Supporting Great Smoky Mountains
National Park since 1953

Photo courtesy of Paul Driessche

The latest from Smokies LIVE

New children’s book helps kids explore the mysterious world of fireflies

Mary Arkiszewski stumbled upon Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s most famous flashing beetle, the synchronous firefly, almost by accident. She and her husband had always enjoyed hiking and exploring the national parks, and when the pandemic lockdowns sideswiped all the regular rhythms of their life in Greensboro, North Carolina, they

Read More »

Great Smokies

Welcome Center

Hours of Operation

(subject to change)

Open year round (closed December 25)


January - February

Open Daily 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

March - November

Open Daily 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
December

Open Daily 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

The Great Smokies Welcome Center is located on U.S. 321 in Townsend, TN, 2 miles from the west entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors can get information about things to see and do in and around the national park and shop from a wide selection of books, gifts, and other Smokies merchandise. Daily, weekly, and annual parking tags for the national park are also available.

Physical Address

7929 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway Townsend TN 37882

Contact

865.436.7318 Ext 320