National Park · Tennessee, United States
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a national park in Tennessee, United States, covering 522,427 acres (211,419 ha), established in 1934; it recorded 11,527,939 visits in 2025.
Photo: AppalachianCentrist via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Park facts
| Park type | National Park |
|---|---|
| Location | Tennessee, United States |
| Area | 522,427 acres (211,419 ha) |
| Established | 1934 |
| Annual visits (2025) | 11,527,939 |
| Highest point | Kuwohi — 2,025 m (6,644 ft) |
| Coordinates | 35.6800° N, 83.5300° W |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
About Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a national park of the United States in the southeast, with parts in North Carolina and Tennessee. The park straddles the ridgeline of the Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Blue Ridge Mountains and part of the Appalachian temperate rainforest, which are a division of the larger Appalachian Mountain chain. The park contains some of the highest mountains in eastern North America, including Kuwohi, Mount Guyot, and Mount Le Conte. The border between the two states runs northeast to southwest through the center of the park.
Description from the park's Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA), linked in the sources below.
Planning your visit
Best time to visit
April to June and October — mild weather and fall color; summers are humid, winters cold
What to do
Getting there
| Nearest town | Gatlinburg, Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | McGhee Tyson Airport |
Where to stay
| Campgrounds | Yes |
|---|---|
| Lodges | Lodges in Gatlinburg and Townsend |
Famous trails
- Alum Cave Trail — 4.7 miles (7.6 km) — Moderate
- Clingmans Dome Trail — 0.6 miles (1 km) — Moderate
Like Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s official park page for hours and current conditions before you travel.
Airports near this park
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) · Knoxville/Maryville, United States · 27.5 miles away
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) · Charlotte, United States · 149.1 miles away
Parks nearby
More parks in Tennessee
Frequently asked questions
Where is Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is in Tennessee, United States (35.6800° N, 83.5300° W).
When was Great Smoky Mountains National Park established?
Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established in 1934, per the source listed at the foot of this page.
How big is Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers 522,427 acres (211,419 ha).
How many people visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park each year?
It recorded 11,527,939 recreation visits in 2025, the latest published figure.
What is the highest point in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
The highest point is Kuwohi, at 2,025 metres (6,644 ft).
When is the best time to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
April to June and October — mild weather and fall color; summers are humid, winters cold.
Does Great Smoky Mountains National Park have campgrounds?
Yes — Great Smoky Mountains National Park has campgrounds.
How do I get to Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
The nearest town is Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The nearest airport is McGhee Tyson Airport.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_United_States_National_Park_System_official_units — Wikipedia list of National Park System official units — unit name, state, official designation.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_areas_in_the_United_States_National_Park_System — Wikipedia list of National Park System areas — year established and gross area.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_parks_of_the_United_States — Wikipedia list of US national parks — coordinates, established date, area, recreation visitors (2025), description.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Smoky_Mountains_National_Park — Wikipedia article — description (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.nps.gov/grsm/ — Official park page.
- https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/hiking.htm — Named trails, as stated by the source.