Compare parking days
Three daily tags cost the same as one weekly tag. Three weekly tags cost more than an annual tag. These comparisons concern parking only; park entry is already free.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park free entry and parking tags
Choose a tag for the time your vehicle will be parked. Driving through needs no tag.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park free entry and parking tags · 2026 · U.S. dollars
| Pass or entry | Price | Who it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance fee | Free | No entrance fee at any entrance. Driving through, or stopping for 15 minutes or less, costs nothing |
| Daily parking tag | $5 | One vehicle parked longer than 15 minutes, anywhere in the park. Expires 11:59 p.m. ET on the date shown |
| Weekly parking tag | $15 | One vehicle, anywhere in the park. Expires 11:59 p.m. ET seven days from the date of purchase |
| Annual parking tag | $40 | One vehicle, anywhere in the park, for 12 months from the month of purchase |
Passes and parking exemptions
Federal entrance passes do not replace a Smokies parking tag. State disability placards and designated campsite parking have specific exemptions.
Passes and parking exemptions · 2026 · U.S. dollars
| Pass or entry | Price | Who it covers |
|---|---|---|
| America the Beautiful passes | Not accepted | Senior, Access, Military, and other interagency passes don't replace a parking tag |
| State disability placard or plate | Free | Vehicles displaying one don't need a parking tag |
| Frontcountry campers at their site | Free | No tag while parked at your designated campsite. Park anywhere else and you need one |
A campsite is a narrow exemption
Frontcountry campers need no tag while parked at their designated campsite. Parking elsewhere for longer than 15 minutes needs a tag. A backcountry permit does not exempt the parked vehicle.
A disability placard is different
A displayed state-issued disability placard or license plate exempts the vehicle from a parking tag. An Access Pass alone does not.
Where to buy your parking tag
Choose the park’s accepted payment method, keep the pass or tag ready, and bring any required proof of eligibility.
Print before you arrive
Online daily and weekly tags must be printed and displayed. Digital copies are not accepted, and park staff will not print the tag. Enter the visit date and the vehicle license plate when purchasing.
Bring a physical credit card
Parking tag machines sell daily and weekly tags by credit card. Tap-to-pay is unavailable. Most trailheads have no tag machine, so buy before reaching your trailhead.
Match the rental vehicle
Each tag belongs to one vehicle and must show its license plate number. Wait until you know the rental car plate before buying.
Camping and fishing costs
An overnight permit or fishing license does not replace the vehicle parking tag.
Backcountry camping
$8 each a night
Per person, per night, plus a $6 non-refundable permit fee. No cap on the total. The car still needs a tag
Appalachian Trail thru-hiker pass
$44.50
Separate Appalachian Trail thru-hiker permit fee
Fishing
State license
Tennessee or North Carolina license or permit for anglers 16 and older. Not sold in the park
Parking tag waiver days
NPS fee-free dates can waive the parking tag. Confirm the official dates and eligibility; a tag never guarantees a parking space.
Check parking tag waiver dates
Use the official calendar before choosing a free entrance day. Confirm who qualifies and which charges are waived.
Questions about Great Smoky Mountains fees
Quick answers to the practical questions below.
Is Great Smoky Mountains National Park free?
There is no entrance fee. A vehicle parked longer than 15 minutes normally needs a parking tag.
Does my Senior or Access Pass cover parking?
No. America the Beautiful passes do not replace a parking tag. A displayed state disability placard or disability plate does exempt the vehicle.
Can I show my parking tag on my phone?
No. You must display the physical tag. Print tags bought online before arriving.
Does a backcountry permit cover parking?
No. Your vehicle still needs its own parking tag when parked longer than 15 minutes.
How we built this page.
An independent guide using official data. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service.
- Official guidance
- NPS and the relevant operators. The linked official pages support the access, facilities and rules described here. Confirm details before traveling.
- Schedules and conditions
- Planning patterns, not live status. Seasonal information describes the normal pattern or explicitly dated source schedule. Current conditions are handled separately. The official source is the place to confirm today’s access.
Topic sources and data details
Fees, coverage, eligibility and buying instructions come from the official sources linked beside the tables and cards. The displayed price inventory is dated 2026. Prices retain the listed charging unit and eligibility.
Cost estimates use the listed standard-entry rates and documented interagency pass coverage. They exclude organized or commercial groups, separately charged activities, and guessed fees at other parks. A residency choice does not replace the eligibility documents required by NPS.
The fee-free section points to official dates and eligibility without storing a fixed calendar in this page. Current closures, temporary rules and services are carried separately by Current conditions. A design review does not refresh an underlying table verification date.
Operational source check: September 11, 2026. Design and emphasized source review: 2026-10-21. A design review does not refresh every underlying record.