Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a fun place to go any day. In fact, it is an attraction that never closes. If you choose to come at certain times of year, there are special events that will help you learn about the area and see more stunning sights. Read on to learn more about some of the popular annual events and what to expect:

Every year in September, Plein Air Smokies brings nationally acclaimed artists to the region for a week of painting inspired by Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the surrounding landscape! This event benefits the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont and offers a special opportunity to take home a unique piece of artwork from the Smokies. Learn more about this upcoming special event:

Fall is one of the most popular times of the year for people to visit the Great Smoky Mountains, and for good reason! The air gets cooler and the weather becomes more pleasant, and most importantly, the leaves change colors! It’s a truly magnificent time of year when you can see fall colors all around you. Here’s everything you need to know about seeing Smoky Mountain fall foliage.

The Smokies are a spectacular destination during the fall as the mountains transform into a breathtaking display of yellow, red, and orange colors! While the fall foliage is certainly the big reason why so many folks love visiting the Smoky Mountains in autumn, there are many other appealing factors about being in the Smokies at this special time of year! Here are the top 4 reasons to visit the Smoky Mountains in autumn besides the fall foliage:

Do you love the Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Do you want to help others enjoy its timeless beauty? If you answered “yes” to these questions, a great way to make an impact is by taking advantage of the volunteer opportunities with the national park. Read on to learn about some of them! Here is a list of 4 ways to get involved with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park:

Great Smoky Mountains National Park averages about 11 to 12 million visitors per year, making it the most-visited national park in the United States! While there is certainly never a bad time to experience the park, the summer months are especially busy due to school breaks, and October is popular as it draws leaf peepers to see the fall foliage. If you ever wondered what the best time is to drive Cades Cove Loop Road or to find parking at the most popular trails, you’ll want to visit during the slower seasons! Here are the top 4 reasons to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park during a slow season:

The LeConte Lodge, the highest guest lodge in the eastern United States, is preparing to build a brand new recreation building that is set to open in 2027! Exposure to harsh weather at 6,500 feet elevation had caused significant deterioration to the original recreation building, so it was recently demolished for the safety of visitors and employees. The exciting news is that a new facility will take its place! Here are the top 3 things to know about the new recreation building coming to the LeConte Lodge:

Visitors love to explore all that the Smoky Mountains National Park has to offer. While a classic hike or scenic drive is always a go-to, there are other ways to enjoy the area. We can tell you about them so that you can make plans for your next visit! Just keep reading. Here is a list of 3 unique ways to explore the Smoky Mountains National Park:

If you’re looking for a great place to visit on the Tennessee side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, let us tell you about an excellent area. We’ll let you in on all the reasons why we love it so that you can start planning the perfect day. Ready to find out what it is? Here is your guide to the Cosby area of the Smoky Mountains:

When the sun is shining and temperatures are up, it’s a great time to hike and explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park. But you’ll definitely want to find ways to beat the heat! Luckily, we've got a great recommendation: swimming and cooling off in the fresh mountain water! Read on to discover some helpful information before you take the plunge. Here is a list of 4 tips for visiting swimming holes in the Smoky Mountains:

Going to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a popular activity because visitors love its gorgeous scenery and fresh air. It is also very affordable! We want to share some easy ways to help you save even more money, so keep reading to learn more:

We want to wish the Great Smoky Mountains National Park a very happy 92nd birthday! It’s now been 92 years since the beautiful Smoky Mountains have been established as a national park. The government approved the creation of a national park in 1926, but it wasn’t until June 15, 1934 that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was officially established! To celebrate the park’s birthday, we want to share some of our favorite things about the park with you:

Sometimes it can be hard to remember that people lived in the Smokies before it officially became the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. However, there are still some structures in the mountains that remind us of this history, including those from the Voorheis Estate. If you love finding hidden gems in the Smokies, then you’ll love paying a visit to the House of the Fairies! Here’s everything you need to know about the House of the Fairies in the Smoky Mountains:

Most folks tend to concentrate on the Tennessee side of the Smoky Mountains and for good reason! It offers excellent highway accessibility, borders action-packed towns, and features iconic destinations like Cades Cove! However, the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina are equally as beautiful and much less crowded, creating a more laid-back atmosphere that you’ll love! Here are the 4 reasons to visit the North Carolina side of the Smoky Mountains:

With such a beautiful atmosphere and natural surroundings, it is no wonder that so many couples love coming to the Smokies! In fact, you can even get married at the historic churches in Cades Cove with a Special Use Permit! Whether you are heading to the area to celebrate a new love, an anniversary, or other special occasion, you’ll find plenty of ways to spend some special time together with your sweetheart! Here are some fun ways to enjoy a romantic getaway in the Smoky Mountains: