8 of the Best Picnic Areas in the Smoky Mountains

Great Smoky Mountains National Park maintains eleven designated picnic areas across the Tennessee and North Carolina sides — most with tables, grills, and restroom access, and some with reservable pavilions. Four are open year-round; the rest operate seasonally, typically from late March or April through October or November. A Park It Forward parking tag ($5/day, $15/week, $40/annual) is required for any vehicle parked more than 15 minutes at any park picnic area. Tags are available at recreation.gov, at visitor centers, and at automated kiosks at park entrances.

Year-round picnic areas

Cades Cove Picnic Area — The most visited picnic area in the park, with 81 sites along a stream off Laurel Creek Road, near the entrance to the Cades Cove loop drive. Sites have tables and grills. The adjacent campground store is the only picnic area in the park with food and supply access nearby — a practical advantage if you're packing light. The Cades Cove Self-Guiding Nature Trail begins at the campground, and the riding stables and the loop road itself are minutes away. No pavilion; first-come, first-served. Open year-round.

Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area — The park's second-largest picnic area with 122 sites, most along the Little River. Grills and tables throughout. The Metcalf Bottoms Trail (1.5 miles round-trip) begins here and leads to the Walker Sisters Cabin site and the Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse — a worthwhile short hike after lunch. A pavilion is available seasonally (approximately mid-April through late October) for $25. Open year-round, though the northern half of the picnic area closes during winter months.

Greenbrier Picnic Area — A small area (12 sites) along the Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River, six miles east of downtown Gatlinburg off East Parkway. Quiet, typically less crowded than the larger areas, and surrounded by one of the park's best spring wildflower concentrations. A separate pavilion one mile up the road is available for $12.50. After the picnic, the Ramsey Cascades Trail and Porters Creek Trail both begin in the Greenbrier area. Open year-round.

Deep Creek Picnic Area — Located near Bryson City on the North Carolina side, with 58 sites and a reservable pavilion. Deep Creek is the access point for tube rentals and one of the park's most popular tubing areas, making this the natural choice if you want to combine a picnic with a water activity. Open year-round.

Seasonal picnic areas

Chimneys Picnic Area — 68 sites five miles from Sugarlands Visitor Center on Newfound Gap Road, set under a tree canopy along a mountain stream. Grills at most sites. No pavilion. The Cove Hardwood Nature Trail (half-mile loop) begins here, and the stream access is popular for wading. This was the site of one of the park's original campgrounds before it closed in 1969. Open seasonally, typically spring through late fall.

Collins Creek Picnic Area — The park's largest picnic area with 122 sites on the North Carolina side, off Newfound Gap Road between the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and Cherokee. A pavilion (seats 70, reservable for $25) makes this the best option for larger groups or family reunions that need covered group space. Open seasonally.

Cosby Picnic Area — 35 sites in the park's quiet northeastern corner, near the Cosby Campground off TN-32. A pavilion seats 55 and can be reserved for $25. The Cosby area offers access to some of the park's less-trafficked trails and is the least crowded of the major picnic areas. Open seasonally.

Picnic rules worth knowing

All picnic areas operate on a first-come, first-served basis for standard sites. Pavilions are reserved in advance through recreation.gov. No pets on trails inside the national park, but leashed pets are permitted at picnic areas. No feeding wildlife — this includes squirrels, which are habituated enough at popular picnic areas to approach tables. All food and trash must be packed out; don't leave anything behind, and use bear-proof food storage receptacles at sites that have them. The park recommends checking nps.gov/grsm for current seasonal open/close dates before visiting, as exact dates shift year to year.

Frequently asked questions

Which Smoky Mountains picnic areas are open in winter?

Four picnic areas stay open year-round: Cades Cove, Metcalf Bottoms, Greenbrier, and Deep Creek (NC side). The remaining seven — including Chimneys, Collins Creek, and Cosby — close during winter, typically reopening in late March or April. Check nps.gov/grsm for current-year open dates before planning a winter or early-spring visit.

Do I need a reservation to use a picnic area in the Smokies?

No — individual picnic sites are first-come, first-served; no reservation is required. Pavilions at Collins Creek, Cosby, Deep Creek, Greenbrier, and Metcalf Bottoms can be reserved in advance through recreation.gov. The Park It Forward parking tag ($5/day, $15/week, $40/annual) is required for any vehicle parked more than 15 minutes at any picnic area.