Free Entry to the Smoky Mountains National Park

There are 54 national parks in the United States that are accessible by roads, and they each charge from $10 to $20 per car for entry. The only one that allows free access is the Great Smoky Mountain National Park that serves as a border to both East Tennessee and Western North Carolina. Over 9 million people visit the Park every year.

Just prior to establishing the National Park, the state of Tennessee transferred ownership of Newfound Gap Road to the federal government, the only major road crossing the mountains from Tennessee to North Carolina. Tennessee stipulated in 1936, that “no toll or license fee shall ever be imposed…” for visitors or travelers of the road. The Park managers said there are no current plans to take any such action to the Tennessee legislature.

In 2000, a survey about public attitudes towards entrance fees found that eighty-six percent of the respondents indicated that the amount they paid for entrance to various parks was “just about right” or ‘too little”, so it is fairly obvious that an entrance fee for admittance to the Smokies would be taken in stride by the vacationing public. We think an entrance fee would help provide electric transport in the Smokies that would help with the pollution

Another survey of the members of the Great Smoky Mountain Association was done in 2004 and it pointed up some interesting concerns. Among other topics that received “very interested in” marks from the members were:

Transportation issues in Cades Cove
Hiking in the Smokies
Park plants and animals
Park history
Threats to the Park
Things to see and do in the park
New publications about the park

A high percentage of the members of the GSMA, over 85%, rated their association as “Outstanding”, and they value the 15% discount that comes with the membership. They also value the publications that are put out by the Association, including the Bearpaw, the Smokies Guide and Sightline.