Have you visited Great Smoky Mountains National Park(GSMNP)?
Looking for things to do in the Smokies with kids? Straddling Tennessee and North Carolina, GSMNP is the most visited national park in the entire nation. And the best part? It’s less than three hours from Greenville. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting with kids.
KAG Family Guide to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
This park had been on my bucket list for a while, and the more I learned about it, the more I wanted to visit with my kids. When I finally got the chance, it blew me away. The scenery is overwhelmingly beautiful. The mountains stretch for miles, green upon green upon green. The fall colors are unreal. The park has the highest concentration of black bears in this part of the country, two per square mile, along with other abundant wildlife like elk, deer, turkeys, and coyote.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited in the country, with 11.5 million visitors in 2025. While the park is majestic and beautiful, it’s also highly accessible to a big part of the nation. There is no entrance fee, but there are parking fees.
You must display a parking pass on your car if you park for more than 15 minutes inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A daily pass is $5, a weekly pass is $15, and a yearly pass is $40. You can purchase them at any visitors center or online.
I’ll tell you all about places to visit in the park, plus where to stay, eat, and play.
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GSMNP Visitors Centers
Sugarland Visitors Center & Nature Trail
If you’re visiting the Tennessee side of the park, start your visit at the Sugarlands Visitors Center. It’s only a ten-minute drive from Gatlinburg. You can pick up maps and booklets and explore a small nature center with stuffed snakes, turtles, boar, and other wildlife native to the park. You can also attend a short presentation by a park ranger and learn about different aspects of the park. We listened to a fascinating presentation on elk, where the ranger showed us an elk skin, rack, hoof, and cast skull. It was really cool.
There is a one-mile round trip easy nature trail along a creek that goes to the small, but pretty, Cataract Falls. It’s perfect for families with small kids. We even saw parents pushing strollers along the flat path.
If your kids want to become Junior Rangers, they can fill out a book with several activities divided by age and then have a ranger sign off on the book and get the pin. My oldest did this with her scout pack, and we had a blast. We learned about different vegetation, trees, and wildlife in the park. It’s fun and educational, and I highly recommend it as a great introduction to the park.
Oconaluftee Visitors Center
The Oconaluftee Visitors Center is on the North Carolina side of the park and is super cool. You can also do the Junior Ranger program there, but one of the big draws is the elk that roam the grassy area outside of the building. I’ve seen elk almost every time I’ve visited this location. The best time of year to see the elk is during mating season, which is in September mostly. The bull elk make a bugle call, and it’s just incredible to hear.
The Visitors Center there also has an amazing bookstore, topographical map of the park, clean bathrooms, and plenty of park rangers to answer your questions. There is also an old village you can tour as part of the Junior Ranger program. My kids and I really enjoyed doing this as part of our homeschooling field trip.
Where to see Wildlife in the Smokies
This is the question I see on every major social media page about the Smokies. This isn’t a zoo, so you can’t just go and see animals whenever you want. While there are places you are more likely to encounter wildlife, the most important part is to be respectful of the animals and keep your distance. In fact, you can be fined thousands of dollars if you are too close to the wildlife. And do not, under any circumstances, leave trash or food outdoors in an unsecured area because as you’ll see on signs all over the park, a fed bear is a dead bear.
Now that you know to keep your distance and take out your trash, here are a few places to look for wildlife in the Smokies.
Cades Cove
Cades Cove is about an hour drive from the Sugarlands Visitors Center. It’s beautiful and goes by quickly since there is so much to view along the way. The Cove is a one-way 11-mile road that snakes through a valley amongst the mountains. It is rich in history and wildlife. Be sure to stop at the information center on your way in and grab the Cades Cove guidebook for $1. It helps to explain what you’ll see along the way.
Dotted with log cabins and primitive churches, Cades Cove was one of the earliest settlements in the area. The coolest part is that you can explore them all. My kids absolutely loved checking out these buildings that date back to the 1800s. They look like something out of an old movie and are a unique part of the experience.
My favorite stop is the Primitive Baptist Church, which is set off the main road. We love to explore the old building and have twice stumbled upon people singing or making music. One was a youth group and their leader with a guitar singing worship songs. The other was an older gentleman playing a harp. The setting, the music, all of it made it easy to picture what this place may have been like all those years ago.
