RVers Guide to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN

More than 11 million people visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina every year. Those numbers help make this national part the most popular and heavily visited of the 59 national parks in the US. Whether you’re looking to take a road trip through the area, get off the beaten path, or do some camping along the way, we’ve got you covered with an RV Rental from RVnGO. 

As you go RVing, it’s the best way to experience the span of a national park that covers 522,427 acres, with ten developed campgrounds, 11 picnic areas, more than 100 backcountry campsites, and 850 miles of trails. Here’s a quick overview of what you can see and do while you explore the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with destinations, activities, and experiences you simply can’t miss. A camper rental will get you there. Then, all you’ve got to do is soak up the natural beauty of this park with amazing and breathtaking landscapes you won’t ever forget. 

Let’s get started with one of the best destinations to go RVing — Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Discover the Perfect Spot

Make Camp

You’ll need to plan ahead and make advance reservations if you’re planning to stay at one of the campgrounds in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. While first-come, first-served sites are no longer available, you can also call 1-877-444-6777 to register and pay your fee for a maximum of 14 consecutive days at a time for one campsite. 

Gather Firewood

You can find certified heat-treated firewood, which is clearly marked with a federal or state seal, from local stores and businesses. You can also find certified firewood at the Cades Cove, Smokemont, and Elkmont campgrounds during the normal operating season (March until October for Elkmont and Smokemont, but through November for Cades Cove). 

Bring Pets

Your pets will love to join you on your adventure, but keep them on a leash, properly dispose of waste, and prevent excessive barking while you’re at your campsite and on the trails. 

Be Prepared

Even though the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most popular national parks, you’ll still spend at least some of your time outside, with erratic weather, potential water hazards, and wild animals. Be prepared to adapt to changing conditions and carry water and the supplies you’ll need for hikes and other adventures in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 

Enjoy Hiking in the Wildflowers

One of your favorite parts of visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will soon be the profusion and diversity of wildflowers. You’ll experience 1,500 varieties of flowering plants, which is more than you’ll find at any other national park. Experience different flowers depending on what time of year you visit, but there’s flowering splendor for most of the year. 

In the Spring, you’ll see and experience bleeding heart, lady slipper orchids, columbine, crested dwarf iris, fire pink, jack-in-the-pulpit, little brown jugs, phacelia, showy orchis, and violets. The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage is a great way to experience the flowers via a festival of flowers guided hikes. It’s such a beautiful way to cruise America. 

In Summer, immerse yourself in the bee-balm, black-eyed Susans, butterfly weed, jewelweed, pink turtleheads, red cardinal flowers, small purple-fringed orchids, and Turk’s cap lily. There’s a profusion of colors, fragrance, and beauty no matter what time of year you explore the wildflowers at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Dip a Toe into the Streams and Tributaries

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has more than 730 miles of streams and 1,300 miles of tributaries. So, there are plenty of areas to cool off when you’re not fishing or camping beside the stream as part of your backcountry adventure. 

Dig Into the Cultural Experience

They certified the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on December 6, 1983, in recognition of the rich Southern Appalachian history and culture. It’s not only a huge and beautiful natural wonder, but it’s also a unique ecosystem with more than 3,500 plant species, endangered animal species, and virgin forests that are still relatively untouched. 

Originally occupied by indigenous peoples, it’s an important area for archeological research and study with evidence of four pre-Columbian cultures: Archaic, Mississippian, paleo-Indian, and Woodland. With those early archeological sites, you’ll find one of the best collections of log buildings bearing evidence of trading, logging, farming, and mining in the 19th century. Congress finally authorized the park in 1926 to preserve the park for future generations, but you can still find rich remnants of the past in the apple house, barns, log farmhouse, and working blacksmith shop.

Venture Out to the Waterfalls

You’ll love the numerous waterfalls at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina. With more than 100 waterfalls, you can drive or hike to many of them. At 20 feet high, Abrams Falls is the most voluminous waterfall, accessible via a 5-mile round-trip hike. For other options, you can enjoy Grotto Falls, a 25-foot waterfall, with access via the 3-mile round trip Trillium Gap Trail. Or experience the two-tiered beauty of the 80-foot Laurel Falls. Of course, Ramsey Cascades is the tallest waterfall, with a cascading height of 100 feet, but that’s an 8-mile round-trip hike. 

You can get to Rainbow Falls via the 5.4-mile round-trip hike, but you’ll love the rainbow if you visit this 80-foot waterfall on sunny afternoons. Other waterfalls include Hen Wallow Falls, Indian Creek Falls, Lynn Camp Prong Cascades, and Mingo Falls. They’re all worth a visit. 

Take in the Sunset Beauty

There’s a certain majestic beauty when you stand anywhere near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and watch the sunset. You don’t have to be miles away from the road to get some spectacular views. Those gorgeous sunsets are easily accessible, and you won’t miss a single moment from your RV. Here are a few quick spots. 

• Pull off US 441 to take in the sunset from Morton Overlook.
• Hike the paved path at Clingmans Dome to reach the tower at the 6,643-foot summit for a sundown show you won’t forget. 
• Take in the vibrant colors as the sun fades away along the Gatlinburg Bypass. 
• Watch as the deer, and other wildlife come out for the dying of the sunset light. 

Whether you find yourself hiking in the mountains, camping along a stream, or driving through the evening glow, the glory of those Smoky Mountain sunsets is the stuff that songs and legends are made of. 

Walk the Golf Courses in Tennessee and North Carolina

While you’re exploring Tennessee’s scenic landscapes and wonders, explore the challenging golf courses at Gatlinburg, Knoxville, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and Townsend in Tennessee. Experience the golf courses at Asheville, Bryson City, and Cherokee in North Carolina. 

Golfing is the perfect, relaxing activity as part of your destinations tour of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are lots of options, and there’s something for everyone to enjoy. You’ll find some of the most scenic views and spectacular landscapes when you take a few pit stops for golfing on your RV adventure to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

PS – Experience the Scenic Wonders From the Comfort of Your Rented RV

It’s never too late to explore the scenic destinations of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There’s so much to see and do. We make scenic travel easy and accessible with our RV rental options from RVnGO. With our rental solutions, options are more affordable than you might have imagined. Decide where and when you want to go as you cruise America. 

Use one of our RVnGO rental RVs to start out on your cross-country adventure. Take a few minutes to find the perfect RV for your journey, and then plan your trip. We’ve got lots of great ideas for what you can see and do along the way, with extraordinary and memorable destinations for you to spend your time. 

A rental RV can take you nearly anywhere in the US to see and experience beautiful sunsets, immersive waterfalls, and the wonders of rare and amazing wildlife. As you head for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park or even Lassen Volcanic National Park, where will your RV adventure take you? We’re standing by to help you get there with the RV rentals that will take you on all those wonderful adventures. 

Ultimately, rent an RV through RVnGO. 

Pack plenty of water, sun screen and hats! Read more about what to pack for any road trip in our packing checklist.

Check out America’s Top 20 National Parks for Your Summer Vacation.

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