smoky mountains tours from new york

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Bluegrass Country & the Smoky Mountains

About this tour.

Take a delightful trip through the heart of Appalachia, discovering the equestrian culture of Kentucky, the pioneer spirit of Tennessee, and the mountainous beauty of North Carolina. Get a taste of Bourbon, baseball, and Thoroughbreds in Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky. Travel through Daniel Boone National Forest as you make your way to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. From your home base of Gatlinburg, explore the natural wonders of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Travel on to Asheville, North Carolina, and enjoy the city’s historic architecture, engaging neighborhoods and robust arts districts. Tour the Biltmore Estate, George Vanderbilt’s "little mountain escape” in the Blue Ridge Mountains. When you leave, you’ll have the warmth and charm of southern Appalachia still in your heart.

Your Tour Includes

• 4 Handpicked Accommodations
• 2 Choice on Tour Options

Included Highlights

• Churchill Downs
• Kentucky Derby Museum
• Old Louisville Walking Tour
• Choice on Tour: Louisville Slugger Museum or Frazier Museum of Kentucky History

Your Tour at a Glance

7 Breakfasts

2 - Moderate

Travel Style

Activity Level

• Level This Tour

For specific details about this tour's activity level and other info to know before you book your trip, click here.

Extension Style

Travel styles, highlights and inclusions.

Must-See Inclusions:

Explore the grandeur of nature at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Visit Louisville, Kentucky and the mecca of horse racing, Churchill Downs.

Walk the stunning grounds of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.

Cultural Experiences:

Enjoy a visit to a private horse farm in Lexington, Kentucky.

Stop in Berea, the arts and crafts capital of the state of Kentucky.

Culinary Inclusions:

Sip on samples of Kentucky’s home-grown spirit during a tasting at Buffalo Trace Bourbon Distillery.

• Buffalo Trace Bourbon Distillery
• Lexington Horse Farms
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Biltmore Estate

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* With Insurance Purchased

• *No Hassle Refunds
• Traveling Well Safety
• No booking fee, *no change fees
• Top Rated Travel Protection

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Getting Prepared

Know before you go, travel tips, enhance your tour.

• Choice On Tour

Pre and Post Night Stay

Unique Experience

Cultural Experiences

Enhance Your Trip

• Tour Extensions

Head to Museum Row where it's your choice! Visit the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory for an All-Star baseball experience -OR- explore the Frazier Kentucky History Museum, and its Spirit of Kentucky exhibit, the official start of the Bourbon Trail.

Hotel-Hilton Garden Inn Louisville Downtown

Accommodations

Arrive earlier.

Pre Night: Hilton Garden Inn Louisville Downtown From $110 per night

Hilton Garden Inn Louisville Downtown

Doubletree suites by hilton hotel lexington, hilton garden inn gatlinburg, cambria hotel downtown asheville, need more information.

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4 Days Tennessee & Great Smoky Mountains Tour from New York

• Hotel accommodations for 3 nights
• English & Chinese Bilingual Tour Guide
• Transportation via air-conditioned coach
• **NOTES: Each booking will provide only 1 Hotel Room. Each booking accepts a maximum of 4 guests.
• **NOTES: To book separate rooms, please make separate bookings.
• **NOTES: The sequence of itineraries is subject to change without prior notice.
• Meals (Vegan food options available)
• All personal expenses, such as laundry, phone, and travel insurance
• Mandatory Tips/Service Fee - Min. $10/person/day for tour guide and driver
• Mandatory Tips/Service Fee - Any child/Infant reserving a seat will have to pay the service fees
• Optional Tours - Luray Caverns - Adult $28, Children (3-12) $15
• Optional Tours - Great Smoky Mountains In-depth Tour - Adult $20, Children (3-12) $15
• Optional Tours - Ruby Falls - Adult $24, Child (3-12) $14.65
• Optional Tours - Natural Bridge - Adult $20, Children (3-12) $12
• Mandatory Tips/Tours, Optional tours must be paid in cash to tour guide.
• Entry/Admission - Luray Caverns
• Entry/Admission - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Entry/Admission - Lookout Mountain
• Entry/Admission - Natural Bridge State Park
• Option 1 135-20 39th Ave, Flushing, NY 11354, USA In front of Sheraton Hotel 6:30 am
• Option 2 6301 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220, USA Fei Long Market 6:45 am (Pick-up only)
• Option 3 47 Chrystie St, New York, NY 10002, USA Popeyes 7:30 am
• Option 4 100 14th St, Jersey City, NJ 07310, USA Target 7:45 am
• Option 1 500 W Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, USA Plymouth meeting Mall Guests who select Philadelphia, PA (pickup only) as departure point can choose to be dropped off in Plymouth meeting Mall (Address: 500 W Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA19462).
• Option 2 135-20 39th Ave, Flushing, NY 11354, USA In front of Sheraton Hotel
• Option 3 47 Chrystie St, New York, NY 10002, USA Popeyes
• Option 4 100 14th St, Jersey City, NJ 07310, USA Target
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Near public transportation
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers
• All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.

