

Things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park draws visitors for its landscapes, wildlife and guided outdoor experiences. Outty tracks every bookable tour here, scores it with the Outty Ranking, and shows what is worth your time, from full-day guided trips to short scenic outings.
Quick answer
What are the best things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
Outty ranks 18 bookable experiences in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, United States. The highest scoring is 3-Hour Nantahala River Fully Guided Rafting Experience at 90 out of 100, followed by Museum of the Cherokee People Admission Ticket, Cades Cove Sightseeing Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour, Clingmans Dome (Kuwohi) Self Guided Walking Audio Tour. Prices start at $1 per person and 0 experiences score 90 or above, putting them in the Outty 90+ Club. Late spring through early fall for full access and the widest tour availability, with quieter trails in the shoulder weeks.
- Ranked experiences
- 18
- In the 90+ Club
- 0
- From
- $1 per person
- Bookable today
- 18
Top tour operators in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The companies behind the experiences, ranked by how much of Great Smoky Mountains National Park they cover.
Travel and Abroad Holiday Experiences
137 experiences across 122 cities
CloudGuide S.L
105 experiences across 102 cities
Shaka Guide Apps
105 experiences across 47 cities
GuideAlong (GyPSy Guide)
59 experiences across 46 cities
Drives & Detours
58 experiences across 45 cities
Travel with Action
41 experiences across 22 cities
Stories with Action
14 experiences across 8 cities
A Walk in the Woods
9 experiences across 3 cities
Most Popular in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The experiences travelers book most right now.


Private Natural Heritage Hike Along the Blue Ridge Parkway
Most Highly Reviewed in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Highest traveler sentiment with enough reviews to trust it.
Last Minute in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Confirmed availability today or tomorrow.

3-Hour Nantahala River Fully Guided Rafting Experience

Museum of the Cherokee People Admission Ticket

Cades Cove Sightseeing Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

Clingmans Dome (Kuwohi) Self Guided Walking Audio Tour

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour

Discover the Great Smoky Mountains: A Self-Guided Tour
Food & Drink in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Food tours, tastings, markets and dinner experiences.
Culture & History in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Museums, landmarks and stories behind the streets.

Museum of the Cherokee People Admission Ticket

Cades Cove Sightseeing Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

Clingmans Dome (Kuwohi) Self Guided Walking Audio Tour

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour

Discover the Great Smoky Mountains: A Self-Guided Tour

Explore the Smoky Mountains in a Polaris Slingshot-Bryson City NC
Outdoors in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Fresh air, water, trails and skyline views.

Cades Cove Sightseeing Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

Clingmans Dome (Kuwohi) Self Guided Walking Audio Tour

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour

Discover the Great Smoky Mountains: A Self-Guided Tour

Explore the Smoky Mountains in a Polaris Slingshot-Bryson City NC

Blue Ridge Parkway Self-Guided Tour: Cherokee to Asheville
Nightlife in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
After dark: bars, shows and evening cruises.
Highest rated in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The top of the Outty Ranking across 18 local experiences
- 13-Hour Nantahala River Fully Guided Rafting Experience3h • from $6589.9
- 2Museum of the Cherokee People Admission Ticket24h • from $1570.2
- 3Cades Cove Sightseeing Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour1h • from $1569.7
- 4Clingmans Dome (Kuwohi) Self Guided Walking Audio Tour1h • from $1060.1
- 5Great Smoky Mountains National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour14h • from $1659.3
- 6Discover the Great Smoky Mountains: A Self-Guided Tour8.5h • from $157.7
- 7Explore the Smoky Mountains in a Polaris Slingshot-Bryson City NC4h • from $35056.6
- 8Blue Ridge Parkway Self-Guided Tour: Cherokee to Asheville8.5h • from $352.9
- 9Great Smoky Mountains Self-Guided Scenic Drive and Audio Tour2h • from $1551.4
- 10Tail of the Dragon Polaris Slingshot Adventure-Bryson City NC4h • from $35047.7
- 11Guided Hike & Outdoor Painting Class in Smoky Mtns Nat’l Park3.5h • from $12541.7
- 12Helicopter Tour - The Fontana Lake Tour0.3h • from $25040.8
People also ask
What are the top 15 things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
Our ranked guide lists the 15 best experiences in Great Smoky Mountains National Park with prices, time needed and quick picks for families, rainy days and last-minute plans. Read the answer
Planning questions about Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- What are the best things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
- 3-Hour Nantahala River Fully Guided Rafting Experience is the highest ranked experience in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, scoring 90 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking from 206 traveler reviews. Museum of the Cherokee People Admission Ticket, Cades Cove Sightseeing Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour, Clingmans Dome (Kuwohi) Self Guided Walking Audio Tour, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour round out the top five. Outty ranks 18 bookable experiences in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, United States, and 0 of them score 90 or above.
- How much do activities in Great Smoky Mountains National Park cost?
- The median price across everything we rank in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is $65 per person, and the cheapest starting price is $1 on Discover the Great Smoky Mountains: A Self-Guided Tour. Guided, small-group and skip-the-line versions sit above the median, and peak weekends price higher than midweek mornings.
- Can I book something in Great Smoky Mountains National Park for today?
- Yes. 18 of the top 18 experiences we rank in Great Smoky Mountains National Park currently show same-day availability. Same-day slots are limited, so book early in the day where you can.
- Is Great Smoky Mountains National Park good for families?
- Most experiences in Great Smoky Mountains National Park welcome all ages, though minimum ages are set by the operator. The age requirement is listed on every experience page.
- How many days do you need in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
- Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting: one anchor experience each morning, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
- When is the best time to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
- Late spring through early fall for full access and the widest tour availability, with quieter trails in the shoulder weeks. Prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
- Can I cancel a booking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
- 15 of the 18 experiences we rank in Great Smoky Mountains National Park offer free cancellation, usually up to 24 hours before the start time. The exact window is shown on each experience page before you book.
- How does the Outty Ranking work?
- Every experience in Great Smoky Mountains National Park gets a single 0 to 100 score built from traveler sentiment, the depth of review evidence, recent booking momentum, price fairness against comparable options in the same city, operator standing and cancellation flexibility. Scores are benchmarked within Great Smoky Mountains National Park so a strong local option is not buried by global volume, and anything at 90 or above joins the Outty 90+ Club.

