Great Smoky Mountains National Park has three main entrances: Gatlinburg, Townsend, and Cherokee.
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The practical answer is three main entrances, but the Smokies can feel confusing because several smaller roads also enter specific park areas. For most travelers, the entrance choice comes down to where you are staying and whether you want Newfound Gap Road, Cades Cove, Oconaluftee, or a quieter trailhead.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park does not have traditional entrance booths, and drivers do not pay an entrance fee to cross into the park. The decision is less about “which gate has a line” and more about which road puts you closest to the part of the park you actually came to see.
Great Smoky Mountains Entrances: The Count That Matters
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has three main entrances officially used for trip planning: Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Townsend, Tennessee; and Cherokee, North Carolina. Smaller access roads are real park entries, but they are not the main gateway routes most first-time visitors mean.
The Gatlinburg and Cherokee entrances sit on opposite ends of US-441, also called Newfound Gap Road. Townsend enters the park from the quieter Tennessee side and is the usual route for Cades Cove, Laurel Falls, and Little River Road when roads are open.
That split matters. A hotel in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg naturally points you toward the Gatlinburg entrance. A cabin in Townsend points you toward the Townsend entrance. A trip based in Cherokee, Bryson City, or Asheville usually starts from the North Carolina side.
Main Entrances At A Glance
Great Smoky Mountains entrance choices are easier when you match each road with the sight it serves. The table below separates the three main entrances from the smaller access roads that travelers often count as extra entrances.
| Entrance Or Access Point | Good For | What To Know |
|---|---|---|
| Gatlinburg, Tennessee | First-time trips, Sugarlands, Newfound Gap Road | Main north entrance via US-441, closest to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge lodging |
| Townsend, Tennessee | Cades Cove, Little River Road, quieter Tennessee access | Main west-side entrance via TN-73, often calmer than the Gatlinburg side |
| Cherokee, North Carolina | Oconaluftee, elk viewing, Newfound Gap Road from the south | Main North Carolina entrance via US-441, useful from Asheville and Bryson City |
| Wears Valley / Metcalf Bottoms | Cabins near Wears Valley, picnic areas, Little River Road | A smaller access route, not one of the three main entrances |
| Greenbrier | Ramsey Cascades area, river walks, lighter crowds | A spur road east of Gatlinburg with access to trailheads, not a cross-park route |
| Cosby | Campground access, Hen Wallow Falls, east-side hikes | A quieter northeast access point with fewer visitor services nearby |
| Deep Creek, North Carolina | Waterfalls, tubing, Bryson City trips | A local access area near Bryson City, separate from the Cherokee main entrance |
| Big Creek / Cataloochee | Remote hikes, elk viewing, less crowded drives | Seasonal or slower roads may affect access, so check road conditions before driving |
Which Entrance Should You Use?
The Gatlinburg entrance fits most first-time Smokies trips because it gives direct access to Sugarlands Visitor Center, Newfound Gap Road, and the cross-park drive to Cherokee. Gatlinburg is also the easiest entrance if you are staying in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, or Sevierville.
The Townsend entrance is the better pick when Cades Cove is your main target. Townsend also works well for travelers who want less commercial traffic outside the park and a simpler route to Little River Road.
The Cherokee entrance is the right choice for the North Carolina side. Cherokee puts you near Oconaluftee Visitor Center, elk-viewing areas, Mingus Mill, and the southern start of Newfound Gap Road.
- Use Gatlinburg for the classic first visit, Kuwohi, Newfound Gap, and the most hotel choice.
- Use Townsend for Cades Cove, quieter mornings, and west-side cabins.
- Use Cherokee for Oconaluftee, North Carolina road trips, and the south-to-north mountain crossing.
Smaller Access Roads That Travelers Confuse With Entrances
Smaller Great Smoky Mountains access roads lead into real park areas, but they do not replace the three main entrances for most trip plans. These roads are useful when you already know your trailhead or picnic area.
Greenbrier and Cosby are good examples. Both reach quieter parts of the Tennessee side, but neither works like Gatlinburg or Townsend for a broad first-time itinerary. Deep Creek works the same way from Bryson City: it is a great local access point for waterfalls and tubing, not a full substitute for Cherokee if you want Newfound Gap Road.
Cataloochee is worth extra planning because the approach roads are slower and more rural. The reward is a quieter valley and a strong chance of seeing elk at the right time of day, but the drive can feel longer than it looks on a map.
Parking, Fees, And Road Closures
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has no entrance fee, but vehicles parked for more than 15 minutes need a parking tag. Primary park roads can be open 24 hours a day when weather allows, while secondary roads may close seasonally or after storms.
The National Park Service lists Gatlinburg, Townsend, and Cherokee as the park’s three main entrances on its Great Smoky Mountains basic information page. Check that page and the park’s current road alerts before you drive to Cades Cove, Kuwohi, Cataloochee, or any high-elevation road.
Trip planning tip: The Smokies are free to enter, but a parking tag is separate from entrance access. Passing through the park and stopping for a few minutes is different from leaving your car at a trailhead for a hike.
Stay Near The Entrance That Fits Your Route
Gatlinburg gives the widest hotel choice near the north entrance, while Townsend suits travelers focused on Cades Cove and quieter evenings. Cherokee and Bryson City work better for North Carolina routes and Oconaluftee plans.
If you want the broadest lodging search near the most-used entrance, compare places to stay around Gatlinburg here:
Travelers who dislike traffic should not choose Gatlinburg by default. Townsend can save time for Cades Cove days, and Cherokee can save a long backtrack if your trip starts in Asheville or western North Carolina.
Pick Your Smokies Entrance By Trip Style
The right Great Smoky Mountains entrance depends on your first stop inside the park. Use Gatlinburg for the classic mountain drive, Townsend for Cades Cove, and Cherokee for the North Carolina side.
- Fastest first-timer plan: Enter at Gatlinburg, stop at Sugarlands, drive Newfound Gap Road, and continue toward Kuwohi if the road is open.
- Calmer Tennessee plan: Enter at Townsend, start early for Cades Cove, then use Little River Road for picnic stops and waterfall access.
- North Carolina plan: Enter at Cherokee, visit Oconaluftee, watch for elk in the valley, then climb toward Newfound Gap.
- Repeat-visitor plan: Pick Greenbrier, Cosby, Deep Creek, Big Creek, or Cataloochee only when that specific area is your destination.
So the clean count is three main entrances, with several smaller access roads that serve individual valleys, campgrounds, trailheads, and picnic areas. Choose the entrance by the part of the park you want first, not by the entrance count alone.
References & Sources
- National Park Service.“Basic Information — Great Smoky Mountains National Park.”Lists the park’s three main entrances and current road-access basics.