• sande49 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Put your trust in these people Personnel were consistently out performing expectations from guides Lisa and Jayla to drivers Joe and Collin. Friendly, knowledgeable and on time. All things the make a first timer comfortable. The beautiful parks speak for themselves. Glaciers, mountains, lakes. Wow Read more Written September 15, 2023
• Rsmithky 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Awful Save your money The scenery was beautiful. What we got to see.! The tour director was unbelievable and not in a good way. First day out and he said we looked like a " Damn Church Social." That didn't set well with me and I learned it didn't with other Christians on the bus. The saying, I don't care how to build the clock, just tell me what time it is, is a perfect analogy with this guy. He talked more about , Boston, Cape Cod, and Brazil then the west. The second most photographed spot at Yellowstone was , too crowded to see, according to him. So we didn't see it. The Grand Prismatic Spring. That was the 2nd greatest site in Yellowstone. But we didn't have the chance to see it. We tried to rent a car, I even tried to rent a car from an employee. No luck. And finally I didn't need or want to hear political views or about his boyfriend. Save your mobey. Read more Written August 13, 2023
• viancesar 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Dissappointed Tourists from NZ Tai Pan tours cancelled the 3 day east canada tour 2 days before the tour. They said not enough people. Coming from New Zealand and hoping to have a well organized holiday, a very short notice is really not good enough. They could have ring me or emailed 2 weeks at least so We can plan for an alternative holiday plan. When I rang them and ask for our full refund, the guy couldn't even tell me when I could get my money back. Not good enough., they could have done better. Very frustrating and dissapointing. Read more Written January 7, 2023
• V4287CCmargaretb 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles So so My husband and I just did this trip. First of all we booked with take tours but they must of sold our tickets to c tour with is mostly a Chinese tour company. The guide was hard to understand stand because Chinese was his first language and not very helpful. When we got to yellow stone, he did not make sure that we had food options, the only restaurant that was open you had to have reservations and the phone number we had was not a working one. . We got to our hotel very late at night because of his time management. We also were not told we had to pay park entrance fee by check, cash or venmo no credit card? There was also a 12 dollar a day each fee for the guide ad bus driver. But we did get to see alot of thing . Would I use this tour company again . No no no Read more Written September 18, 2022
• Major Z 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Public Transportation at it's most Average This is not a tour. This is a glorified bus route through some beautiful land. There is no time to get off the train between stops. The food is quite poor. And during the Holidays, it is pure torture traveling this route. Very likely to stop several times due to ice on the tracks if not actually derailing. Travel at top speed is rare at any time of year and delays are guaranteed. Everyone I know that has taken this train, has been delayed at least three hours; often six or more hours. Worst of all, the employees' misery is palpable and they are clearly poorly trained. After nearly 20 hours on the train (going from Seattle to Redding, CA), not moving the entire time, they almost didn't let us off the train because they said we were sat in the wrong car. We went to the bottom of our car and waited and waited for someone to show up to let us out. Knowing they don't stay for more than 10 mins or so at each stop, I started panicking at around 8 minutes and I grabbed by husband and ran into the next car where they were just about to close the doors after all the other passengers had already exited. One of the employees literally yelled at me for being in the wrong car and refused to believe that we had been on that cursed train longer than she had. Anyway, they clearly have no idea what they're doing and have no problem disrespecting their customers to defend themselves. Never let anyone you love take this train. There has got to be a better way. Read more Written December 3, 2019
• Kathy S 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles 2 Day Hiking tour of Mt Ranier and the Olympic Mountains Where do I begin on how bad this tour was. It came up on google as one of the top 10 tours to take. It was terrible. A mass of confusion on the meeting spot. I ended up driving 45 minutes to another spot. James the driver spoke Chinese and talked in the car only in Chinese. Didn’t explain anything in English. Left us at Mt. Ranier for 90 minutes w no view and nothing open. Did the same at Olympic Mtns but thank God it was a sunny day. Had us pay cash for park entrances but then paid w a business credit card. Seemed fishy because he charged us $45 and I think the park is $35 to get in. A lot of driving and no hiking to speak of. It was mostly people from Hong Kong and Singapore and me the token American one day and the other day there was three of us. The hotel manager told me every American on the tour always complains how bad it is. A lot of false advertising.stopped at Safeway’s to buy lunch each day. Read more Written October 24, 2019
• z00minm 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing If you have never been, you are so missing out. This is a trip of a lifetime for. The Bad Lands was my favorite. Everyone we met was wonderful. Food was great in the small town of West Yellowstone. If you travel between Bozeman MT, Big Sky and West Yellowstone on 191 please be careful, that is the road of death. The speed limit is to fast, tractor trailers flying through the curves of the two lane rd just waiting for a load to shift. We seen several bad accidents. Please be careful! Read more Written October 7, 2019
• Kristin J 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing views It's hard to have a bad experience with the awesome views in the Canadian Rockies. The tour bus was comfortable and clean and the tour guide was friendly. We saw a lot for the amount of time, but there was definitely pressure to get back to the bus on time with our 15 minute and 20 minute stops. I do wish the tour guide could give more background information on the history/geology of each site. Read more Written October 2, 2019
• DLW2346 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Best Way to See the National Parks! This is the best way to see multiple national parks in the American West! It's way more affordable, comfortable, and time-effective than planning your own trip. Leave the driving and the hotel reservations to the tour company. Sit back, relax, and admire the beautiful scenery while your tour guide and driver does all the work. The bus stops about every two hours, so you never feel desperate to stretch your legs or take a bathroom break, even on the long drive days. There are numerous restaurant options during meal breaks, or you can purchase picnic items at grocery stores along the way. The hotels are nationally recognized, clean, and comfortable. I was pleased that the tour was so well organized, and I was so happy to see the beautiful scenery at an affordable price. There was plenty of time to see the sights and take photos, even though we crammed a lot into each day. The guide showed us all the best scenery and didn't waste our time with gift shops and malls. This tour is great for solo travelers, couples, and families with grown children. Read more Written September 27, 2019
• teacher1940 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles very pretty area This is the nicest place to see. People are very friendly and the nature is very special Food is great and every thing there is magnificent Read more Written September 14, 2019
• Mobile637093 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Stunning trip this was a wonderful trip for our family. Yellowstone is a place that everyone must visit once in your life time. we enjoyed every minute of it. its very beautiful :-) Read more Written September 12, 2019
• dawk1953 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Audio tour app Calgary to Banff Listened to free tour app driving from Calgary to Banff. Excellent I wish there were more. Would listen again. Read more Written September 9, 2019
• rosatandy 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles This is not an English Speaking tour! I am a long time client of Viator and Trip advisor. In each country that I went to, I always relied on these sites and so far they have been very reliable not until this trip!! Worst trip ever!! You see, I expected long trips to see this beautiful sites and I am fully aware of the extra expenses that we have to pay! What we are not aware is to have a tour guide like this!! You said in you’re website that its a English and Mandarin speaking tour guide! Please don’t deceived your clients! Audit your guides please! Or better I suggest you can just offer this as mandarin speaking tour only. You see we save and travel this far for a vacation, give us what we deserved, we are not asking for more , just what you’ve written in your package! He speaks 95 percent in mandarin all the time and like 5 percent in English! His daily english is just like “ so ok, tomorrow wake up call is 5:30am and we will leave 6am, don’t be late” , “so see the moment ( i realized after a while that he meant monument!!) on your right, that’s a famous one! “Ok, so our next stop is for lunch (in a chinese buffet usually) and for toilet! Thats it, its limited to those lines for 6 days. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a Chinese myself, its just that we understand limited Mandarin, so we can just book elsewhere if we want English speaking tour! So I’m trying all my best to be objective with him, and have to be nice with him, he is after all our tour guide for 7 days! So on the second day I talk to him (i have to! We still have 5 more days to go 😭😭 cannot bear to just keep following without knowing where and what to do next), and told him that maybe he just forget to translate in English, and we cannot understand what he is saying (to think I can understand little Mandarin, what a pain for those totally clueless). Told him too that he speaks 80 percent Mandarin, and we might be missing important details and he answered “ok, I know!” But All these talkings to No avail. You see, his english is really limited to those basics that I mentioned! So I think the tour company should be fair enough and just offer this tour with this guide to Mandarin speaking clients only! It is really not fair, we should be demanding for a refund, but more than the monetary value , its the precious time wasted, its the bad experience we had with this tour. The only positive side is that the sites we went were all beautiful and we were able to take a lot of beautiful pictures... thats our only take in this tour and we just rely on mr. Google for the rest of the trip. The guide was not so nice too! He air dropped me some pictures, I declined it thinking someone accidentally pressed the air dropped to me, so when I heard in the mike that he said my name and the word declined, I realized it was him. So I said I declined and can he resend because I can’t understand him and don’t know that he was sending(of course no English translation). Then the guide just said “I don’t care”! Oh this guy! How can he be a tour guide? Viator? Seriously??? Can you please provide feedback? Whew! What a great relief when we reached Vegas, we can choose a free day or go to Grand Canyon with him!! Hmm, you guess it right !! Of course we’ve chosen Free day!! And we just cut our tour here in Vegas! Was supposed to go back to San Francisco with the tour the next day, but never mind, we just opted to fly back to San Francisco than ride another 12 hours in his tour! Read more Written September 7, 2019
• NBCTeacher 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles A Good Tour This tour is given by Westar and is bilingual, Chinese and English. My tour covered all of the sites listed in the itinerary. The coach was clean, comfortable, and had WIFI. Drivers were excellent. All of the hotels were very nice - my favorite was the Canalta Lodge in Banff Town because it had three hot tubs and a free hot breakfast. All hotels except the Athabasca Inn had coffee in the room. The Athabasca has stairs, no elevator. I did not opt for the meal package but it was always possible to find a good meal when those with the meal plan were eating. My favorite lunch was a magnificent view and tacos on the terrace of the Fairmont Hot Springs Hotel in Banff. My experience with the guides was varied. All of them were Asian. I was picked up at the airport by Victor who provided a very complete commentary on Calgary and two good restaurant recommendations near the hotel. I chose Uncle 10 Pho which had excellent Vietnamese soup. Vincent was the guide for the first day and he was not a good guide. He gave little information and his command of English was very poor. He often did not understand my questions. He got us to the attractions but that was all. Lisa was my guide for the next two days and she was awesome! She is one of the best guides I have ever had. She was very knowledgeable and gave wonderful commentary. She was very personable and took care of everyone. I liked the way she gave an overview of the day and then kept us abreast of everything. She seems to enjoy her job! David was my guide for the last day. He gave very good commentary, kept us abreast of everything, and was very safety-conscious. His English was a little hard for me to understand. I was glad I was sitting near him. I had to look in my guidebook to find out that he was saying “Emerald” Lake because it didn’t sound like “emerald” to me. This is a good tour. Just be aware that everything is going to be said in Chinese and English. The scenery is truly magnificent. Read more Written September 5, 2019
• Helen T 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Breathe taking A truly wonderful place to visit. I visited in their summer. Very picturesque. Don’t forget your camera. You need to take your time just marvelling at the magnificent views Read more Written August 23, 2019

