4 Days in Great Smoky Mountains National Park: What I Loved & What I'd Do Differently

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of those parks that I've dreamed about visiting for years. While on a recent road trip out East, I was finally able to do just that! This trip was a mix of exploring with Justin and solo travel. I saw a lot of amazing things during my time here, and I also learned a lot of lessons (many the hard way) about planning a trip to the Smokies. Since I only scratched the surface of what there is to see and do in the Smokies, I don't want to pretend this will be a comprehensive guide to the park. Instead, this post will focus on details of my trip, which stops I felt were worth it, and what lessons I learned along the way.

About Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Straddling the border between Tennessee and North Carolina is America's most visited national park. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a massive stretch of mountains, forests, waterfalls, wildlife, and historic sites, protecting more than 500,000 acres of some of the oldest mountains in the world and is part of the Appalachian Mountains. It's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for its incredible biodiversity and natural beauty.

One of the things that makes the Smokies so special is just how much there is to explore. There are hundreds of miles of hiking trails, scenic drives, waterfalls, historic buildings, campgrounds, and countless mountain overlooks spread throughout the park. You can spend days here and still only experience a small fraction of what the park has to offer, something I quickly learned during my own four-day visit.

The Smokies are also famous for their wildlife. Black bears are probably the park's most well-known residents, but you may also encounter elk, white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, salamanders, and plenty of other wildlife. Add in the historic mountain communities and buildings scattered throughout the park, and there's much more to discover here than just beautiful mountain views.

One thing that surprised me most, though, was how big the park actually feels. The map can make different areas look relatively close together, but winding mountain roads, slow speed limits, traffic, and busy trailheads can make getting from one part of the park to another take much longer than expected. That became one of the biggest lessons I took away from my visit and something I'd definitely keep in mind when planning a return trip.

What To Know Before Visiting

Entrance Fees & Parking Tags

The park is free to enter, however, if you plan to park for more than 15 minutes, you will need a parking tag. Parking tags are available throughout the park but not every trailhead will have them, so you'll want to plan ahead. You can purchase tags at the visitor centers, many of the more popular trailheads or parking areas, or online if you want to plan ahead and print them out. You can purchase daily, weekly, or annual tags depending on how much time to plan to spend at the park.

Getting Around the Park

Getting around the park takes longer than it might look on the map. Between winding mountain roads, slow speed limits, and animal encounters, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to get from one spot to the next. The time listed on your GPS likely won't reflect the real time it takes to get around the park, but taking it slow and enjoying the scenery is part of the experience, so don't rush the journey! Keep in mind cell service might be spotty, so download any maps you might need ahead of time.

Parking

Parking can be one of the biggest challenges when visiting the Smokies. Many of the parking lots throughout the park are small and can fill up surprisingly early, especially at popular trailheads and attractions. If there's a particular spot you really want to visit, plan to arrive early to give yourself the best chance of finding a space. Sometimes a little patience, and a few loops around the parking lot, will pay off when someone finally pulls out, but that's definitely not guaranteed. Have a backup plan in case your first-choice parking lot is full, and be prepared to change your plans if necessary. One of the biggest lessons I learned during my visit was that flexibility can make a huge difference in enjoying the park.

Camping

There are 10 developed campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Most are only open seasonally but two, Cades Cove and Smokemont, are open year round. For a list of all the campgrounds and what they offer, click here. I stayed at the Balsam Mountain Campground specifically because it was a higher elevation and would offer cooler temperatures. However, I quickly learned just how far away it was from many of the parts of the park that I wanted to visit. When selecting a campground, I would recommend seeing which one is located closest to what you plan to visit.

Hiking

With more than 800 miles of trails throughout the park, you'll have no shortage of options, the hard part is narrowing down where to go! No matter which trail you choose, there are a few things you'll want to keep in mind. Come prepared with sturdy, comfortable footwear and plenty of water, even if you aren't planning on tackling a major hike. I often found myself starting out with what I thought would be a quick walk from the parking lot, only to discover a trail that I hadn't planned on exploring and deciding to keep going. The weather in the Smokies can also change quickly, so it's a good idea to be prepared for changing conditions and whatever the mountains might throw your way. You never know when that “quick walk” might turn into your favorite adventure of the day!

Weather

Whenever you're exploring the mountains, you want to be prepared for sudden changes in the weather. A calm day can become a downpour in a matter of minutes - or what started off as a rainy, dreary day might just end up giving you the best views of the trip! Rain can dramatically alter the trail conditions making rivers and waterfalls dangerous. We came across this when trying to push through a hike while it was raining. Eventually the river crossing because too much and we decided it wasn't worth the risk to continue. Being able to adjust your plans to the weather is key and, sometimes, that change of plans can lead to your favorite experiences in the park!

