Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Top of the Smokies: Breathtaking Views from Clingmans Dome
In late April, Jesse and I decided to take a day trip up to Clingmans Dome, which is the highest point in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This trail is located in North Carolina. However, it is literally right next to the Tennessee border. In fact, you walk into Tennessee as you are on the Clingmans Dome trail.
Jesse and I traveled through North Georgia and then crossed the border into North Carolina. The drive up was so pretty. Driving through Nantahala, Bryson City, and Cherokee was awesome. If you are able to take a scenic route to the Smokies, do it! Cherokee was the last major city we were in before entering Great Smoky Mountains NP. Once you drive through the town, you are right at the entrance
Like many National Parks, the Great Smoky Mountains is driveable. Of course we drove to the trail head, but there are so many roads that wind around the park. There are also several overlooks along the way with vehicle parking. Even the parking lot of Clingmans Dome was beautiful. If you do not like to hike or you can’t do much hiking, National Parks are a great option. Just from our car we were able to see elk, waterfalls, historic sites, wildflowers, and turkeys.
It was about 35-40 minutes from the entrance of the park to Clingmans Dome. There is a large parking lot at this trailhead. Definitely make a stop at the little visitor’s center. If you are like me, you will spend some money there!
Don’t let the paved path fool you! The Clingmans Dome trail may only be a half-mile long, but it’s all uphill. We started with the same naive optimism as everyone else: “A paved path? Easy!” We’re young and in decent shape, but this wasn’t your average stroll. It was a challenging uphill climb, even for us. The funny thing is, as you’re huffing and puffing, getting passed by folks twice your age, everyone coming down looks positively gleeful. Don’t be discouraged if you need to stop and catch your breath a few times (like us!).
The view from the observation tower at the top is absolutely breathtaking.
But wait, there’s a payoff! Despite the initial struggle, the view from the observation tower at the top is absolutely breathtaking. We went on a clear spring day and the panorama stretched for miles. We even saw clouds rolling through the valleys, creating a magical scene that truly justifies the park’s name – the Great Smoky Mountains. Once you reach the summit, take your time to soak in the scenery, snap some photos, and join the ranks of the happy people strolling downhill. Trust us, the view is worth the climb!
Even though this hike is very short, it does make you tired. After you have completed the hike, go drive around the park some more and look for riverside trails, waterfalls, and other wildlife. Don’t forget to stop at the scenic overlooks, too! I can’t wait to visit this NP again. Next time I would like to visit Cades Cove because of its abundance of wildlife.
On our way out, of course we were going to stop at a brewery. Gatlinburg, although located in Tennessee, is only 22.9 miles away from Clingmans Dome. You also have to do more driving through the Great Smoky Mountains to get there, so it was a very pretty drive.
Places to Stay Near Great Smoky Mountain National Park
There are numerous options for camping and lodging in and around Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Great Smoky Mountain is the most-visited National Park in the country, so be sure to plan well in advance!
- Camping at Great Smoky Mountain National Park: The park offers several different types of campsites including: Frontcountry, Backcountry, Group Campgrounds, and Horse Camps. View the park’s camping information.
- Lodging in the park: There is one backcountry lodge within the park and is only accessible by foot: LeConte Lodge. No motels or rental cabins are located within the national park other than LeConte Lodge.
- Lodging near the park: There are a lot of lodging options available around Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Search for hotels and resorts in these surrounding areas.
- Cabins near the park: Many cabin rentals and options are available surrounding Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Search for cabin rentals.
Tips for Your Trip
- Clingmans Dome trail is paved, but the steep grade of the trail is not wheelchair accessible.
- Look out and drive slowly for wildlife throughout the park.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a fee-free National Park. However, if you plan on parking somewhere for more than 15 minutes (like if you are going to park at a trailhead for a hike) you need to pay a $5 parking pass. We went on a fee-free day, so we did not have to pay. However, it was very crowded on the day we visited.
- Dogs are not allowed at Clingmans Dome!
- Check out Cherokee, NC. It is on the Cherokee Indian reservation – it is scenic and full of Native American culture.
Happy Trails!
Katie & Jesse
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Information
- Trail Map: Click to View (pdf)
- Park Map: Click to View (pdf)
- Park Hours: Open 24 hours per day. View closures and seasonal exceptions.
- Fees: This site is fee-free year-round. No entrance fee or pass is required.$5 per vehicle per day. Parking is $5.00 per day, $15 per week, or $40 for annual pass.
- Phone Number: 865-436-1200
- Address: 107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
- GPS Coordinates: N 35.611763 | W -83.489548
- Directions to Great Smoky National Park: View this Google Map to determine directions to the park from your location.