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4 Days Tennessee & Great Smoky Mountains Tour from New York provided by i++ Travel

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The stunning mountain range straddling the state lines of North Carolina and Tennessee contains the majestic Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is the most visited United States national park attracting between 8-10 million people annually. The Great Smoky Mountains were once home to the Paleo Native Americans in prehistoric times and were discovered by the Europeans in 1800s. They are part of the Appalachian Mountains and named for the fog that surrounds the ranges and resembles smoke. Great Smoky Mountains are a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site and contain many destinations on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

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4-Day New York/New Jersey to Pigeon Forge, Luray Caverns, Natural Bridge, Lookout Mountain and Great Smoky Mountains National Park Tour

Tour code: gol-nyc-457, duration: 4 day(s) / 3 night(s).

Tour Guide: Chinese, English

Quality: Budget

• 7 Days left

Departure City

Destination, return city, departure location.

Experience: UNESCO, Family

Extra (Excluded): Wifi, Meal etc...

Mon, Thu(2019-04-01 To 2019-10-31) | Random Dates

Explore Knoxville Zoo, Smoky Mountains, Lookout Mountain Region, Luray Caverns, Virginia, Gatlinburg, Titanic Museum, Rick City Garden, and much more on a guided bus tour inclusive of hotel stay.

• Only the guides and drivers who have COVID 19 negative can provide services from now onwards. Drivers and Guides will wear the mask. They will disinfect the bus daily. Travelers will have to wear the mask and their temperature will be monitored regularly. Travelers will be provided with hand sanitizer and wipes. We recommend travelers to bring their own hand sanitizer also. Bus sitting will be based on the standards set by the Government.

Day 1 New York – Virginia

On the first day, we will start from New York and head to Virginia . We will visit the beautiful Luray Caverns . It is a popular tourist attraction and thousands of people visit this place every year.

Hotel: Quality Inn, Red Roof Plus or Similar. 

Attractions

Refers to the commercial cave which is visited by many since its discovery back in 1878, the cave is located in the western side of Luray, Virginia USA. Luray caverns are also known as Luray cave.

In the Shenandoah valley of Northern America, Luray is a town located in Virginia. This small town is a county seat. The natural views and beautiful scenes make it worth viewing.

Day 2 Virginia – Tennessee – Chattanooga

Today we head to Gatlinburg to explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park . Enjoy and sightsee some of the most beautiful scenery from Smoky Mountain . Then we will visit Titanic Museum followed by Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner in Pigeon Forge. We will have our dinner and then leave for hotel to spend the night.

A form of dinner theatre with double locations in Tennessee is known as Dolly Partons Dixie Stampede. It was developed in the year 1988.

Great Smoky Mountains is basically located at the border of Tennessee and North Carolina. The area is famous for its attractive terrestrial scape, forests and wild flowers that can be seen throughout the year.

A home of Dollywood with the vacation area and Mountain town in East Tennessee is said to be as Pigeon Forge. It is popular for outlet malls, dinner theatres, magic shows and music concerts.

Located in the heart of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, the Titanic Museum is a unique two-story museum which is shaped like the authentic RMS Titanic cruise ship which sunk in the ocean in the year 1912. Titanic Museum depicts the history related to RMS Titanic; exhibiting over 400 pre-discovery artifacts inside the twenty different galleries. It is also identified as the largest Titanic museum in the world.

Day 3 Chattanooga – Virginia

Today we will explore the natural beauty of Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga . Ruby Falls will be our first stop of the day which is an underground waterfall. After this we will be stopping at the Incline Railway which is one of the world's steepest passenger railways. After this we will stop at Rock City Garden . Our last stop of the day will be at Knoxville Zoo .

There are many cities in Tennessee, the fourth largest of which is Chattanooga. According to a census in 2012, the city has an estimated population of 171,279 and is a nice place to visit.

Located in the heart of Knoxville, Tennessee, Knoxville Zoo is a 53-acre zoo housing over 800 wildlife collected from all around the world. It is home to unique exotic animals ranging from Red Pandas to White Rhinos, Blue Monkey, and similar. Animal Encounter Village, Chimp Ridge, and Black Bear Falls are most famed outdoor exhibits at Knoxville Zoo.

Refers to the inclined plane railway statistically having 4 ft. 8 ¹⁄₂ standard gauge., The location of the Railway is at the side of the Lookout Mountain, the lookout mountain is located in Tennessee United States.

