5 Best Spots for a Memorial Day Picnic in Gatlinburg

Memorial Day Weekend in the Smokies means the parks are full, the weather is warm, and some of the best meals happen outdoors. These five picnic spots — four inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, one in the city of Gatlinburg — cover every situation from a riverside family cookout to a scenic shaded lunch before a hike. Pack from the cabin kitchen, grab the cooler, and head out early.

National Park Parking Tag

A quick note before you go: a parking tag is required for any vehicle parked for more than 15 minutes at designated facilities inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park — which includes the Greenbrier, Chimneys, Metcalf Bottoms, and Cades Cove picnic areas listed below. The tag costs $5 per day or $15 per week. Purchase at automated kiosks at the park entrances or at Sugarlands Visitor Center. Phone payment is not accepted at kiosks — bring cash or a card. Mynatt Park (spot #2) is a Gatlinburg city park and does not require a parking tag.

1. Greenbrier Picnic Area

Great Smoky Mountains National Park | ~20 minutes east of Gatlinburg via US-321 N | Open year-round, sunrise to sunset | Parking tag required | Pavilion reservable at recreation.gov | Charcoal grills only | No potable water or electricity | Bears frequent the area — store all food in sealed vehicle when not in use

The Greenbrier Picnic Area sits in one of the quieter, less-trafficked corridors of the national park — tucked into a heavily forested cove along the Middle Fork of the Little Pigeon River, about 20 minutes east of Gatlinburg on US-321 North. The main picnic area has 12 sites with vault toilets and a gravel riverbank where kids can wade while adults set up lunch. It's shaded, serene, and genuinely less crowded than the park's Parkway-adjacent facilities on holiday weekends.

The Greenbrier Picnic Pavilion — reservable separately via recreation.gov — is the standout feature for larger groups: a covered 22 x 59-foot structure seating up to 70 guests, with two charcoal grills outside, a stone fireplace inside, and picnic tables. Pavilion reservations are available in morning and afternoon blocks; book both if you want the full day. The pavilion is typically open April through October — confirm current availability at recreation.gov before your trip. Bears are active in this area; all food and scented items must be stored in a sealed vehicle when not in use.

2. Mynatt Park

City of Gatlinburg park | ~5 minutes from downtown Gatlinburg | No parking tag required | Picnic tables, basketball courts, baseball fields, playground, dog-friendly | Creek access | Free

Mynatt Park is the most accessible picnic option on this list — a Gatlinburg city park just a few minutes from downtown, free to enter, with no national park parking tag required. Picnic tables sit alongside a lively mountain creek, with basketball courts, baseball fields, and a children's playground within easy walking distance. The combination of creek access, open fields, and recreational facilities makes it the best all-around option for families with children who need room to burn energy between bites.

The dog-friendly policy is a genuine draw for guests traveling with pets — a real outdoor picnic space where dogs are welcome, close to the cabin, without the national park's strict leash and food storage requirements. For pet-friendly cabin guests, Mynatt Park is the natural Memorial Day lunch stop.

3. Chimneys Picnic Area

Great Smoky Mountains National Park | US-441, approximately 4.8 miles south of Sugarlands Visitor Center | Parking tag required | Picnic tables, grills | Mountain stream access | Open daily | Bears frequent the area

The Chimneys Picnic Area sits alongside a beautiful mountain stream on the main road into the national park — easy to reach from Gatlinburg, well-shaded, and set against the mountain scenery that makes the Smokies worth visiting. The stream is the headline feature: clear, cold water running over rocks with shallow sections safe for wading and spots where kids can stand in the current without any risk. On a warm Memorial Day, the water is the draw as much as the picnic itself.

The location on US-441 makes it a natural stopping point on the way further into the park — pair a Chimneys picnic lunch with an afternoon hike at Alum Cave, Laurel Falls, or Clingmans Dome. Charcoal grills and picnic tables are available. Parking tag required. Arrive early on Memorial Day Weekend — this is one of the most accessible national park picnic areas from Gatlinburg and fills quickly on busy days.

4. Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area

Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Little River Road, approximately 17 miles from Sugarlands Visitor Center | Parking tag required | Picnic tables, grills, restrooms | Little River access | Open daily | Bears frequent the area

Metcalf Bottoms is one of the largest and most popular picnic areas in the national park — spread along Little River Road beside the Little River, with multiple picnic tables, grills, and restroom facilities. The river here is wider and more accessible than at Chimneys, with flat rocky sections perfect for wading, splashing, and sitting in the shallow current on a warm afternoon. Families regularly spend a full half-day here without needing to hike anywhere.

