Year after year, Great Smoky Mountains National Park draws the most visitors of any national park. Millions of people come to see the park’s wildlife (especially black bears), take a leaf-peeping drive and admire the hundred-mile view from Clingmans Dome.

The good news is that, with more than half a million acres in North Carolina and Tennessee and 850 miles of trails, there’s plenty of nature for everyone to explore. Check the national park’s website to get the latest updates on parking restrictions and trail closures.

Here’s your five-minute guide to planning a memorable vacation in the Great Smoky Mountains.

3 Reasons to Buy Travel Insurance for a Smoky Mountains Vacation

Wondering if you need travel insurance for a domestic trip? It’s always a good idea, even if you’re only traveling a few hours away from home. Here’s why:

1. You want to protect your trip investment. A sudden illness, injury, family emergency or other mishap can derail your vacation without warning. Trip cancellation and trip interruption benefits can reimburse your unused, prepaid, non-refundable trip expenses if you have to cancel or interrupt your vacation for a covered reason.
2. Travel insurance is a must-have for any active vacation. If you’re planning to go hiking, tubing, riding or ziplining in the Great Smokies, you should protect yourself with travel insurance. Emergency transportation benefits can pay for emergency transportation to the hospital, followed by medical repatriation to your home, if needed, following a covered illness or injury. Trip interruption insurance can reimburse your unused trip costs if you have to cut your vacation short for a covered reason.
3. Rental car insurance can save you big money. If you’re renting a car to travel to or through the Great Smokies, you should purchase the OneTrip Rental Car Protector ahead of time. You’ll get up to $50,000 in protection for covered loss, damage, and theft, with no deductible, for less than they’ll charge at the rental counter.

What’s the best travel insurance plan for a domestic vacation? The OneTrip Basic plan gives you up to $10,000 in trip cancellation benefits and many other benefits (excluding emergency medical) for a low price. The OneTrip Prime plan covers kids 17 and under for free when traveling with a parent or grandparent (not available on policies issued to Pennsylvania residents). Most of our popular plans now include the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement, which adds covered reasons to select benefits for certain losses related to COVID-19 and any future epidemic. (Benefits vary by plan and are not available in all jurisdictions.)

Before you head to the Smokies, download the free Allyz® TravelSmart app from Allianz Global Assistance. TravelSmart is a powerful travel app that lets you manage your policy, track flights, get travel alerts, and reach Assistance anytime.

3 of the Best Things to Do in the Great Smoky Mountains

1. Take the trail less traveled. It’s tough to enjoy the Smokies’ natural serenity when you’re bumping elbows with others on the trail. Skip the most popular hikes, such as Laurel Falls and Alum Caves, and try those that are longer or more remote, like the Middle Prong Trail that visits multiple waterfalls.
2. See fireflies light up the night. One of the park’s most famous sights is the spring light display of the synchronous fireflies. To protect the insects and their habitat, the Park Service limits the number of parking passes sold each night, awarding them via a lottery system.
3. Play in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Are these neighboring towns tourist traps? Yes. Are they a ton of fun? Yes! Pigeon Forge is home to the Dollywood theme park as well as live shows and family-friendly attractions. Gatlinburg is the place to stroll, shop, drink and dine.

3 of the Best Resorts in the Great Smoky Mountains

The Dollywood DreamMore Resort and Spa is popular for its Southern hospitality and family-focused amenities: indoor and outdoor pools, priority access to Dollywood, and daily activities like crafts, live entertainment and roasting s’mores.

Perched high above Gatlinburg, The Park Vista, a DoubleTree by Hilton, offers sweeping views of the town and of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Park Vista has 300 guestrooms —each with a balcony — an indoor pool with slides, and a restaurant with outdoor dining. It’s pet-friendly, too, although you should know that dogs are prohibited on almost all trails in the national park.

For solitude and luxury, one of the best resorts in the Smokies is Blackberry Farm. This historic estate comprises guestrooms, suites, cottages and houses on 4,200 acres of farmland. Try fly fishing, wine tasting, archery, cycling, or simply lazing by the pool.

3 of the Best Restaurants Near the Great Smoky Mountains

The Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant in Sevierville, TN is the best destination for mouthwatering Southern food, especially fried chicken and chicken pot pie. Every meal is served with complimentary apple fritters, apple butter, and a signature Apple Julep.

Find a fresh take on mountain foodways at The Appalachian, a farm-to-table restaurant that’s also in Sevierville. On the menu, you might find fried chicken skin, confit pork belly, smoked catfish or rainbow trout with pickled ramps.

The Peddler Steakhouse in Gatlinburg stands right near the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Enjoy river views while you sink your teeth into a custom-cut steak. For non-carnivores, the Peddler’s also famous for a bountiful salad bar. 

Ready to plan your mountain getaway? See affordable travel insurance plan options.

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