Smokies weather

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Gatlinburg · --
Pigeon Forge · --
Cades Cove · --
Newfound Gap · --

Pick a season: every elevation tells a different story.

Full forecast & elevation guide

Coming up

Gatlinburg Winter Magic Now through February 15
The Polar Express Train Ride Now through January 3
Journey to the North Pole at Anakeesta November 13, 2026 - January 3, 2027
Pigeon Forge Winterfest Celebration (Kickoff) November 13, 2026
Holiday Handcrafters Fair November 21, 2026
Candy Canes and Cocktails November 24, 2026
Gatlinburg Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade December 4, 2026

Full events calendar

Explore the Smokies

Featured

Great Smoky Mountains NP

America’s most-visited national park: 522,000 acres of ridges, coves and old forest across Tennessee and North Carolina.

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Where to Stay Every town compared
Gatlinburg Gateway, attractions, dining
Pigeon Forge Dollywood, shows, family
Sevierville Outlets, quieter, Dolly's hometown
Cherokee, NC Qualla Boundary, Harrah's, culture
Townsend Peaceful side, Cades Cove access
Bryson City Railroad, rafting, Deep Creek
Maggie Valley Cataloochee elk, ski area
Waynesville Main Street, breweries, BRP
Wears Valley & Cosby Backdoor cabins, Mt. Cammerer

Featured

All Hiking Trails

Every named trail in and around the park, with distance, climb, difficulty and the best season for each.

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Best Hikes Top picks by goal
All Hiking Trails Distance, climb, difficulty
Waterfalls Heights, hikes, safety
Kuwohi The park's highest peak
Scenic Drives Every worthwhile byway
Overlooks Every named turnout
Wildlife Watching Bears, elk, fireflies
Bear Safety Encounter protocol + food storage
Elk Watching Cataloochee + Oconaluftee
Fly Fishing 2,900+ miles of trout water
Camping Frontcountry + backcountry
Photography Month-by-month

Featured

Top Attractions

Dollywood, Anakeesta, Ober Gatlinburg, Ripley's and the SkyLift, plus the smaller stops worth your time.

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All Attractions Theme parks & amusements
Dollywood
Splash Country
Anakeesta
Ober Gatlinburg
Dinner Shows Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg
Moonshine & Distilleries
Breweries
All Restaurants
Historic Buildings Cades Cove, Cataloochee, Roaring Fork
Cherokee Culture Museum, village, Qualla Mutual
Cabin Rentals Every major company

Featured

Events Calendar

Winterfest, Dollywood’s Christmas, parades, rod runs and ranger programs, filtered to your trip dates.

Explore →

Events Calendar Filter by your trip dates
Christmas in the Smokies Winterfest, Dollywood, parades
Best Time to Visit Month by month
Events by Month What happens when
Fall Foliage Peak color timing
Spring Wildflowers The Wildflower National Park
Summer in the Smokies Swimming, rafting, high hikes
Synchronous Fireflies Late May, by lottery
Winter Skiing, ice, quiet
Weather by Month Elevation-aware planning
Park History From the Cherokee to Kuwohi

Featured

Itineraries

Day-by-day plans for a weekend, a week, families, couples and every season.

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Where to Stay Towns, cabins, booking tips
Trip Itineraries Weekend to full week
Best-of Guides Curated lists
Gatlinburg vs Pigeon Forge Where to base
Getting There Airports, drives, traffic
Road Trips by City Drive guides from 20 cities
Parking Tag $5 a day inside the park
Budget Planning What a trip really costs
Free Things to Do
Rainy-Day Ideas
Families with Kids Age-banded planning
Dog-Friendly Smokies Where dogs can go
Accessibility Wheelchair trails, sensory
Cabin Rentals Every major company

