Where is the best place to enter the Smoky Mountains?

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.



People Also Ask

Taking a scenic drive is one of the easiest and most rewarding things you can do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With almost 400 miles of roadway in the park and the surrounding scenic area, you can drive to specific locations to enjoy, as well as tour through steadily changing vistas of great beauty.

MORE DETAILS

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!

MORE DETAILS

How Far Apart are Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge? As a bird flies, the distance between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge is about five miles total.

MORE DETAILS