Begin your exploration of the park at a visitor center. Here you can pick up a park map or newspaper, have your questions answered by a ranger, and purchase books and guides to the park.
Four visitor centers are located within the national park at Cades Cove, Oconaluftee, Sugarlands and Clingmans Dome. In addition, four information centers are located outside the park in the communities of Gatlinburg, Sevierville, and Townsend.
Two historic grist mills are open seasonally in the park. Both provide demonstrations of corn meal milling.
Cades Cove Visitor Center
Open every day except Christmas Day.January
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
February
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
March
9:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
April - August
9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
September - October
9:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
November
9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
December
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location
Inside the park near the mid-point of the 11-mile, one-way Cades Cove Loop Road.
Inside the park near the mid-point of the 11-mile, one-way Cades Cove Loop Road.
Special Programs
Ranger-led programs are conducted seasonally. Check at the visitor center for times.
Ranger-led programs are conducted seasonally. Check at the visitor center for times.
Exhibits
Indoor and outdoor exhibits of Southern Mountain life and culture. Includes Cable Mill, a grist mill which operates spring through fall, the Becky Cable house, and other historic structures.
Indoor and outdoor exhibits of Southern Mountain life and culture. Includes Cable Mill, a grist mill which operates spring through fall, the Becky Cable house, and other historic structures.
Available Facilities
Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. Public restrooms.
Oconaluftee Visitor Center
Open every day except Christmas DayJanuary - February
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
March
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
April - May
8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
June - August
8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
September - October
8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
November
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
December
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. Public restrooms.
Oconaluftee Visitor Center
Open every day except Christmas DayJanuary - February
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
March
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
April - May
8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
June - August
8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
September - October
8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
November
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
December
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location
Inside the park, 2 miles north of Cherokee, NC, on US-441.
Inside the park, 2 miles north of Cherokee, NC, on US-441.
Special Programs
Ranger-led programs conducted seasonally. Check at the visitor center for location and times.
Ranger-led programs conducted seasonally. Check at the visitor center for location and times.
Exhibits
Visitor center museum exhibits tell the story of life in these mountains from native Americans and early European settlement time periods through the Civilian Conservation Corp and the development of the national park. The adjacent Mountain Farm Museum contains a fascinating collection of log structures including a farmhouse, barn, smokehouse, applehouse, corn cribs and others. Demonstrations of farm life are conducted seasonally.
Visitor center museum exhibits tell the story of life in these mountains from native Americans and early European settlement time periods through the Civilian Conservation Corp and the development of the national park. The adjacent Mountain Farm Museum contains a fascinating collection of log structures including a farmhouse, barn, smokehouse, applehouse, corn cribs and others. Demonstrations of farm life are conducted seasonally.
Available Facilities
Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. Public restrooms. Soda and water machines.
Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. Public restrooms. Soda and water machines.
Sugarlands Visitor Center
Open every day except Christmas Day.January - February
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
March
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
April - May
8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
June - August
8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
September - October
8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
November
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
December
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location
Inside the park, 2 miles south of Gatlinburg on US-441.
Special Programs
Ranger-led programs conducted seasonally. Check at the visitor center for locations and times.
Ranger-led programs conducted seasonally. Check at the visitor center for locations and times.
Exhibits
Free admission to 20-minute film about the park. Extensive natural history exhibits.
Free admission to 20-minute film about the park. Extensive natural history exhibits.
Available Facilities
Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. Public restrooms. Soda and water machines. Backcountry Information Office.
Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. Public restrooms. Soda and water machines. Backcountry Information Office.