Begin your exploration of the park at a visitor center. Here you can pick up a park map or newspaper, clothing, historic food, toys, convenience items such as aspirin and insect repellent, gifts, and have your questions answered by a ranger. . Stores are operated by Great Smoky Mountains Association, a nonprofit organization that has been helping the park since 1953. All purchases benefit the educational, historical, and scientific efforts of the park. Visitor centers and related programs, activities, and facilities are free.
Cades Cove Visitor Center
Open every day except Christmas Day.
| January | 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
| February | 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. |
| March | 9:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. |
| April | 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. |
| May – July | 9:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. |
| August | 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 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. |
Location
Inside the park near the mid-point of the 11-mile, one-way Cades Cove Loop Road.
Special Programs
Ranger-led programs are conducted seasonally. Check at the visitor center for times.
Exhibits
Indoor and outdoor exhibits of Southern Mountain life and culture. Includes Cable Mill, a grist mill which operates spring through fall, the Becky Cable house, and other historic structures.
Available Facilities
Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. Public restrooms.
Oconaluftee Visitor Center
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 | 8:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. |
| September – October | 8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. |
| November | 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| December | 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
Location
Inside the park, 2 miles north of Cherokee, NC, on US-441.
Special Programs
Ranger-led programs conducted seasonally. Check at the visitor center for location and times.
Exhibits
Visitor center museum exhibits tell the story of life in these mountains from native Americans and early European settlement time periods through the Civilian Conservation Corp and the development of the national park. The adjacent Mountain Farm Museum contains a fascinating collection of log structures including a farmhouse, barn, smokehouse, applehouse, corn cribs and others. Demonstrations of farm life are conducted seasonally.
Available Facilities
Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. Public restrooms. Soda and water machines.
Sugarlands Visitor Center
| 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 | 8:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. |
| September – October | 8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. |
| November | 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| December | 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
Location
Inside the park, 2 miles south of Gatlinburg on US-441.
Special Programs
Ranger-led programs conducted seasonally. Check at the visitor center for locations and times.
Exhibits
Free admission to 20-minute film about the park. Extensive natural history exhibits.
Available Facilities
Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. Public restrooms. Soda and water machines. Backcountry Information Office.
Clingmans Dome Visitor Contact Station
| April – June | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| July | 10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. |
| August – October | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| November | 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
At the Clingmans Dome trailhead, 7 miles off US-441 on the Clingmans Dome Road.Available Facilities
Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. Park information. Public restrooms in parking area.
Historic Grist Mills
Cable Mill in Cades Cove
Open daily late-March through October, and on weekends (Friday-Sunday) in November
Hours: 9:00-5:00
Location
Inside the park near the mid-point of the 11-mile, one-way Cades Cove Loop Road.
Exhibits
Water-powered grist mill.
Mingus Mill near Oconaluftee
Open daily mid-April through October, and on weekends (Friday-Sunday) in November
Hours: 9:00-5:00
Location
Inside the park, 2 miles north of Cherokee, NC, on US 441.
Exhibits
Turbine-powered grist mill.
