Are the Smokies becoming too popular? 

At what point do the crowds, traffic and inconvenience become overbearing?

It’s a question that plagues the handful of communities around the globe that have become iconic tourism destinations. How much is too much? Tourism dollars are good. They help keep local economies afloat, taxes and gas prices reasonable and attract the kind of restaurants and shopping and attractions that other people have to travel hours to experience. 

When you live in a place – as we do – of incredible natural beauty with the infrastructure to handle millions of visitors each year, you learn the balancing act. I have a world-class vacation destination in my backyard. Any time. Any day.

On the slightest whim, I can go explore a forest so epic, the government stepped in and said, “we’re saving that.” I can see rare wildlife, stand atop mountains, relax by cool mountain streams and still be back in time for bed and work the next day. And beyond the National Park, I can visit one of the world’s best theme parks, have a date night or a family day or a weekend getaway without even using a full tank of gas. It’s quite convenient and something that we too often take for granted. 

What’s the downside? Sometimes getting to the mountains – at least the more popular spots – can turn difficult. There are few things worse than a Smoky Mountain traffic jam. You expect to be bogged down sometimes on the interstate or in downtown Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg. But when traffic backs up in the mountains and turns an hour-and-a-half trip into a four-hour ordeal, you can get a little frustrated.

How many people visit the Smokies each year?

When we arrived in East Tennessee in 1990, about 8.2 million people visited the Smokies. In 2021 that number peaked at 14.2 million. In 2025, according to final figures the National Park Service released in March 2026, it was 11.5 million – the lowest since before the pandemic.

But whether it’s 12 million, 13 million or 14 million, the Smokies remain quite crowded which raises the question: Are they becoming too popular? Well, let’s break it down.

Smoky Mountain traffic

I think that today’s Smokies and surrounding communities are better equipped to handle that crowd of 11.5-14 million than they were in 1990 when crowds were at 8 million. Inside the park, 30 years ago, traffic was a nightmare, especially in the Cove. On the wrong summer afternoon, riding through the Cove could be a nightmare. People weren’t as aware of the ways you can keep traffic moving and the sighting of a deer or wild turkey could really back traffic up. And a bear? Forget about it. A bear sighting essentially meant you’d taken up residence in the Cove.

Fast forward to today and the rangers are more proactive about keeping things going. And drivers do a better job of utilizing pull-offs and not blocking the loop proper. Am I saying we don’t have frequent traffic jams in the loop? Nah. We still do. I just think they’re better managed today. 

Outside the park, the combination of a consistently upgrading infrastructure, a growing tourism footprint spreading past Sevierville and beyond and the arrival of technology that helps you see and avoid traffic jams make getting around the mountains more workable. Still, there are times when you’re just better off avoiding Sevierville or Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg altogether. A look at Google maps and seeing all the main routes glowing with red makes you appreciate that Knoxville is nearby.

The parking fees

This is frustrating to me. Intellectually, I get it. People were parking everywhere; any spot they could pull off alongside the road was a parking spot. It was getting old. The thing is while the Smokies has oodles of space, relatively little of it is designated for parking. After all, none of us – locals or visitors – come to the mountains for the parking.

How do you control it? Welcome to the world of parking fees. Is it expensive? Not really. It’s $5 for a day tag, $15 for a weekly tag and $40 for an annual tag. But it’s the principle of the thing. During the creation of the park, the great state of Tennessee demanded that access to the park be free in return for Tennessee donating its share of the land. For years, I didn’t know other national parks charged entrance fees.  I still firmly and completely believe the federal government – with support from the state and local governments that benefit from the tourism dollars – should fund and maintain these lands for all who wish to visit. 

Ability to pay should not be a barrier to God’s splendor. However, I have not yet been elected president, so what I think has very little bearing on what is. Parking tags are required for any vehicle that parks in the park for more than 15 minutes. Vehicles displaying a state-issued disability placard or license plate don’t need a parking tag, though America the Beautiful passes (including the Access Pass) aren’t accepted in place of one. I should probably break down and buy the annual pass but I haven’t yet. 

The reservation system

There are several activities in the national park that require permits or reservations. Permits are required for weddings and special events, including protests, assemblies and demonstrations. Professional and commercial services also require a permit as do burials and the scattering of ashes. You also need a license to fish. 

Camping and lodging in the park may also require reservations. The front country campgrounds require advance reservations. Check your preferred campground’s webpage at www.nps.gov. Expect to pay fees as well.

For backcountry camping and overnight backpacking, a permit is required. They are available at recreation.gov where you can also pick up an Appalachian Trail thru‑hiker pass which is $44.50 at the time of this writing.

Exploring the ‘hidden’ areas

While we talk about crowds in the Smokies – even with millions of visitors – it’s not that hard to get away from the throng. Most of the park’s visitors stay on the edges or use the popular cut throughs like Newfound Gap Road from Gatlinburg to Cherokee. You don’t have to get far off the beaten path to find a little more isolation and solitude. That’s where you can reconnect with nature. 

There are also “hidden” areas, some of which are open seasonally. If you want the best of both worlds, consider an alternative path out of Cades Cove. Both Rich Mountain and Forge Creek roads will allow you to experience the sweeping valley views, visit a couple of historic cabins along the way and get away from the crowds.

Rich Mountain Road takes you out to Townsend, but connects you to Indian Grave Gap Trail first. If you want to do some hiking that won’t be as crowded as some of the trails at the Roaring Fork, this is a good option. But be careful. If you’re not a frequent mountain hiker, it’s easy to overestimate your abilities. 

