Great Smoky Mountains National Park with kids: a family guide

Oct 4th, 2026 · Smoky Mountains area guide

Top photo: Nathan Mullet on Unsplash

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the country, and it's an easy day out from Pigeon Forge: free to enter, about 20 minutes from The Remington, and full of easy walks, wildlife and scenic drives. With a big group, a little planning goes a long way, especially around parking and a few trail closures that catch visitors off guard.

First: the parking tag

Entry to the park is free, but any vehicle parked for more than 15 minutes needs a Smokies parking tag. You can buy daily, weekly or annual tags online or at visitor centers. Buy one for each car before you go, so nobody gets stuck at a trailhead without one.

Know what's closed

Trail names in older guides can send you to the wrong place. As of this writing:

• Laurel Falls Trail, long the park's most popular waterfall hike, is closed for rehabilitation. The park expects to reopen it sometime in 2027.
• Kuwohi Road (formerly Clingmans Dome Road) is seasonal, open from April through late November, and can close for weather.
• Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is also seasonal, opening in spring.

Check the National Park Service's current closures page before you go.

Cades Cove

Cades Cove is the park's most beloved family drive: an 11-mile one-way loop through a wide valley with historic cabins, churches, a working grist mill, and some of the best wildlife viewing in the park. Deer are common, and black bears and wild turkeys are often seen.

• Go early. The loop can take two to four hours on busy days because of traffic and wildlife stops.
• Vehicle-free Wednesdays. From May through September, the loop is closed to cars on Wednesdays, so you can walk or bike it. Parking is limited, and parking tags are still required.
• Pack food and water. There are few services in the cove.
• Give wildlife space. Never approach or feed bears. Stay in your car or keep a safe distance.

Easy hikes for mixed ages

With Laurel Falls closed, here are easier options for families:

• Cataract Falls, a short walk near the Sugarlands Visitor Center to a small waterfall.
• Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail, a short, paved path suitable for strollers and wheelchairs.
• The Gatlinburg Trail, a mostly flat trail along a river between Gatlinburg and Sugarlands. It's one of only two park trails that allow dogs.
• Kuwohi, the highest point in the park. The paved path to the observation tower is short but steep, and the views on a clear day are huge.

Strong hikers in your group may want Alum Cave Trail, which is longer and steeper. Go early, because parking fills fast.

Scenic drives

If your group isn't up for hiking, the park is beautiful from the car:

• Newfound Gap Road crosses the park between Gatlinburg and Cherokee, with big overlooks along the way.
• Little River Road follows a river between Sugarlands and Townsend.
• The Foothills Parkway has some of the best long views of the Smokies.

Bears and safety

The Smokies have one of the densest black bear populations in the East. Stay at least 50 yards away, never feed wildlife, keep food in your car, and keep kids close on trails.

Megan was super responsive along the way with answering any questions we had prior to arrival. Close to Smoky Mountain National Park and restaurants and grocery stores.

Adam M., stayed at The Remington

Frequently asked questions

Is Great Smoky Mountains National Park free?

Yes, entry is free. But a parking tag is required for any car parked for more than 15 minutes.

Is Laurel Falls Trail open?

No. Laurel Falls Trail is closed for rehabilitation, and the park expects to reopen it in 2027.

What are the best easy hikes in the Smokies for kids?

Cataract Falls, the Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail and the Gatlinburg Trail are all short and family-friendly.

When is Cades Cove closed to cars?

On Wednesdays from May through September, the Cades Cove Loop Road is open only to walkers and cyclists.

Plan your trip

See our guides to Dollywood with a big group and Pigeon Forge vs. Gatlinburg, or the full Smoky Mountains area guide. Book The Remington directly with us to skip the booking-site service fees.

Written by Megan and VladWe own and manage Remington Retreats's five homes ourselves, and we've been visiting these areas with our two girls for years.