Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a huge national park, and it brings in millions of people every year! In fact, it is the MOST visited national park because it is within a day’s drive of over half of the U.S. population! In this article, we’ll discuss how to get to the Great Smokies, including the best airports to fly into and the best roads to drive!
If you are flying to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the nearest airport is the McGhee Tyson Airport, which is about 25 miles away. If you’d rather fly into a larger international airport, then book your tickets to major cities like Charlotte, North Carolina, or Atlanta, Georgia.
Driving to Great Smoky Mountains National Park? You’ll love the scenery found along Foothills Parkway or the Blue Ridge Parkway, but really, you can’t go wrong. You’ll be surrounded by beautiful forest and mountain views as you approach the park by road!
My name is Ash, and I’m a former park ranger. The Great Smoky Mountains are incredible, and I can’t wait to help you plan your upcoming trip to this spectacular national park.
Let’s talk more about how to get to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including my advice on the best airports and roads in the area!
Where is Great Smoky Mountains National Park Located?
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina. It is approximately 3.5 hours east of Nashville, TN, 2.5 hours from Charlotte, NC, and 3 hours from Atlanta, GA.
The closest national parks to the Great Smokies are Mammoth Cave (4 hours) and Congaree (3.5-4 hours).
The closest towns with lots of amenities are Gatlinburg, TN, and Cherokee, NC, both of which are right outside the park. You’ll likely pass through one or both of these cities as you enter the park.
What is the Closest Airport to Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
McGhee Tyson Airport
The closest airport to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), less than 25 miles northwest of the park and just south of Knoxville, Tennessee.
This is the best airport for flying into the Great Smoky Mountains area. It only takes 30 minutes to get to Townsend, Tennessee, which is the quiet side of the park. If you’re planning on staying closer to Gatlinburg, it only takes a little over an hour to get there from the McGhee Tyson Airport.
This airport is open year-round and operates flights on many major airlines, such as Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, and United. If you’re flying into the McGhee Tyson Airport, you’ll probably have a connecting flight in Atlanta or Charlotte.
Other Regional Airports Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Asheville Regional Airport
You can also fly into the Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) if you want to easily access the North Carolina side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
This airport is about 60 miles east of the Cherokee entrance to the park and is open year-round. It is also serviced by most of the major domestic airlines like Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Sun Country, and United and has connections in Atlanta and Charlotte.
What are the Largest Airports Near the Smokies?
If you don’t want to pay a premium price to fly into one of the smaller regional airports listed above, it will make the most sense to fly into a larger international airport near the Smokies, such as the airports in Charlotte, Atlanta, or Nashville. Ticket prices to these airports can be much cheaper, but your drive time to the park will be longer.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport
The Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is located in Charlotte, NC, which is about 145 miles east of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
This airport is the closest international airport to the Great Smokies, making it the best place to fly into if you want a shorter commute to the park from a large airport. It takes about 3 hours to get to Cherokee from here.
From Charlotte Douglas, you can also drive about 2 hours south to Congaree National Park if you want to see another park during your trip!
Other Large Airports Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Two other major airport options are the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the Nashville International Airport. The drive from these airports is a little longer but may allow you to add in other stops as you make your way to the Smokies.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is about 173 miles south of the Smokies. You’ll have to rent a car and drive about 3.5 hours to get to the Cherokee side of the park.
You could take a couple of detours on your way to the park if you want to get the most out of your drive. such as hiking in Cloudland Canyon State Park or picking fruit at the Mercier Orchards!
Nashville International Airport
The Nashville International Airport (BNA) is about 197 miles west of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and it takes about 3.5 hours to get to Gatlinburg from here.
Flying into Nashville is perfect if you want to experience the honky tonks on Broadway Street and then head over to the Smokies via the Gatlinburg entrance.
Planning a trip to the Smokies can be overwhelming.
How do you make a solid plan if you’ve never been to the park before? How do you keep everyone in your group excited and engaged?
You can spend hours on the internet searching for things to do, but you still won’t find the insider tips and first-hand knowledge that I’ve gained from working as a park ranger.
If you’re hoping to see the best sights without getting stuck in traffic, circling parking lots, or being surrounded by people, check out this Great Smoky Mountains Itinerary.
You will see all of the can’t-miss spots, plus get lodging and dining guides, driving directions, and insider tips!
