United States, North America

Great Smoky Mountains in May

Flowering shrubs and wildflowers climb to higher elevations. Synchronous fireflies at Elkmont usually start in late May or June.

BestWarm, highs near 78F (26C), showers

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

The straight answer

May is one of the best months of the year to visit Great Smoky Mountains. Flowering shrubs and wildflowers climb to higher elevations. Synchronous fireflies at Elkmont usually start in late May or June.

Weather: Warm, highs near 78F (26C), showers
Crowds: 3 of 5
Prices: 3 of 5

What May is like in Great Smoky Mountains

May is warm and green, with highs near 78F (26C) and passing showers. Wildflowers and flowering shrubs climb to higher elevations, and all the main roads are open. Crowds pick up but stay well below summer and October, and prices are moderate. Late in the month, the synchronous fireflies at Elkmont may begin, depending on the year.

May suits families, hikers and anyone who wants warm weather without summer's heavy humidity and traffic. It is one of the park's best months. If you want the fireflies, enter the lottery and be flexible, since viewing nights may fall in June instead.

Make the most of May

What is especially good about Great Smoky Mountains this month.

Blooms move up the mountains

As spring climbs, flowers appear along higher trails, so you can follow the bloom by elevation in a single day.

Synchronous fireflies

Viewing at Elkmont takes a lottery-awarded vehicle reservation for about eight nights in late May or June. Dates are announced each spring.

Car-free Wednesdays in Cades Cove

The loop is typically closed to vehicles on Wednesdays from May through September, so you can bike or walk it in peace.

What to pack for May

A light rain jacket
Breathable hiking clothes for warm afternoons
Bikes or a rental plan for a car-free Wednesday in Cades Cove
Insect repellent as the season warms

Our timing tip

Watch the park website in spring for the firefly lottery dates, and apply as soon as it opens.

Book Great Smoky Mountains for May.

Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.

Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Great Smoky Mountains
Opens a hotel search for Great Smoky Mountains in May, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for May
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
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 May. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in May

Spring wildflowers

Late March through May, moving up in elevation

Trillium, lady's slippers, and dozens of other species bloom; the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in late April is a long-running local tradition.

Synchronous fireflies

About eight nights in late May or June, varies by year

Viewing at Elkmont requires a lottery-awarded vehicle reservation; dates are announced each spring.

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.