United States, North America

Great Smoky Mountains in December

Quiet in the park and busy in the gateway towns during the holidays. Kuwohi Road closes for winter.

Quiet valueCold, highs near 52F (11C) in the valleys

A misty meadow in the Great Smoky Mountains — Great Smoky MountainsPhoto: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0

The straight answer

December is a quiet, good-value month to visit Great Smoky Mountains. Quiet in the park and busy in the gateway towns during the holidays. Kuwohi Road closes for winter.

Weather: Cold, highs near 52F (11C) in the valleys
Crowds: 2 of 5
Prices: 2 of 5

What December is like in Great Smoky Mountains

December is quiet inside the park and busy in the gateway towns around the holidays. Valley highs are near 52F (11C), colder and sometimes snowy up high, and Kuwohi Road closes for winter. Trails are calm, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is closed for the season, and prices are low except around Christmas and New Year's.

December suits families who want a holiday cabin trip with easy walks and town lights in the evening, plus hikers who like cold, empty trails. It is not the month for wildflowers, color or the drive to Kuwohi. For those, choose April, May, October or November.

Make the most of December

What is especially good about Great Smoky Mountains this month.

Holiday lights nearby

Gatlinburg's winter lights continue, and the gateway towns lean into the season with plenty to do on cold evenings.

Quiet low-elevation walks

The Oconaluftee River Trail and the Sugarlands Valley nature trail are easy, peaceful family walks in winter.

A chance of snow up high

A cold front can dust the peaks while the valleys stay mild enough to hike.

What to pack for December

A warm, waterproof jacket
A hat, gloves and warm socks
Traction devices if snow is in the forecast
A parking tag for stops longer than 15 minutes

Our timing tip

Visit the park in early December before holiday crowds hit the gateway towns, and check Newfound Gap Road status each morning.

Book Great Smoky Mountains for December.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Great Smoky Mountains
Opens a hotel search for Great Smoky Mountains in December, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for December
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Vacation rentals in Great Smoky Mountains
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Great Smoky Mountains
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Great Smoky Mountains for December. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

Things to do in Great Smoky Mountains

Full guide

Cades Cove

An 11-mile one-way loop through a valley of historic buildings and wildlife. Closed to vehicles on Wednesdays, typically May through September, which makes it a cyclist's day.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome)

The highest point in the park at 6,643 feet, with an observation tower. The road closes for winter, typically December through March.

Tickets and tours →

Newfound Gap Road

The main road over the mountains between Gatlinburg and Cherokee. Open year-round but closed temporarily by snow and ice.

Tickets and tours →

Alum Cave Trail

A classic hike to Alum Cave Bluffs and on to Mount LeConte. Parking fills early in fall.

Tickets and tours →

Laurel Falls and Grotto Falls

Popular waterfall hikes. Grotto Falls lets you walk behind the water on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, which is seasonal.

Tickets and tours →

Cataloochee Valley

Elk herds, historic buildings, and a remote feel on the North Carolina side. The road in is narrow and partly gravel.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Enter through Townsend or the North Carolina side at Cherokee instead of Gatlinburg, the most congested entrance.
Visit Cades Cove at opening or in the last hours before sunset; midday loop traffic can take hours.
In fall, go midweek and target early November for low-elevation color with far lighter crowds.
Hike trails away from the main corridors, such as the Cataloochee area or Big Creek, for solitude even in October.

Know before you go

The park is open all year, but several roads are seasonal: Kuwohi Road typically closes from December through March, and the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail and some other roads close for winter.
Newfound Gap Road stays open year-round but closes temporarily during snow and ice, sometimes for days.
There is no entrance fee, but a parking tag is required to park anywhere in the park for more than 15 minutes. Daily, weekly, and annual tags are sold online and at visitor centers.
Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to vehicles on Wednesdays, typically May through September.

Great Smoky Mountains in December, quick answers

Is December a good time to visit Great Smoky Mountains?

December is a quiet, good-value month to visit Great Smoky Mountains. Quiet in the park and busy in the gateway towns during the holidays. Kuwohi Road closes for winter.

What is the weather like in Great Smoky Mountains in December?

Cold, highs near 52F (11C) in the valleys.

Is Great Smoky Mountains crowded in December?

December is one of the quieter months in Great Smoky Mountains; most sights can be done without long waits.