Wildlife

Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife throughout the park. You never know what you might spot! Some of the most popular animals to look for are elk, black bears, and white-tailed deer, but the Smokies are home to so much more. During my four days in the park, I was lucky enough to spot all three of those along with wild boar, owls, and foxes. Some of my favorite moments came from these unexpected wildlife encounters, which is just another reason to slow down and pay attention to what's happening around you. Just remember to admire wildlife from a safe distance and never approach or feed them. You never know when the next bend in the road might come with a pretty incredible surprise!

Maps & Navigation

Cell service can be spotty throughout Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so don't rely on your phone having a signal when you need it most. Before heading out, download any maps you'll need for offline use, including driving directions and trails you plan to hike. If you use AllTrails, make sure to download your planned trails ahead of time so you can still access the maps without service. I also recommend downloading the National Park Service app and saving Great Smoky Mountains National Park for offline use. Having park information, maps, and trail details available on your phone can be a lifesaver when you're out exploring and suddenly realize you have no signal.

Food, Gas & Services

There are limited services within the park, but luckily, there are plenty of towns nearby where you can easily fill up your gas tank or grab food. Just be sure to plan ahead, as getting to these towns can take longer than expected on the winding mountain roads.

Visitor Centers

There are several visitor centers located throughout the park. Stopping at the visitor center is always the first thing I do at any park. Here you can get a park map, learn about ranger programs happening, fill up on water, check out the park store, learn about trail conditions and closures, and get recommendations for what to do in the park. The four visitor centers are:

• Sugarlands Visitor Center: Located near Gatlinburg, TN, this is a great starting point if you are exploring the north side of the park.

• Oconaluftee Visitor Center: Located near Cherokee, NC, this is the primary visitor center for those entering the south side of the park. Be sure to check out the adjacent Mountain Farm Museum. Here you can explore a collection of log structures including a farmhouse, barn, smokehouse, applehouse, and corn crib while learning about what it was like to live in the area.

• Cades Cove Visitor Center: Located roughly halfway through the Cades Cove Loop, this visitor center is a great spot to pause along the drive and learn about southern life and culture.

• Kuwohi Visitor Center: Kuwohi, formerly know as Clingman's Dome, is the tallest peak n the smokies and, in my opinion, a must see spot on your visit.

My Experience in the Great Smoky Mountains

I was lucky to be able to spend four full days in the Smokies, although they were split into two very different parts of my trip. The first day was during the part of my trip when Justin flew out to join me, but because this park had been on my bucket list for so long, I returned for another three days of solo adventure after he flew home. I loved getting to experience the park both with Justin and by myself. Both were enjoyable in their own way and offered different types of experiences in the park. Below is a day-by-day recap of what I did (or tried to do), what I thought of each experience, and what I would have done differently.

Day 1 - Adventures with Justin

The plan for today started outside the national park. Justin and I thought it would be fun to hike a section of the Appalachian Trail, so we found a spot off I40 near Cosby, TN to hike. Unfortunately, the weather did not want to cooperate for us today! Even though it was raining pretty hard, we decided to still give the hike a try but after about a mile and several creek crossings, concluded that we did not feel safe with how fast the water was running and how slick the wet rocks were and made the decision to turn around.

Since we didn't have a plan for the rest of the day, we decided to drive into the park. After about an hour of driving in the rain along winding mountain roads, we reached the Sugarloaf visitor center. We stopped to check it out and purchase our parking tag but then decided to go into Gatlinburg for lunch before continuing further into the park. I have to admit, I personally hated Gatlinburg. It is the perfect example of an overdone tourist town with cheesy shops, overpriced restaurants, and people EVERYWHERE! I know some people love these kinds of towns and that's great for them, but for me, I wanted to spend as little time here as possible. Luckily, by the time we finished our lunch, the rain was finally starting to stop.

I knew the Kuwohi Observation Deck (formerly Clingman's Dome) was high on my wishlist of places to see and I also knew this would be something Justin would enjoy so we made our way there after lunch. The drive here took us another hour but at least this time the rain was gone and the skies were starting to clear up. By the time we made it to Kuwohi, the tallest peak in the smokies, we were left with blue skies and perfectly fluffy, white clouds. I couldn't believe our luck! Even though this day didn't go the way I planned, in the end, we ended up with what was easily the best views of the entire trip. Since we didn't get the hike in we planned earlier, we decided to hike to Andrew's Bald which is a 3.6-mile (5.8 km) round-trip hike starting from the Forney Ridge Trailhead near the Kuwohi parking area. With an elevation change of about 870 to 900 feet, this hike is considerate moderate and leads to a high-elevation grassy clearing at 5,860 feet with panoramic views of the southern Smokies.

