National Park · Tennessee · North Carolina

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The most-visited U.S. national park, famed for misty ridges and Appalachia.

2026 entrance fee

Free entrance

No entrance fee, but a parking tag is required for any vehicle parked over 15 minutes.

America the Beautiful — U.S. resident $80/yr
America the Beautiful — non-resident $250/yr

The annual pass covers entrance and standard day-use at ~2,000 federal recreation sites for 12 months.

RV & camper tips

Many campgrounds (e.g. Elkmont, Cades Cove) take large RVs; the park is free but requires a parking tag ($5/day, $15/week, $40/year).

Camping

NPS-operated campgrounds are available (reservations recommended in peak season).

Official site: nps.gov/grsm/index.htm

On this park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park FAQ

How much does it cost to enter Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2026?
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has no entrance fee. No entrance fee, but a parking tag is required for any vehicle parked over 15 minutes. The America the Beautiful pass is still useful if you plan to visit other fee-charging federal sites on the same trip.
Do non-U.S. residents pay extra at Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
No. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is not on the 11-park non-resident surcharge list, so entrance fees are the same for all visitors. The 11 surcharge parks are Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion.
Can I camp with an RV at Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has NPS-operated campgrounds. Many campgrounds (e.g. Elkmont, Cades Cove) take large RVs; the park is free but requires a parking tag ($5/day, $15/week, $40/year).

Keep exploring

Other free parks

Denali National Park Free entrance Carlsbad Caverns National Park Free entrance Congaree National Park Free entrance Cuyahoga Valley National Park Free entrance Hot Springs National Park Free entrance Great Basin National Park Free entrance Mammoth Cave National Park Free entrance New River Gorge National Park Free entrance

Source: National Park Service — Fees & Passes / Nonresident Fees — retrieved 2026-08-09. Entrance fees can change and some parks price seasonally; always confirm the exact rate for your entry type and date on the park's official NPS page before you travel. This page is an independent travel-resource summary and is not affiliated with the National Park Service.

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