North Carolina · Tennessee · National Park
Best time to visit Great Smoky Mountains
Checked Oct 26, 2026 · Source: NPS + NOAA
For Great Smoky Mountains, the mild and quiet months are November: average highs of 50 to 85°F at the nearest NOAA station and visits at or below the yearly monthly average. October is busiest, with 14% of 2025 recreation visits. January was quietest, with an average high of 39°F. Sources: NPS IRMA Stats and NOAA normals, checked Oct 26, 2026.
Crowd index by month
Each bar is that month’s NPS recreation visits compared with the average month of 2025 (100 = average). October scored 163; January scored 29.
Source: NPS IRMA Stats, recreation visitors, 2025, pulled Oct 26, 2026. Index = month ÷ average month × 100.
Weather normals by month
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip in | Crowd index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 39.0 | 22.2 | 6.81 | 29 |
| February | 41.9 | 24.6 | 6.04 | 43 |
| March | 49.3 | 29.6 | 6.56 | 88 |
| April | 58.3 | 37.8 | 6.00 | 103 |
| May | 66.0 | 46.8 | 6.19 | 116 |
| June | 70.9 | 53.8 | 6.12 | 139 |
| July | 73.7 | 57.3 | 7.33 | 149 |
| August | 72.3 | 56.5 | 5.07 | 104 |
| September | 67.8 | 51.3 | 5.43 | 102 |
| October | 59.3 | 41.2 | 5.43 | 163 |
| November | 50.2 | 32.3 | 5.87 | 90 |
| December | 42.7 | 26.7 | 7.01 | 74 |
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (monthly), station USC00406500. The station may sit at a different elevation than the places you visit, so expect cooler temperatures higher up.
Mild and quiet months
- November
Our rule, applied to the data above: average high between 50 and 85°F, and recreation visits no higher than the average month. It is arithmetic, not a forecast. Roads, trails and facilities can still be closed in these months.
Closures and seasonal dates
| Campground | Closed from | Until |
|---|---|---|
| Elkmont Campground | Nov 29, 2026 | Apr 3, 2027 |
| Cosby Campground | Oct 25, 2026 | May 15, 2027 |
| Deep Creek Campground | Oct 25, 2026 | May 1, 2027 |
| Look Rock Campground | Oct 25, 2026 | May 8, 2027 |
| Balsam Mountain Campground | Oct 12, 2026 | May 15, 2027 |
| Cataloochee Campground | Oct 25, 2026 | May 1, 2027 |
| Abrams Creek Campground | Oct 25, 2026 | May 8, 2027 |
| Big Creek Campground | Oct 25, 2026 | May 15, 2027 |
| Elkmont Group Campground | Oct 31, 2026 | May 8, 2027 |
| Cades Cove Group Campground | Nov 27, 2026 | Apr 18, 2027 |
| Smokemont Group Campground | Nov 1, 2026 | May 8, 2027 |
Park Closure Cherokee Orchard Road closed to pedestrian traffic
Cherokee Orchard Road is currently closed to pedestrian traffic due to bear activity. All visitors must stay in their vehicles. Do not stop or park your vehicle in the roadway. Details on nps.gov
Park Closure Park Headquarters Road is closed
Park Headquarters Road is closed due to rehabilitation work on the Sugarlands water and wastewater systems. Details on nps.gov
Park Closure Straight Fork and the one-way section of Balsam Mountain Road closed.
Straight Fork and the one-way section of Balsam Mountain Road (Heintooga Round-Bottom Road) are closed. Details on nps.gov
Source: NPS API campgrounds and alerts, checked Oct 26, 2026.
Hours
Primary roads are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round, weather permitting. This includes Newfound Gap Road (US-441), Little River Road, and Laurel Creek Road. Secondary roads are closed seasonally.
Source: NPS API operating hours, checked Oct 26, 2026.
More on Great Smoky Mountains: tour or DIY overview. TourOrDIY is independent and not affiliated with the National Park Service. See the accuracy disclaimer and our method.