The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the MOST visited national park in the U.S. With it’s average of 11.5 million visitors a year, there can definitely be some areas that become crowded. However, with a little planning and some flexibility, you can enjoy some quality time with nature and your family without battling the crowds of other tourists.
Oconaluftee Visitor Center and Mountain Farm Museum
Our family visited during the month of July and entered the park from North Carolina. Our first stop was the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and Mountain Farm Museum (located at the entrance to the park on U.S. Highway 441) . Just outside the visitor center, the Mountain Farm Museum offers a hands-on experience of what life was like for Appalachian settlers in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The museum features several historic structures, including a farmhouse, barn, blacksmith shop, and smokehouse. Kids can explore these buildings and learn about the tools, equipment, and daily routines of early settlers. The museum is free and a great chance for kids to explore and get out some pent up energy.
The visitor center is a great opportunity to pick up some maps, visit a gift shop, talk with a Park Ranger, use the bathrooms, etc. We were also hoping to see some elk here as this is a common area where they like to graze. However, it was late afternoon in the middle of July and the elk like to spend their time where it’s cool back in the woods near the stream. We were informed that the best times to view the elk would be early in the morning and around dusk.
Clingman’s Dome
From here, we entered the park (there is no fee to enter) and headed for Clingman’s Dome, the highest point in the Smoky Mountains. The parking lot is known to be very busy and often reaches capacity with guests needing to park on the roadside. We arrived at the Clingman’s Dome parking lot around 4 PM. Due to the time of day, the lot wasn’t busy and there were plenty of parking spots available.
There are bathrooms available located near the parking lot and a small gift shop at the trail head. This paved path is approximately .5 miles and leads to an observation tower at the top. The path is steep and deemed too steep to be wheel chair accessible. Our kids easily hiked this path, but did need some stops along the way (truthfully, I needed more stops than they did). There are benches placed periodically for resting and the path is well traveled by other tourists and rangers. Be cautious as the elevation may cause some people to have some altitude related difficulties. Take your time, listen to your body, drink plenty of water, and rest as needed.
Once you reach the end of the trail, there is a ramp to the top of the observation tower. The top of the tower provides an amazing 360 degree view of the Smokies and on a clear day you can see seven states from the observation deck! Even on a cloudy day, the views are breathtaking and well worth the steep trek to the top.
Grotto Falls Trail
There are many trails in the Smoky Mountains that would be great to hike as a family and with young children. We personally enjoyed exploring the Grotto Falls Trail, located along the Roaring Forks Motor Trail. This hiking trail is the only place in the Smoky Mountains where you can walk behind a waterfall. We’ve learned a few things during our adventures with our kiddos, one being that they aren’t into hiking for the pure enjoyment of it, they need an end goal to work towards. Having a cool waterfall to check out when they reached the end of our hike was incentive enough to keep them moving with a positive attitude. The hike is rated as moderate, but it’s suitable for kids who can handle a slightly more challenging terrain.
We did not arrive at the parking lot early enough in the morning and the lot was completely full. We had to park a ways away on the roadside and work our way back to the trailhead. Despite the parking lot being at capacity, the trail wasn’t crowded and we only occasionally passed other hikers. There were more visitors around the waterfall, but there was still plenty of room for everyone to enjoy the area without it feeling crowded.
When we made it to the waterfall, we walked behind the falls to the other side of the stream and relaxed with our toes in the water for a few minutes. Even though it was July, that mountain water was COLD! We had a nice break, snacks, and water before heading back down the trail. Keep in mind that everyone should have proper footwear when hiking these trails, this one in particular had a lot of roots and rocks sticking out.
Roaring Fork Motor Trail
The Roaring Forks Motor Trail is a scenic drivable trail near Gatlinburg, TN. This 5.5 mile loop winds through the Smoky Mountains past mountain streams and historic homesteads. This is a one way road, but it has multiple pull offs so you can take your time enjoying the views and exploring the old homesteads. This was a nice way to relax after our hike and still take in the beautiful landscape. This would also be a great choice for visitors that are uninterested in hiking, but would still like to enjoy the scenery of this beautiful national park while also learning about its rich cultural history.
Junior Ranger Badges
Junior Ranger badges are a great way for kids to learn about the natural and cultural history of national parks while having fun too. To earn a Junior Ranger badge, kids must complete a series of activities in a booklet or attend a ranger-led program, after which they are sworn in as official Junior Rangers and receive a badge. Unlike other parks, you cannot download a booklet for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park online, but they can be purchased in the visitor centers. When you’re finished with a booklet, just return to a visitor center and speak with a ranger to receive your free junior ranger badge.
Visiting the Smoky Mountains with kids can be an unforgettable experience, but dealing with crowds can quickly turn it into a stressful adventure. Luckily, there are ways to avoid the crowds and still have a great time. One of the best strategies is to visit during the shoulder season, which typically falls between late August and early November. During this time, the weather is pleasant, and the foliage is stunning, making it a perfect time to explore the great outdoors. Additionally, plan your visit to avoid weekends and holidays when the crowds tend to be the largest. Lastly, consider exploring some of the lesser-known trails and attractions, which can be just as enjoyable as the popular ones but with fewer people. By following these tips, you can have a wonderful family vacation in the Smoky Mountains without feeling overwhelmed by crowds.
Need some ideas on what to bring along when hiking with kids? Check out our “Essentials for Hiking with Kids” blog post.
