If you're searching for things to do in the Smoky Mountains in summer with your family or friends, you've come to the right place! There are endless ways to experience the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains, from Cherokee, North Carolina, to the bustling city of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
The Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the nation and offers a ton of summer activities the whole family will want to experience year after year. Stick around and discover why the Smoky Mountains might become your family's favorite summer vacation spot!
1) Soar Above The Great Smoky Mountains With A Cherokee Helicopter Tour
Cherokee Helicopter Tours are among the most exciting summer activities near the Smoky Mountains National Park. Whether you're taking a vacation with your spouse or have all the kids in tow, there's a tour experience just right for everyone in your group.
While several flight options are available, the Intro Flight is the best tour for those who might be nervous about taking to the skies. The ride will only last two minutes and offers beautiful views of the Smoky Mountains.
Those feeling more adventurous will enjoy The Long Valley Tour, which consists of a seven-mile ride over the Qualla Valley which rests at the base of the Smoky Mountains.
If you're searching for the biggest bang for your buck, The Foothills Tour is one of the most popular rides we offer, taking you on a nine-mile ride over the Qualla Valley into the Alarka Mountain range where you'll see an overhead view of the five foothills of the Smoky Mountains.
Head to Cherokee on your summer vacation to the Smoky Mountains National Park to experience one of these exciting tours. Your family will never forget this breathtaking experience!
2) Explore Cades Cove Loop Road for A Leisurely Summer Activity
If you're visiting the Smoky Mountains in summer, you will want to take advantage of the opportunity to sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery at Cades Cove Loop Road. Cades Cove is a vast, lush valley surrounded by stunning mountains and is one of the leading destinations for scenic drives and wildlife viewing in the national park.
This 11-mile, one-way road takes about two to four hours, depending on how often you stop to take pictures of wildlife or the scenic Smoky Mountains.
Inexpensive self-guided tour booklets with maps and more information about Cades Cove are available at the entrance. Some of the wildlife you might encounter here are:
-
White-tailed deer
-
Black bear
-
Coyote
-
Turkey
You will also find several popular trails in Cades Cove, including:
-
Five-mile round trip to Abrams Falls
-
Cades Cove nature trail
-
Thunderhead Mountain
-
Rocky Top
3) Keep Cool At Pigeon River On Hot Summer Days
When searching for fun things to do during the summer in the Smoky Mountains, one of the first outdoor activities that come to mind is whitewater rafting down the Pigeon River.
Discover the Smoky Mountains from a new perspective as you float down the river. The Pigeon River is conveniently located near Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Asheville, and Maggie Valley. A day on the river is the perfect activity for the whole family on a hot summer day.
Children as young as three can safely float the Lower Pigeon, which offers calmer, gentle rapids and swimming holes to help beat the heat during the summer months. Those seeking a thrill will love the guided whitewater rafting opportunities that take you through class III and IV rapids as you splash through the national park.
4) Cruise The Roaring Fork Motor Trail For Incredible Mountain Views
A scenic drive along Roaring Fork Motor Trail gives you a splendid firsthand look at why The Great Smoky Mountains has the highest visited National Park in the country!
This narrow, winding motor nature trail is a one-way 5.5-mile looping road offering one of the most popular scenic drives in the national park. You'll experience rushing mountain streams, views of old-growth forests, gristmills, beautifully preserved log cabins, and other historical locations that call the Smoky Mountains home.
The best time to capture the true inspiration behind the name of this picturesque drive is just after a hard rain in the summer months! This route is only one mile from Gatlinburg and roughly 35 miles from Cherokee, North Carolina, making it one of the most accessible outdoor activities throughout the park.
Along the motor trail, you'll also find parking and access to the Grotto Falls trailhead to experience one of the park's most popular falls firsthand. Don't miss any information about this scenic activity. The national park service has inexpensive guidebooks at the entrance of the Motor Trail that details its rich history and notable landmarks along the way.
5) Challenge Yourself With A Rewarding Hike At Middle Prong Trail
The Middle Prong Trail is not one for the faint of heart! Though it's considered a challenging trek through the Great Smoky Mountains, there are a few unmissable perks to this national park experience.
Middle Prong is one of the more popular hiking trails in the area and takes roughly four hours to complete and will take you on an 8.3-mile roundtrip journey through the national park in the Smoky Mountains with an elevation gain of 1,140 feet.
The trailhead opens up into a wide trail, as this area was once used as a railroad bed during the logging days of the Little River Lumber Company. This means you won't have to duck into the trees to let other hikers pass you!
Nature lovers will enjoy the abundant wildflowers and picturesque waterfalls as they weave and wind along the Lynn Camp Prong Creek. You can even enjoy horseback riding to Indian Flats Falls from this trail! Keep in mind that you will encounter hikers and potentially other riders along the way.
You'll also have to dismount your horse near the trailhead to hand-lead them across a footbridge! Aside from these notes, you can expect all the fun of the Smoky Mountains without the hustle and bustle of the city.
6) Explore The Great Smoky Mountains On Newfound Gap Road
Newfound Gap Road is the lowest drivable passage through the Great Smoky Mountains at an elevation of 5,046 feet and the only fully-paved road that runs through the heart of the national park.
This 31-mile scenic drive starts at the Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and stretches to Cherokee, North Carolina.
Though the pace is much faster here than at Cades Cove, there are several overlooks and pull-off locations where you can stop to take pictures of the surrounding woodlands of fragrant pine-oak, evergreen spruce, and cove hardwoods.
These overlooks make for breathtaking picnic spots surrounded by some of the best views of the Smoky Mountains, so remember to pack your family's favorite lunch or snacks to enjoy the scenery as you refuel.
The mile markers along the route help to point out some of the local historic sights like:
-
The Mingus Mill at mile marker 29.9
-
Oconalufree Visitor Center and Mountain Farm Museum at mile marker 30.3
-
The Webb Overlook at mile marker 17.7
7) Wind Down With Country Music Vibes
Country music is a part of the earliest history of the Smoky Mountains, so you'd be missing out if you didn't make time for a summertime music festival or other tribute to the music of the mountains.
There are several locations sprinkled around the Smoky Mountains that offer exciting live music, including bluegrass, country, and more. Don't worry about the kids in your group not having fun at a honky tonk music venue, as there's plenty of excitement to enjoy for the entire family.
Not only will you hear some of the area's best local and celebrity artists, but each location has something different to offer, including glitzy costumes, special effects, and even stunts on horseback at some establishments.
On top of enjoying music and show, all of the places below offer some of the best southern food you'll find in the Smoky Mountains! From fried chicken and comfort food to barbecue plates with that smoky flavor you love, you're sure to satisfy every ear and belly at your table at these fine restaurants and shows:
-
Country Tonite
-
Wicked Weed Brewpub
-
Smoky Mountain Brewery
-
Three Jimmy's Restaurant
-
Stompin Ground
-
Unplugged Pub
Why You Need To Make The Great Smoky Mountains An Annual Stop
Whether you're looking to create lasting family vacation memories on the hiking trails of the Smoky Mountains in the summer or you want to take it easy with scenic routes along the fragrant woodlands, you're sure to have a blast.
One of the best mountain viewing experiences is the Cherokee Helicopter Tours, so don't forget to visit our website to schedule your aerial tour of the Smoky Mountains!
