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Hi Everyone,
This post doesn't relate to Dollywood exactly, but I know many of the millions of you who read this blog and come into the area will include a visit to The Smoky Mountains and Dollywood in the same trip, so I wanted to pass this information along to you guys. This a big change for the Smokies as they have, up to this point, been a basically free experience for parking. That is about to change in the form of fees for parking and updated fees for camping.
The Smokies have been the last holdout among National Parks to charge a fee for use, so this has been a long time coming and it is somewhat of a hot topic, although the park sites a lot of support among its most frequent users. The visitation numbers to the park have grown significantly over the last several years and in my time of living in this area, they have increased incrementally year after year.
The parking issue revealed itself in the past few years with the higher visitation numbers. The most popular trail lots fill up and visitors will park where they are not supposed to, which causes access issues for others. This parking fee may help address that issue, but the parking tag does not guarantee parking, so for best results, plan ahead by visiting early in the morning, or on off-peak days and in the off season. The parking tags are not location-specific, so they are for all parking in the Smokies - including these highly sought-after locations such as Cades Cove, Mt. LeConte, The Chimney Tops, Clingman's Dome, Laurel Falls, Abrams Falls - all the Falls in the Smokies....and everything else inside the park.
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| 2021 visitation for Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone combined is less than the Smokies. |
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Here is the local ABC Affiliate - WATE's take on it....
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been approved by the National Park Service to implement a new fee system that will help cover the cost of operating and maintaining the park as visitation continues to increase.
The "Park it Forward" program will include new parking fees plus an increase in camping fees beginning next year.
The park shared the information about the decision on Monday. The annual tag will allow for parking throughout the park from the date of purchase and will be required to be displayed on any motor vehicle parked within the Smokies boundary starting on March 1, 2023.
The approved parking rates are $5 for a daily parking tag, $15 for a parking tag for up to seven days, and $40 for an annual parking tag.
Camping fees are also increasing. Backcountry camping fees will be $8 per night, with a maximum of $40 per camper. Frontcountry family campsite fees will be $30 per night for primitive sites and $36 per night for sites with electrical hookups. Group camps, horse camps, and picnic pavilions fees will primarily increase by between 20 and 30 percent depending on group size and location. Rates for daily rental of the Appalachian Clubhouse and Spence Cabin in Elkmont will be $300 and $200, respectively. For a complete listing of all frontcountry facility rates, visit the park website at https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/2023-fees.htm
“Today marks a significant milestone in the history of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and I’m honored to be a part of it,” Superintendent Cassius Cash said in the news release. “I have been incredibly encouraged by all the support, from across the country, and especially here in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina, for the opportunity to invest in the future care of this treasured park. We take great pride in being the country’s most visited national park, but that distinction comes with tremendous strain on our infrastructure. Now we will have sustained resources to ensure this sacred place is protected for visitors to enjoy for generations to come.”
Officials say all revenue from the fees will stay in the park in order to "provide sustainable, year-round support focusing on improving the visitor experience, protecting resources, and maintaining trails, roads, historic structures, and facilities."
Smokies officials also confirmed in the news release that the use of all park roads will remain toll-free. Parking tags will not be required for motorists who pass through the area or who park vehicles for less than fifteen minutes. The tags will not guarantee a parking spot at a specific location. Parking will continue to be available on a first-come, first-serve basis throughout the park.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the National Park Service system. Officials say that over the last decade, visitation increased by 57% to a record 14.1 million visits in 2021.
Smokies officials say with rising costs and more visitation, "additional revenue is critical to support upkeep of the park. The new fee changes will provide an opportunity for park users to directly contribute towards protecting the park."
"Funding from the new parking fee and from the Great American Outdoors Act enacted in 2020 will provide the most new financial support for the Great Smokies since the park was created in 1934," retired U.S. Senator from Tennessee Lamar Alexander said. "Every penny raised from the fee will be spent on creating a better visitor experience in the Smokies. Superintendent Cassius Cash and the National Park Service deserve thanks from all of us who enjoy the Smokies for solving a big problem with an obvious solution."
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Here are some of the details from the official NPS website PARK IT FORWARD. Check it out for lots more information, FAQ's, etc.
Parking Tag Basics
Effective March 1, 2023
New funding sources are needed to rehabilitate this national treasure and preserve the magic of the Smokies for future generations. So, it’s time we Park It Forward.
Fee Rates - Effective March 1, 2023
Parking Tag Program
| DURATION | PRICE |
| Daily | $5 |
| Up to 7 Days | $15 |
| Annual | $40 |
Backcountry
| TYPE | CAPACITY | PRICE |
| Backcountry permit (for up to 8 days/7 nights) | 8 ppl. Special permits may be issued for a few sites that accommodate parties of up to 12. | $8 per night Max of $40 per person/permit |
| Thru-hiker permit (for up to 8 days/7 nights) | Per person | $40 per permit |
Campgrounds
| SITE | PRICE |
| Abrams Creek Campground | $30 |
| Balsam Mountain Campground | $30 |
| Big Creek Campground | $30 |
| Cosby Campground | $30 |
| Cades Cove Campground | $30 |
| Cataloochee Campground | $30 |
| Deep Creek Campground | $30 |
| Elkmont Campground | $30 |
| Look Rock Campground Standard Sites | $30 |
| Look Rock Campground Electric Sites | $36 |
| Smokemont Campground | $30 |
Group Camps
| SITE | PRICE |
| Big Creek Group Camp | $62 |
| Cades Cove Group Camp without picnic pavilion (price depends on site specific capacity) | $60 - $75 |
| Cades Cove Group Camp with picnic pavilion | $94 |
| Cataloochee Group Camp (no flush toilets, all other have flush toilets) | $50 |
| Cosby Group Camp | $50 |
| Deep Creek Group Camp | $50 |
| Elkmont Group Camp (price depends on site specific capacity) | $38 - $75 |
| Smokemont Group Camp | $50 |
Horse Camps
| SITE | PRICE |
| Anthony Creek Horse Camp | $30 |
| Big Creek Horse Camp (only site with flush toilets, rest have vault toilets) | $36 |
| Cataloochee Horse Camp | $30 |
| Round Bottom Horse Camp | $30 |
| Tow String Horse Camp | $30 |
Picnic Pavilions
| SITE | CAPACITY | PRICE |
| Collins Creek Picnic Pavilion | 70 ppl | $32 |
| Cosby Picnic Pavilion | 55 ppl | $32 |
| Deep Creek Picnic Pavilion | 70 ppl | $32 |
| Greenbrier Picnic Pavilion (only pavilion with vault toilets, no running water) | 70 ppl | $16 |
| Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion | 70 ppl | $32 |
| Twin Creeks Picnic Pavilion (only full day pavilion, others are half day) | 150 ppl | $75 |
Day Use Cabin Rentals
| SITE | CAPACITY | PRICE |
| Appalachian Clubhouse | 96 ppl | $300 |
| Spence Cabin | 40 ppl | $200 |
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I hope that helps with your trip planning! Until next time!
