Getting Oriented

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• North Carolina Side. Near the southern terminus of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the town of Cherokee, the Oconaluftee Visitor Center is at the main entrance to the North Carolina side of the Great Smokies.
• Tennessee Side. Highlights include Cades Cove, with its scenic wide valley, pioneer buildings, and extensive wildlife.
• Cherokee.The Cherokee Indian Reservation and its principal community, the town of Cherokee, are at the border of the national park.
• Bryson City. The headquarters of the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad and home to craft breweries, coffee shops, small inns, and good places to eat.
• Robbinsville. Visit this remote area for the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.
• Waynesville. 30 minutes from the Oconaluftee entrance to the park, Waynesville has boutique shopping, a craft beer scene, good restaurants, and cozy inns.