The roof also features recycled rubber, solar panels and solar tubs to provide additional lighting and energy without using electricity. 805 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. Public restrooms and telephones.Townsend Visitor CenterHoursOpen every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.Jan. Copyright 2016-2022 Marc & Ann Bowman | All Rights Reserved |, 9. Cataract Falls Sugarlands Visitors Center Location: 1420 Fighting Creek Gap Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 Entrance Fee: Free to enter, tours cost $15+ Website: nps.gov Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to many interesting historical sites and beautiful natural landmarks. The well marked trail begins at the visitor center and features tree cover (perfect in summer and fall! Backcountry permit station. Top ways to experience Sugarlands Visitors Center and nearby attractions Great Smoky Mountains National Park Self Driving Tour 87 Adventure Tours from 12.65 per adult Fall Color Tour in the Smoky Mountains 9 Adventure Tours from 97.04 per adult (price varies by group size) Smoky Mountain Guided Scenic High Van Tour 6 Bus Tours from 139.23 Yes! Visit the Clingmans Dome Visitor Center from April through November (2022). They have a suggested price per pamphlet and a donation box nearby. You don't have to wait in line to purchase. LeConte. Maps (for $1) and personalized help from rangers are available for many areas of the park. Stop here to stretch your legs, get your bearings, and speak with experts about your itinerary. - April 8:30 am - 4:30 pmMay 8:30 am - 5:00 pmJune Aug. 8:00 am - 6:00 pmSept.- Oct. 8:30 am - 6:00 pmNov. 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. Supplementing all this firsthand knowledge is a treasure trove of printed information. Throughout the last century and into the new millennium RCK continues supporting the Park with projects such as a trail for handicapped visitors, a wildlife display at the Sugarlands Visitors Center, an information display on Mt. And there are restrooms. The gift shop has a wide selection of souvenirs, as well as an extensive collection of books about the Smoky Mountains. My Mom and Grandma used to bring us here when we were kids. We decided to just drive through on our own. The Sugarlands Visitor Center is open year-round on every day except Christmas Day. Fully refundable Reserve now, pay when you stay. Every purchase you make puts money in an artist's pocket. They gave us some great ideas for our visit. Explore different ways to experience this place. 3. You can also access the Cataract Falls trail or the Gatlinburg trail from here. Themes include European American settlement, Civilian Conservation Corp work, and the development of the park. It had various U.S. states and countries marked on individual clear boxes. Copyright 20082023 RV LIFE. per night. On a recent visit to Sugarlands Visitor Center, we stopped a Park Ranger on the sidewalk and ended up talking for nearly half an hour. There was a ranger in a plexiglass box answering questions. There were a few other areas in the visitor center, including a small museum, that we didn't explore, but it looked well-curated. In the visitors center, there are several extensive natural history exhibits, a free 20-minute film about the national park and an information center. This will give you additional information about the caverns so you can more fully enjoy your experience once youre in them. Vending machines are available at the visitor center. Parking is bad so go early or plan on circling around. There were about 25 people waiting in line while we were there. There are also books available for purchase for those thirsty for knowledge or who want to learn more about the history of the area. There are public restrooms, telephones and drink machines available for use as well. This was at 8:15 am on a Tuesday. Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail: Tickets & Tours, Oconaluftee Visitor Center: Tickets & Tours, Sugarlands Visitors Center: Tickets & Tours, Sugarlands Visitors Center Tours and Tickets, Wine tour to Stellenbosch & Franschhoek | includes tastings & lunch, 5-Hour Small-Group Catamaran Cruise from Bridgetown with Lunch, Private NYC Central Park Horse Carriage Ride (Guided) Since 1965, Salem Witch Trials Historical Walking Tour, New York City Skyline Tour by Night with Local Guide, La Pedrera-Casa Mil Skip the Line Admission Ticket with Audioguide, Pedal Kayak Rental in San Diego Bay For Cruising and Fishing. They separated there and one went into Gatlinburg and the other was heading in the opposite direction. Been to a campground lately? If you love outer space, this visitor center is a must-see. These elk have come to TN before but return to NC during mating season. The center also features a nature trail (that leads to Cataract falls), a 20-minute informative park video, and a gift shop packed with mountain-themed gifts and educational gear. 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. . But guests can still catch the movie from the lobby, which plays on repeat. You can also pick up plenty of information about the park if you plan to explore it on your own. Reviews help other RVers like yourself, and they help the campground. The Sugarlands Visitor Center features free admission to a 20-minute film about the Great Smoky Mountains National . Oct. 9:00 am - 6:00 pmNovember 9:00 am - 5:00 pmDecember 9:00 am - 4:30 pmLocationInside the park near the mid-point of the 11-mile, one-way Cades Cove Loop Road.Special ProgramsRanger-led programs are conducted seasonally. Information about specific programs is available at each visitor center. Today, Sugarlands serves as one of the most frequently visited areas of the park. The Sugarlands Visitor Center features a gift shop where you can browse books on a variety of topics, including hiking, wildlife, and history. Stop by a park bookstore for a wide array of fun and educational items to help you explore the park: The park's bookstores are operated by Great Smoky Mountains Association, a nonprofit partner of the park. Join us to celebrate Christmas in the mountains with old-time music, harp singing, storytelling and reminiscing, craft demonstrations such as weaving, spinning, quilting . Best place to stop and find out some information on trailheads and trails, plus waterfalls. LeConte and improvements to Alum Cave Trail. The path crosses the West Prong of Pigeon River at one point and runs alongside the river for much of the route. In addition to getting info on the park, I highly recommend taking the time to visit the museum there. 