Picnic Areas
When you visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, pack a picnic basket to enjoy at one of the many picnic areas! There’s nothing like sharing a meal with your loved ones in the park before continuing your exploring. Some picnic areas are open seasonally, while others are open year round. Here is more information about the Great Smoky Mountains picnic areas:
Picnic Area | Sites | Pavilion | When is it open? | Other Notes |
Big Creek | 10 | No | 4/3 – 11/1 | |
Cades Cove | 81 | No | Year Round | Closes at 8 p.m. May 1 – Aug. 31, at sunset all other dates. |
Chimneys | 68 | No | 3/13 – 11/1 | Closes at 8 p.m. May 1 – Aug. 31, at sunset all other dates. |
Collins Creek | 182 | Seats 70 | 4/3 – 11/1 | Closes at 8 p.m. May 1 – Aug. 31, at sunset all other dates. Pavilion can be reserved in advance for $25. |
Cosby | 35 | Seats 55 | 4/3 – 11/1 | Pavilion can be reserved in advance for $25. |
Deep Creek | 58 | Seats 70 | Year Round | Pavilion can be reserved in advance for $25. |
Greenbrier | 12 | Seats 70 | Year Round | Pavilion can be reserved in advance for $12.50 |
Heintooga | 41 | No | 5/15 – 10/4 | |
Look Rock | 51 | No | 5/1 – 10/31 | |
Metcalf Bottoms | 122 | Seats 70 | Year Round | Pavilion open April 19 – Oct. 28. Reservations can be made in advance for $25. North half of the picnic area is closed during winter. “Pack it out” picnicking from April 10 – Nov. 1, all dumpsters removed during the winter. |
Twin Creeks | Pavilion only | Seats 150 | 4/3 – 11/1 | By reservation only ($40-$80) |
When you choose to use one of the Great Smoky Mountains picnic areas, be mindful that feeding bears and other wildlife is illegal. Be sure to clean your picnic area thoroughly, including the grill and the ground around the table. Bears have a remarkable sense of smell that easily leads it to human foods, so cleaning up after yourself is extremely important.