Mountain Insider

Destinations

★ Great Smoky Mountains NP
Where to Stay Every town compared
Gatlinburg Gateway, attractions, dining
Pigeon Forge Dollywood, shows, family
Sevierville Outlets, quieter, Dolly's hometown
Cherokee, NC Qualla Boundary, Harrah's, culture
Townsend Peaceful side, Cades Cove access
Bryson City Railroad, rafting, Deep Creek
Maggie Valley Cataloochee elk, ski area
Waynesville Main Street, breweries, BRP
Wears Valley & Cosby Backdoor cabins, Mt. Cammerer

Trails & Outdoors

★ All Hiking Trails
Best Hikes Top picks by goal
All Hiking Trails Distance, climb, difficulty
Waterfalls Heights, hikes, safety
Kuwohi The park's highest peak
Scenic Drives Every worthwhile byway
Overlooks Every named turnout
Wildlife Watching Bears, elk, fireflies
Bear Safety Encounter protocol + food storage
Elk Watching Cataloochee + Oconaluftee
Fly Fishing 2,900+ miles of trout water
Camping Frontcountry + backcountry
Photography Month-by-month

Attractions & Dining

★ Top Attractions
All Attractions Theme parks & amusements
Dollywood
Splash Country
Anakeesta
Ober Gatlinburg
Dinner Shows Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg
Moonshine & Distilleries
Breweries
All Restaurants
Historic Buildings Cades Cove, Cataloochee, Roaring Fork
Cherokee Culture Museum, village, Qualla Mutual
Cabin Rentals Every major company

Seasons & Events

★ Events Calendar
Events Calendar Filter by your trip dates
Christmas in the Smokies Winterfest, Dollywood, parades
Best Time to Visit Month by month
Events by Month What happens when
Fall Foliage Peak color timing
Spring Wildflowers The Wildflower National Park
Summer in the Smokies Swimming, rafting, high hikes
Synchronous Fireflies Late May, by lottery
Winter Skiing, ice, quiet
Weather by Month Elevation-aware planning
Park History From the Cherokee to Kuwohi

Plan Your Trip

★ Itineraries
Where to Stay Towns, cabins, booking tips
Trip Itineraries Weekend to full week
Best-of Guides Curated lists
Gatlinburg vs Pigeon Forge Where to base
Getting There Airports, drives, traffic
Road Trips by City Drive guides from 20 cities
Parking Tag $5 a day inside the park
Budget Planning What a trip really costs
Free Things to Do
Rainy-Day Ideas
Families with Kids Age-banded planning
Dog-Friendly Smokies Where dogs can go
Accessibility Wheelchair trails, sensory
Cabin Rentals Every major company

Now in the Smokies --°

Next: Gatlinburg Winter Magic · Now through February 15
Next: The Polar Express Train Ride · Now through January 3
Next: Journey to the North Pole at Anakeesta · November 13, 2026 - January 3, 2027
Next: Pigeon Forge Winterfest Celebration (Kickoff) · November 13, 2026
Next: Holiday Handcrafters Fair · November 21, 2026

Search the guide

Trails, waterfalls, towns, restaurants, cabins and events.

Mountain Insider

An independent guide to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and its gateway towns, from Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge to Townsend, Cherokee and Bryson City. Built from the park’s own sources and kept current.

Find your basecamp

Compare live cabin, hotel and rental prices across the whole region on one map.

Explore

Gatlinburg
Pigeon Forge
Cherokee, NC
National Park
Hiking Trails
Waterfalls
Scenic Drives

Plan

Cabin Rentals
Campgrounds
Fall Foliage
Getting There
Road Trips by City
Parking Tag
Itineraries
Best-of Guides
Events Calendar

About

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Hours, prices and seasons change, so confirm with operators and the Park Service before you go. Lodging maps are powered by Stay22; we may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.

Where to stay

Cabins, hotels & rentals near the Great Smoky Mountains

Live prices across Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia & more. We may earn a commission when you book: never at extra cost to you.

Planning your trip?

Find your Smokies basecamp

Riverside cabins in Townsend, Parkway hotels in Pigeon Forge, lofts in downtown Gatlinburg: compare live prices from Booking.com, Vrbo and Expedia on one map. Rates swing a lot by season, so check your dates early.