Where to Buy a Parking Pass for Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Published Aug 7, 2025
Great Smoky Mountains National Park doesn't charge an entrance fee — but any vehicle parked for more than 15 minutes inside the park boundaries needs a parking tag. Here's what it costs, where to get one, and everything else you need to know before you go.
Parking Tag Basics
Daily: $5 | Weekly: $15 | Annual: $40 | Must be printed — phone images not accepted | Display face-up on front dashboard | Not required for stays under 15 minutes | America the Beautiful passes are NOT accepted in lieu of a parking tag
Parking tags have been required at Great Smoky Mountains National Park since March 2023. The tag applies to all vehicles parked for more than 15 minutes anywhere within the park boundary — trailheads, overlooks, visitor centers, picnic areas. It is not location-specific, meaning one tag covers any stop in the park on the date it's valid. It does not guarantee a parking space.
Tags bought online through recreation.gov must be printed before your visit — you'll need to enter your license plate number and visit date at purchase. The park will not print it for you and a phone image of the tag will not be accepted. Annual tags are available through smokieslife.org and are shipped by mail. One important note: America the Beautiful (Interagency) passes are not accepted in lieu of a parking tag and no discount is provided for pass holders.
Where to Buy: Tennessee Side
These locations near Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge sell parking tags in person:
Gatlinburg Welcome Center
1011 Banner Rd., Gatlinburg, TN
Best stop before heading into the park from downtown Gatlinburg — easy highway access and free parking.
Sugarlands Visitor Center
1420 Fighting Creek Gap Rd., Gatlinburg, TN
Inside the park near the main Gatlinburg entrance on US-441. Also has ranger staff, exhibits, and restrooms.
Greenbrier Grocery
2406 E. Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN
Convenient stop on the way in from the Greenbrier entrance — good option if you're heading to the Ramsey Cascades or Porters Creek trailheads.
Cades Cove Visitor Center
686 Cades Cove Loop Rd., Townsend, TN
Inside the cove itself. A tag is already required to park at the visitor center, so if you're heading to Cades Cove purchase your tag before you arrive — at the Townsend entrance kiosks or before leaving the cabin.
Great Smokies Welcome Center
7929 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend, TN
On the Townsend (western) approach to the park — best option if you're arriving from I-40 via Maryville.
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont
9275 Tremont Rd., Townsend, TN
Inside the park on the Tremont Road near the Middle Prong trailheads.
In-Park Automated Kiosks
Year-round automated kiosks accept credit cards and sell daily and weekly tags on-site at several major parking areas inside the park. Kiosk locations include Cades Cove, Deep Creek, Metcalf Bottoms, and Newfound Gap. These are useful if you forgot to buy a tag before entering, but note that popular trailhead lots can fill before you've finished the transaction — the best practice is still to buy before you arrive.
Where to Buy: North Carolina Side
If you're entering from the Cherokee, NC side — or crossing from Tennessee — these locations sell tags:
Oconaluftee Visitor Center — 1194 Newfound Gap Highway, Cherokee, NC
Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome) Visitor Facility — 7078 Clingmans Dome Rd., Cherokee, NC (note: Kuwohi Road closes December 1–March 31 each year)
Swain County Visitor Center — 2 Everett St., Bryson City, NC
Graham County Welcome Center — 474 Rodney Orr Bypass, Robbinsville, NC
Visit Haywood Welcome Center — 91 North Lakeshore Dr., Lake Junaluska, NC
The Easiest Option: Buy Online in Advance
Buying online at recreation.gov before your trip is the most reliable approach — you enter your license plate number and visit date at purchase, print the tag at home or at your cabin, and display it on the dashboard before entering the park. Tags can be purchased up to six months in advance. Daily and weekly tags are available through recreation.gov; annual tags through smokieslife.org (shipped by mail).
The cabin advantage: Smoky Mountain cabin rentals typically have printers available, or your cabin host can confirm. Many guests print their tag the night before their park visit and leave it on the dashboard — one less thing to handle in the morning before an early trailhead departure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Great Smoky Mountains parking tag cost?
Daily tags are $5, weekly tags are $15, and annual tags are $40. Pricing has not changed since the program launched in March 2023.
Can I show the parking tag on my phone?
No — a physical printed tag is required. Digital representations on a phone are not accepted. You must print the tag after purchasing online and display it face-up on the front dashboard of your vehicle. Park staff will not print it for you.
Does my America the Beautiful pass cover the parking tag?
No — America the Beautiful (Interagency) passes are explicitly not accepted in lieu of a parking tag at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and no discount is provided for pass holders. You need a separate parking tag regardless of other national park passes you hold.
Do I need a parking tag just to drive through the park?
No — you can drive through the park on US-441 (Newfound Gap Road) without a tag. The tag is only required if you park for more than 15 minutes. Vehicles parked less than 15 minutes are exempt.
Where is the best place to buy a parking tag near Gatlinburg?
The Gatlinburg Welcome Center (1011 Banner Rd.) is the most convenient in-person stop before entering from the Gatlinburg side. Online purchase through recreation.gov is the easiest option overall — buy before your trip, print at home or at your cabin, and display it before you enter.
Does a parking tag guarantee me a parking spot?
No — a tag is required to park, but it does not reserve a space. Popular trailheads like Laurel Falls, Alum Cave, and Rainbow Falls fill early on peak days. Arrive before 9 AM on summer and fall weekends for the best chance of finding a spot at your first-choice trailhead.
