Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most visited national parks, and its gorgeous mountains and wide expanses keep visitors coming back year after year!
However, it’s important to plan your trip to this park with the weather in mind to make sure you get to see all the best views in the park. You may be wondering if the Great Smokies are open year-round, what the weather will be like, or what will be open while you’re there.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open 365 days per year, 24 hours per day. There are no entrance stations in this park, so as long as the road is open, you can come and go as you please.
My name is Ash, and I’m a former park ranger. I love Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and I can’t wait to help you plan your trip!
I’ve got a ton of information for you about visiting the Great Smokies year-round, including the hours, closures, and weather you can expect while you vacation in this stunning national park. Let’s get started!
Is Great Smoky Mountains National Park Open Year-Round?
Great Smoky Mountain National Park is open 365 days per year, 24 hours per day. This means that if you want to hike a trail at sunrise, you will be able to get in, and if you want to stargaze at 1 a.m., you’ll be able to get out.
But it doesn’t mean that all of the activities and points of interest will be open for you at all times.
For example:
- All four of the park’s visitor centers do not stay open 24/7
- Not all campgrounds are open year-round
- The roads through the park may close due to snow or ice
- Trails may be closed due to construction or unsafe conditions
These closures are common year-round, so let’s discuss what may be closed even if the park itself is open.
Operating Hours for Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains Visitor Center Hours
There are four visitor centers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Cades Cove, Oconaluftee, Sugarlands, and Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome).
Cades Cove, Oconaluftee, and Sugarlands are all open year-round, with shorter hours during the winter season. The contact station at Kuwohi closes seasonally with the road (usually December-April). Each center offers ranger-led programs during the spring, summer, and fall months. Check with the visitor center website for current events and specific hours.
Great Smoky Mountains Entrance Station Hours
Great Smoky Mountains National Park doesn’t have any entrance stations! Even though it is the busiest park in the country, you will not be charged an entrance fee when entering the park. This means that you can drive the main roads through the park at any time as long as they are open.
Even though there are no entrance stations, there are three cities that lead to the main entrances to the park — two in Tennessee (Gatlinburg and Townsend) and one in North Carolina (Cherokee).
You’ll find yourself at the Sugarlands Visitor Center if you enter the park from Gatlinburg, and if you enter from Cherokee, you’ll pass by the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.
Instead of charging an entrance fee, the park now charges parking fees to raise the critical funds the park needs to keep things running. See the above link to find out where to purchase a parking tag.
Common Closures in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains Lodging Closures
Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers nine frontcountry campgrounds, seven group campgrounds, and five horse campgrounds. The only campgrounds that are open year-round are Cades Cove and Smokemont.
The rest of the campgrounds open when the weather starts to warm up in April or May, then shut down when it gets cold again during October or November. Reservations are highly recommended for frontcountry campgrounds and required for group and horse campgrounds. You can make reservations online.
The only lodge in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the LeConte Lodge. This lodge is located near the summit of Mount LeConte, so a long hike is required to stay here!
The LeConte Lodge is usually open from mid-March to mid-November, and it fills up quickly! To make a reservation, visit the website for more information.
Common Road Closures in the Great Smoky Mountains
Primary roads such as US-441 (Newfound Gap Road), Little River Road, and the Cades Cove Loop Road are open year-round, weather permitting.
If you’ll be visiting the park during the summer, be aware that the Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to vehicles every Wednesday from May-September. You can still hike, bike, or horseback ride along this road during the Wednesday vehicle closures, you just can’t drive your vehicle through the cove.
Most secondary roads are open from April through November. This includes the popular road to Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome) and the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
All roads through the park can close due to inclement weather conditions, maintenance, or wildlife activity.
Common Trail Closures in the Great Smoky Mountains
All hiking trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park are available year-round (even in the winter!), but some may temporarily close due to inclement weather, wildlife activity, or maintenance.
Check the current road, facility, trail & backcountry updates page for any current or expected closures.
What is the Weather Like in the Great Smoky Mountains?
Temperatures and weather can widely fluctuate in the Smokies depending on where you are exploring! If you stay in the lower elevation areas (such as Cades Cove, Sugarlands, and Oconaluftee), expect warmer temperatures with less snow in the winter.
If you’re venturing up higher into the mountains, expect cooler temperatures and more snow! This includes most stops along the Newfound Gap Road (such as Alum Cave, Appalachian Trail, and Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome).
Take a look at the average highs and lows (in degrees Fahrenheit) and snow levels (in inches) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This information is for the lower elevations of the park near Gatlinburg. Click here to see weather information for the higher elevations of the park.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg High (F) | 51 | 54 | 61 | 71 | 79 | 86 | 88 | 87 | 83 | 73 | 61 | 52 |
| Avg Low (F) | 28 | 29 | 34 | 42 | 50 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 55 | 43 | 33 | 28 |
| Avg Snow (“) | 2.3 | 2.9 | flurries | flurries | flurries | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.7 | 4.5 |
| Avg Rain (“) | 4.8 | 4.8 | 5.3 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 5.2 | 5.7 | 5.3 | 3 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 1 |
Winter Weather in the Smokies
During winter, park roads may close due to snow and ice, especially at high elevations, where wet roads can freeze as temperatures drop at night. Daytime temperatures can be quite comfortable, but nights usually drop below freezing.
That’s not to say that it’s not worth visiting during winter, though. The snow scares away most travelers, so winter is a fantastic time of year to visit the park if you don’t want to fight through the crowds. Many hikers enjoy exploring the snowy trails, and families love the holiday festivities in and around the park.
Spring Weather in the Smokies
The weather during the spring months can be unpredictable — it can go from sunny to snow flurries within hours! Temperatures fluctuate greatly between the park’s highest and lowest elevations, with temperatures reaching as high as the 70s and as low as freezing. Afternoon showers are common throughout April, but the park starts to warm up a bit during May.
Spring is a fantastic time to visit the park if you love to see nature come alive again! The trees start to bud, and it’s a great time to try your luck at seeing some wildlife.
Traffic and crowding in the Smokies can be terrible.
Did you know that it’s common to sit in traffic for an hour or more in this park?
Are you hoping to see the best sights without getting stuck in traffic, circling parking lots, or being surrounded by people?
Stay ahead of the crowds with 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!
Summer Weather in the Smokies
Summer in Great Smoky Mountains National Park brings heat, haze, and humidity, with afternoon showers and thunderstorms common throughout the park. Temperatures can hit as high as the 90s in the lower elevations with lows in the 60s. If you’ll be hiking up in the mountains, expect slightly cooler temperatures.
You can get to all of the can’t-miss spots in the summer! All campgrounds and roads are open, so it’s a great time to explore the park. Expect crowd levels to be high because everyone wants to get out and explore this beautiful area at this time!
Autumn Weather in the Smokies
Autumn is a perfect time to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park — you’ll usually see clear skies with warm days and cool nights. Temperatures start to drop, with the average highs falling to the 60s and the average lows to the 30s by November. This is the driest time of year, although you might encounter some snow in the higher elevations towards the end of November.
October is the park’s busiest month because of the vibrant fall colors you can see as you’re exploring the park!
So now you may be asking yourself, when is the best time to visit the Smokies?
Now that you know you can visit the Great Smoky Mountains year-round, click next to see my specific recommendations for the best times to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
More Great Smoky Mountains Trip Planning Information
Great Smoky Mountains Itinerary — a detailed hour-by-hour sightseeing schedule.
How to Get to the Smokies — the best airports and roads in the area.
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.
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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