If you’ve ever been to the Great Smoky Mountains, you know how busy it can be. In fact, there are over 11 million visitors to this national park every year! What makes this area so popular? There are many reasons, including the wildlife viewing opportunities and historic value. We want to dive into why the Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park:
No Entrance Fee
Why is Great Smoky Mountains National Park so popular? The number one reason is that it’s one of the only national parks in the United States that has no entrance fee. When the park was first established, North Carolina and Tennessee came together to build a road through the land that would become the national park so people could easily go from one state to the other. When the government was trying to attain the land, they asked the states if they could obtain Newfound Gap Road. North Carolina deeded over the road almost immediately, while Tennessee wanted to ensure that there would never be tolls on the road, which is why you aren’t charged to enter the park.
Now, you may be wondering how the park gets funding if they don’t charge fees. There are several programs in place, including Friends of the Smokies, a program that raises funds for the park. You’ll also find several donation boxes throughout the park where you can put money in to go towards the national park. More recently, the National Park Service has implemented a parking tag requirement for vehicles parked longer than 15 minutes. This small fee for daily, weekly, and annual passes goes directly into the care and maintenance of the national park.
Close to Many People
About two-thirds of the nation can get to the Great Smoky Mountains within a day’s drive. Because it’s so close to a lot of people and offers an abundance of fun things to do, families flock to the area for weekend getaways, spring break, summer vacations, and other holiday trips. Many of our country’s national parks are hours from popular destinations, even in their own states! For example, Yosemite National Park is about 3 hours from San Francisco; however, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is less than 1 hour from Knoxville and only about 1.5 hours from Asheville, North Carolina. Being this close to both large and smaller cities makes it a great destination as well.
Wildlife, Waterfalls & Walking Paths
When you think of the Great Smoky Mountains, a lot of people immediately think of black bears. This area is home to about 1,500 black bears in addition to many other animals. It’s also the unofficial capital for salamanders; there are more than 30 species of salamanders in the national park alone!
Besides Smoky Mountain wildlife, you’re surrounded by incredible mountain scenery, forests, lush valleys, high-altitude balds (meadows), and other incredible sites, from waterfalls to caves. With over 850 miles of hiking trails, hikers of all experience levels can explore the beauty of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Here are a few hiking guides to help you plan your visit:
- The Gatlinburg Trail– one of the only dog-friendly and bike-friendly hikes in the Smokies.
- Short Smoky Mountain hikes for beginners– whether you can’t walk long distances, have younger children with you, or are short on time, there are plenty of beautiful trails you can do, like Cataract Falls, Kuwohi, and Porters Creek.
- Best waterfall hikes– from the roadside waterfall on Roaring Fork Nature Trail to the hike to the lesser-known Huskey Branch Falls, these family-friendly trails make it easy to understand why the Great Smoky Mountains is so popular!
Tons of History
Some of the best places to visit in the Great Smoky Mountains are historic sites and buildings that you won’t find anywhere else. Cades Cove is one of these popular places in the national park which has many historic buildings you can walk inside and see. Many hiking trails also have historic buildings and remains that provide unique insight into what life was like before the national park was founded. Some of these Smoky Mountain hidden gems include the House of Fairies, and of course, the Elkmont Ghost Town!
Now you know more about why the Great Smoky Mountains is one of the most visited national parks. Ready to come and visit? Browse through our affordable Smoky Mountain cabin rentals and book your trip today!
