Great Smoky Mountains

On This Route

The Smokies are the last park before home, in August. This was the most visited national park in the country in 2025, with 11.5 million visits, more than twice the next park. August brings heat and humidity in the valleys, afternoon thunderstorms, and full parking lots by mid-morning. Start early, and save the high country for the afternoon, when it runs 10 to 15 degrees cooler.

Plan the Day

• Early morning: Cades Cove. An 11-mile, one-way loop through an open valley with historic churches, cabins and the best wildlife odds in the park (deer, turkey, black bears). Be at the gate at sunrise. By 10 a.m., traffic can crawl. In recent summers the loop has closed to cars on Wednesdays for walkers and cyclists, so check before you go.
• Midday: Newfound Gap Road (US-441). It crosses the park and the state line at 5,046 feet. Stop at the overlooks on the way up.
• Late afternoon: Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome), the highest point in the park. A short, steep paved walk leads to the observation tower.

Rules That Catch People

There’s no entrance fee, but any vehicle parked longer than 15 minutes needs a parking tag: $5 a day, $15 a week, or $40 a year. Buy it online or at a visitor center before you hike. America the Beautiful passes don’t cover it.

Where to Stay

This route uses Townsend, Tennessee, the “quiet side.” It’s 10 minutes from the Cades Cove road and avoids the traffic of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. LeConte Lodge, the park’s only lodging, is reached only by a 5-plus-mile hike and books up a year out.