Plan Ahead for a Safe Memorial Day Weekend in the Smokies

Contact: Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park expects a high volume of visitors over Memorial Day weekend. Anyone planning a trip to the Smokies over the holiday weekend should expect crowds, traffic congestion and limited parking. Follow the below tips for a safe and fun Smokies weekend:

1. Park in designated parking spots only

Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis and fills early at popular sites, such as Alum Cave Trail, Abrams Falls Trail, Rainbow Falls Trail and Kuwohi. Park only in designated spots-illegally parked vehicles can block emergency vehicles and damage park resources. Vehicle parked illegally may be ticketed or towed at the owner's expense. Consider parking outside of the national park and taking a shuttle to your destination to avoid the stress of parking.

2. Slow down and enjoy the views

Roads are likely to be congested with heavy amounts of traffic. Drive cautiously to keep yourself and others safe. Wear a seatbelt at all times, follow the speed limit and use pullouts to allow faster vehicles to pass. Planning to drive Cades Cove Loop Road or up to Kuwohi? Plan for these drives to take more time than usual.

3. Research hiking trails ahead of time and plan accordingly

Know the limits of everyone in your group and plan your hike according to their abilities. Wear layers and sturdy footwear, bring plenty of snacks and water and reference the Ten Essentials. Cell service is unreliable in most of the park, so bring a detailed trail map for navigation. Always stay with your group when you hike. Your safety is your responsibility.

A busy holiday weekend is a great time to visit some lesser-known areas of the park. Looking for scenic views? Consider Look Rock Tower as an alternative to Kuwohi. Chasing waterfalls? Consider hiking to Hen Wallow Falls hike from Cosby. For scenic drives, try Cataloochee or any section of the Foothills Parkway.

4. View wildlife respectfully

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most biodiverse national parks in the National Park System and your chances of seeing wildlife are high. Keep wildlife wild by staying at least 50 yards away from bears and 25 yards away from elk. Use a roadside pullout to watch or photograph animals so that you don't impede traffic. Secure all food and trash and never feed bears or other wildlife. Fed bears have been euthanized in the park due to visitor actions.

5. Park it Forward

Visitors need a valid parking tag to park a vehicle longer than 15 minutes anywhere in the park. The park strongly encourages visitors to purchase their parking tag in advance-see all available options here. Revenue from parking tags directly supports essential services in the Smokies, including search and rescue operations, road improvements, facility maintenance and more. As Memorial Day is a fee-free day, visitors do not need parking tags on May 25.