If you go on Forge Creek Road, you’re getting up into the high mountains and away from almost everyone. The Gregory Ridge and Gregory Bald trailheads are up there as well. But again, if you’re not an experienced hiker, probably start with something easier. Forge Creek will eventually connect with Parsons Branch and take you all the way out to Highway 129 – aka the Tail of the Dragon. You can head to Robbinsville, North Carolina from there or back to Maryville. However, be careful because that road is popular with drivers looking to challenge themselves. 

Newfound Gap, Elkmont and House of the Fairies

I hesitate to call Elkmont with its Ghost Town and Troll Bridge hidden. It’s not that far from the Townsend Wye and there’s a big campground right there. However, most others recommend it as a hidden spot and it certainly has smaller crowds than the Cove.

You might also consider going over Newfound Gap Road towards the state line. While the road itself is quite busy, there are a lot of pull-offs and trailheads from which you can go exploring if you have the ability. You can stop off at the Newfound Gap Parking Area, see the Rockefeller Monument where FDR dedicated the park and hike a little ways on the AT. There are several good spots in the Smokies where you can set foot on the AT and walk awhile but be respectful of the thru-hikers. They have a fairly specific culture and some enjoy interacting with newbies more than others. 

There are some other “hidden” places but they aren’t really that hidden. There’s the House of the Fairies and the property that used to belong to eccentric Cincinnati millionaire and water-feature enthusiast Louis E. Voorheis in the late 1920s and early 30s before the park. The House of the Fairies is an old stone springhouse covered in moss and built into a hillside that – for folks of a certain imagination – looks like something out of Tolkien or the older legends. 

We’ve been asked not to direct people to it because the park service has turned much of that area into working spaces. But as of this posting it’s still open.

I hesitate to recommend more of the truly hidden areas because I’m leery of sending folks to spots that may be hard for them to get into or – more importantly – get back out of. Don’t underestimate the deep mountains. They are beautiful but to be treated with respect.

What are the best alternatives?

The thing about the Smokies is they are part of a larger system. You really want to get away from the crowds? Get away from Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge and check out the surrounding forests like the Cherokee, Pisgah or Nantahala national forests. Don’t forget Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, where Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia meet. The park features amazing history and views and wildlife. But it is far less attended and is about two hours away from the Smokies. Check out some of our state parks like Panther Creek or the Seven Islands Birding Park. The crowds won’t find their way there nearly as much. 

The North Carolina side

Check out the forests accessible from Waynesville, Maggie Valley or Clyde over in North Carolina. Get up on the Blue Ridge Parkway – but be aware of which parts are open. Even though it’s been more than two years since Hurricane Helene hit in September 2024, many of the destinations in that part of the mountains are either being worked on or are still not accessible. Check the nps.gov website to make sure you can get to the place you want to go. 

We love the Cherohala Skyway – accessible from Tellico Plains or Robbinsville, North Carolina, though that’s a pretty significant drive from the Smokies. But the Indian Boundary Lake and Recreation Area are 100 percent worth it. Speaking of lakes, Fontana Lake – above Bryson City is beautiful and not usually as crowded as others in the system.

Are the Smokies losing what made them special?

Nah. In the words of the great Long Island philosopher William Martin Joel, “The good ole days weren’t always good, and tomorrow ain’t as bad as it seems.”

The Smokies? Even with larger crowds and parking fees and camping reservations, the Smokies are great. They are one of the wonders of the world. They teem with natural beauty and wildlife and cool mountain streams. And the truth is, we barely touch the edges. Sure, Cades Cove and Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are crowded as are Cherokee and sometimes Bryson City. But between Gatlinburg and Cherokee is a massive forest that is hardly ever explored. There are places that can still go years – at least months – without seeing a human walk through.

And there’s an argument to be made that the Smokies are better now than they were. Improved infrastructure makes them easier to get to. Efforts to repopulate the elk have been incredibly successful. I’ve been around these mountains 36 years and I still haven’t adjusted to seeing a majestic elk in the distance. The bear population is also on the rise. Bear sightings were relatively rare 36 years ago. But now it seems like I can’t go to the mountains without seeing one or a dozen of our ursine friends. That does present new problems of course. But it remains thrilling to see them. 

Are the Smokies losing what made them special? I don’t think so. But I do think our perceptions change over time. I think relatively minor changes make for major waves in the way we look at and feel about the mountains. But everything you’ve loved about the mountains your whole life is right there. You might just have to go a little further to find it.  

Frequently asked questions

How many people visited the Smokies in 2025?

About 11.5 million people visited Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2025, according to the National Park Service. That’s down from a record 14.2 million in 2021, but the Smokies are still the most-visited national park in the country.

Do you have to pay to park in the Smokies?

Yes. There’s no entrance fee, but any vehicle parked in the park for more than 15 minutes needs a parking tag. Tags cost $5 for a day, $15 for a week or $40 for a year, and you can buy them online, at visitor centers or at parking tag machines. A tag doesn’t guarantee you a parking spot.

What are the least crowded areas of the Smokies?

Try Rich Mountain Road or Forge Creek Road out of Cades Cove, the Cherohala Skyway, Fontana Lake and the North Carolina side of the mountains. The Cherokee, Pisgah, and Nantahala National Forests and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park also draw far smaller crowds. Some roads are seasonal, so check the park’s road status before you go.

Do you think the Smokies have become too popular? Let us know what you think in the comments and on the socials!