You will be glad you did. Store prices were very reasonable. Park Rangers are approachable and some of the nicest people you will ever meet. 1.9 mi from Sugarlands Visitor Center Great Smoky. Stop here for maps or to get general information about the mountains. Stores Were Commercial and Social Centers in Great Smokies. Public restrooms. Sugarlands Visitor Center T-shirts, stickers, wall art, home decor, and more designed and sold by independent artists. You can also pick up plenty of information about the park if you plan to explore it on your own. With its accompanying RV LIFE App, RV Trip Wizard gets you to your camping destinations utilizing RV-friendly routes specific to your RV and travel preferences. If youre a fan of geology or just want to see something incredibly unique, its hard to top Carlsbad Caverns. While we do our best to bring you the most up-to-date information, TheSmokies.com LLC makes no warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of any content contained within. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. There are tons of tours, videos, and exhibits that are suitable for all kinds of people. For your convenience, weve also provided some information about nearby RV parks and resorts. General Stores. Gatlinburg Ways to Experience Sugarlands Visitors Center. Movie and exhibits not accessable during Covid. Copyright 2016-2022 Marc & Ann Bowman | All Rights Reserved |, 9. John Gullion, Managing Editor at the Citizen Tribune, is a freelance contributor for TheSmokies.com LLC the parent company of TheSmokies.com and HeyOrlando.com. Theres also a gift shop full of all sorts of interesting things from knick-knacks to souvenirs to basic hiking supplies. Check at the visitor center for locations and times. There was a ranger in a plexiglass box answering questions. If you miss the turn, turn left at the light. It is about .5 miles from the Sugarland Visitor Center but you will need to drive the trailhead. Public restrooms and telephones.Sevierville Visitor CenterHoursOpen every day except Christmas Day.9:00 am - 6:00 pmLocation3099 Winfield Dunn ParkwayKodak, TN 377641.25 miles from Interstate 40/81 on Highway US-66 near SeviervilleAvailable FacilitiesGreat Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. Sugarlands Visitors Center: Sugarlands Visitor Center - See 1,061 traveler reviews, 396 candid photos, and great deals for Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN, at Tripadvisor. Yes! Fully refundable Reserve now, pay when you stay. What To Know About the Shows Creatures, Cades Cove Lake: The effort to turn the Cove into a body of water, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Entrance Fees, What You Should Know, Smoky Mountains in March: Events in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge [2023], A Simple Guide to Smoky Mountain Parking Passes, Park it Forward, 5 Reasons Why Dollywood Is Better Than Disney World, What To Expect at the Dolly Parton Stampede in Pigeon Forge. Dogs are not allowed inside. Read Also: Grotto Falls hiking guide: How long is it? Read more. Clingmans Dome Visitor Center is located at the Clingmans Dome Trailhead on Clingmans Dome Road. The Backcountry Information Office is also available for those planning to go deeper into the mountains. In addition to getting info on the park, I highly recommend taking the time to visit the museum there. Plan to come here at the beginning of your trip, so you can pick up maps and get any information you might need. Park Rangers are managing this process. Begin your exploration of the park at a visitor center. They have a nice park store on location in addition to a FREE museum of animals native to the region. Order Smokey Mountain auto tour information online because you won't be able to get it at Sugarland Visitors Center. What restaurants are near Sugarlands Visitors Center? Clingmans Dome: Great views, steep walk - See 3,088 traveler reviews, 3,412 candid photos, and great deals for Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN, at Tripadvisor. This trail begins at the visitor center and follows a beautiful river to the outskirts of Gatlinburg. 4.1/5 Very Good! The center is home to soda machines and water fountains as well as public restrooms, a valuable commodity for those not willing to go in the wild, so to speak. It is a moderately difficult hike, but the views are amazing. Exhibits Free admission to 20-minute film about the park. Do the Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail and Fighting Creek Trail both start at the visitor center? And whether you're just headed into the park or on your way out of it for the day, keep in mind that this visitor center has lots of free parking (although on busy days, it can still be challenging to find an empty spot), vending machines and restrooms. Sugarlands Visitor Center A free 20-minute film about Great Smoky Mountains National Park is offered at Sugarlands Visitor Center. Clingmans Dome Visitor Center | Photo: Billy Hathorn. Copyright 20082023 RV LIFE. The museum and movie theater has since been temporarily closed. This is your typical visitors center with a gift shop. Here you can pick up a park map or newspaper, have your questions answered by a ranger, and purchase books and guides to the park. Public restrooms and telephones.Gatlinburg Welcome Center - On the Spur between Pigeon Forge and GatlinburgHoursOpen every day except Christmas DayApril - October 8:30 am - 7:00 pmNovember - March 8:30 am - 5:30 pmLocation1011 Banner RoadGatlinburg TN 377382 miles outside of Gatlinburg on US-441 SouthAvailable FacilitiesGreat Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. Both trails are nice, but I prefer the Cataract Falls trail, especially for families with small kids since it is easier and mostly flat with wide, clear trails! 