Great Smoky Mountains National Park is not only home to over 800 miles of hiking trails, but plenty of other activities for visitors to enjoy! If you want to experience the beauty of the park and don’t consider yourself much of a hiker, don’t hesitate to plan a trip to the Smokies! You’ll find excellent visitor center facilities, scenic drives, horseback riding opportunities, and much more! Here are 3 fun things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park other than hiking:
1. Scenic Drives with Stunning Overlooks, Wildlife, and Historical Buildings
There are a number of wonderful scenic drives in Great Smoky Mountains National Park where you can discover everything from stunning overlooks and fascinating historical buildings to some incredible wildlife viewing opportunities! Consider taking a drive along Cades Cove Loop Road, an 11-mile paved loop that runs in one direction through a beautiful valley. This is one of the best destinations in the park for wildlife viewing, and you can pull over to explore historical churches, log cabins, and even a working grist mill! Some of the other scenic drives in the park include the Foothills Parkway, Newfound Gap Road, and the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail!
2. Guided Horseback Rides
Another one of the fun things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park other than hiking is horseback riding! Three riding stables in the park offer guided horseback rides from mid-March through late November, the perfect Smoky Mountain outdoor activity. You can join rides that last anywhere from 45 minutes to several hours, and no experience is necessary to join the fun! The riding stables include the Sugarlands Riding Stables near Gatlinburg, Smokemont Riding Stables near Cherokee NC, and the Cades Cove Riding Stables near Townsend TN, which also features hayrides and carriage rides as an alternative to horseback riding!
3. Excellent Visitor Centers to Explore
There are 4 excellent visitor centers located within Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including the Sugarlands, Oconaluftee, Cades Cove, and Kuwohi Visitor Centers. Each of these facilities features bookstores where you can pick up all kinds of interesting information about the park, as well as gift shops, ranger-led activities, and public restrooms. Some of the other things you’ll find at the various visitor centers include cultural and natural history exhibits that enhance your experience in the park! Don’t miss the Mountain Farm Museum adjacent to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, where you can see a farmhouse, smokehouse, and corn crib!
Where to Stay
Make the most of your vacation to Great Smoky Mountains National Park with a stay at our gorgeous campground! We offer a variety of affordable sites for tent campers and RVs, as well as bell tents and camping cabins for those who prefer a few extra amenities! Our campground features a unique location that is surrounded by the Little Pigeon River, so you’ll have the chance to splash around in the best swimming hole in the Smokies! While staying with us, enjoy all types of fantastic campground amenities including a playground, recreational equipment, trout fishing, free wireless Internet access, golf cart rentals, luxury bathhouses, and more!
Check out all of the information about our campground in the Smokies today to stay just minutes away from Great Smoky Mountains National Park! We look forward to seeing you soon!
