Oconaluftee Visitor Center is a must-stop during your roadtrip through the beautiful Great Smoky…read moreMountains. There's plenty of parking, clean restrooms, an indoor museum with a gift shop, the Mountain Farm Museum, hiking trails, and a large pasture where you might have the opportunity to see elk. We had a quick stop over so we didn't get to explore too much of the area, especially because we had our dog with us and it was quite a hot day. The indoor museum was curated well and was informative on the life in the Appalachians. The gift shop was nice, well stocked, and had plenty of options. I always buy something from National Park centers as a donation. I bought a sticker, a patch, and a magnet. They also have stamps for your National Park Passports, too!

Coming from Cherokee, this is the first Visitor's Center you will find as you drive into the Great…read moreSmoky Mountains. You may see elk, there's a lot of signage mentioning them. You may see bears, so drive slowly and be prepared to stop (carefully!) for wildlife! The farm here was so peaceful and next to the stream, and there's a museum on site as well. There were baby birds screaming from a nest above the bathroom, too, which was bonus wildlife since I saw a bear slightly further in, but no elk this time!

At 6643 feet, Clingmans Dome, now known by its Cherokee name, Kuwohi, is the highest point in the…read moreGreat Smoky Mountains National Park. My visit to Kuwohi was a highlight of my visit to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The drive up to the summit is breathtaking. There are several overlooks along the way to stop and enjoy the views. When we arrived, it was about 20 degrees colder than in Gatlinburg and it was very windy. Fortunately, we had dressed warm for the hike. The half mile trail is paved and accessible, however, the climb is straight up and was very difficult for some people. At the top of the trail we passed the Appalachian Trail. Then we found a fantastic Mid Century concrete spiral structure to climb. At the top, is an observation deck with placards describing the magnificent views of Tennessee and North Carolina. The modern observation deck was completed in 1960, replacing a wooden structure. Thomas Lanier Clingman was one of the early explorers that mapped the region in the 1850's. Kuwohi was (and still is) a sacred mountain of the Cherokee people. The mountain held Magic Lake that is believed to have healing powers for those who value the earth and its people. Parking permits are required to park in the large lot. Permits can be purchased on site for $5/day. Restroom facilities are available, but no running water. A nearby Visitors Center sells maps, shirts and other hiking gear. Kuwohi is a must visit on a trip to SMNP. Bring warm clothes (gloves, hat, etc). Cell tower reception is poor, so maps are helpful.

This is a pretty easy and quick hike up a paved walkway to the observation tower. We came in the…read moremorning and were unable to see anything because of the thick fog so just keep that in mind.

Sugarland Visitor Center on the Tennessee side on Great Smoky Mountain National Park was crowded…read morewith visitors during my visit. The parking lot was full at 9:30 in the morning! The Center offers a nice exhibit of animals and plants that can be seen in the park. Rangers are available to help answer questions and help design Park itineraries for visitors. The Center is a perfect place to pick up maps and other Park info. We bought parking passes and I picked up several cool walking sticks in the gift shop to give as gifts. Prices on some items were reasonable. The staff were super friendly despite the crowds. There are rest rooms available...the last real restrooms before entering the Park. Outside, are little "gardens" featuring native Park vegetation. Addition parking is being added. Every visitor to the Park should plan a stop at the Center. Plan 30 minutes to an hour.

A nice stop along the way into the National Park. Parking is a bit tough because it seems to…read morealways be busy. The museum inside is worth a look. The gift shop is really nice and has a large variety of things for purchase.

Very friendly, very clean, and very helpful visitor center. I wandered in with no idea what to do…read moreduring my weekend visit to the area. I left with several ideas plus some great tips on some nearby hiking spots. Fantastic experience.

I stopped here back in September , on my visit to see my sister who lives in Maggie Valley . It is…read morea very nice visitor center with lots and lots of brochures of things to do in the area . It has some items to buy also like shirts and stickers . I bought 2 car window stickers . The people working the place were nice . I liked the decorations outside and inside also .

Been wanting to visit the Smoky Mountains and Appalachia and wow it is so beautiful. It's a free…read morenational park, which makes it even better. If you are parking for more than 15 minutes anywhere, you must buy a daily parking pass though ($5 per day). These can be purchased at any information center. The mountains and nature are breathtaking. We even saw so many elk and wild turkeys early in the morning while we drove through!! We also saw a black bear. Many hikes and nature trails to choose from, including ones that are completely drivable. Kuwohi Observation Tower: Easy paved uphill walk. Do not go in the early morning when the fog is thick because you will not be able to see anything. Alum Cave Trail: Pretty easy trail. Beautiful nature and cool rocks to look at. Took about 3 hours roundtrip to reach inspiration point. Cades Cove: A drivable scenic loop road. 11 miles one way. Took about an hour or so driving very slowly enjoying the scenery. Saw a black bear that held up traffic. It is closed to cars on Wednesdays to open it up to walkers and bicycles.

What can you say about the Smokies except.. Wow!…read more The views are absolutely breathtaking. We drove route 441 thru America's most visited National Park. There are many pull offs along the way for slower traffic or to take pictures. There is no entrance fee as you drive thru Tennessee and North Carolina. As you drive or hike the many trails you truly appreciate the preserved Southern Appalachian History of these mountains.

