Park Statistics

Acreage
Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers 522,427 acres, divided almost evenly between the states of North Carolina and Tennessee.

Visitation
More than 14 million recreational visits in 2021. Highest visitation of any of the national parks, and more than Yosemite, Yellowstone and Grand Canyon combined. You can access multiple reports about park visitation by typing the park's name into the "Select a park" field at https://irma.nps.gov/Stats/Reports/Park

Economic Impact
The park provides an economic hub generating over $1.3 billion in 2021 and supports 18,800 jobs in surrounding communities.

Annual Budget
$20.8 million base budget in Fiscal Year 2022. Great Smoky Mountains is one only a few national parks that does not charge an entrance fee.

Developed Campgrounds
10 campgrounds with a total of 1000 sites, recording more than 362,353 camper nights in 2021.

Picnic Areas
11 picnic areas, totaling 1050 sites.

Backcountry Campsites
More than 100 sites, including shelters. More than 107,581 overnight visits in 2021.

Backcountry Trails
848 miles of trail (150 trails), including 74 miles of the Appalachian Trail run through the park.

Roads
384 miles total —238 are paved and 146 are unpaved.

Buildings
342 structures are maintained in the park, including five historic areas with 97 structures preserving Southern Appalachian heritage.

Cemeteries
160 family cemeteries with 4,847 gravestones

Mountains
Elevations in the park range from approximately 875 feet at the mouth of Abrams Creek to 6,643 feet at Clingmans Dome. Sixteen mountains peaks exceed 6,000 feet in elevation.

Streams
2,900 miles of streams

Park Designations
International Biosphere Reserve (designated October 26, 1976) and World Heritage Site (designated December 6, 1983).

Personnel
Approximately 200 permanent employees and 140 seasonal employees.

Volunteers
2,700 volunteers donated 108,890 hours in Fiscal Year 2021.

Last updated: March 1, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738

Phone:

(865)436-1200

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