Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Contact Details

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Phone: 865-436-1200
Web site: www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm
E-mail: grsm_smokies_information@nps.gov

Mt. LeConte Lodge
865-429-5704

Campground Reservations

National Park Service Reservation Service, 1-800-365-CAMP

Backcountry Camping Reservations - 865-436-1231, daily during regular business hours
Backcountry Camping Information Only - 865-436-1297

A backcountry map, showing all the hiking trails, camping areas, and a list of rules, regulations, and safety concerns is available through the Great Smoky Mountain Natural History Association (see below).

Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association
115 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865-436-0120

Brook trout restoration program in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Contact Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association.

GSMNP Horse Camps - 865-436-1231

Commercial Horse Stables within the park

• Cades Cove 865-448-6286 (also offers hayrides)
• Deep Creek 865-497-7503
• McCarters 865-436-5354
• Smokemont 704-497-2373
• Smoky Mountain 865-436-5634

Local Chambers of Commerce and Visitors Centers
Gatlinburg, TN Chamber of Commerce - 800-900-4148
Jackson County, N.C. Chamber of Commerce - 704-586-2155

Regional Campgrounds Lists of campgrounds are maintained by tourist offices in both Tennessee and North Carolina. For Tennessee write: "Fishing and Camping in East Tennessee," Knoxville Tourist Bureau, 500 Henley St., Knoxville, Tennessee 37901, or call 865-523-2316.

For North Carolina write: "North Carolina Outdoors," Travel and Tourism Division, 430 No. Salisbury, Raleigh, North Carolina 27603, or call 919-733-4171.

Links

University of Tennessee Smoky Mountain Field School is a joint effort by the University of Tennessee and the staff of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Field School provides educational opportunities in the wilderness for everyone from small children to backcountry veterans.

The Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont is a year-round residential environmental education center in the Smokies that offers workshops and programs for everyone, from grade-school children to Elders hostel groups and teachers. Programs may include hiking, slide shows on flora and fauna, mountain music, living history, and wildlife demonstrations. A fee is charged. For more information, call 865-448-6709.

Transportation

To Park: The nearest major airport in Tennessee (McGhee-Tyson, TYS) is Alcoa, 45 miles west of Gatlinburg. North Carolina's Asheville Airport is 60 miles east of the park. No train or bus service accesses the park.

Directions

Several major highways lead to the park. The following routes provide access to the three main entrances.

In Tennessee: (1) From I-40 take Exit 407 (Sevierville) to TN Route 66 South, and continue to U.S. 441 South. Follow U.S. 441 to Park. (2) From I-40 in Knoxville take Exit 386B U.S. Highway 129 South to Alcoa/Maryville. At Maryville proceed on U.S. 321 North through Townsend. Continue straight on TN Highway 73 into park.

In North Carolina: From I-40, take U.S. Route 19 West through Maggie Valley. Proceed to U.S. 441 North at Cherokee into the park. From Atlanta and points south: Follow U.S. 441 and 23 North. U.S. 441 leads to the park.

In Park: Personal vehicle, limited trolley service from Gatlinburg.

Accessibility

Wheelchair-accessible facilities, including restrooms, are located at the three major campgrounds , Cades Cove and Elkmont in Tennessee and Smokemont in North Carolina, at visitor centers, and many picnic areas. A five-foot-wide paved and level accessibility trail, Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail is a quarter-mile south of Sugarlands Visitor Center. Specially designed communications media, including tactile and wayside exhibits, large print brochures, and a cassette version are part of the trail.

Weather

Climate varies tremendously within the park by season and elevation. Conditions often change without notice. Be prepared for almost anything at any time. Always check weather conditions ahead of time of travel.

Elevations in the park range from 800 feet to 6,643 feet and topography affects local weather. Temperatures are 10 to 20 degrees cooler on the mountaintops. Annual precipitation averages 65 inches in the lowlands to 88 inches in the high country. Spring often brings unpredictable weather, particularly in higher elevations. Summer is hot and humid, but more pleasant in higher elevations. Fall has warm days and cool nights and is the driest period, and frosts occur starting in late September. Winter is generally moderate, but extreme conditions occur with increasing elevation.