Refers to the United States of America’s famous city located in the water county (Georgia), According to statistical records the population of the city was 1617 in 2000 and 1602 in 2010.

The Rock City Gardens is in Georgia, Us. It is at 1700 feet above the sea level and has a 100 feet waterfall that falls down the mountain. It also has a famous swing-a-long bride of about 200 feet.

Ruby Falls is a beautiful waterfall with natural formations. It only takes a few extra minutes to climb the top of the tower after the cave tour. One can also see the nice view of the city below.

Day 4 Virginia – New York

The last day of the tour will take us to Natural Bridge . It is a very famous and historic landmark which is quite popular among tourists from all over the world. Then after having our lunch we will return to New York.

The Natural Bridge is site that is listed in the US. National Historic Landmark, it is a geological formation in Rockbridge County. It is located in Virginia near Cedar Creek. And is a beautiful site to look at.

Itinerary - Important Notes

What's Included

What's excluded.

Important: We never encourage customers to purchase admission packages from outside sources and try using them in this tour with discount. If they do, they must arrange transport on the same day. If you skip some attraction, you cannot do it on your own. You can sit near the bus or visit some nearby place, but you will not be allowed to sit in the bus.

Attraction Prices

Pricing - important notes, return location, important notes.

• 135-20 39th Ave, (In front of the Sheraton) Flushing, NY 11354 at 6:30 AM
• 10002 Popeyes 47 Chrystie Street, Manhattan, New York at 7:30AM
• 125 18th St, (Behind Pier 1 Imports) Jersey City, NJ 07310 at 8:15 AM
• 3050 Woodbridge Ave, (E Hotel Edison) Edison, NJ 08837 (pickup only) at 09:00 AM
• 3050 Woodbridge Ave, (E Hotel Edison) Edison, NJ 08837 at 07:00 PM
• 100 14th Street, Jersey City, NJ 07310 at 08:00 PM
• 47 Chrystie St, Chinatown, Manhattan, New York, NY 10002 at 08:30 PM
• 135-20 39th Ave, (In front of the Sheraton) Flushing, NY 11354 at 9:00 PM
• Cancellation
• Reservation Booking

Responsibility

Cancellation and refund policy.

Cancellation Charges

⇒  A 10% cancellation fee of the total tour purchase will be incurred if the cancellation occurs 10 days or more before the departure date.

⇒  A 25% cancellation fee of the total tour purchase will be incurred if the cancellation occurs 6 to 9 days before the departure date.

⇒   A 100% cancellation fee of the total tour purchase will be incurred if the cancellation occurs 5 days before the departure date.

Any Amount paid in cash to the Tour Guide is not refundable.

There is no refund for unused features. You forfeit the entire payment when you are a no-show on the departure date and unable to join the tour for any reason including COVID.

An add-on fee of 6% for handling fees is charged in addition to the above penalties. No matter what the reason for cancellation is, the processing fee will be deducted on each refund.

In order for there not to be a cancellation, a minimum number of participants are required. We reserve the right to cancel a scheduled trip although every effort is made by us to ensure that normal operations are maintained. We reserve the right to cancel or re-schedule any tour departure with respect to operating requirements or circumstances beyond control. In case a cancellation is made at any given moment in time before departure, our only liability as GoldenBusTours will be to refund you the amount we received for the booking of the tour. We will try our best to re-book the same or similar tour if the future travel plan suits you. We are not responsible for any cancellation penalties that may have been incurred on any other travel arrangements like separate purchase of air tickets, visa cost, taxi fare etc. We are not liable for any other travel arrangements that have been affected as a result of the cancellations. 

Note:  More than 30 days after the completion of the tour, we cannot grant any refunds.

Cancellation and reschedule charges are applicable even if you are NOT able to take the tour because of visa rejection, COVID or any other serious issue. If you reschedule a tour and later decide to cancel it then cancellation charges will be applicable to the original departure date and not to the rescheduled one.

Reservation, Booking & Redemption

Terms & Conditions

Any travel service purchases indicate your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions set out herein.

You are advised to carefully read through and understand these Terms & Conditions before making your booking.

Tour Confirmation

You will get an email immediately once you place an order. Tour Confirmation usually takes 2, 3 days except for urgent order. Urgent orders can be confirmed in a day or even few hours, but we can’t assure success in these cases. On fewer occasions, some of the others may require a longer period of time for confirmation. You are advised not to book airline tickets unless you have received the confirmation.

E-Ticket (Mandatory to be on bus)

Your e-ticket includes complete operator information such as local telephone numbers at your destination. You are required to print the e-tickets and bring them along with you on the trip. They will be needed as proof of purchase.

Changes in Booking

You may incur a fee for any revisions or alterations made to the reservation when the booking has already been confirmed. Cancellation fees may be applied to things such as name changes or corrections. They may also apply to tour date changes or tour itinerary changes. Please note that no departure changes are permitted 72 hours before departure.

Changes in Tour Itinerary

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I am really thankful to one friend of mine who recommended Golden Bus Tours to me. It is really an amazing company, their services are wonderful and their customer service team are very helpful and patient. Also the organization of the tour was really great. we moved exactly on time according to the schedule that was given to us by the tour guide, who was a really nice and helpful guy. Great job Golden Bus Tours.

We booked this great 4-Day New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia to Pigeon Forge, Luray Caverns, Natural Bridge, Lookout Mountain and Great Smoky Mountains National Park Tour. Tour guide and driver were both polite and helpful. We enjoy the trip with our family. Very good service by the guide and driver.

One of the things i really liked about that tour was the Le Chateau Winery, it was really nice. Next best thing was the accommodation, though our hotels were not 5 stars, but they were very clean and comfortable hotels. The organization of the our was amazing, there was no delay at all and our tour guide was very professional guy. we enjoyed a lot Knoxville Zoo, Smoky Mountains, Lookout Mountain Region, Luray Caverns, Virginia, Gatlinburg, Titanic Museum.

Shannon Jones

What an amazing experience the beautiful craft narrow, winding and twisting mountain roads of the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. It has been in my basin rundown to come here. We did and we did it in style. It was a good decision I made. Tour guide was helpful and hotel accommodation very comfortable. I met some nice people and we exchanged contact information. Now we became friends and hang out on the area.

The tour was fantastic. It was very well planned. The driver made rest breaks every two hours. As he was driving he would give a history of each town we drove through. The hotel was more than I expected. Even though it was raining the second day the driver made us feel very comfortable. I will definitely use GoldenBusTours again.

The best thing we loved about that tour is the tour guide. Our tour guide was really a great guy. He was very helpful and very professional yet so friendly and funny at the same time. Our bus was clean and comfortable though there was no bathroom available so we had to stop for breaks, the hotels were really clean and comfortable. I really would like to thank Golden bus tours for organizing that tour , it was a great 4 day vacation for us.

