Points of Interest - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The National Park has 5 visitor centers located either inside the park or at the entrance to the park. The centers offer a bookstore and gift shop, park maps, restroom facilities, and telephones. Surrounding towns also offer welcome centers.

Cades Cove Visitor Center

Cades Cove is one of the most scenic areas of the Smoky Mountains. Located a short distance from Townsend, Tennessee, the Cove offers an 11 mile loop road for viewing well-groomed valleys, mountain vistas, wildlife, floral, and historic structures. The visitor center has a bookstore, shop, public restrooms, and telephones, soda and water machines, and a backcountry permit station. Major events are held at the center, including Old Timers' Day in the Fall.
Cades Cove |Map & Directions

Sugarlands Visitor Center

Sugarlands is located just outside of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The visitor center provides information on the Park, including maps and other information. There is a fee for maps. The center also offers a brief movie about the Park and taxidermy of animals that live throughout the Park. Major events are held at the center, including Festival of Christmas Past in December.

There are restroom facilities at the visitor center, a bookstore and gift shop, and vending machines.

Behind the visitor center is a handicap accessible hiking trail which takes about 45 minutes to complete. At the end of the trail, there is a beautiful waterfall (Cataract Falls).

1420 Little River Road, Gatlinburg TN 37738
(865) 436-1291
Sugarlands |Map & Directions

Oconaluftee Visitor Center

Oconaluftee Visitor Center (open daily except Christmas Day) is located inside the park, 2 miles north of Cherokee, NC, on US-441. The adjacent Mountain Farm Museum contains an interesting collection of log structures, including a farmhouse, barn, smokehouse, applehouse, corn cribs and others. Demonstrations of farm life are conducted seasonally. Facilities include a bookstore and shop, public restrooms and telephones, soda and water machines, and a backcountry permit station. I
Farm Museum |Map & Directions

Institute at Tremont

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Institute at Tremont has park maps, bookstore and gift shop which sells books, drinkware, CDs and wearing apparel. There are restroom facilities and telephone.

Institute at Tremont |Map & Directions

Townsend Visitor Center

Townsend Visitor Center is located on US 321 in Townsend, TN. It has a bookstore and shop, and Townsend and local area information. Public restrooms and telephones. Major events are held at the center -- Old Timers' Day in the Spring and again in the Fall. The center also hosts art exhibits throughout the year.

7906 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway
Townsend, TN 37882
865-448-6134 or 800-525-6834
Map & Directions

Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center

The center offers gallery exhibits, educational programs, demonstrations and festivals guide you on an historic journey through time to visit the diverse cultures of Townsend and Tuckaleechee Cove. Features artifacts representing 5,000 years of Native American life related to hunting, pottery, foodways, ceremony, games, medicine, and trade.

123 Cromwell Drive, Townsend TN
865-448-0044
Heritage Center | Map & Directions

Gatlinburg Welcome Centers

There are two welcome centers in Gatlinburg. One is located at traffic light #3 on the parkway in downtown Gatlinburg. It offers a Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop, city of Gatlinburg information, public restrooms and telephones.

520 Parkway
Gatlinburg TN 37738
Map & Directions

The second welcome center is located on the Spur between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. It offers a Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop, city of Gatlinburg information, public restrooms and telephones.

1011 Banner Road
Gatlinburg TN 37738
Map & Directions

Pigeon Forge Welcome Center

This welcome center is located on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge. The new center was completed in 2005 and houses an indoor theatre room which shows points of interest in Pigeon Forge. The 5,400 square-foot structure includes an open visitor area which provides guests with area information. This beautifully decorated center welcomes you on cold winter days with an inviting fireplace and rocking chairs.

1950 Parkway
Pigeon Forge TN
1-800-251-9100, (865) 453-8574
Map & Directions

Sevierville Welcome Center

Located on Highway 66 in Sevierville, the welcome center offers a bookstore and shop, city of Sevierville information, public restrooms and telephones.

3099 Winfield Dunn Parkway
Kodak TN 37764
(865) 932-3491
Map & Directions