Quick Answer
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has no entrance fee, but you will need a parking pass for visits over 15 minutes. Learn when the park is open, where to get your pass, and how to display it.
Do You Have to Pay to Visit the Great Smoky Mountains?
One of the most unique things about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is that it’s free to enter—no gate fee, no entrance ticket. The park is open 24 hours a day, year-round, which means you can visit sunrise, sunset, and even after dark for stargazing.
However, starting March 2023, the National Park Service introduced the “Park It Forward” program. While there’s still no entrance fee, you must purchase and display a parking pass if you plan to park for more than 15 minutes anywhere inside the park.
Where to Get a Great Smoky Mountains Parking Pass
Parking pass
You can purchase parking passes in several ways:
- Online: Through Recreation.gov (print-at-home option).
- In Person:
- Visitor Centers (Sugarlands, Oconaluftee, Cades Cove)
- Authorized local businesses and some area hotels
- Automated fee machines at select parking areas
Parking Pass Options & Pricing
- Daily Pass: $5
- Weekly Pass: $15
- Annual Pass: $40
Passenger Side Window of Vehicle
How & Where to Display Your Parking Pass
Your parking pass must be clearly visible:
Place day passes/weekly passes face-up on your dashboard on the front passenger side.
Annual passes should be shown on front passenger side window.
Make sure it’s completely unobstructed by sunshades, papers, or items on the dash.
If you’re on a motorcycle, securely fasten the pass to the windshield or another visible area.
Failure to display your pass could result in a citation from park rangers.
Why the Park It Forward Program Matters
Revenue from parking passes goes directly to preserving the park—maintaining trails, improving facilities, funding ranger programs, and protecting wildlife habitats.
Pro Tip:
If you’re booking a stay with Murren Properties, many of our guests plan their day trips into the park ahead of time. We recommend purchasing your pass online in advance, so you can skip the lines at visitor centers and head straight into the mountains.
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