GATLINBURG, Tenn. – Great Smoky Mountains National Park had its second busiest year ever in 2022 with over 12,937,633 visits. This marks the fourth time the park has exceeded 12 million yearly visits. Since 2012, the park has averaged almost 11.5 million visits every year. Visitation to the Smokies reached its highest level ever with more than 14 million visits in 2021. Last year’s visitation was more than 1.5 million.
AND A REMINDER…
Parking tags for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will now be required for all visitors. Starting today [March 1], the park will implement the parking tag program. Any vehicle parked anywhere in the park will need to display a paid parking tag. 100% of the revenue from the parking tag program will stay in the park to improve visitor services, according to a news release. Parking tags can be bought online at recreation.gov, through the Great Smoky Mountains Association, or in person. Smokies officials said the parking fees are meant to offset rising costs and will go toward park maintenance.
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