Park officials have announced a new shuttle service that provides transportation to and from numerous stops in and around the national park.
The shuttle service will be provided by several local commercial businesses and not the national park itself. Park officials hope this new shuttle service will help to alleviate some of the traffic and parking congestion in and around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park amid growing traffic problems and increased visitors to the park.
A handful of local businesses are providing the service as authorized shuttle providers. They are as follows:
AAA Hiker Shuttle – aaahikerservice.com
A Walk in the Woods – awalkinthewoods.com
Bryson City Outdoors – brysoncityoutdoors.com
Great Smoky Mountains Eco Tours – greatsmokymountainecotours.com
Rocky Top Tours – rockytoptours.com
Smoky Mountain Rides – smokyrides.com
Parking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is always on a first come, first serve basis. There’s a chance you could purchase a parking permit but not find any parking available in the national park, especially during peak seasons.
In the past there has been lots of parking along sides of the roads near popular trail heads when regular parking spots have filled up. Enforcement is not allowing that anymore and writing warnings and tickets to individuals who do not park in approved, paved parking spaces. The announcement of this shuttle service is going to fill a need for these parking issues as well as the convenience of reducing traffic and not having to rush to be the first on the trail just to get parking.
As of March 1, 2023, parking tags are required for any vehicles parking inside the national park. Three different types of tags are available for purchase. The $40 annual pass allows you to park in the national park for 12 months from the date of purchase. Daily tags cost $5 and weekly tags can be purchased for $15. You can purchase these passes at any of the visitors centers in the Great Smoky Mountains National park or online.
Find out more about the parking requirements here:
Happy Hiking
Audrey Carlson
Mountain Time Cabin Rentals