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General Information

Official Great Smoky Mountains National Park Service website:
Must See. The most in-depth information about Great Smoky Mountains national park. Trip planner.

National Geographic guide to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park:
Very concise and clear.

Another private Great Smoky Mountains National Park website:
Hosted by John William Uhler. Very detail information.


When to Go


Best visit time -- Summer and Fall, especially foliage. Visit on midweek and arrive early to avoid crowds.

General weather information.
Ten day forecast and sunset/sunrise time.
Five days weather forest with local radar.

Fall Foliage Time at Great Smoky Mountains.


Itineraries

At least one to two days:
Newfound Gap Road to Clingmans Dome -- a half to full day.
Cades Cove Loop Road -- at least a half day.

If you only have one day?

Five Perfect Days Ultimate Adventure Itinerary.

Accommodations

Camping:

Total 10 campgrounds are operated by National Park Service. Cades Cove and Smokemont Campground are open whole year, others are open from mid March, April to October.

Cades Cove, Smokemont and Elkmont Campground may be reserved on-line for the period May 15 to October 31 through the National Park service reservation center.
Other 7 campgrounds first come first serve.

Official campground list and information and campground maps.


Wilderness Camping Permits are required for all overnight stays in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park backcountry. which may be obtained at the Wilderness Information Center (WIC) in Port Angeles year round, (360) 565-3100.


Lodges and Hotels:


Inside the park

Le Conte Lodge:
The only Lodging inside park, open late March to late November. On-line reservation request.

Gateway outside the park

Bryson City, NC.

Cabins at Cherokee, NC.

Graham County Travel and Tourism, NC.

Haywood County Chamber of Commerce, NC.

Maggie Valley Visitors & Convention Bureau, NC.

Cocke County, TN.

Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce, TN.

Pigeon Forge Cabins and Hotels, TN.

Sevierville Chamber of Commerce, TN.

Townsend, TN.

This Great Smoky Mountains National Park Travel Vacation Guide site was most recently updated on 02/11/05. Keywords: Great Smoky Mountains National Park.