97% of travelers recommend this experience. The next time you visit our Gatlinburg zipline attraction, we recommend that you also work in a trip to the national park and be sure to make Sugarlands Visitor Center a part of your outdoor experience. There were a few other areas in the visitor center, including a small museum, that we didn't explore, but it looked well-curated. Prior to the creation of the national park in 1934 . These structures are original to the park and give visitors a first hand look into southern mountain life and culture. There's a self-guided wildlife exhibit that features replicas of the many types of animals that call the national park home - everything from snakes to owls to foxes. The Sugarlands Visitor Center is the perfect place to start your visit to the Great Smoky Mountains. We hiked from the Gatlinburg Trail to get here only to find out that there is a line to get in. The seasonal visitor center features exhibits, a gift shop, as well as a park film where you can learn more information about the area. They had a small line to get into the center (thanks to COVID) but it goes quick. By Ross Bodhi OglePosted on January 3, 2023. Supplementing all this firsthand knowledge is a treasure trove of printed information. Restaurants near Sugarlands Visitors Center: Attractions near Sugarlands Visitors Center: Sugarlands Visitors Center, Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Hours, Address, Sugarlands Visitors Center Reviews: 4.5/5. $$ - $$$ American Pizza Vegetarian Friendly, $$ - $$$ American Vegetarian Friendly Vegan Options, $$$$ American Steakhouse Vegetarian Friendly, $$ - $$$ American Steakhouse Vegetarian Friendly, $$ - $$$ American Bar Vegetarian Friendly. A guide to the most scenic drive in the Smokies. Just a heads up..Don't get to close to the Elk! The center houses a bookstore, there is a twenty minute film about the National Park, and a plant and animal museum which I highly recommend you visit. They separated there and one went into Gatlinburg and the other was heading in the opposite direction. Click "Show M. It's located off of US-441 just two miles south of Gatlinburg and is situated right next to Park Headquarters. The terrain surrounding the Sugarlands is marked by a swiftly decreasing elevation and rivers and streams that have cut their way through over a period of time. LeConte. After hiking up Rainbow Falls, we doubled back to Gatlinburg and re-entered the park at Sugarlands. Sugarlands Visitor Center 2 miles south of Gatlinburg on US 441 Open every day except Christmas Day Public restrooms and telephones. Heintooga Picnic Area at Balsam Mountain, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail Auto Tour, Three Big Reasons You Should Not Feed Bears, Oconaluftee Mountain Farm Museum and Mingus Mill, Great Smoky Mountains National Park: My Smoky Mountain Guide. Lying just south of Gatlinburg, the Sugarlands is one of the park's most popular access points. Two historic gristmills are open seasonally in the park. Here are the hours by season for the visitor center: Sugarlands Visitor Center Hours of Operation. more, #16 of 104 things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, GSMA Store Locations and HoursCades Cove Visitor Center HoursOpen every day except Christmas Day.January 9:00 am - 4:30 pmFebruary 9:00 am - 5:00 pmMarch 9:00 am - 6:00 pmApril Aug. 9:00 am - 7:00 pmSept. The Gatlinburg Trail is located at the very end of River Road in Gatlinburg which is no more than a 5 minute drive from the Visitor Center. Parking lot, though large, was crowded and full. Online Shop Unique gifts from the Smoky Mountains. $42. It closes in winter due to weather conditions. Sugarlands was a very nice little visitor center and there were several excellent trails that originated from the visitor's center, which was very convenient. An additional four information centers are located outside the park in Gatlinburg, Sevierville, and Townsend. To get to Elkmont Historic District, take US-411 from Gatlinburg to Sugarlands Visitor Center, where you'll turn onto Fighting Creek Gap Road. