The Smoky Mountains with a toddler: easy trails, scenic drives and naps

The parking tag and park basics

Great Smoky Mountains National Park has no entrance fee, but you need a parking tag displayed in your vehicle to park anywhere in the park for more than 15 minutes. You can buy one online or at visitor centers. Daily, weekly and annual tags are available.

Laurel Falls, long a popular family walk, has been closed for a long trail rehabilitation, so check whether it has reopened and have another walk ready. Check the park's alerts page for other trail and road closures before each outing.

Toddler friendly walks

• Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail: a paved, flat half mile loop near Sugarlands Visitor Center, with streams and old stone chimneys. Good with any stroller.
• Gatlinburg Trail: starts behind Sugarlands Visitor Center and runs to the edge of Gatlinburg along the river. It begins on sidewalk and road edge, then becomes a wide, graded dirt path with a couple of steeper sections. A sturdy jogging stroller can manage much of it, or use a carrier. It is one of only two park trails that allow leashed dogs, so expect pups.
• Oconaluftee River Trail: a riverside walk on the North Carolina side, near the Mountain Farm Museum with its historic buildings.
• Short streamside stops: many pullouts along Little River Road and Newfound Gap Road let a toddler throw rocks in the water within sight of the car. Keep hands held near fast water and slippery rocks.

Cades Cove and other scenic drives

Cades Cove is an 11 mile one way loop through a wide valley with historic cabins, churches and frequent deer and sometimes bears. Traffic is slow, often stop and go, which makes it a good car nap drive. Go early in the morning or late in the afternoon for wildlife and lighter traffic, and bring snacks and a full tank.

On some days in the warmer season, Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to cars so people can walk and bike it. Check the park site for vehicle-free days before you plan a drive there. Newfound Gap Road, which crosses the park, is another scenic drive with pullouts and cool air at the top.

Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge with a toddler

• Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in downtown Gatlinburg is indoors and stroller friendly, with a shark tunnel and penguins. It is a good rainy morning.
• Dollywood in Pigeon Forge has a kids area called Wildwood Grove with rides and play spaces for young children. The park runs seasonally and closes for part of the winter, so check the calendar and height rules.
• The Parkway through Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg gets heavy traffic, especially on weekends, holidays and summer evenings. Plan town visits for mornings and use the trolley or walk once you park.
• Gatlinburg has many stairs and narrow sidewalks along the main strip on busy days. A compact stroller is easier than a large one.

Where to stay: cabins, hotels and towns

A cabin with a separate bedroom gives your toddler a dark, quiet room for naps and early bedtimes while adults have space to relax. Read the listing carefully: many cabins are up steep, winding roads, have hot tubs and decks that need supervision, and are a drive from groceries.

Gatlinburg is closest to Sugarlands and the main park road. Pigeon Forge has more family attractions and hotels with pools. Townsend, on the quieter side, is close to Cades Cove. On the North Carolina side, Cherokee and Bryson City are near Oconaluftee.

Bear safety with small children

• Black bears live throughout the park. It is illegal to approach within 50 yards of a bear or any distance that disturbs it.
• Keep toddlers close and in a carrier or holding hands on trails. Do not let a child run ahead.
• Never leave food out at picnic areas or cabins. Use bear proof trash cans.
• If you see a bear near the road, stay in your car. Park only in designated pullouts.