Day 2 - Returning to the Park

After dropping Justin off at the airport in South Carolina, it was time to head back to the Great Smoky Mountains. Justin only had a few days to spend with me so we had to do a lot in a short amount of time but because this park had been on my bucketlist for so long, I knew I wanted to have more time to explore here. I arrived back in the park around lunch time. Since it was too early to check into my campsite, I headed to Heintooga Picnic Area, about half a mile from the campground, to have my lunch. I ended up having the picnic area completely to myself and it was remarkably peaceful. Since the Flat Creek Trail started here as well, I decided to take a short hike. While I am mostly comfortable hiking alone, I'll admit that the thick foliage had me feeling a little more on edge than usual. I couldn't see very far off the trail, so every rustle in the bushes caught my attention. Then, as if on cue, a wild hog went crashing through the undergrowth and sent me jumping. After that, I found myself paying very close attention to every sound around me!

Finally, I was able to set up camp at Balsam Mountain Campground. Since I arrived mid-day most of the other campers were out exploring and I had it mostly to myself. It was peaceful that I decided just to hang out at camp and enjoy the cool mountain air. While relaxing in my hammock, I had a deer come wander through the neighboring campsite. This is exactly one of the reasons why I prefer to camp over staying in hotels. Being able to fully immerse myself in nature and have animals wander past is something I always love.

I knew I wanted to end the day by watching the sunset over the mountains, so after a little research, I settled on Waterrock Knob. I headed over early, grabbed a spot at one of the picnic tables, and spent some time soaking in the views while working on the blog. I'm honestly not sure there's a better place to find writing inspiration than surrounded by mountains. As the sun began to sink behind the ridges, I put the laptop away and took a moment to appreciate just how lucky I was to be there. I sat in awe as the sky shifted through brilliant shades of orange and yellow before slowly fading into the darkness of night.

Day 3 - The Day That Didn't Go as Planned

For my first full day in the park, I had a whole list of things I wanted to do and see but no real plan. That was mistake number one. Mistake number two was not mapping out the distance from my campground to the areas I wanted to visit before booking a site. I decided to start my day at the Elkmont Historic District, but after driving two hours from my campground to get there, I was already tired. I still enjoyed wandering through the ghost town and wondering what it would have been like living in this old logging town.

From here, I set my sights on Rainbow Falls. Unfortunately, the parking lot was full by the time I arrived. I circled the lot a few times hoping someone might leave, but no such luck. So I backtracked to where I saw a sign for Ogle Cabin. Built by Bud Ogle in the late 19th century, this cabin is another interesting reminder of the people who once resided in the area. From the cabin, I walked the Ogle Nature Trail and enjoyed the sounds of the forest and paused for a bit at the river, watching kids laugh and play in the cool water.

I then headed back towards Rainbow Falls to see if a parking spot was available. When I found there still wasn't one, I headed to the Roaring Forks Motor Trail. I expected this to be a calm, relaxing drive, and while it was beautiful, what I found instead were multiple full parking lots and people walking in the road to get from their overflow spot to their intended location. It ended up not being the relaxing drive I expected, and I found myself pretty overwhelmed at this point and frustrated that the day wasn't going to plan. The road ended in Gatlinburg, so I used this as a chance to get gas, grab a few groceries, and slow down while I decided what to do next.

I decided to find somewhere scenic to have lunch and start heading back in the direction of my campground. Along the way, I stopped at Mingo Falls. Just outside the national park, this waterfall is one of the tallest and most spectacular in the southern Appalachians. This trail is short at around a third of a mile, but you'll need to be prepared for the 161 steps that take you up from the parking lot. When you get to the top, you are met with a magnificent waterfall that makes you forget all about the work it took to get there. Spend some time relaxing on one of the benches at the top and taking it all in before heading back down to the parking lot.

I wanted to finish they day watching the sunset once more but this time decided just to pick an overlook near the campground. Mile High Overlook was perfect for this. The parking lot was large and I had a handful of others join me in watching the sun sink below the mountains.

