Entrance fees and opening hours
- Free of charge
- Covered by the Anual Pass*
- Open 24h all year round
*The Anual Pass is so to speak the "flat rate" for all Parks managed by the National Park Service. The pass costs a one-time fee of $80 and can be purchased at the entrance to each National Park, National Monument, etc. The pass is valid for 13 months.
Our visits: So far 1 visit in October 2016
Foothills Parkway
Description: The Foothills Parkway is a scenic road in the north of the Great Smoky Mountains NP. The Parkway is currently 33mi long and connects the small towns of Chilhowee and Wars Valley. Construction of the road began 75 years ago and is probably far from complete. The last 17mi section of construction to date, between Walland and Wars Valley, was opened in 2018. Another 33mi are currently in the planning stages. All information about future construction can be found on the official homepage.
The scenic road is used exclusively for tourist purposes. It offers great views of the Smoky Mountains and the surrounding landscapes along its entire length. Especially in the fall, when the leaves turn wonderfully colorful, the road is very worth seeing.
Our rating: We drove the Foothills Parkway twice in October 2016. Especially because of the colorful trees, we enjoyed the drive very much and it was very interesting. The views were great. We can definitely recommend a drive along the Parkway, especially in the fall.
