About Morton Overlook
If you only have time for one sunset stop on the Tennessee side of the Smokies, this is it. Morton Overlook is a broad pull-off about 12.6 miles up Newfound Gap Road, two miles below the gap, and it faces west and southwest into a long sweep of folded ridges.
The view
The ridges overlap in layers, each paler than the one in front, until the farthest ones fade into the haze. This layering is what gave the Smokies their name: moisture and the natural vapors from the forest give the distance a blue cast. At sunset, the sun drops behind the ridge line to the west and the layers shift from green to gold, then to blue and violet. It is a place where the light changes in front of you in ten minutes.
The overlook carries the name of Ben Morton, and the pull-off is easy to spot from the road.
Planning your visit
- Timing: arrive 45 minutes before sunset to find a space. On October weekends the lot is full by then.
- Size: the lot is large enough for a few dozen cars, and its two ends run along the road, so people spread out.
- Facilities: none. The nearest restrooms are at Newfound Gap, two miles up.
- Weather: about 10 degrees colder than Gatlinburg; bring a layer.
- Driving back: the road is winding and busy after sunset. Take your time and drive with headlights on.
Road status
Newfound Gap Road is open year-round, weather permitting, and closes for ice, snow and high wind. It closed on October 9 this year for a wind warning. It fully reopened on September 12, 2025 after the August 2025 washout. A parking tag is required for stops over 15 minutes.
For a closer stop with a different angle, try the Chimney Tops pull-off lower on the road; the Carlos Campbell Overlook is temporarily closed.
Good to know
- Do I need a parking tag?
- A Park It Forward parking tag ($5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year) is required for any vehicle parked more than 15 minutes inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Entry is free, and federal passes such as America the Beautiful do not replace the tag.