The drive to Metcalf Bottoms along Little River Road is scenic in its own right — the road follows the river through a narrow valley with the forest close on both sides. About 17 miles from Sugarlands, the drive takes roughly 30 minutes from Gatlinburg. Pair it with a short walk to the Little Greenbrier School historical site, an easy flat walk on a nearby trail. Parking tag required. On Memorial Day Weekend, arrive before 10 AM for the best chance at a riverside picnic table.

5. Cades Cove Picnic Area

Great Smoky Mountains National Park | ~25 miles from Gatlinburg (approximately 45–60 minutes) | Parking tag required | Picnic tables, grills | Open meadow setting | Wildlife viewing | Open daily | Bears frequent the area

Cades Cove is a full-day destination rather than a quick lunch stop — a historic valley of open meadows and preserved 19th-century homesteads surrounded by mountains, with some of the best wildlife viewing in the entire national park. The picnic area sits near the entrance to the Cades Cove Loop Road, with open grass, picnic tables, and grills in a setting that feels like a different world from the Parkway. White-tailed deer, wild turkey, and black bears are all commonly spotted in the cove, particularly in the early morning and evening hours.

The 11-mile one-way Cades Cove Loop Road takes one to two hours to drive at a normal pace — longer on busy days when wildlife sightings create slowdowns. Plan to make Cades Cove a half-day or full-day excursion: picnic at the area near the entrance, drive the loop, walk to one of the historic mill or cabin sites, and be back on the road before the loop gets congested in the afternoon. From Gatlinburg, allow 45–60 minutes each way. On Memorial Day Weekend the cove is busier than usual — arrive before 9 AM for the best experience. Parking tag required.

Picnic Packing Tips

Arrive early. All five spots fill up on Memorial Day Weekend, particularly the national park picnic areas. Arriving before 9 AM significantly improves your chances of getting a table — especially at Chimneys and Metcalf Bottoms.

Pack from the cabin kitchen. A Gatlinburg cabin with a full kitchen means you can prep the whole picnic the night before — sandwiches, fruit, snacks, a cooler of drinks — and be out the door early without stopping anywhere. This is one of the practical advantages of cabin travel over hotel travel on a holiday weekend when every restaurant and drive-through is at capacity.

Store food properly in national park areas. Bears are active in all four national park picnic areas on this list. All food, drinks, and scented items must be stored in a sealed vehicle when not actively in use — not left on a picnic table. Violations can result in fines and, more importantly, create dangerous situations for the bears who become food-conditioned.

Bring charcoal if you plan to grill. Charcoal is permitted at the national park picnic areas; wood fires are not. Grills are provided but you bring your own charcoal and lighter. No wood-burning or campfires at picnic areas.

Check the parking tag kiosk before you go. The $5 daily tag covers all national park facilities for the day — buy it at the first kiosk you encounter. The America the Beautiful pass is NOT accepted for the parking tag; it must be purchased separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a parking tag to picnic in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

Yes — a parking tag is required for any vehicle parked more than 15 minutes at designated national park facilities, including all four national park picnic areas listed above. The tag costs $5 per day or $15 per week. Purchase at automated kiosks at the park entrance or at Sugarlands Visitor Center. Cards and cash accepted; phone payment is not accepted at kiosks. Mynatt Park in Gatlinburg does not require a parking tag.

Can I bring my dog to these picnic spots?

Mynatt Park is dog-friendly with no restrictions beyond a leash. In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, dogs are permitted in parking areas and on paved roads but are not allowed on hiking trails — only the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail (NC side) permit dogs. Dogs may accompany you at the picnic tables but cannot be taken onto unpaved trails or into the forest. Keep dogs on a leash of 6 feet or less at all times in the park.

How do I reserve the Greenbrier Picnic Pavilion?

The Greenbrier Picnic Pavilion is reservable through recreation.gov up to a year in advance. It's available in morning and afternoon blocks — reserve both if you need the full day. The pavilion seats up to 70 guests. Without a reservation, you can use it if no group has booked it, but you may be asked to leave if a reservation holder arrives. On Memorial Day Weekend, reserving in advance is strongly recommended.

Which picnic spot is closest to Gatlinburg?

Mynatt Park is the closest — just a few minutes from downtown Gatlinburg, free, and no parking tag required. The Chimneys Picnic Area inside the national park is the next closest, about 4.8 miles south of Sugarlands on US-441. Greenbrier is about 20 minutes east on US-321. Metcalf Bottoms is about 30 minutes via Little River Road. Cades Cove is the farthest at 45–60 minutes from Gatlinburg.