Cades Cove Car Ban

Cades Cove car ban implemented by Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

National Park officials announce the implementation of vehicle-free access on the Cades Cove Loop Road each Wednesday beginning June 17, 2020 through September 30, 2020. This move is being called a “pilot study” to improve the visitor experience. For many years vehicle free hours have been each Wednesday and Saturday mornings until 10 a.m. during May through September. The park proposed the study due to congested parking areas and disruption of visitor services associated with the vehicle-free periods.

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Smoky Mountain Travel Advisory

Smoky Mountain travel advisory. Upcoming Single-Lane Closures on the Spur. Great Smoky Mountains National Park maintenance crews will have single-lane closures along the north and southbound Spur between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, beginning June 1, 2020 through Thursday, June 11, 2020 for maintenance operations. The single-lane closures will be in effect from 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, each week.  

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Virtual Synchronous Firefly Event

Virtual Synchronous firefly event to be held Monday, June 1, 2020. Every year in late May or early June, thousands of visitors gather near the popular Elkmont Campground to observe the naturally occurring phenomenon of Photinus carolinus, a firefly species that flashes synchronously. Since 2006, access to the Elkmont area has been limited to shuttle service beginning awarded via lottery beginning at Sugarlands Visitor Center during the eight days of predicted peak activity in order to reduce traffic congestion and provide a safe viewing experience for visitors that minimizes disturbance to these unique fireflies during the critical two-week mating period.

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