As we traveled through the Cove, we pulled over many times, as signs instruct you to do if you want to stop, and jumped out to take photos of the mountains and log cabins. We have seen bears and other wildlife every time we have visited Cades Cove.
There are multiple signs along the route that urge visitors to stay 50 yards away from wildlife because they can be dangerous and cause injury or death. Nevertheless, we saw many people getting way too close to bears, including a mama and her cubs. Remember, you are in their home and you have to be careful. Basically, use common sense.
There is no charge to enter Cades Cove, but you must have a parking pass. With the weather changing quickly at times and icy winters, always check with the Visitors Center or the Great Smoky Mountains National Park website to make sure the road to Cades Cove is open.
Biking Cades Cove
Cades Cove is closed to vehicles every Wednesday during the summer months (it starts in early May and runs through the end of September). In my opinion, this is the absolute best way to see the Cove. It is so peaceful without the noise from the cars and motorcycles. I’ve done this twice with my kids, and both times were amazing. We camped in the park one of the times, which made it easy to get an early start on the bike loop. The other time, we stayed about 45 minutes away and just got there early, around 8:30 am. Both times I’ve biked the loop, it took us about four hours because we stopped so many times at the cabins to check them out.
We brought our own bikes, but you can rent them from the Cades Cove campground store. They don’t take reservations, so you need to arrive early. They start renting bikes at 7 am and are usually sold out by 8:30 am. They rent by the hour, so if you decide to go later in the day, there’s a decent chance they will have some bikes back from those who went out in the morning. Prices are $10/hour for age 15 and under and $15/hour for adults.
Roaring Fork Motor Trail
Accessed from traffic light #8 off the main strip in Gatlinburg, the Roaring Fork Motor Trail is a 5.5 mile one-way loop that includes access to popular hiking trails like Rainbow Falls and Grotto Falls. You can also stop at the Noah Bud Ogle cabin and take the short hike to the creek and back. There are other historical spots to stop at along the way.
Since the road is very narrow, you’ll likely be caught in a bear jam if a bear is visible because tourists will want to stop and take photos. Keep your distance though. I’ve seen bears and turkeys during my travels on Roaring Fork. The first time I drove through the trail was with the Pink Jeep tour. It was fascinating because I learned so much about the history of the area. I highly recommend that tour!
Oconaluftee Visitors Center
As mentioned above, there is an elk herd at the Oconaluftee Visitors Center. They are usually out in the open field next to the Visitors Center or down the road a bit. If you don’t see them, they are probably just in the woods. I have been at this place at all hours during the day and have usually seen elk there. I’ve also seen elk on the way to Cherokee, NC, just outside the borders of the park.
Where to Hike in the Smokies
There are hundreds of miles of hiking trails within Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and tourists always go to just a few of the trails, notably Laurel Falls, Alum Cave, and Grotto Falls. My best piece of advice is to get to wherever you want to go early, like at sunrise or before, if you want to find parking and avoid the mass of tourists. While there is no admission fee to enter the Smokies (they cannot charge one by law), there are parking fees.
Need to know: Dogs are not allowed (except on two trails)
One important point to note about hiking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is that dogs are not allowed on any trails except two (and they must be leashed): the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconoluftee River Trail. This is for the safety of both the dogs and wildlife. If a ranger catches you with your dog, you will be asked to leave and likely fined.
Alum Cave
This trail is so cool, and it’s not hard to figure out why tourists and locals love it. The pinnacle of the hike is a cave-like rock outcrop that is more like a bluff than a cave. The views are beautiful ,and you can walk through stunning scenery the whole way. It’s about a five-mile round trip hike to Alum Cave. If you want to keep going to Mt. LeConte, another popular place, then you’ll be hiking about 11 miles. You can stay at Mt. LeConte at the lodge, but reservations are hard to come by!
Mt. LeConte
I’ve hiked Mt. LeConte via Alum Cave with my daughters (they were 8 and 12 at the time), and it was fantastic. The steepest part was right after Alum Cave and near the top of the mountain. The views were spectacular, and hanging out at the lodge was fun. We hiked to the Cliff Tops viewpoint, which added about another .75 miles to the hike. It was worth it. We felt like we were on top of the world.
