Are the Smoky Mountains better in Tennessee or North Carolina?

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular National Park in the country. Since this park is spread out across two states – Tennessee and North Carolina – the topic of “which side is better” is often debated. The short answer to this debate: both sides of the Smokies are beautiful!



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The majority of visitors enter through the Sugarlands entrance on the park's north side (top star on map) by driving through Gatlinburg, Tennessee. This entrance is an hour's drive southeast of Knoxville on US 441. Gatlinburg is the busiest, most touristy gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

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The native Cherokee people traditionally called the Great Smoky Mountains Shaconage, which translates to “place of the blue smoke.” Euro-American settlers drew from this name in their own label of “Smoky Mountains,” with “Great” being added at some point or another to reflect the massiveness and grandeur of the range.

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9 Essential Attractions and Activities in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
  • Sugarlands Visitors Center. ...
  • Cades Cove Loop. ...
  • Roaring Forks Motor Nature Trail. ...
  • Newfound Gap Road. ...
  • Clingmans Dome. ...
  • Synchronous Fireflies. ...
  • The Sinks. ...
  • Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte.


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