Water
Top hazard
3 free
Entrances
10 areas
Campgrounds
$5/day
Parking tag
6,643 ft
Kuwohi summit
4 live
Cameras
Water & Waterfall SafetyLeading cause of death▾
Park Entrances & Parking Tag3 free entrances▾
North Entrance
Free · Open
Sugarlands, via Gatlinburg, TN (US-441)
The park's busiest gateway — Sugarlands Visitor Center sits 2 miles south of Gatlinburg, right at the start of Newfound Gap Road.
💡 Gatlinburg traffic backs up badly on summer/fall weekends — arrive before 9 AM if you can.
NPS directions ↗
South Entrance
Free · Open
Oconaluftee, via Cherokee, NC (US-441)
Oconaluftee Visitor Center sits 2 miles north of Cherokee — the North Carolina gateway and the south end of Newfound Gap Road.
💡 Elk are frequently seen grazing in the Oconaluftee River valley near the visitor center, especially at dawn/dusk.
NPS directions ↗
West Entrance
Free · Open
Townsend, TN (Laurel Creek Rd to Cades Cove)
Known locally as "the peaceful side" — the quietest way in, leading directly to the Cades Cove Loop Road.
💡 Best entrance for Cades Cove if you want to avoid Gatlinburg traffic entirely.
NPS directions ↗
Campground Availability10 areas▾
Cades Cove Reservation Only ▾
Sites159 + 4 group
SeasonYear-round
NotesAt the start of the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road; the park's most popular campground
Book on Recreation.gov ↗
Smokemont Reservation Only ▾
Sites142
SeasonYear-round
NotesNC side, near Oconaluftee, along the Bradley Fork of the Oconaluftee River
Campground details ↗
Elkmont Reservation Only ▾
Sites~220 (incl. 20 walk-in)
SeasonSeasonal
NotesLargest campground; near the synchronous firefly viewing area (lottery, early June)
Campground details ↗
Cosby Reservation Only ▾
Sites~157
SeasonSeasonal
NotesQuiet NE corner of the park, less crowded, good access to Mt. Cammerer trail
Campground details ↗
Deep Creek Reservation Only ▾
Sites92
SeasonSeasonal
NotesNC side near Bryson City; popular tubing creek
Campground details ↗
Look Rock Reservation Only ▾
Sites68
SeasonMid-May–October
NotesReopened 2023 after a 9-year closure; near a scenic overlook on Foothills Parkway
Campground details ↗
Balsam Mountain Reservation Only ▾
Sites42
SeasonSeasonal
NotesHighest-elevation campground (~5,300 ft); access road narrow & one-way beyond the campground
Campground details ↗
Cataloochee Reservation Only ▾
Sites27
SeasonSeasonal
NotesRemote NC valley, historic buildings, reliable elk viewing
Campground details ↗
Big Creek Reservation Only ▾
Sites12 (tent only)
SeasonSeasonal
NotesSmallest, most remote frontcountry campground, NE corner near I-40
Campground details ↗
Abrams Creek Reservation Only ▾
Sites16
SeasonSeasonal
NotesLowest-elevation campground (~1,125 ft), remote western corner near Chilhowee Lake
Campground details ↗
Landmarks & Trailheads13 stops▾
Kuwohi & Newfound Gap Area4 stops▾
Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome)Highest point in the park · observation tower · steep 0.5 mi paved trail6,643 ft
Newfound GapTN/NC state line overlook on US-4415,046 ft
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail5.5 mi one-way loop past historic cabins & cascades~1 hr drive
Chimney Tops OverlookRoadside view of the twin rock spires~10 min
Cades Cove Area3 stops▾
Cades Cove Loop Road11-mi one-way loop · historic homesteads & churches · closed to vehicles every Wed through Sept 30, 20262–4 hrs
John Oliver CabinOldest surviving log home in the cove, early stop on the loop~15 min
Cable Mill Historic AreaWorking grist mill & visitor center partway around the loop~30 min
Waterfalls2 stops▾
Laurel FallsPaved 2.6 mi round trip · trail closed for rehabilitation, check current status~2 hrs
Rainbow FallsStrenuous 5.4 mi round trip to the park's tallest single-drop waterfall~4 hrs
Oconaluftee / NC Side2 stops▾
Mingus MillHistoric 1886 turbine-powered gristmill, still operating seasonally~20 min
Oconaluftee Visitor Center & Farm MuseumHistoric farm buildings, frequent elk sightings in the adjacent fields~45 min
River Conditions4 live gauges▾
Oconaluftee River at Birdtown, NC
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USGS site 03512000 ↗
Little Pigeon River at Sevierville, TN
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USGS site 03470000 ↗
Park Contact Information