Great Smoky Mountains Itinerary 3 Days
- Laura
- Aug 19
- 6 min read
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The vast Great Smoky Mountains National Park is divided between Tennessee and North Carolina. The most visited park in the United States encompasses towering mountains, herds of elk, cascading waterfalls, and vintage Appalachian homesteads. Use our Great Smoky Mountains itinerary to learn how to spend 3 days in this UNESCO World Heritage site.
Our Great Smoky Mountains itinerary is a mix of scenic drives, trail hikes, and Gatlinburg nightlife. By concentrating on the Tennessee side of the park the itinerary allows you to experience many of the best things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park while minimizing drive times.
For more detailed information on visiting the park read our blog posts on Planning a Trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
THINGS TO DO AROUND THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS
HOW TO GET TO GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
There are three main entrances to the park located in Gatlinburg TN, Townsend TN, and Cherokee NC.
If you are flying to the region, the closest airports are McGhee-Tyson Airport near Knoxville TN or Ashville Regional Airport just east of Cherokee NC. There is no public transportation to the park from major cities in the area.
Click on this link to investigate airfare.
Click on this link to investigate car rentals.
WHERE TO STAY IN GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS
When utilizing this Great Smoky Mountains itinerary, the best places to stay would be in Gatlinburg TN or Townsend TN. Gatlinburg abuts the park. It has many great restaurants, hotels, and entertainment venues. If you prefer a quieter environment, look for lodging in Townsend.
Consider these well-reviewed Gatlinburg and Townsend hotels:
Old Creek Lodge - Gatlinburg
Margaritaville - Gatlinburg
Baymont by Wyndham - Gatlinburg
Greystone Lodge - Gatlinburg
Best Western Cades Cove - Townsend
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK CAMPING
A campsite for your accommodations is a great choice in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. There are 10 campgrounds and more than 100 backcountry sites in the park. Campgrounds are generally open from April through October. Reservations are recommended.
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK TOURS
Park roads are well-maintained, but full of twists and turns. Leave the driving to someone else with a guided tour to the region:
BEST TIME TO VISIT GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS
There is no bad time to visit the park. Do consider that in winter some roads close and park services run on shorter hours. On the flip side, the hot and humid summer brings peak crowds, long lines, and bumper to bumper traffic.
To experience the park with less crowds and temperate weather we think the best time to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park is in the months of (late) April, May, June, September, October, and (early) November – excluding peak foliage weeks.
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS MAP
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS ITINERARY 3 DAYS
Keep an eye on the forecast and adjust the itinerary as needed for clear skies when visiting Cades Cove and Kuwohi Mountain (formerly known as Clingmans Dome). Also, keep in mind there are no restaurants or grocery stores (or gas!) in the park so bring food and plan to picnic.
DAY 1: Alum Cave Trail, Newfound Gap, & Clingmans Dome
Begin your exploration with a stop at the Sugarland’s Visitor Center. Grab maps and speak with a park ranger about any park alerts. Visit the exhibits explaining how the “CCC” boys helped build the park during the Great Depression.
Next, drive 8.7 miles along the Newfound Gap Road (Rt 441) to the Alum Cave Trailhead. The parking lot is on the left hand side of the road (try to arrive early or you may need to wait for a spot).
Hike the Alum Cave Trail (moderately difficult). The 4.6 mile round trip takes you through Arch Rock to the Alum Cave Bluffs. The hike to Arch Rock has a gentle grade alongside a stream in old-growth forest. The trek from Arch Rock to Alum Cave Bluffs gets steeper and rockier with amazing mountain views.
Later, continue along Rt. 441. The route takes you along a scenic mountain road with streams, tunnels, and overlooks. Pause when you reach the large Newfound Gap parking lot. On the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, this point is one of the highest in Great Smoky Mountains National Park at 5,046 feet.
Enjoy the mountain views. Then, continue on Rt 441S a short distance until you reach Kuwohi Road. Turn right and follow the road 7 miles uphill until you reach the summit of Kuwohi Mountain (formerly known as Clingmans Dome).
Park in the large lot. Then, hike a 1 mile paved uphill path to reach the Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome) observation tower. The views of the Appalachian Mountains are said to be spectacular. We hiked it on a foggy day – and had no views – and still loved the experience.
Spend your evening getting to know downtown Gatlinburg Tennessee. There are wineries, distilleries, tons of shops, and too many attractions to list. For dinner and some live music try Ole Red Gatlinburg, Jason Aldean’s Kitchen, or the Gatlinburg Brewing Company.
DAY 2: Elkmont Ghost Town & Cades Cove
Begin the day with a visit to an abandoned “ghost” town. Drive to the Elkmont Campground and park in the large trailhead lot next to it.
Explore the abandoned Elkmont resort community. The hamlet began as a logging camp. In the early 1900s, it morphed into a resort community that gradually died out when the national park was established. Today, you can tour the cabins that have been preserved by the National Park service.
After, hike on the nearby Little River Trail. The path is rated as easy and stretches on for about 2.5miles. On this pleasant trek find lots of wildflowers, a meandering river, and forest of oak, hickory, maple, and birch trees.
From Elkmont, drive to the Cades Cove Visitor Center and have lunch in the picnic grounds. Before leaving the area, get a map of stops along the Cades Cove route at the Visitor Center.
Next, drive the 11 mile Cades Cove Scenic Loop. The paved one-way road sits in a beautiful valley below the Appalachian Mountains. Stop to tour the historic churches, log cabins, and cemeteries that dot the loop. This popular drive is often bumper to bumper in summer, on holidays, and weekends. Plan for 2-4 hour outing.
If you love wildlife viewing, when you reach the end of the loop drive back at the visitor center. Then, do the first part of the loop road again. When you reach the Missionary Baptist Church (about 2.8 miles) look for a dirt road on the right with a sign for Hyatt Lane.
Hyatt Lane is one of the cut off roads that is used to shorten the Cades Cove loop. The narrow road has two-way traffic. We found this remote lane to be exceptional for spotting black bears and other wildlife. Remember: Black bears should not be approached. Before visiting the park, read the National Park Service’s bear page.
This evening, drive into Pigeon Forge and find The-Island-in-Pigeon-Forge. The 23 acre complex is full of family entertainment including live music, fireworks, light shows, shops, and thrill rides. For dinner try the Timberwood Grill, Margaritaville, or Paula Dean’s Kitchen.
Drive to the Laurel Falls Trailhead parking lot. Start the day with a 2.6 mile roundtrip hike to Laurel Falls. The trail winds through the forest upwards until culminating in an 80 foot waterfall.
The moderately difficult hike is actually on a paved path – which is broken and uneven – making it unsuitable for anyone with mobility issues. The waterfall is amazing.
From Laurel Falls, drive to the Roaring Forks Motor Nature Trail. At the entrance to the scenic drive, discover the Noah “Bud” Ogle farmstead. Wander through the heritage buildings before driving the 6 mile Roaring Forks scenic loop. If you feel like another hike, try Rainbow Falls, Trillium Gap, or Grotto Falls trails.
Tonight, head back into Gatlinburg. In the center of town, locate the Anakeesta ticket booth and take a chairlift to the top of the hill. At Anakeesta Adventure Park explore 70 acres of whimsical lands, treetop walks, and coaster thrill rides.
Have dinner outside with views of Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains. Then, attend Astra Lumina. Walk the “celestial” pathway and enjoy an excellent light and music show.
We hope you enjoy the Smoky Mountains and Appalachia, Laura and Randy
For more information on US National Parks, read our travel blog posts on:
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