That was our first time to go to both Virginia and Tennessee. We really had a wonderful experience, we loved everything starting from the good service and organization of the tour till the amazing places we saw. Knoxville Zoo, Smoky Mountains, Lookout Mountain Region, Luray Caverns, Virginia, Gatlinburg, Titanic Museum, Rick City Garden. Also we had a great time in Le Chateau Winery, that was one of the best thing during that tour. I would really recommend that tour to all of my friends.

Yefim Vasiliev

The tour guide was excellent, his patient, fun and no dull moment in the whole tour. The bus driver also nice. I would recommend this tour to my friends and family. I highly recommend it for those travel enthusiast. It is worth it the tour goes above and beyond.

We took this Tour during March. The Tour Guide was totally fabulous. So accommodating and such a patient young fellow, prepared to tune in to anybody's issues. I wish that the lay room on the transport was accessible. You need to take care of that. Certain outings were a bit excessively long. With everything taken into account an extraordinary visit at a truly sensible cost. Very suggest it.It's an incredible blend. The view is wonderful and flawless. The entire visit is smooth and educated.Very much refreshing for the working organization and furthermore GoldenBus, and gratitude to the expert staff, absolutely justified, totally worth it.

Xavier Kindler

I recommend this tour! Great experience to visit Pigeon Forge, Luray Caverns, Natural Bridge, Lookout Mountain and Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Thanks to the tour guide from the travels and special thanks for GoldenbusTours.

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Best Great Smoky Mountains Itinerary for 4 Days in the National Park

Mountain peaks, gushing waterfalls, and historic coves are all a part of this Great Smoky Mountains itinerary in the popular national park on the North Carolina and Tennessee border.

With over 800 miles of trails, 2,000 miles of streams and waterways, dozens of waterfalls, and mountain peaks topping 6,000 feet, there’s a lot to take in at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The most visited national park in the country straddles the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, covering over 500,000 acres.

Over 14 million vacationers flock here each year to drive scenic routes like Cades Cove, hike in the mountains, and chase waterfalls like Laurel Falls and Rainbow Falls. Whether you come for the family fun of Gatlinburg or to trek part of the Appalachian Trail (about 70 miles crosses through here), there’s a Great Smoky Mountains National Park itinerary to fit your travel style.

The 4-day Smoky Mountain itinerary below is perfect for first-timers, covering the most popular places to hike, drive, and sightsee. Adventurers will find ideas for some of the top hikes in the hills, including a summit or two. More low-key visitors can stick to the scenic routes, historic landmarks, and bucket-list waterfalls. There are enough options to pick from to easily fill 3 to 5 days or more in the park.

Keep reading for an action-packed Great Smoky Mountains itinerary and check out these other East Coast national parks for your bucket list.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Map

This map has pins showing all of the locations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park itinerary below. Click on the square in the top right corner to open a Google Map that you can save to your own account.

4-Day Great Smoky Mountains Itinerary

The 4-day Great Smoky Mountains National Park itinerary below has all of our favorite hikes, drives, historic sites, and more!

Day 1 — Little River Gorge Road and Cades Cove

Start your 4-day Smoky Mountain itinerary with a couple of classic drives through the park in the Cades Cove valley and along Little River Gorge Road. If you’re arriving from Knoxville or the west, you can start with Cades Cove before heading towards Gatlinburg on Little River Gorge Road. If you’re already in Gatlinburg, hike to Laurel Falls first before heading towards Cades Cove on Little River Gorge Road. You can either return on the same route or make a loop by driving through Townsend and Wears Valley.

The order of activities below assumes you’re staying in Gatlinburg. If you aren’t, check the map above for locations to craft a route that fits best.

Sugarlands Visitor Center

If you’re staying in Gatlinburg, pop by the Sugarlands Visitor Center before taking off for the day. It’s about 4 miles from the town and has a gift shop, natural history exhibits, park maps, trail information, and rangers on hand to answer questions. 

Fighting Creek Nature Trail

Departing from the Sugarlands Visitor Center, the 1.4-mile Fighting Creek Nature Trail makes a loop through the woods and past a historic cabin. Anyone planning to hike to Laurel Falls or Abram Falls on this day should skip it to get an earlier start, but the nature trail is great for families with little kids or anyone who isn’t up for the more challenging paths.

Laurel Falls

Laurel Falls is one of the most popular destinations on a Great Smoky Mountains itinerary, with a paved trail to an 80-foot-tall waterfall. The moderately difficult path is 2.6-miles, roundtrip. The waterfall is extremely busy throughout the day, and parking is limited, so it’s best to go early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Little River Gorge Road 

As its name implies, Little River Gorge Road follows the bends of the Little River, spanning about 17 miles between the Sugarlands Visitor Center and Townsend, Tennessee. Driving the route without any traffic would take a little over 30 minutes, but you’ll want to make a few stops along the way.

The trailhead for Laurel Falls is near the start of the drive on the Sugarlands end, so after hiking here, continue west on the road. Several pullouts offer views of the Little River, but be sure to park at the Sinks for a gushing short waterfall under a bridge and Meigs Falls for a delicate cascade in the distance.

There are a few trailheads along this road as well, including the Metcalf Bottoms Trail , an easy, 1.5-mile roundtrip walk to an old schoolhouse, and the Meigs Creek Trail , a moderate, 6.5-mile roundtrip trek from the Sinks that follows a creek. If you’re squeezing Little River Gorge Road and Cades Cove into one day, I would advise skipping these hikes. On longer trips, you can stretch out the drive and try out some of these less-crowded trails.

The Metcalf Bottoms picnic area about midway along the road makes a great spot to stop along the river for lunch or a bathroom break. It has the only flush toilets and running water on this route past the visitor center.

Cades Cove Scenic Loop 

One of the most-visited sections of the park, Cades Cove sits in a green valley at the foot of the mountains and holds the remains of settlements from the early to mid-1800s. A one-way, 11-mile loop road circles the area, with pull-offs for scenic views and historic sites. Plan to spend at least a couple of hours to half a day or more driving the loop, depending on stops, hiking plans, and traffic.

Be sure to download a map or grab one at the entrance before starting the driving tour, because you won’t be able to backtrack if you miss a stop. Along the way are three white clapboard churches with cemeteries, several log cabins, barns, a gristmill, and other structures. John Oliver Place, Cades Cove Primitive Baptist Church, Cades Cove Methodist Church, and Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church are all on the first half of the drive. The second half has more homesteads like the Tipton Place and Dan Lawson Cabin.

The trailhead to Abram Falls (trail details in the next section) is about midway through the drive, before the Cades Cove Visitor Center , where you’ll find a restroom, information center, and a few more historic buildings. 

In addition to the old-timey attractions, Cades Cove is a great place to look for wildlife. So much so that traffic often gets backed up when black bears are sighted. Park at spots like the Valley View for safe wildlife watching from your vehicle, and never approach, feed, or disturb any animals you see. Sunrise and sunset are the most active times, so plan your trip around then for the best chance to spot bears, white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and more.