I never met a waterfall that I didn't like. We did a driving tour along Little River in Great Smoky…read moreMountains National Park to see if we could spot some wildlife. The Sinks is a lovely waterfall along the river. There is a small parking lot with about a dozen spaces where we found parking. An observation area is a short walk from parking. A sign describes the area and that the falls were manmade. During the late 1800's the river was used to transport logs/timber to the nearby town of Elkmont. After a storm, flood waters caused a jam in the river. Dynamite was used to restore water flow. The blast resulted in a twist in the river and creation of the waterfall. A set of stone steps leads up a hill, offering lovey views of the falls. There are dozens of waterfalls in the Park. Sinks is one of the few that is drivable, which is great for people that cannot hike. I picked up a Waterfalls map at the visitor center that I found interesting and informative. Parking passes are required to park in the lot. There are no amenities at the falls. Plan 15-30 minutes for a stop and photos.

We found a prime parking spot at The Sinks and looked at the area from above the bridge. People…read morewere cliff jumping from the cliffs using ropes, and just free jumping into the water below. Saw the waterfall, but we did not venture into the water. Very small parking lot, but worth a quick stop if you can find a spot to park the car.

We stopped at the Spur Welcome Center during our Smoky Mountain vacation and were impressed by how…read moremodern and updated the facility feels. The staff were friendly and helpful, and there were plenty of maps, brochures, coupons for local attractions, and souvenirs to browse while we planned our adventures. The location is one of its biggest advantages. Compared to the smaller downtown visitor center, I much prefer this one because it's easier to get in and out of, has ample parking, and feels less hectic than navigating the busy Parkway area. It's a convenient stop whether you're heading into Gatlinburg or the national park. One thing to note is the new park parking policy: if you park for more than 15 minutes inside the Smokies, you'll need to purchase a parking tag. I was initially a little frustrated by that, but I understand the need to help support park operations and visitor services. Later, I learned the parking tag revenue goes to the federal government (currently being used on DC projects) rather than staying at this specific visitor center or within the local community, which was disappointing to me personally. Overall, this is a clean, welcoming, and well-organized visitor center that makes a great first stop before exploring the Smokies.

The Gatlinburg Welcome Center is a good stop for local information and Great Smoky Mountains…read moreNational Park updates. We made several visits to the center to pick up maps, parking passes, shirts, post cards and gifts. The staff is super friendly, helpful and will answer questions. Prices are reasonable. They carry hiking and Park guides. I highly recommend picking up maps because internet connectivity is rarely available in the Park. Free maps are available and specialty guides are only $1. Restrooms are available at the Center. There is limited parking and a larger lot up the hill. We always found parking no matter what time of day that we visited. The Center is also a stop and provides parking to ride the free trolly that goes to Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg.

My wife, daughter, and I had a great time at the visitor center. We learned about the Bush family's…read morehistory and how the Bush company started and grew over the past century. Highlights for us were: stepping on the scale and getting our weight in beans (I'm well north of 100,000), watching the film on how baked beans are produced and canned, and creating our own baked bean can labels.

March 23rd, 2026. Came to have lunch. Then went to visitors…read morecenter museum. It's more for kids It was ok. I'd prefer to visit the factory itself . There's a giftshop with tons of trinkets and little Buschs items.

Great visitor center! Super cool three dimensional 'map' that shows the whole park and topological…read morefeatures. Also the trails are on this map, so you can figure out how much uphill will be required. Friendly knowledgeable Park rangers. Always get good advice from the rangers. Lots of parking. Restrooms. Small museum. Big Field out back. Lucky enough to see herd of elk (pictured). Easy flat River trail starts here and about 3 miles out and back if you do the whole thing. Trail crosses under blue ridge parkway. Pics of the trail, people bridge, information sign, herd of elk enclosed. Here is a great afternoon! Start with lunch at wise guyz pizza (see separate review). After lunch cross the river on the people bridge. Turn right and short distance starts the River trail. Walk to the visitor center, chat with the rangers, check out the museum. Then walk back to wise guyz and your parked car. Good lunch and decent hike, doesn't get much better than that. Enjoy!

Visited on a Sunday afternoon so it was pretty busy. Parking lot was pretty full but we only had to…read morecircle once to find a spot. Restrooms are located right off the parking lot. The Rangers inside the visitor center are very helpful. They also have quite a few passport stamps available inside at the ranger desk. There's a small museum inside. There's also a nice outdoor patio with chairs you can sit in to take in the view. While we were there a small herd of elk passed through, and it was fun to watch from afar. The Farmhouse Museum located behind the visitor center was really fun to walk through. There are many chickens walking around the area, as well as a hog pen. There's also a trail beyond the hog pen that allows you to walk down by the creek. This was a fun stop! Would highly recommend!

We came here for an Elk watching trip. We normally stay somewhere else but everywhere was full. We…read morebrought our little dog and they allowed for him for a small fee. The bed and room were nice. The bathroom probably needs a little updating but all in all it was a good stay.

Outstanding customer service. Clean and good size rooms. Friendly associates. They gave us late…read morecheckout 2 days as we were stranded due to our car being broken down. We had breakfast both days and it was good and they had it available until 10am. If we return to the are we will definitely stay again.