Operating Hours & Seasons

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park hours are 24/7, 365 days a year! While the park itself is open all day, every day, some areas and roads in the park do close throughout the year. Here’s more information about the seasonal opening and closing dates for areas in the park:

Roads in the Smoky Mountains

All primary roads in the Smoky Mountains are open year-round, weather permitting. Those roads include Newfound Gap Road, Little River Road and the Cades Cove Loop Road. However, some of the secondary roads are subject to seasonal closures.

Seasonal opening and closing dates for the secondary roads are as follows:

Cades Cove Loop Road – Open daily from 8 a.m. until sunset

Clingmans Dome Road – Open April 1 – November 30

Forge Creek Road – Open March 1 – December 31

Heintooga Ridge Road (Balsam Mountain Road) – Open May 10 – October 31

Little Greenbrier Road – Open March 29 – December 1. Buses, motorhomes, vans longer than 25 feet, and passenger vehicles towing trailers are prohibited on this road.

Parson Branch Road – Open April 12 – November 10. High clearance vehicles are recommended for traveling on this road. Buses, motorhomes, vans longer than 25 feet, and passenger vehicles towing trailers are prohibited on this road.

Rich Mountain Road – Open April 12 – November 10. Buses, motorhomes, vans longer than 25 feet, and passenger vehicles towing trailers are prohibited on this road.

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail – Open March 29 – December 1. Buses, motorhomes, vans longer than 25 feet, and passenger vehicles towing trailers are prohibited on this road.

Keep in mind that all roads and facilities in the park are subject to temporary closures because of weather and construction.

Campgrounds

Camping in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a popular activity throughout the year. The Cades Cove, Elkmont and Smokemont campgrounds are open year round. Other campgrounds close for the winter season.

Picnic Areas

A few picnic areas in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are open year round. These include Cades Cove Picnic Area, Deep Creek Picnic Area, Greenbrier Picnic Area and Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area. Open/close dates for the remaining picnic areas are as follows:

Big Creek – March 29 – October 27

Chimneys – March 29 – December 2

Collins Creek – March 29 – October 31

Cosby – March 29 – October 28

Heintooga – May 10 – October 14

Look Rock – April 26 – October 27

Twin Creeks – March 29 – October 31

Smoky Mountain Visitor Center Hours

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to 4 visitor centers: Cades Cove, Oconaluftee, Sugarlands and Clingmans Dome.

Cades Cove Visitor Center Hours

Open every day except Christmas Day. Hours vary seasonally:

March – November: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
December – February: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Oconaluftee Visitor Center Hours

Open every day except Christmas Day. Hours vary seasonally:

March – November: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
December – February: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Sugarlands Visitor Center Hours

Open every day except Christmas Day. Hours vary seasonally:

March – November: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
December – February: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Clingmans Dome Visitor Contact Station

Hours vary seasonally. Closed in winter.

April 11 – November 31: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
December 1 – April 10: Closed

Historic Grist Mills

There are also two historic grist mills in the national park.

Cable Mill in Cades Cove – Open daily March 5 through October 31 and on weekends in November. Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Mingus Mill near Oconaluftee – Open daily April 1 through October and on weekends in November. Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Historic grist mills are subject to temporary closures for preservation and maintenance work.