The Weather in the Great Smoky Mountains is perfect for your mountain vacation no matter what time of the year you are planning to visit. Any time of the year is a great time to visit The Great Smoky Mountains for weddings, honeymoons, anniversaries, or vacations. The outlet stores are always open, as are the shops, restaurants, and attractions. However, the changing of the seasons in the Smokies brings about new and different attractions of Mother Nature. You can always find fun and exciting things to do, no matter what time of year you choose to visit the Smokies. This is what makes The Great Smoky Mountain National Park the most visited National Park in the country. Spring in the Smokies is probably best known for the beautiful blooming of the dogwoods, azaleas, wisteria, redbuds, and wildflowers. Also, the early mornings in the National Park is an ideal time hear the gobbling of the wild turkeys and to watch their courtship rituals. This is also the time of the year to see the black bears emerge from hibernation with their cubs. In the spring you will be able to watch the Smokies wake up from a long winters sleep and come alive with all of the sights, sounds, and smells of spring. Summer is when the outdoor activities are going full blast. And, there are plenty of outdoor activities to choose from. Between Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and the National Park you will find outstanding trout fishing, golfing, white-water rafting, canoeing, hiking, and mountain climbing. And for those of you that aren't quite that adventurous, there is miniature golf, go carts, bumper boats, lazer tag, country music shows, and, of course, Dollywood. Don't forget, there's always the outlet stores, arts and crafts shops, and sight seeing. Fall is definitely the most beautiful time of the year in the Smokies, especially the last half of October. This is when the fall color is usually at its peak. If you have never witnessed the fall color of The Great Smoky Mountains, you have no idea what you have missed. Words cannot describe the beauty of the Smokies when she puts on her fall colors. You will still experience very warm days, but the nights can be rather cool. Many people choose the Smokies to enjoy the Labor Day weekend or to celebrate Thanksgiving. Winter is also a favorite time for many to visit the Smokies. While Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge don't have to contend with very much snow, the ski slopes and higher elevations in the National Park offer us some beautiful scenery. Almost all of the stores, outlets, and attractions stay open all winter. The beautiful lights and all of the festivities make the Smokies the perfect place for you and your family to celebrate Christmas and New Years. This is also a great time to visit Cades Cove and watch the whitetail deer. It's not unusual to see two or three hundred deer in the late afternoon as they forage for food in the meadows. This is the best time and place to take some great pictures of some huge bucks.
The following table gives an overview of what to expect. Temperatures are in degrees Fahrenheit, precipitation and snow are in inches. Days with precipitation had more than .1 in. All data are long running monthly averages for Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
| | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