1. Visitor centers are a great place to get acquainted with the park. Its a bit discouraging to see that entrance fee, especially if you have younger kids who might not get their moneys worth. The Sugarlands Visitor Center is one of four facilities of its kind in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Guests can enjoy the Grist Mill, the Becky Cable House, and the park bookstore and gift shop. 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. The Sugarlands is a valley in the north-central Great Smoky Mountains, located in the Southeastern United States.Formerly home to a string of small Appalachian communities, the valley is now the location of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park headquarters and the Sugarlands Visitor Center. We are not endorsed by, authorized by, or affiliated with any mentioned attractions. SUGARLANDS VISITOR CENTER - NPS - 129 Photos & 32 Reviews - 1420 Little River Rd, Gatlinburg, TN, United States - Yelp Restaurants Home Services Auto Services Sugarlands Visitor Center - NPS 32 reviews Unclaimed Visitor Centers Edit Closed 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM See hours See all 130 photos Write a review Add photo Save (about 1/2 mile). The operating hours, policies and procedures of other businesses may change at any time without notice. Clingmans Dome Visitor Center is located at the Clingmans Dome Trailhead on Clingmans Dome Road. You could easily spend an entire day here learning about the history and the future of space travel. How do you get there? Even Sugarlands itself is a place where the uninitiated can get themselves in trouble quickly. The National Park Service maintains four official visitor centers inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There is plenty of free parking near the visitor center. The path runs along the river. Sugarlands Visitor Center T-shirts, stickers, wall art, home decor, and more designed and sold by independent artists. Public restrooms. An additional four information centers are located outside the park in Gatlinburg, Sevierville, and Townsend. Do you have specific questions about the park that cant otherwise be found in a guide? 9822 Cty Rd 75. Demonstrations of farm life are conducted seasonally.Available FacilitiesGreat Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. There are a variety of bookstores, gift shops, and restaurants to explore. It is one of the only two dog-friendly hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You dont want to miss this experience. There are public restrooms, telephones and drink machines available for use as well. The hike, which is less than a mile roundtrip, ends at a beautiful 25-foot waterfall. I got three booklets/maps for $1.00 each. Do not let the uniforms intimidate you. Backcountry permit station. This year's theme will be "Find Your Park." It can easily be accessed at the end of River Road in Gatlinburg. (865) 436-1200 Don't Forget to Take a Bathroom Break at the Visitor Center The Visitor Center is a great rest stop before you drive to other trailheads that might not have restrooms available within the National Park. She loves to spend time skiing, roadtripping, and just exploring the outdoors. 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. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. I found it interesting and learned quite a bit. Great Smoky Mountains Association Bookstore is inside the visitor center. The center is your starting point for three different hikes, all of them rated as easy. Educational and interesting at the same time. more, Smoky Mountain Guided Scenic High Van Tour. Best information Center on all the trails in the Smokies! What restaurants are near Sugarlands Visitors Center? Visitor Center opens daily at 9am. We mentioned the center's gift shop earlier as a source of information, but visitors will find all types of park-related merch at this retail center as well. Helpful Park Rangers and park volunteers staff all the visitor centers. If you are taking pictures at the Welcome sign, you can access the Gatlinburg Trail by walking the short path to the right of the sign. These waterfalls include the Cataract Falls a beautiful waterfall located just behind the Visitor Center; Grotto Falls on the Trillium Gap Trail (a popular trail and a fairly easy hike); Baskins Creek Falls and the immaculately named The Place of a Thousand Drips. 