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 are: 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:
Balsam Mountain Road – Open May 15 – November 1
Cades Cove Loop Road – Open daily from 8 a.m. until sunset.
Clingmans Dome Road – Open March 30 – November 30
Forge Creek Road – Open March 13 – October 31, 2020
Heintooga Ridge Road – Open May 15 – November 1 for hiker access. Subject to additional closures December 1 – 31 and March 11-31 due to snow, ice or muddy conditions.
Little Greenbrier Road – Open April 10 – November 30. Buses, motorhomes, vans longer than 25 feet, and passenger vehicles towing trailers are prohibited on this road.
Parson Branch Road – Closed due to hazard trees. Buses, motorhomes, vans longer than 25 feet, and passenger vehicles towing trailers are prohibited on this road Please note: When Forge Creek Road is closed due to mud, Parson Branch Road is not accessible to motor vehicles.
Rich Mountain Road – Open April 10 – November 9. Buses, motorhomes, vans longer than 25 feet, and passenger vehicles towing trailers are prohibited on this road.
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail – Open April 10 – November 30. Buses, motorhomes, vans longer than 25 feet, and passenger vehicles towing trailers are prohibited on this road.
Roundbottom/Straight Fork – Road Open April 3 – November 1
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 year round. 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 – April 3 – Nov. 1
Chimneys – March 13 – Nov. 1
Collins Creek – April 3 – Nov. 1
Cosby – April 3 – Nov. 1
Heintooga – May 15 – Oct. 4
Look Rock – May 1 – Oct. 31
Twin Creeks – April 3 – Nov. 1
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.
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. – 5:00 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.
Oconaluftee Visitor Center Hours
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: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
September – October: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
November: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
December: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Sugarlands Visitor Center Hours
Open every day except Christmas Day.
January – February: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
March: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
April – May: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
June – August: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
September – October: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
November: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
December: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Clingmans Dome Visitor Contact Station
April – May: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
June – August: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
September – October: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
November: 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Historic Grist Mills
There are also two historic grist mills in the national park.
Cable Mill in Cades Cove – Open daily March 11 through October and on weekends in November. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Mingus Mill near Oconaluftee – Open daily April 1 through October and on weekends in November. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.