1. Explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park
No first trip to the Smoky Mountains is complete without spending some time in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Covering more than 500,000 acres, the park offers an incredible variety of scenery and experiences, from mountain streams and historic buildings to hiking trails, wildlife, and spectacular overlooks.
One of the best things about the park is that you don't have to be an experienced hiker to enjoy it. You can spend the day exploring scenic roads, stopping at overlooks, visiting historic areas, taking a short walk, or simply finding a quiet spot beside a mountain stream.
There is no entrance fee to the national park, although visitors who park for more than 15 minutes need a valid parking tag.
If it's your first visit, don't try to see the entire park in one day. Choose an area or two that fit your plans and give yourself enough time to actually enjoy the stops along the way.
See more free things to do in the Smoky Mountains.
2. Visit Cades Cove - If You Have the Time
Cades Cove is one of the most well-known destinations in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and its mountain scenery, historic buildings, and opportunities for wildlife viewing make it a memorable place to visit. But there is an important caveat for first-time visitors: Cades Cove is not a quick scenic drive.
The 11-mile loop can take several hours, particularly on busy days when traffic moves slowly, and vehicles stop frequently for wildlife, historic sites, and scenic views. What looks like a relatively short drive on a map can turn into a significant part of your day.
That doesn't mean you should skip it. If exploring Cades Cove is high on your list and you have enough time in your itinerary, it can be well worth the visit. Just plan accordingly and don't schedule several other time-sensitive activities immediately afterward.
If you have flexibility, consider visiting during a less crowded time and allow plenty of extra time for the drive. An early start can also help you avoid some of the heavier traffic that develops later in the day.
For a first Smoky Mountains vacation of only a few days, however, don't feel as though you have to check Cades Cove off your list. There are many other ways to experience the park, including scenic drives, shorter hikes, waterfalls, overlooks, and quieter areas that may better fit your itinerary.
3. Drive Newfound Gap Road
Newfound Gap Road is one of the most spectacular drives in the Smokies. The road crosses the mountains between Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Cherokee, North Carolina, climbing through several different elevations and ecosystems along the way.
There are numerous overlooks and places to stop, so you can make the drive as relaxed as you like. Higher elevations can also feel dramatically different from the weather in the valleys, which is something first-time visitors should keep in mind.
Newfound Gap itself sits at an elevation of more than 5,000 feet and provides expansive mountain views. On clear days, you can see ridge after ridge stretching into the distance.
Because this is a mountain road, allow extra time and don't rush from one end to the other. The drive is part of the experience.
If scenic drives are high on your list, be sure to explore our Tennessee Smoky Mountains Waterfall Hikes and Scenic Drives guide for more ideas.
4. Explore Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
For a first-time visitor who wants to experience several different sides of the Smokies in one outing, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is an excellent choice.
This one-way scenic loop near Gatlinburg takes you through dense forest, alongside rushing mountain streams, and past historic structures. There are also opportunities for short walks, waterfalls, and wildlife viewing along the route.
One of the advantages of Roaring Fork is that you don't have to commit to a long hike to enjoy it. You can stop at several locations along the drive and choose how much walking you want to do.
It's particularly beautiful after rainfall, when the streams and smaller cascades are flowing strongly.
For more details, including what you'll see along the route, read our guide to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
5. Visit a Smoky Mountain Waterfall
Waterfalls are one of the most memorable parts of a Smoky Mountains vacation, and you don't necessarily have to spend hours hiking to see one.
The park has waterfalls ranging from very easy walks to challenging hikes. For first-time visitors, it's worth choosing a waterfall that matches your available time and hiking ability rather than automatically choosing the most famous one.
Cataract Falls, for example, is an easy option near Sugarlands Visitor Center, while Grotto Falls offers a moderate hike with the unusual opportunity to walk behind the waterfall. More ambitious hikers can choose longer routes such as Rainbow Falls or Abrams Falls.
Water levels, trail conditions, and access can change, so check current National Park Service conditions before heading out.
For a detailed comparison of waterfalls by distance and difficulty, see our guide to Smoky Mountain waterfalls that are worth it without heavy hiking.
6. Look for Wildlife
One of the most exciting things about visiting the Smoky Mountains is seeing wildlife in its natural habitat. You may encounter black bears, white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, elk, raccoons, and many species of birds during your visit.
Black bears are especially exciting to see, but remember that they are wild animals. Never approach, feed, or attempt to get closer to a bear for a photograph. If you see a bear along a road, trail, or near your cabin, give it plenty of space and allow it to move on.
Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but spending time outdoors and keeping your eyes open can lead to some memorable encounters. Early morning and evening can be productive times for wildlife activity.
For more information about where and how to look for wildlife safely, see our guide to the best places to see wildlife in the Smoky Mountains.
7. Take an Easy Hike
You don't have to be an experienced hiker to enjoy the Smoky Mountains. Some of the area's most rewarding trails are relatively short and accessible, making them good choices for first-time visitors.
An easy trail can also be a better choice than trying to squeeze a strenuous hike into an already busy vacation. You'll have more time to enjoy the forest, streams, wildflowers, and mountain scenery along the way.
Some popular options include the Gatlinburg Trail, Cataract Falls, Elkmont Nature Trail, and other shorter walks throughout the park. Trail conditions and accessibility can vary, so check current conditions before heading out.
If you're interested in waterfalls, remember that some waterfall hikes are significantly more demanding than others. Choose based on your group's experience and the amount of time you have available rather than simply choosing the most famous trail.
Our Smoky Mountains waterfall guide includes several options for visitors who want to enjoy waterfalls without committing to a long or difficult hike.
8. Explore Greenbrier Rd Area and the Quieter Side of the Smokies
If you're looking for a different experience from the busiest areas of Gatlinburg and the most heavily visited park destinations, consider exploring some of the quieter areas of the Smokies.
Greenbrier is a beautiful area northeast of Gatlinburg where you can enjoy mountain scenery, streams, forest, picnic areas, and hiking opportunities. It's a good place to slow down and experience a less commercial side of the mountains.\
The area is also a reminder that you don't have to spend your entire vacation in the most famous tourist destinations. Some of the best Smoky Mountains memories come from simply sitting beside a stream, taking a short walk through the woods, or enjoying a picnic surrounded by mountains.
For more ideas away from the busiest tourist areas, see our guide to the quiet side of the Smoky Mountains.
9. Stop at a Scenic Overlook
You don't always have to hike to experience spectacular Smoky Mountains views. Scenic overlooks throughout the area provide opportunities to stop, take photographs, and enjoy the mountains without spending hours on a trail.
Newfound Gap is one of the best-known overlooks in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but it isn't the only option. Other scenic overlooks can be found along mountain roads and park routes, and the views can look completely different depending on the season, weather, and time of day.
Carlos D Campbell Overlook
For first-time visitors, scenic overlooks are an easy way to add mountain views to your itinerary without committing to a long hike. Just remember that popular overlooks can have limited parking, particularly during peak travel periods.
And don't underestimate the views from your cabin. One of the advantages of staying in a private mountain cabin is being able to enjoy the scenery without having to drive somewhere every time you want to relax.
10. Try a Smoky Mountain Adventure
If you want to add some excitement to your trip, the Smoky Mountains offer plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventure. Ziplining, rafting, tubing, horseback riding, fishing, and other activities can add something different to an itinerary focused primarily on sightseeing and hiking.
Ziplining is particularly popular with families, couples, and groups looking for an adventure that doesn't require a full day on the trail. There are several zipline operators in the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville area, with different course lengths and levels of difficulty.
Our guide to the best zipline adventures near Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville can help you compare options.
If adventure activities aren't your thing, that's perfectly fine, too. One of the advantages of the Smoky Mountains is that you can build a vacation around your own pace — whether that means hiking and exploring all day or spending the afternoon relaxing at your cabin.
11. Explore Gatlinburg
Gatlinburg is the most well-known gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and a popular place to spend part of your first Smoky Mountains vacation. The downtown area is packed with restaurants, shops, attractions, museums, and entertainment, and you can easily spend several hours exploring without getting in the car.
Gatlinburg is also convenient for visitors who want to combine time in the national park with restaurants and attractions. The entrance to the park is just south of downtown, making it easy to combine a day of exploring with an evening in town.
For first-time visitors, Gatlinburg can be fun to experience even if you don't spend your entire vacation there. Pick a few things that interest you rather than trying to see everything along the Parkway.
12. Spend Some Time in Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge offers a very different experience from the national park. The Parkway is lined with attractions, restaurants, theaters, shops, and family entertainment, making it a popular choice for visitors traveling with children or groups with different interests.
You can spend an entire day in Pigeon Forge without running out of things to do, but you don't necessarily need to devote your whole vacation to the attractions. Many visitors enjoy combining a day or two of entertainment with time spent hiking, sightseeing, and relaxing in the mountains.
Keep traffic in mind when planning your day. Travel along the Parkway can be slow during busy periods, so allow extra time between activities rather than scheduling everything back-to-back.