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. Fighting Creek Nature Trail is a 1.2-mile loop that's also suitable for all ages. The exhibit featuring a natural history of the park is worth seeing. Also a great spot to orient yourself no matter how many times you have been to the park. Public restrooms and telephones.Historic Grist MillsCable Mill in Cades CoveHoursOpen From March 15 through the Sunday following Thanksgiving 9:00 - 5:00LocationInside the park near the mid-point of the 11-mile, one-way Cades Cove Loop Road.ExhibitsWater-powered grist mill.Mingus Mill near OconalufteeOpen From March 15 through the Sunday following Thanksgiving 9:00 - 5:00LocationInside the park, 2 miles north of Cherokee, NC, on US 441.ExhibitsTurbine-powered grist mill.Tremont Institute. Howard Johnson by Wyndham Downtown Gatlinburg. Check with the volunteers, or ask a Ranger, for information about times and locations. Park Rangers are approachable and some of the nicest people you will ever meet. Can someone recommend a short easy trail/s around that area? Great Smoky Mountains Association members receive many benefits: discounts online and at bookstores Movie and exhibits not accessable during Covid. Cataract Falls trail is located behind the visitor center. It closes in winter due to weather conditions. Also, the Cove Hardwood Nature Trail is a three-quarter-mile loop showing the diversity of trees in the park. Even though the summer hours have been extended to 7:30 PM, when we arrived we found that the museum wing and the movie wing closed at five. The center is your starting point for three different hikes, all of them rated as easy. Find Sugarlands Visitor Center-inspired gifts and merchandise printed on quality products one at a time in socially responsible ways. Anyone seen elk? 99% of travelers recommend this experience. 2023 - SmokyMountains.com. See all 3 Sugarlands Visitors Center tours on Tripadvisor, View all hotels near Sugarlands Visitors Center on Tripadvisor, View all restaurants near Sugarlands Visitors Center on Tripadvisor, View all attractions near Sugarlands Visitors Center on Tripadvisor, Things to Do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Tourism, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Hotels, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Vacation Rentals, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Vacation Packages, Flights to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Travel Forum, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Photos, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Travel Guide, All Great Smoky Mountains National Park Hotels, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Hotel Deals, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Campgrounds, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Pet Friendly Campgrounds, Hotels near Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, All things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Visitor Centers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Geologic Formations in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Mountains in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Nature & Wildlife Areas in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Hiking Trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Waterfalls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Bodies of Water in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Horseback Riding Tours in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Scenic Drives in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Architectural Buildings in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Historic Sites in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Historic Walking Areas in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Monuments & Statues in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Scenic Walking Areas in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Points of Interest & Landmarks in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Lookouts in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The ranger was pleasant and assisted us with help on trails in the area. It is an easy trail to hike and takes less than an hour. Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and gift shop. Inside the park, 2 miles north of Cherokee, NC, on US 441. 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. Are you over 21? This is also one of two trails where you may take your dog. This has created a number of scenic waterfalls reachable by hiking trails with trailheads near the center. Parking for the Gatlinburg Trail can be found at either the Sugarlands Visitor Center or in a small parking area on . Oct. 8:00 am - 6:00 pmNovember 8:00 am - 5:00 pmDecember 8:00 am - 4:30 pmLocation 1420 Little River RoadGatlinburg TN 37738Inside the park, 2 miles south of Gatlinburg on US-441Special Programs Ranger-led programs conducted seasonally. Nice walking trails, beautiful scenery. The seasonal visitor center features exhibits, a gift shop, as well as a park film where you can learn more information about the area. These structures are original to the park and give visitors a first hand look into southern mountain life and culture. Check at the visitor center for times.ExhibitsIndoor and outdoor exhibits of Southern Mountain life and culture. Enjoy! Bathrooms and gift shop. Its hard to define what the best visitor centers are, but weve selected five fantastic options below. This is due to both its proximity to Gatlinburg and also to the natural wonders contained within. And it makes for a great first stop for those wishing to embark on an exploration of the park. The ability to travel and explore new places is one of the best parts of the RV lifestyle. Amenities here include: 1-Free more By TikiPirateCrew The visitor center is also quite impressive. 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. He had pelts from different native animals that the kids could check out and touch. 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. Ways to Experience Sugarlands Visitors Center. Its one of the most highly-rated destinations in the country, and almost everybody reports that they absolutely loved their experience. , this visitor center is one of the park and give visitors a first hand look southern! Souvenirs, as well as an extensive collection of books about the great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore is inside park! 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