The Best Roads to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
If you’re driving to the Smokies, you will see plenty of gorgeous scenery along your route. Here are some things you can expect as you approach Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Highway 321
Highway 321 is the road you’ll be on as you travel from the McGhee Tyson Airport to the Smokies. As you approach the park on Highway 321, you’ll first reach the town of Townsend. From Townsend, you can cut down toward Cades Cove (one of the most popular spots in the park).
If you continue driving on Highway 321, you’ll reach the beautiful Wears Valley. The Wears Valley is a lesser-known area outside of the park, and there is a road from the valley into the park that most people don’t know about! If you take the Wears Cove Road from Wears Valley, you’ll reach the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area in the national park.
Continuing on Highway 321 from the Wears Valley, you’ll then reach the larger town of Pigeon Forge. From Pigeon Forge, it’s an easy drive down to Gatlinburg and the Newfound Gap Road.
Highway 321 is open year-round, weather permitting. It is RV-friendly.
The road from Townsend down to Cades Cove is fine for RVs. The road from the Wears Valley to the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area is narrow and curvy with a one-way bridge. There are no restrictions for this road, but if you’re in a large rig, you might want to enter the park another way.
Highway 441
Highway 441 is the main north-to-south artery through the Great Smoky Mountains, and you’ll definitely drive this road while you’re getting to and exploring the park!
Highway 441 is the road that connects Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Along this stretch, you’ll find everything you could need — restaurants, shops, activities, and lodging.
Continuing south from Gatlinburg, the highway enters Great Smoky Mountains National Park and becomes the Newfound Gap Road. This is where you’ll find popular points of interest, such as Alum Cave, the Appalachian Trail, Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome), and Mingus Mill.
As you exit the park on the south side, you’ll take this highway to get into the town of Cherokee, North Carolina.
Highway 441 is a basic 2-lane highway with a lot of curves and elevation changes, but driving an RV is just fine along this route. Highway 441 stays open year-round, weather permitting.
Highway 19
You’ll drive Highway 19 if you fly into Asheville and need to make your way over to Cherokee (the south entrance of the park).
The picturesque Maggie Valley is along the way, and this road is a great way to ramble through the beautiful scenery of the area.
Highway 19 is RV-friendly, and it stays open year-round, weather permitting.
Foothills Parkway
The Foothills Parkway is a scenic road just outside of the main part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The western (and longest) section currently stretches from Chilhowee to the Wears Valley.
This road is managed by the National Park Service, so it’s a great way to see the national park! There are many fabulous viewpoints here — I suggest coming out here in the evening for sunset if you want some fabulous photos of the mountains.
If you’re coming to the park via Highway 321, it’s easy to jump on Foothills Parkway and take a more scenic route to Gatlinburg.
The Foothills Parkway is RV-friendly and is open year-round, weather permitting.
Blue Ridge Parkway
If you’re visiting the North Carolina side of the Smokies, you’ll want to set aside some time to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway, one of the most scenic drives in the U.S.!
The Blue Ridge Parkway connects Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina with Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. It’s 469 miles long if you want to drive the whole route, but if you don’t plan on going all the way up to Shenandoah, you can get some amazing views of the Smokies by just spending an hour or two on the road.
The parkway is open year-round, weather permitting. This is a curvy road with many low clearance tunnels that might not be ideal for RVs. There are sections of the road that you can drive in an RV, but you’ll want to consult the official NPS site to determine what sections will be okay for your RV.
This information should help you get to the Great Smoky Mountains fast — there are so many big adventures waiting for you in this beautiful national park. Safe travels!
More Great Smoky Mountains Trip Planning Information
Great Smoky Mountains Itinerary — a detailed hour-by-hour sightseeing schedule.
How Many Days Should I Spend in the Great Smokies? — itinerary ideas.
The Best Time to Visit — what to expect during each month of the year.
Where Should I Stay? — the best options in and around the park.
Weather, Hours, and Closures —‚ important weather info and common closures.
All About Camping — learn about the park’s campgrounds and how to get a site.
12 Things You Can’t Miss on Your First Visit to Great Smoky Mountains — the top 12 spots.
The Best Easy Hikes — the perfect trails for kids, wheelchairs, and beginners.
The Ultimate Smokies Trip Planning Guide — everything you need to know.
Best Things to Do — activities for every type of adventurer.
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