Supporting Great Smoky Mountains
National Park since 1953

Photo by Michele Sons

The latest from Smokies LIVE

A monarch butterfly perches on an aster plant blooming during the fall in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Photo by Wanda DeWaard.

Monarchs, a migratory wonder, proposed for threatened species listing

Before National Geographic published its famous August 1976 cover story detailing the search for the monarch butterfly’s wintering grounds, nobody knew where these strikingly beautiful creatures vanished when the weather grew cold. A 2,000-mile migration was thought to be a “foolish idea,” said Wanda DeWaard, founder of the outdoor education

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Great Smokies

Welcome Center

Hours of Operation

(subject to change)

Open year round (closed December 25)


January - February

Open Daily 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

March - November

Open Daily 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
December

Open Daily 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

The Great Smokies Welcome Center is located on U.S. 321 in Townsend, TN, 2 miles from the west entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors can get information about things to see and do in and around the national park and shop from a wide selection of books, gifts, and other Smokies merchandise. Daily, weekly, and annual parking tags for the national park are also available.

Physical Address

7929 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway Townsend TN 37882

Contact

865.436.7318 Ext 320