The Cades Cove Campground area at the start and end of the loop has a ranger station, a small store and deli (think ice cream, hot dogs, and nachos), and a bike rental shop. The loop road closes to vehicles on Wednesdays from May through September so that cyclists and pedestrians can sightsee. 

Abram Falls

With a gushing drop 20 feet high and a picturesque pool at the base, Abram Falls is a favorite hiking destination in Cades Cove. The trailhead parking is about midway along the loop road, down a short, unpaved street. 

The moderately-difficult hike is 5 miles round-trip, along a creek and through a pine and oak forest. This hike will add an extra 3 hours or so to your Cades Cove tour.

Day 2 — Newfound Gap Road 

Every Great Smoky Mountains itinerary should include a scenic drive on Newfound Gap Road, which spans about 35 miles between Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Cherokee, North Carolina, through the middle of the park. The highway climbs some 3,000 feet through forests of pine, oak and spruce. Along the way are lookouts with sweeping views of the mountains and trailheads for popular hikes like Alum Cave Bluffs and Chimney Tops.

Plan to pull over at the Chimney Tops Overlook, Ben Morton Overlook, and the Newfound Gap view on the state border where the Appalachian National Scenic Trail passes through. Continuing over to the North Carolina side, you’ll pass the road to Clingmans Dome before winding down to the verdant banks of the Oconaluftee River.

Just before Cherokee, look for the 1880s Mingus Mill , an operational grist mill, and the Mountain Farm Museum at the national park’s Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Keep reading for a few trail descriptions and notable stops on this route.

Chimney Tops Trail 

While it’s only 3.5 miles roundtrip, the Chimney Tops Trail is considered strenuous for its 1,400-foot elevation gain in less than 2 miles. The payoff, though, is sweeping views of Mount Le Conte and the Chimney Tops pinnacles.

The trailhead is along Newfound Gap Road about 7 miles from the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Previously, hikers could follow a ridge to the top of the pinnacles, but wildfire damage has shut down access to the last quarter-mile climb. Now, the final destination is an observation deck below the summit.

Alum Cave Bluffs Trail

Mountain views, rock tunnels and steep cliffs are featured on the popular Alum Cave Bluffs Trail. Crossing log bridges and winding through old-growth woods, the strenuous trail climbs some 1,200 feet to the eponymous bluffs before continuing on to the summit of Mount Le Conte.

On the way, you’ll pass through a tunnel formed by Arch Rock and see valley views from Inspiration Point before standing beneath the shade of the massive bluffs. Turning around at the Alum Cave Bluffs makes for a 5-mile, round-trip hike while climbing the exposed cliffs to Mount Le Conte turns it into a 10-mile trek. 

While there are a couple of large parking lots at the trailhead, they often overflow, with cars stretching down the sides of the highway on especially busy days. To avoid adding extra mileage walking to and from your vehicle, plan to start this hike early in the morning.

Appalachian Trail to Charlies Bunion

Just over 70 miles of the 2,190-mile-long Appalachian Trail pass through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The highest peak on the trail is here as well — Clingmans Dome at 6,643 feet. Hikers who want a little taste of the bucket-list footpath can hop on at spots where it crosses through like Clingmans Dome or Newfound Gap.

One popular excursion on the trail from the park is the hike to Charlies Bunion, a rocky outcrop with views of peaks and valleys. Starting from the Newfound Gap parking lot, the round-trip hike is 8 miles and moderately difficult, with an elevation gain of 1,600 feet. 

Andrews Bald Trail 

The hike on the Forney Ridge Trail to Andrews Bald departs from the Clingmans Dome parking lot and leads through old-growth forests to an open field of grass and seasonal wildflowers on the bald. Round trip, it’s a moderate, 3.6-mile hike and a great option for visitors who are short on time but want to hike in the mountains. 

Unlike the other paths on this list, this one starts with a 1,200-foot descent, with an uphill climb to return. The trail keeps going past Andrews Bald for another few miles.

Clingmans Dome

The tallest peak in the park and the whole state of Tennessee, Clingmans Dome is 6,643 feet high. An observation tower at the top with a rounded deck has panoramic views for over 100 miles on a clear day.

The 7-mile road to the peak branches off from Newfound Gap Road and closes seasonally due to weather conditions at the higher elevation. A very steep 0.5-mile paved trail leads to the tower from the parking area. There’s a small visitor center and store near the start of the walk.

Sunset and sunrise from the viewing deck at Clingmans Dome are simply spectacular, so plan your day to fit one in if you can. If you’re driving Newfound Gap Road round trip from Gatlinburg, you can skip Clingmans Dome on the way out to Cherokee and head up before sunset on the return trip.

Oconaluftee Visitor Center and Mountain Farm Museum

Just a couple of miles from Cherokee, North Carolina, the Oconaluftee Visitor Center marks the southern entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Here you’ll find a gift shop, restrooms, park maps and information, and water fill-ups.

Inside the center, exhibits tell the story of the Smokies, from native residents to the early settlers to the formation of the national park in the 1920s and 30s. Outside, the Mountain Farm Museum preserves a village of old log buildings, including a barn, farmhouse, corn crib, smokehouse, and more, with seasonal historic demonstrations.

Mingo Falls

Though it’s not within the national park bounds, Mingo Falls is absolutely worth a brief excursion while you’re on the North Carolina side of the Smokies. The cascade of 120 feet is one of the tallest waterfalls in the state, made more spectacular by how close you can get to the gushing drop.

The short and steep hike up steps and a rocky dirt path is only about a quarter mile each way and leads to a wooden bridge with a straight-on view of the waterfall. Located on Cherokee Nation land, the trailhead is just 6 miles from the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.

The town of Cherokee, North Carolina, is just a couple of miles from the southern entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and from the southern entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s also the closest gateway town to the national park on the North Carolina side for overnight guests and is generally a bit cheaper and less crowded than Gatlinburg in Tennessee.

If you have enough time, consider visiting one of the cultural attractions here. The Museum of the Cherokee Indian has art, culture and history exhibits and the Oconaluftee Indian Village is a replica 18th-century Cherokee community with craft demonstrations, living history reenactments, and special performances, including a seasonal evening play that tells the story of the Trail of Tears. Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort has restaurants, nightlife, events and a hoard of amenities.

For a short stop before heading back to Gatlinburg, you can browse the shops along Tsalagi Road or picnic in Oconaluftee Island Park on the river.

Day 3 — Roaring Fork Drive and Waterfalls

Day 3 of this Great Smoky Mountains National Park itinerary takes you to a couple of the most loved waterfalls in the park. Active travelers can hike to both on the same day on either two shorter individual trails of around 8 miles total or connect them on a longer route that goes up Mount Le Conte. 

If you only have time for one hike, Grotto Falls is the easier of the pair, but still moderately challenging with some uphill walking. 

