite spot is. They have some really great intel on where to find more solitude!
• This area can get rain storms very quickly, especially with having mountain altitude. Be sure to come prepared with proper hiking shoes, layers, and the emergency ten essentials.
• Be ready for a jam packed weekend with epic adventures, great food, and memories to last a lifetime!

Day 1:

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1. Begin your first day in the park by heading to the famous Laurel Falls for a nice 2.5 miles hike! The earlier the better on this one as it gets pretty packed.
2. After hiking some, make your way over to the Cade’s Cove loop drive. This is a scenic drive with loads of good stops packed with history and wildlife. It’s one of the most common areas to see black bears, turkey, elk, and deer! These are some of my favorite stops on the loop:
   • John Oliver cabin
   • Methodist church
   • Elijah Oliver’s place
   • Abram’s Falls hike
   • Henry Whitehead’s place
   • Carter Shield’s cabin
3. During you drive through the Cade’s Cove loop, be sure to stop at Abram’s Falls and hike to this stunning waterfall. The trail is up and down both ways, but relatively easy-moderate. There are some fun bridges to cross and pretty rocks at the waterfall basin to sit on for a while – people also swim here in the warmer months.
4. Head back towards Gatlinburg for one last hike at Cataract Falls. This waterfall trail is short and fun, and while not as large as the other you’ll have seen today, it’s still a great last main stop for day one!
5. Don’t forget to head into the visitor center right next door to the cataract falls trailhead and pick up a park souvenir and learn more about the land, history, and things to see in the area.
6. Finish up day one with a dinner at the Cherokee Grill and Steakhouse for delicious food and great hospitality!
7. If you’re craving something sweet, Gatlinburg has The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar, which is a really fun place to try milkshakes! I haven’t been here yet, but it’s on my list for when I go back!

Day 2:

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1. Start your morning off bright and early by making your way to the Kuwohi Observation Tower for sunrise. This is a short 1.5 mile round-trip trail that takes you up to a fire watch tower. It is one of the most incredible sunrise and sunset areas in the park. Fun fact: It is also the highest point in Tennessee! This is a very popular trail because of those facts, so it’s best to check off early or later in the day as mentioned above.
2. After enjoying your time at the tower, make your way back down the windy mountain road you came up for about 2 miles and make a stop at Collins Gap Overlook. This is where North Carolina and Tennessee connect. You can stand in two places at once! Plus it has gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
3. Continuing down the road, check out more overlooks like:
   1. Luftee Gap Overlook
   2. Beech Flats Overlook
   3. Deep Creek Valley Overlook
   4. And Swinging Bridges Overlook
4. Ready for another hike? This time to Charlies Bunion via the Appalachian Trail. A stunning 8 mile hike with sweeping views of the valley below and a neat rock formation at the summit!
5. One last stop before exiting the park, the Chimney Top Trail! Where you can see why they call these rock formations chimney tops! This is a 3 miles trail that gains 1,200 feet of elevation and is a great sunset or late evening spot!
6. Make your way back to Gatlinburg for some delicious fresh Mex style food at Loco Burro Cantina!

Other Things to do Nearby

If you’ve got some extra time here’s some of my favorite things around and near the national park that you should include in your itinerary!

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1. Alum Cave to Mount LeConte trail is a longer, rated as “hard” hike in the National Park and a popular one. I haven’t done this one yet, but I’ve always wanted to. Start early to avoid crowds and no parking!
2. The Huskey Gap Trail is another longer, moderate hike with gorges views and fun features along the trail. This one gains 2,000 feet in elevation across 8 miles.
3. Grotto Falls via Trillium Gap Trail is another good waterfall trail for the Spring or Fall months when heavier rainfall is happening!

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Let’s Get Adventuring!

Mariah 🙂