The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has introduced a parking tag program to manage and improve visitor services. This program requires all vehicles parking for more than 15 minutes within the park’s boundaries to display a valid parking tag. The revenue generated from the program stays within the park to support various services, including trail maintenance, custodial services, trash removal, and law enforcement staff.
Types of Smoky Mountain National Park Parking Tags
There are three types of parking tags available for purchase:
| Tag Type | Price | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Parking Tag | $5 | Up to 7 days, expires at 11:59 pm ET on the date printed on the tag |
| Weekly Parking Tag | $15 | Up to 7 days, expires at 11:59 pm ET on the date printed on the tag |
| Annual Parking Tag | $40 | 12 months from the date of purchase, expires at 11:59 pm on the last day of the expiration month |
Purchasing a Smoky Mountain National Park Parking Tag
Parking tags can be purchased:
- Online: Through recreation.gov for daily and weekly tags.
- Onsite: At various welcome and visitor centers within the park, including the Gatlinburg Welcome Center, Sugarlands Visitor Center, and others.
- Automated Machines: Daily and weekly tags can be purchased by credit card from machines available throughout the park.
Displaying Your Smoky Mountain National Park Parking Tag
- Annual Tags: Must be displayed in the front, lower passenger side windshield.
- Daily and Weekly Tags: Must be placed face-up on the front, lower passenger side dashboard.
Important Details about Smoky Mountain National Park Parking Tags
- Interagency Passes: America the Beautiful passes are not accepted in lieu of a parking tag.
- Discounts: No discounts are provided for Interagency passholders or Smokies Life members.
- Parking Tag Requirements: Vehicles parked for less than 15 minutes or simply driving through the park do not need a parking tag.
- Parking Tag Enforcement: Failure to comply with parking tag requirements may result in a warning, citation, or vehicle towing at the owner’s expense.
Additional Information on Smoky Mountain National Park Parking Tags
- Revenue Use: All revenue generated from parking tags stays within the park to support operational costs for managing and improving services for visitors.
- Parking Tag Limitations: Parking tags are non-transferable, non-refundable, not replaceable if lost or stolen, and are void if altered or reproduced.