Rainbow Falls

On bright afternoons, the sun hits the mist of Rainbow Falls, creating a hazy blur of colors off the 80-foot drop. With a trailhead less than 5 miles from Gatlinburg on the Tennessee side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the cascade is a popular hiking destination on a Great Smoky Mountains itinerary.

The 5.4-mile, round-trip trek follows Le Conte Creek, crossing water a few times on bridges and rocks. It’s considered a moderate to difficult hike, with about 1,700 feet of elevation change and takes a good three to five hours to complete. Adventurous travelers can stretch it out into a longer day hike by continuing on to the summit of Mount Le Conte, a 13.4-mile, round-trip journey.

Parking at the trailhead fills up fast, so plan to arrive early in the morning for this hike. 

Grotto Falls

Just a couple of miles past the Rainbow Falls trailhead on the one-way Roaring Fork Road, the hike to Grotto Falls is 2.6 miles round trip. While the waterfall is only 25 feet high, the cave-like setting and the ability to walk behind the cascade make this a crowd-pleaser. 

The trail is moderately difficult with less than 600 feet of elevation change and only takes a couple of hours, so you’ll see plenty of families along the way. For a more adventurous take, you can continue on the Trillium Gap Trail through hemlock forests to the peak of Mount Le Conte. Hiking a loop back down the Rainbow Falls Trail makes for about a 15-mile route.

There are only a few parking spots at this trailhead, and roadside shoulder space is sparse, so plan to either start very early in the morning or be prepared to add another mile or so onto the walk if you have to park further down the road. Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a 5.5-mile one-way drive, so you’d have to loop all the way back around for another chance to park.

LeConte Lodge

Near the top of Mount Le Conte, the LeConte Lodge offers overnight accommodations in log cabins. You have to book months in advance to get a spot, but the sunrise views from 6,400 feet up are hard to beat. The only way to get there is hiking one of a handful of paths up the mountain, including the Trillium Gap Trail, Rainbow Falls Trail and Alum Cave Trail.

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail 

Driving the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is the perfect end to a day of waterfall hiking. A one-way road, the 5.5-mile route passes through verdant forests with rushing streams, log cabins and an old gristmill along the way.

Plan to pull over at a few historic buildings like the Noah Bud Ogle Cabin (just before Roaring Fork Road begins), Alex Cole Cabin, Ephraim Bales Cabin, and Alfred Regan House and Tub Mill. It’s the perfect little historic road trip and a more compact substitute for Caves Cove if you’re short on time.

Towards the end, look for a spot called the Place of a Thousand Drips to see a network of mini falls combining into a larger display. The 1920s Ely’s Mill at the end of the drive has a family-run crafts shop, cabin rentals and a wedding venue.

Day 4 — Foothills Parkway, Gatlinburg or Dollywood

On your final day in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you can hike a trail you haven’t had time for yet from day 2 or 3, explore Gatlinburg attractions, or drive the Foothills Parkway for scenic views. The Dollywood theme park is also just 10 miles north of Gatlinburg in Pigeon Forge for a change of pace.

Foothills Parkway 

The Foothills Parkway corridor traces the top of the national park a few miles north, with views of the Great Smoky Mountains from overlooks along the way. Commissioned in 1944 as a 72-mile route connecting Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 129, the roadway has less than 40 completed miles to date in a couple of different sections.

The longest part you can drive is the west end, between Wears Valley and Chilhowee Lake on the Little Tennessee River. A short section on the northeast side between Crosby and I-40 is only about 5 miles long. 

While I recommend spending as much time as possible in the national park, Gatlinburg does have some fun activities for family vacations, as long as you don’t mind dealing with crowds for much of the year.

The downtown strip offers kitschy museums, arcades, souvenir shops and chain restaurants. Parking is tight but a trolley shuttles visitors from a park and ride lot at the welcome center. Some of the top things to do in Gatlinburg are the Space Needle , a 407-foot-high observation platform with 360-degree views, Gatlinburg Skylift Park , with a chairlift and 700-foot-long elevated pedestrian cable bridge, and Ober Gatlinburg , with an aerial tram to the top of Mount Harrison for an amusement park in summer and skiing and tubing in winter.

For a change of pace from all the outdoorsy activities in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you can spend a day at Dollywood. Dolly Parton’s Appalachian-style theme park in Pigeon Forge has dozens of roller coasters and rides, toe-tapping shows, and tons of Southern food.

Dollywood is less than 15 miles from the northern end of the national park.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Guide and Tips

Use these Great Smoky Mountains National Park tips to help plan your trip!

Where to stay near Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

On the Tennessee side of the park, Gatlinburg is the top place to stay, with an amenity-filled and touristy downtown district just outside the park. There are plenty of hotels and cabins to choose from here. About 10 miles north, Pigeon Forge has cheaper options when Gatlinburg fills up and is home to the Dollywood theme park. The communities of Wears Valley and Townsend to the west of Gatlinburg are much quieter with cabins and RV parks but fewer amenities. Townsend is convenient to the Cades Cove area, about 10 miles from the entrance.

On the North Carolina side of the park, Cherokee is less than 5 miles from the park entrance and has a large casino resort plus some cheaper hotels and campgrounds. Bryson City on the Tuckasegee River is 10 miles west of Cherokee and has a railroad with train rides through the park.

Airport Near Smoky Mountains National Park

The closest airport to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is McGhee Tyson Airport in Alcoa, Tennessee, near Knoxville. It’s about 25 miles from the Townsend entrance and 40 miles from Gatlinburg and the Sugarlands Visitor Center on the north end of the park. The last time I did this Great Smoky Mountains itinerary, I flew into Knoxville and drove through the park, to Asheville, and back.

On the North Carolina side, Asheville Regional Airport is about 60 miles from Cherokee, the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, and the southern entrance to the park.

Read Next: U.S. National Parks Bucket List by State

How many days do you need in the Smoky Mountains?

You could spend anywhere from a day in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park passing through on a road trip, to a week or more for a relaxed stay at a cabin or an extended hiking adventure.

I recommend a minimum of a 2-day itinerary in the Smoky Mountains to drive Newfound Gap Road through the park and visit Cades Cove. With 3 days in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you should have time for a couple of hikes to spots like Grotto Falls, Rainbow Falls or Alum Cave Bluffs. With a 4 day Smoky Mountain itinerary , you can spend a full day on a longer hike or explore the attractions around Gatlinburg or Cherokee. A 5-day itinerary in Great Smoky Mountains should be enough time to hike all the trails on the list above or spend some time relaxing in a cabin outside the park.

What should you not miss in the Great Smoky Mountains?

There are so many things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains, with over 800 miles of trails in the national park and some 40 waterfalls you can see along the streams and rivers. On your first visit, you should not miss the Cades Cove scenic drive, a waterfall hike (Laurel Falls, Grotto Falls, Rainbow Falls and Abram Falls are the most popular), a drive along Newfound Gap Road to see the mountain lookouts, and a walk up to the Clingmans Dome observation tower. This Great Smoky Mountains itinerary includes the most popular things to do on your first trip.