Read more about hiking Mt. LeConte.
We bought the sack lunch for $14. My kids called it a “snack lunch” because it had all their favorite snacks and a bagel. We each got a commemorative t-shirt that said we hiked Mt. LeConte. The gift shop opens at noon so we had to wait a bit until it opened since apparently we got up there faster than I expected. Are we doing this again? Absolutely yes. Total mileage was around 11 miles.
Grotto Falls
This is a beautiful waterfall you can walk behind, and the route llamas take up to Mt. LeConte (we got to see them when we went, which was super neat!). Grotto Falls is only 2.6 miles roundtrip, and it’s not a difficult hike. But you need to get there early as there is not a lot of parking at the trailhead off Roaring Fork Motor Trail. Roaring Fork is closed during the winter, but you can still walk on the road to get to the trailhead, although it adds many miles to your hike.
Abrams Falls
Abrams Falls is a moderate 5.2-mile round trip hike accessible through Cades Cove. It’s about halfway through the 11-mile loop, and you can park in a gravel lot. I loved this trail. It winds through a beautiful forest and comes out at an incredible waterfall. We went over the summer, and lots of people were swimming. We even saw a family of otters!
Midnight Hole
On the North Carolina side of the park is a super popular trail to Midnight Hole, a crystal-clear swimming hole that is freezing, but gorgeous! It’s only a three-mile hike and not hard. We even got to see some horseback riders on the trail. If you go only about a quarter mile further past Midnight Hole, you’ll get to see Mouse Creek Falls.
Deep Creek
Deep Creek is also on the North Carolina side of the national park and consists of three waterfalls and a great spot for river tubing. It’s not a hard hike, but again, it’s a popular place. If you want to hike there, go early as the parking lot fills up quickly, especially during the summer. We saw some dogs on this trail (which aren’t allowed), and a ranger was about to go fine them and tell them to take their dogs out. So be leave your pups at home.
Mt. Cammerer
Mt. Cammerer is an awesome trail because it ends at a spectacular lookout/fire tower. Getting there is a beast though. My daughters and I tracked about 12 miles total, and it was really hard. We started at the Cosby campground, and it took us about seven hours total. As cool as the fire tower was, especially when we went in the fall, I’m not sure I’d do this one again!
Other Trails
There are a lot of amazing trails throughout the park, and it doesn’t take much time to find some of the less-traveled ones. Google is helpful, as is this popular Facebook group. We have also hiked the short trail to the Elijah Oliver homestead in Cades Cove. It’s just a mile, but is off the beaten path and totally worth the walk. I have a long list of other hikes I want to do in the Smokies. Do your own research, and find your next adventure on the trails there!
Where to Get in or on the Water
During the warmer months, there are plenty of places to cool off and have fun on or in the water.
Where to Go Whitewater Rafting
We took a whitewater rafting trip on the Lower Pigeon River with Smoky Mountain Outdoors and had a blast. They have several different trips, but the one we did was best for smaller kids. They allow kids ages three and up, which is great for families. The Upper Pigeon River has more rapids, and kids need to be at least eight years old for that trip. Be sure to check their website when making a reservation since they often have great deals online.
Please note: Some rapids and river features changed significantly after Hurricane Helene due to major boulder movement. Traffic delays and construction near the TN/NC state line are still possible. Always check road conditions before your trip.
Swimming Holes in Great Smoky Mountain National Park
- Townsend Wye
- Midnight Hole
- Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area – No hiking required to get to the swimming hole
- Elkmont Swimming Hole – On the Little River Trail
The Townsend Wye swimming hole is a lot of fun in the summer. We brought our own tubes and towels and hung out there for a couple hours. You can chill in the water or take your tube down the small rapids or swim as it is deep enough. It’s right at the Townsend, TN entrance to the park and not too far from Cades Cove.
You can also swim at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area and Greenbrier swimming hole outside Gatlinburg. You may see that The Sinks is a popular swimming hole, but we do not recommend this place as several drownings have happened there. Always use caution wherever you choose to swim.