13. Explore Sevierville
Sevierville is often overlooked by first-time visitors who immediately focus on Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, but it can be a convenient and enjoyable part of a Smoky Mountains vacation.
The area offers restaurants, shopping, attractions, and easy access to both Pigeon Forge and the surrounding mountains. It's also a good home base for visitors who prefer to stay outside the busiest tourist areas while remaining close to the action.
If you're staying in a cabin in the Sevierville area, you'll also have the option of spending more time enjoying the property itself rather than driving into town every day.
14. Enjoy the Mountains From Your Cabin
One of the easiest mistakes to make on a first Smoky Mountains vacation is planning every minute of every day.
There is plenty to see, but you don't have to spend your entire trip away from your cabin. In fact, having time to enjoy where you're staying can be one of the best parts of a mountain getaway.
Depending on the property, you might spend an afternoon soaking in the hot tub, relaxing on a covered porch, playing games with the family, cooking dinner together, or sitting around a fire pit in the evening.
After a day exploring waterfalls, hiking trails, and scenic picnic areas, relax in your private hot tub, enjoy a fire pit under the stars, or unwind on a peaceful covered porch.
A private cabin also gives you something a busy hotel or attraction can't: a place that feels like your own while you're on vacation.
15. Leave Time to Simply Slow Down
Perhaps the best advice for a first-time visitor is not to turn your Smoky Mountains vacation into a checklist.
You don't have to hike every trail, visit every attraction, or drive every scenic road. Leave some room in your itinerary for the things you didn't plan — stopping at a mountain overlook, watching wildlife, finding a quiet stream, lingering over dinner, or simply enjoying the view from your cabin.
The Smoky Mountains are worth experiencing at a slower pace. Pick a few things that matter most to you, give yourself plenty of time, and let the rest of the trip unfold naturally.
Ready to Plan Your First Smoky Mountains Vacation?
Choosing the right place to stay can make just as much difference as choosing what to do. At Blue Mountain Cabins, we offer privately owned vacation cabins in the Tennessee Smoky Mountains with comfortable spaces to relax after a day of exploring.
Our cabins include amenities such as private hot tubs, outdoor spaces, fire pits, and room for families and groups to spend time together. Instead of simply having a place to sleep, your cabin can be part of the Smoky Mountains experience.
Ready to find your Smoky Mountain home base?
Explore our privately owned cabins and start planning your Tennessee Smoky Mountains getaway.
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting the Smoky Mountains
What are the best things to do in the Smoky Mountains for first-time visitors?
First-time visitors can explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park, drive scenic mountain roads, visit waterfalls, look for wildlife, take an easy hike, explore Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, and enjoy the scenery from a private cabin. You don't need to do everything in one trip — choosing a few activities that fit your interests and leaving time to relax is often the best approach.
How many days do you need for a first trip to the Smoky Mountains?
A three-day weekend can cover several highlights, but five days or more gives first-time visitors more time to explore the national park, visit attractions, enjoy scenic drives, and relax without rushing from one activity to another.
Is Cades Cove worth visiting?
Cades Cove can be well worth visiting for its mountain scenery, historic buildings, and opportunities to see wildlife, but the 11-mile loop can take several hours when traffic is heavy. Visitors with limited time may want to choose other Smoky Mountains activities instead or plan Cades Cove during a less crowded period.
Do you have to pay to enter Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
There is no entrance fee for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. However, visitors who park inside the park for more than 15 minutes are required to have a valid parking tag. Parking tags are available in daily, weekly, and annual options.
Can you see bears in the Smoky Mountains?
Black bears live throughout the Smoky Mountains, and visitors may encounter them in the national park and surrounding areas. Bear sightings are never guaranteed, and visitors should always observe bears from a safe distance, never approach or feed them, and secure food and other scented items.
What is the best area to stay for a first Smoky Mountains vacation?
There isn't one best area for everyone. Gatlinburg is convenient for the national park and downtown attractions, Pigeon Forge is popular for family entertainment and attractions, and Sevierville can offer convenient access to the area while providing a quieter alternative to the busiest tourist areas. A private cabin can also provide more space and privacy than a traditional hotel.
What should you not miss on your first trip to the Smoky Mountains?
For many first-time visitors, highlights include spending time in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, experiencing at least one scenic drive, seeing a waterfall, looking for wildlife, and exploring one or more of the surrounding towns. The best itinerary depends on your interests, the length of your stay, and how much time you want to spend driving versus relaxing.