What is the best month to visit the Smoky Mountains?

The best month to visit the Smoky Mountains will depend on your goals and activities for the trip. Do you want to visit in spring for the gushing waterfalls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Autumn for the colorful leaves? Summer for warm temps on mountain hikes?

If you’re looking to avoid the crowds, summer when schools are out and October for fall foliage tends to be the busiest times in the park, plus weekends and holidays throughout spring, summer and fall. Great Smoky Mountains National Park has over 14 million visitors per year, though, so it’s hard to completely avoid people unless you visit in a chilly month like January or February .

This Great Smoky Mountains itinerary is perfect for spring, summer and fall.

Spring in the Smoky Mountains

In spring, the weather changes from snowy and grey in March to daytime temps in the 70s and 80s later in the season. The trees are usually still bare throughout April, but the park won’t be as crowded yet if you avoid the weekend.

Summer in the Great Smoky Mountain

In summer, the lower elevations can hit the 90s and humidity is high, though up in the mountains, it’s much cooler. Mount Le Conte rarely reaches temperatures in the 80s. Rain and thunderstorms in the afternoon are also common is the summer, and visitation peaks from June through August.

Fall in the Smoky Mountains

Fall drops from average highs in the 80s at lower elevations in September to the 60s in November. The leaves can start changing at higher elevations in mid-September, but the lower spots don’t typically peak until sometime between mid-October and early November.

Winter in the Great Smoky Mountains

Winter conditions can vary from tepid in the Gatlinburg area to subzero and snowy in the mountains. The average highs in the lower elevations through winter are in the low 50s, with lows below freezing. In the high elevations, average highs are just above freezing and lows are around 20. January and February see an average monthly snowfall of around 20 inches. Icy conditions will cause some park amenities and roads to close, including the route up to Clingmans Dome, which typically closes for the season by late November. Nevertheless, winter can be a great time to visit to avoid crowds!

Tickets and Passes for Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains is one of just a few national parks with no entrance fee. You do have to pay for things like camping reservations and backcountry permits, but there is no charge to enter the park. A proposed parking fee is being considered for 2023 and beyond.

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40 Best Stops Between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and New York City

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How long is the drive from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to New York City?

The direct drive from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to New York City is 730 mi (1,174 km) , and should have a drive time of 11 hrs 58 mins in normal traffic.

If you’re going on a road trip from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to New York City, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way — with Washington DC , Philadelphia , Baltimore , Gettysburg , Asheville , Hershey , Charlottesville , Arlington , Lancaster , and Luray , as well as top places to visit like Horseshoe Casino Baltimore and Oriole Park at Camden Yards, or the ever-popular Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Top cities between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and New York City

Charlottesville

Arlington County

Track your travel spending and split costs with friends

Plan your trip. Keep your budget organized. Split the cost between tripmates. Wanderlog does it all.

Lancaster County

Philadelphia, best stops along the great smoky mountains national park to new york city drive, basilica of the national shrine of the immaculate conception.

Horseshoe Casino Baltimore

Oriole park at camden yards.

National Aquarium

Hersheypark, the hershey story museum, sight & sound theatres, strasburg rail road, refreshing mountain retreat and adventure center, knoebels amusement resort, longwood gardens, ricketts glen state park, harrah's philadelphia casino and racetrack, valley forge national historical park, lehigh gorge scenic railway: trademark of the reading & northern railroad.

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Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom

Philadelphia museum of art.

Eastern State Penitentiary

Independence Hall

Liberty Bell

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Camelbeach Outdoor Waterpark at Camelback Resort

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• New York City
• Jersey City
• Fort Hancock
• Long Island City
• West New York
• North Bergen
• Jackson Heights
• Middle Village
• Cliffside Park
• East Elmhurst

All related maps of New York City

• Map of New York City
• Map of Brooklyn
• Map of Jersey City
• Map of Hoboken
• Map of Fort Hancock
• Map of Long Island City
• Map of Union City
• Map of Weehawken
• Map of Sunnyside
• Map of West New York
• Map of Maspeth
• Map of Guttenberg
• Map of North Bergen
• Map of Woodside
• Map of Secaucus
• Map of Astoria
• Map of Ridgewood
• Map of Bayonne
• Map of Elmhurst
• Map of Jackson Heights
• Map of Glendale
• Map of Fairview
• Map of Middle Village
• Map of Cliffside Park
• Map of Rego Park
• Map of East Elmhurst
• Map of Corona
• Map of Edgewater
• Map of Woodhaven
• Map of Kearny
• Map of Harrison

New York City throughout the year

• New York City in January
• New York City in February
• New York City in March
• New York City in April
• New York City in May
• New York City in June
• New York City in July
• New York City in August
• New York City in September
• New York City in October
• New York City in November
• New York City in December

Looking for day-by-day itineraries in New York City?

Get inspired for your trip to New York City with our curated itineraries that are jam-packed with popular attractions everyday! Check them out here:

• 1-Day New York City Itinerary
• 2-Day New York City Itinerary
• 3-Day New York City Itinerary
• 4-Day New York City Itinerary
• 5-Day New York City Itinerary

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i drive from the great smoky mountains national park to new york city.

Yes! You can drive from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to New York City.

How far is New York City from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park by car?

The drive from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to New York City is 730 miles (1,174 km).

How long does it take to drive from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to New York City?

Driving from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to New York City should take you 11 hrs 58 mins in normal traffic.

How much would gas cost from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to New York City?

Gas from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to New York City would cost around $64 to $149 , depending on your vehicle's fuel efficiency.

Where should I stop on the way from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to New York City?

You could check out Horseshoe Casino Baltimore and Oriole Park at Camden Yards, or the always popular Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception!

What are the best cities to visit between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and New York City?

People love visiting Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, among others.

What's the weather like in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

It depends on when you visit! We've compiled data from NASA for each month of the year: see the links below for more information.

• Weather in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in January
• Weather in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in February
• Weather in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in March
• Weather in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in April
• Weather in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in May
• Weather in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in June
• Weather in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in July
• Weather in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in August
• Weather in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in September
• Weather in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in October
• Weather in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in November
• Weather in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in December

What are some other road trips from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

There are plenty! Below you'll find links to all the road trips we've assembled for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to New York City drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Orlando drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Washington DC drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Atlanta drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Nashville drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Chicago drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to New Orleans drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Savannah drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Chattanooga drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Toronto drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Charleston drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Asheville drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Boston drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Memphis drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to St. Augustine drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Louisville drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Philadelphia drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Niagara Falls drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Myrtle Beach drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Baltimore drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Saint Louis drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Charlotte drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Branson drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Montreal drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Miami Beach drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Cincinnati drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Greenville drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Tampa drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Williamsburg drive
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Pittsburgh drive

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