River Tubing in the Smokies
I’ve tubed in Deep Creek a few times, and while the water is really cold, it’s also a lot of fun! You have to walk the trail back to the starting point every time, but it’s totally worth it and pretty cheap, especially if you bring your own tubes. A new rule that the national park has instituted is that every child ages 13 and under must wear a life jacket while tubing. Here are some places to go tubing in the Smoky Mountains:
Deep Creek Tube Center
1090 West Deep Creek Road, Bryson City
828-488-6055
$8/per tube rental, life jackets available for kids.
Smoky Mountain Tube & Raft
1847 Tsali Boulevard, Cherokee
828-497-4545
$16/person, includes shuttle service.
Children must be 5+ years old to participate.
JJ’s Tubes
1399 West Deep Creek Road, Bryson City
828-736-3640
Smoky Mountain Campground and Tubing
1840 West Deep Creek Road, Bryson City
828-488-3302
This is a campground that offers onsite tube rentals April – October.
$11/per person
Smoky Mountain River Rat Tubing
They have two tubing locations in East Tennessee near the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area:
205 Wears Valley Road, Townsend (Ages 3+)
8435 State Highway 73, Townsend (Ages 6+)
865-448-8888
Tubing passes for both outposts are $24.99 in advance online (ages 3 and up). Dog passes start at $17.99.
River Rage Tubing
8303 State Highway 73, Townsend
865-336-2710
$25 (ages 6 and up).
Fishing in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Every time we’ve gone to the Smokies, we’ve seen fisherman in the creeks and rivers. As long as you have a fishing license, you can fish the 2,900 miles of streams and creeks within the park. Take a look at the fishing page to get all the best information and rules on trout fishing within the park.
Unique Things to See in the Smokies
Given its history, I think the park harbors many secrets (read about it before you go!). But there are some pretty incredible things to see here that you’ll find hardly anywhere else.
Synchronous Fireflies
These fireflies are very unique, because unlike other fireflies, they light up all at the same time. It’s quite the show. The park severely limits visitors during May and June to the areas where the fireflies light up because humans have done so much damage to the environment over the years. To see the fireflies, you have to enter the lottery, which costs a dollar. If you manage to win, you’ll pay a parking fee at Elkmont (around $25) to take a shuttle into the park to see the fireflies. The lottery opens in late April for just a few days, and you’ll be notified by mid-May if you win.
My daughters and I have seen the synchronous fireflies at Elkmont, and it’s hard to describe just how special that experience was. It feels like you’re walking in space with an otherworldly light show happening everywhere you look. You’re in complete darkness and are so mesmerized by what you’re seeing that you don’t want to go anywhere. You just want to watch the magic happen.
Walker Sisters Cabin
The cabin was built in 1859 where John and Margaret Walker lived with their 11 children. Only one of the girls married, another died a decade later, and the last five Walker sisters lived at the cabin together. They stayed after the park was acquired by the U.S. government and sold handmade items to visitors. The trail isn’t hard and goes past an old schoolhouse and cemetery as well. The trail to Walkers Sisters Cabin is in the Metcalf Bottoms picnic area.
Where to Find the Best Views
I never get tired of the views of the Smokies, no matter how many times I see the majestic peaks and clouds weaving through the tree tops. Here are a few places to find incredible views.
Newfound Gap
Newfound Gap sits just over 5,000 feet above sea level and is the lowest possible pass through the park. Since it’s so high up, it gets a hefty amount of snow a year (the average is 69 inches) and is about 10 degrees cooler than Gatlinburg.
There’s a large parking lot at the pull off for the site with plenty of viewing points and photo opportunities. The Appalachian Trail crosses here, so you can take a stroll to enjoy the view and stretch your legs.
Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome)
At 6,643 feet above sea level, Kuwohi, formerly known as Clingmans Dome, is the highest point in the Smokies, in Tennessee, and on the Appalachian Trail. It’s also the third-highest point east of the Mississippi River.
Kuwohi is about 40 minutes from the Sugarlands Visitors Center and just seven miles from Newfound Gap. The road to Kuwohi is closed from December 1 through March 31st, although the observation tower is open year round. It may also close at other times for weather, so be sure to check before you go.