Day 4 - Letting the Park Guide Me

For my final day in the park, I decided to take a different approach. Instead of driving all over trying to hit all the "must-see" spots, I headed to the nearest visitor center to my campground. That was the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. I started by wandering through the Mountain Farm Museum and imagining what it must have been like to live and work on a farm like this. Then I went inside to plan my day. I'd seen at the Sugarlands Visitor Center that they had a spot for recommendations near that particular visitor center and assumed this one would as well. I was right. I browsed through the options of what I could see and do nearby and landed on hiking the Deep Creek Waterfall Loop. This 2.5-mile loop went past three waterfalls, each remarkable in their own way.

When I arrived, the first thing I noticed was that all the people were carrying tubes! I knew river tubing was a popular activity in the park, but I didn't realize this was going to be one of the spots to do it! I spent a lot of time watching them float down the river, wishing I had a tube to join in. If I were to do this again, I would 100% bring a tube. There are places nearby to rent them, or you can bring your own. I then began my hike, and by the time I had passed the second waterfall, I had the whole trail to myself. What a difference from the never-ending crowds of the day before! As I neared the end, I came to a calm, deep stretch of water and decided to go for a swim. The water here was nothing like the water in Colorado! It was so much warmer! Not so hot that it felt like swimming in a bathtub. Just enough to cool me off from the hot North Carolina summer without getting cold.

Tonight, instead of going somewhere to watch the sunset, I lit a campfire and relaxed at camp. It was the perfect ending to my time in the Smokies, made even better by the fireflies. During late May or early June, Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers a lottery for synchronous firefly viewing. While this was past the peak season to watch this display, when I looked out into the forest, I could see the fireflies flash and glow. I'd seen other fireflies on my trip (something that brought me so much joy as I hadn't seen them since I was a kid!), but here I saw the largest number of them, and many were still flashing in sync.

Lessons Learned From Visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park

I feel like I learned a lot during my time in the Smokies, and now I want to share what I've learned with you, so hopefully, as you're planning your trip, you can learn from my mistakes.

The Smokies Are Bigger Than They Look

Don't underestimate travel time. Plan your route ahead of time and account for unexpected slowdowns (like animal sightings). When selecting a home base, whether that's a hotel or a campground, take into account its location vs. the areas you plan to visit.

Popular Doesn't Begin to Describe Some Areas

Get up early if something is a priority. The parking lots can and will fill up quickly in popular spots. If you know there is something you really want to see, plan to get up early and head straight there to snag a parking spot.

Have a Backup Plan

Weather, traffic, parking, and crowds can change everything. Have a backup plan in case you are unable to go where you planned to. You never know, sometimes it's the unexpected adventures that can become your favorite memories!

Leave Room for the Unknown

Don't schedule every minute. There is so much to see in the park that you'll never be able to plan for all of it. Leave room in the itinerary to be able to stop at random pull-offs or hiking trails. Some of the best memories come from the things you didn't plan.

Pick an Area and Explore It

Especially if you only have a few days, don't try to drive all over the park. You'll spend more time in the car than exploring. Pick a section of the park and dedicate a day or two just to that area to really experience it.

Don't Let Your Checklist Ruin the Experience

If you're like me, you want everything to go according to plan. Odds are it won't. Don't let changed or canceled plans ruin the trip! I was so flustered and disappointed on day 3 when things didn't go as planned that I almost gave up. When I finally gave myself the time to just step back and remember it's about enjoying the park, not checking things off a list, I found myself having a much better time.

What I'd Do Differently on My Next Visit

I will absolutely be back to the park someday. It is so beautiful, and I know I just barely scratched the surface of what there is to see and do. I'll take with me all the things I learned and use them to make my next trip even better.

Next Time, I Would:

• Choose a more central campground in order to spend less time driving.

• Pick one area per day rather than bouncing around the park.

• Get up really early for my must-sees even if it's hard with the two hour time difference from Mountain Time.

• Build in unplanned time, leave part of each day open.

• Spend more time hiking rather than driving between attractions.

• Stop trying to “complete” the park and accept that one visit isn't enough.

Final Thoughts

I loved my time in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Yes, there are things I wish I had done differently, but that doesn't take away from the pure beauty of the park or the incredible experiences I did have. If anything, my biggest takeaway is that the Smokies aren't a park you can, or should try to, check off a list. There is simply too much to see, and trying to fit everything in can mean spending more time in the car than actually enjoying the park. On my next visit, I'll arrive early for the places I really want to see, choose one area to explore at a time, and leave plenty of room for the unexpected. Some of my favorite moments came when I stopped chasing the itinerary and simply let the park show me what was around the next corner. I may not have explored all of the Smokies this time, but that just means I have a reason to go back!