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. The Sugarlands Visitor Center features free admission to a 20-minute film about the Great Smoky Mountains National . We visited early evening to get maps for hiking. Did you visit the Sugarlands Visitor Center on a recent National Park visit? If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Its one of the most highly-rated destinations in the country, and almost everybody reports that they absolutely loved their experience. These programs are educational and fun and the children especially love it. Extensive natural history exhibits. Also a great spot to orient yourself no matter how many times you have been to the park. In 1887, Rebecca Cable and her brother Dan bought the house and continued to operate the store for about eight more years. When you leave the visitor center, take a left to get back to New found Newfound Gap Road. more information on current conditions Visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park's official online store for books, maps, and guides to the park. The Gatlinburg Trail is an easy, accessible trail that runs from the Sugarlands Visitor Center and follows the river to the border of Gatlinburg. The rangers are a living fount of knowledge. Let us know. All Rights Reserved. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. In the visitors center, there are several extensive natural history exhibits, a free 20-minute film about the national park and an information center. Smoky Mountain Cat House Do you have a feline friend or just love anything and everything that has to do with cats? Soda and water machines. Is Ole Red in Gatlinburg Worth It? They have a suggested price per pamphlet and a donation box nearby. Theres no better way to truly experience the country. Sugarlands Visitor Center is not only a place to learn about the national park and gather information, it's also a good place to get your feet wet (figuratively) in terms of outdoor experiences. There is a wall of maps and informational pamphlets. An article dated 6/19/19 spotted 2 elk at the Sugarland Visitor Center. Read Also: Picnic areas in the Smoky Mountains: The 4 best-kept secret spots. When we arrived we had no issues parking. Open daily March 31 through October 31. We are visiting with my parents who love nature, but are not as sure on their feet as they used to be. Complete with a natural history museum, a gift shop, and helpful rangers, the Sugarlands Visitor Center is a great resource for planning your trip. You can touch a real moon rock, speak to astronauts, and get up close and personal with a rocket. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Visitor Center opens daily at 9am. Stop here to stretch your legs, get your bearings, and speak with experts about your itinerary. Just past the welcome sign to the park (on the left) there will be a road to the left. Hours: 9:00-5:00. Ways to Experience Sugarlands Visitors Center. This is a great outing for families with younger children. There are also books available for purchase for those thirsty for knowledge or who want to learn more about the history of the area. The entrance to the restrooms is outside and to the left of the Visitor Center.We did not have to pay an entrance fee or show our National Park passes, but if you are 62 years old or above, I would recommend you buy your lifetime Senior Pass ASAP, before the fee increases from $10 to $80 on 8.28.2017. Get there before 4 pm if you want to see the movie and/or museum! Also, the Cove Hardwood Nature Trail is a three-quarter-mile loop showing the diversity of trees in the park. Check with the visitor center for times and exact locations. Sugarlands Visitor Center is always a great place to stop to learn information about the park, visit the gift shop and museum, enjoy the beauty of God's Great Smoky Mountains and to relax a bit. Here you can talk to the park rangers, pick up a map, sign up for the junior ranger program, use the restrooms on-site, pick up a water from the vending machines, watch a short FREE park video OR do one of the hiking trails out back. 805 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. Not many people are willing to drive all the way to Alaska, but there are some amazing national parks (and visitor centers) up here if youre willing to make the trip! We had a great conversation about the Synchronous Fireflies event in Elkmont, the park, how he became a ranger, and Tennessee and Alabama football. Shop online or visit a bookstore at the following park locations: Great Smoky Mountains Association members receive many benefits: To find out more, become a member, or browse the online bookstore, visit www.smokiesinformation.org, 107 Park Headquarters Road In fact, famed naturalist author Horace Kephart described the Sugarlands around the turn of the century as a country of ill fame, hidden deep in remote gorges, difficult of access, tenanted by a sparse population who preferred to be a law unto themselves. It is one of the only two dog-friendly hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in America, receiving some 9 million guests each year. The visitor center features knowledgable rangers, maps, restrooms, animal exhibits, informative museum, and a free movie. They even have the commemorative quarter! 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