The drive up there is stunning. You feel like you’re one top of the world and can see into Tennessee and North Carolina on clear days. The parking lot for Kuwohi sits a half mile from the observation deck and it’s a steep hike up there. It’s straight up and not suitable for people with health problems, strollers, or wheelchairs. Don’t worry too much if you can’t make it to the top because the views from the parking lot are amazing.
Once you huff and puff your way to the top of the observation tower, you’ll be rewarded with a 360-degree view of the park. I’ve seen so many stunning photos of both the sunrise and sunset from this point. And while I’m not hiking up there in the dark, the views during the day are breathtaking.
The history of the area goes back to the Cherokee tribe as they were pushed out of their land and forced to walk the “Trail of Tears.” Even with the crowds up there, I found the area peaceful, especially when walked back down to the parking lot and only saw a handful of people.
Foothills Parkway
Don’t miss the less-traveled Foothills Parkway. You’ll be rewarded with less traffic and beautiful views of the Smokies. This was the first place I stopped on my maiden visit to the park, and it did not disappoint.
Coolest Attractions Near the Smokies
I’ve done a lot of things in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, and it’s really hard to choose my favorites, but I’ll try. You can see more things to do and reviews in our larger guide to the Gatlinburg area.
Anakeesta
I think this mountaintop village is amazing. You can either take an open-air gondola or ride up to Anakeesta in a huge truck. Once there, you can run through the treetops on swinging bridges, eat lunch or dinner while enjoying beautiful views, climb the highest tower on a mountain, go zip lining and ride the mountain coaster, play on the forest-themed play areas, and cool off in the splash pad.
Sky Bridge
You can see the Sky Bridge from downtown Gatlinburg, and no wonder. It’s the longest pedestrian bridge in North America. They have two glass floor partitions on the swinging bridge which will probably test your courage. There are short trails at the top and a new Tulip Tower to climb, plus a cool gift shop and snack bar.
Dollywood
This iconic theme park is a lot of fun for families as it has areas for little and big kids plus a locomotive train and awesome shows. Dollywood at Christmas is especially fun with the unique shows and massive display of Christmas lights.
Waterparks
Soaky Mountain, Dollywood Splash Country, and the Wild Bear Falls Water Park at the Westgate Resort are all a lot of fun if you like the thrill of waterparks. Wild Bear Falls is indoors so you can go anytime of year.
Lost Sea Adventure
Take a boat ride in an underground lake at Lost Sea Adventure. This is absolutely as cool as it sounds.
Smoky Mountain Llama Treks
This is on my bucket list and one of the things I really, really want to do in the Smokies. You can hike with llamas with Smoky Mountain Llama Treks, and I am sure this is super cool.
Where to Stay Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park
There are lovely campgrounds in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I’ve stayed at Elkmont, Cosby (quiet and spacious), and Cades Cove, which is beautiful and also pretty spacious, plus it’s right next to the Cove. Greenbrier and Smokemont are other popular campgrounds.
There are so many great spots to stay: the Margaritaville Island Hotel in Pigeon Forge, Greystone Lodge in Gatlinburg, the Go Lodge, Westgate Smokies, Smoky Hollow Outdoor Resort, Camp LeConte, Camp Margaritaville RV Resort & Lodge, The Ridge Outdoor Resort, and Wilderness at the Smokies. This Gatlinburg area guide has several options and reviews.
Where to Eat Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park
We enjoyed probably the best pancakes I’ve ever had at the Little House of Pancakes in Gatlinburg. But your best bet is to bring food with you for a day at the park. The nearest Walmart Supercenter is 25 minutes north in Sevierville if you need to buy food or snacks.
Townsend is the nearest town to Cades Cove, and there are a few places on the way back to Pigeon Forge if you drive through there. We ate at Paw Paw’s Catfish Kitchen, which had a great selection of catfish, crawfish, and gumbo.
With one of our national treasures being so close to Greenville, and nearly free, it’s absolutely worth the time to make a trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865-436-1200
For other places to go in Tennessee, see our Guide to Tennessee Vacations.
