Embrace the countryside charm in the heart of East Tennessee as you explore the waterfalls, wildlife, and towns of the Great Smoky Mountains. This mountain range and its surrounding areas are too beautiful not to explore. Here’s your guide to the best things to do in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.
Where are the Great Smoky Mountains?
The Great Smoky Mountains are located in both East Tennessee and along the border with North Carolina. It’s about an hour outside of both Asheville, North Carolina and Knoxville, Tennessee and are a subrange to the Appalachian Mountains.
However, you’ll likely base yourself in Gatlinburg, Tennessee when visiting the Great Smoky Mountains as it’s a touristic town full of rustic charm, breweries, distilleries, cozy cabins, and plenty of things for visitors to do.
When is the best time to visit the Smokies?
There’s a particular charm about the Smokies when you visit in autumn. The crisp leaves, the change in colors, the way the streets are nestled between picturesque autumnal trees, plus the pumpkin patches and spirit of this season make it the best time to go.
Beyond just being the most picturesque time of the year, the weather will be a bit cooler, making those long hikes far more bearable.
If you wish to also swim and enjoy water activities during your trip to the Smoky Mountains, visit in September. You’ll miss out on the fall spirit, but the tourism season will have finished and the weather won’t be so hot.
What are the best things to do in the Smoky Mountains?
No matter how you like to travel, there’s plenty of things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains. From hiking trails, off-beathen-path shops, and the bustling downtown Gatlinburg, it’s a great place for a assortment of experiences in Tennessee. Here are the best things to do in the Smoky Mountains.
Hike up Clingman’s Dome, Tennessee’s highest point
As the highest point in Tennessee and along the 2,192-mile Appalachian Trail, a trek up Clingman’s Dome is both rewarding and picturesque.
You can get to Clingman’s Dome either through a trail along the Appalachian or you can drive to the Clingman’s Dome Visitor Center and trek up the paved Clingman’s Dome Trail. The path is only ½ mile but is extremely steep as you’ll reach up to 6,643 feet.
Bonus: the drive up to the visitor center is picturesque, full of tall trees lining the road and lookout spots. You’ll likely want to stop for a couple of photo stops along the way.
Check out small town shops
Head over to the corner of Glades and Buckhorn Road where you’ll find small country shops, art galleries, and more. Both roads individually offer attractions, so it’s worth a drive along both.
Some highlights include the G Webb Gallery, full of striking paintings and photographs of the Smokies. Visit Judy Jones Pottery for unique handmade pottery pieces and head across the street to the Wild Plum Tea Room for lunch. Here you can enjoy an old-timey lunch experience with rustic charm. The tearoom serves up delicious lunches, pastries, tea, coffee, and beer. You can even bring your own wine with a small corkage fee. Sweet!
There’s plenty of other unique stores and restaurants to discover, like this shop dedicated entirely to magic.
See buffalo at the Brown Farm
For a great family friendly activity, visit the Brown Farm to see buffalo. There’s parking along the road and it’s free to go up to the farm and take photographs of the buffalo.
Hike it up
Beginning at the Low Gap Trailhead, hike 11.1 miles up to Mount Cammerer for a rewarding and a scenic hike in the Smoky Mountains. The mountain reaches 4,928 feet and has a cabin-like lookout at the top where you can enjoy 360 views of the mountains. It’s a perfect day hike in the Smokies!
If you’re an avid hiker, also check out Mt. LeConte or Rocky Top in the lovely Cades Cove area.
Visit Grotto Falls
Hike a short 3 miles to the 25-foot waterfall known as Grotto Falls. In summer, enjoy a dip in the swimming hole after arriving at the waterfall.
You’ll follow along Trillium Gap Trail where you could also access Rainbow Falls, another picturesque waterfall.
Swim at Greenbrier in the Smoky Mountains
Hop off route 321 and onto the Little Pigeon River for an icy cold summer dip at the Greenbrier swimming hole. It’s not widely known by tourists, making it a quiet spot to sit on rocks, take a dip, and relax away from the summer heat.
Sip moonshine at the Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery
Head over to the rustic distillery whipping up Tennessee’s fine moonshine. It’s a rite of passage on a trip to East Tennessee. The distillery offer tours, tastings, and a range of moonshine flavors like salty caramel and mango habanero. Ole Smoky Moonshine is certainly a southern experience and an adventure for the taste buds.
Explore downtown Gatlinburg
Downtown Gatlinburg is something like an amusement park. It’s full of both adult and family-friendly activities like Ripley’s Believe It Or Not and Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.
Check out the Gatlinburg SkyLift for picturesque views over the town as well as the Great Smoky Mountains.
You’ll also enjoy a wander through The Village which is full of boutique shops from an Irish-Scottish Celtic Heritage shop, a quirky sock shop, and quality coffee at Coffee & Company.
Spend a day at Dollywood
An amusement park meets an old country town, Dolly Parton’s Dollywood is a great way to spend the day with family and is one of the best things to do in the Smoky Mountains. Ride the train through the park, get your adrenaline fix on the Wild Eagle rollercoaster, and eat your way through its old school diner and country cafes.
If you’re lucky you might catch Dolly Parton there herself!
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