Smoky Mountains itineraries

A first-timer's single day: the best drive, an easy waterfall, and a classic mountain dinner.

Two days that balance the national park's greatest hits with a taste of the gateway towns.

The ideal long-weekend plan: park, towns, and one off-the-beaten-path day.

Enough time to see both sides of the park, the gateway towns, and the quiet corners most visitors miss.

A full-week plan with room for day trips to Asheville and the Nantahala.

Never been? Here's exactly how to plan a first trip without the rookie mistakes.

A plan that keeps every age happy: short hikes, wildlife, and the right mix of park and play.

Cabins with a view, sunrise overlooks, and unhurried dinners for two.

Time the color by elevation and drive the corridors that turn the mountains gold.

The park is free to enter: here's how to do the rest on a shoestring.

Mountain weather turns fast: here's a great day even when it pours.

Chase the fog, the light, and the wildlife: when and where to set up.

String together the region's best cascades into one four-day trip.

How to do the Smokies' most beloved valley right: loop, hikes, history, and wildlife.

Where and when to find elk, black bears, and the synchronous fireflies.

Park access, ride-ups, moonshine, and the Parkway: a two-day Gatlinburg plan.

Dollywood, dinner shows, and go-karts: two big days plus an easy park morning.

The quieter, culture-rich North Carolina gateway: elk, heritage, and the Oconaluftee entrance.