Emily Lawrence lives in Idaho with her husband Nathan. There's a self-guided wildlife exhibit that features replicas of the many types of animals that call the national park home - everything from snakes to owls to foxes. There are countless visitor centers scattered across the country, and they serve a wide variety of purposes. These programs are educational and fun and the children especially love it. The trail is very easy and flat. Bring cash! This is a nice place to visit in the Sevierville/ Pigeon Forge/ Gatlinburg area, off highway 441 South, just south of Gatlinburg and inside the north entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This trip to the Smokies we caught a presentation from one of the park rangers out front of the visitor center. Enjoy ranger-led programs conducted seasonally. If you miss the turn, turn left at the light. It's located off of US-441 just two miles south of Gatlinburg and is situated right next to Park Headquarters. Visitor Center opens daily at 9am. 2023 - SmokyMountains.com. Campground Reviews is a trusted source of campground and RV park reviews offered by camping and RV enthusiasts just like you. The rangers are a living fount of knowledge. Sugarlands Discovery Center is located at 1420 Fighting Creek Gap Rd, Gatlinburg, TN. We used this opportunity to get an official park map/newsletter, get our NPS passport cancellation stamps, and pick up a few postcards in the gift shop. Remember, the further you venture into the park, the sketchier cell service becomes. The Bypass works well to avoid some traffic around Gatlinburg. Just a heads up..Don't get to close to the Elk! Open Friday-Sunday in November Denali National Park is home to the tallest mountain in North America. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. Cades Cove A one-way, 11-mile loop takes visitors through 4,000-acre Cades Cove valley, the most visited area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which boasts an abundance of wildlife (including black bears, deer, foxes, wild turkey and raccoons), as well as preserved pioneer homesteads, an old mill, hiking trails, a 161-site . Copyright 20082023 RV LIFE. , Stop here for maps or to get general information about the mountains. Ranger was friendly and even asked the kids some interactive questions. On a recent visit to Sugarlands Visitor Center, we stopped a Park Ranger on the sidewalk and ended up talking for nearly half an hour. Spotted near Meigs Falls. Written 6 August 2022. . Prior to the creation of the national park in 1934 . There may be a line to enter because of COVID restrictions. ).The bathrooms at the VC were great--clean and well maintained. 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Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail: Tickets & Tours, Oconaluftee Visitor Center: Tickets & Tours, Sugarlands Visitors Center: Tickets & Tours, Sugarlands Visitors Center Tours and Tickets, Wine tour to Stellenbosch & Franschhoek | includes tastings & lunch, 5-Hour Small-Group Catamaran Cruise from Bridgetown with Lunch, Private NYC Central Park Horse Carriage Ride (Guided) Since 1965, Salem Witch Trials Historical Walking Tour, New York City Skyline Tour by Night with Local Guide, La Pedrera-Casa Mil Skip the Line Admission Ticket with Audioguide, Pedal Kayak Rental in San Diego Bay For Cruising and Fishing. Get the maple syrup. (865) 436-1200 Don't Forget to Take a Bathroom Break at the Visitor Center The Visitor Center is a great rest stop before you drive to other trailheads that might not have restrooms available within the National Park. The Sugarlands visitor center is basically a large gift shop, though you can get your questions answered by a park ranger. An article dated 6/19/19 spotted 2 elk at the Sugarland Visitor Center. You can hike a half-mile to Cataract Falls, a 25-foot waterfall, enjoying lots of wooded areas, streams and bridges along the way. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Singapore. Open daily March 31 through October 31. Date of experience: October 2021 Ask AndyB5542 about Sugarlands Visitors Center 1 Thank AndyB5542 It's a nice little place to get you oriented to the area. It runs along the river and walk as much or as little as you like. The Gatlinburg Trail is very easy and well maintained. It can easily be accessed at the end of River Road in Gatlinburg. The Sugarlands Visitor Center is the perfect place to start your visit to the Great Smoky Mountains. Public restrooms and telephones. The SmokyMountains.com Local Experts Team, Newfound Gap Road: 31 Miles of Incredible Mountain Landscapes, Sugarland Riding Stables: A Relaxing Wilderness Experience, View The Amazing Synchronous Fireflies In The Smoky Mountains, Clingmans Dome: Highest Point in Tennessee, Little River Road: Overlooks, Trails and Waterfalls. This center was no different, although there were great park rangers available to help you decide where best to hike or drive, and the maps were reasonably priced, as was the gift shop, where we did spend $50 or so.There is a nice hike right outside the visitor's center--you can walk down to a sweet little falls, and many families were playing in the creek, stacking rocks and having fun. The well marked trail begins at the visitor center and features tree cover (perfect in summer and fall! Its hard to define what the best visitor centers are, but weve selected five fantastic options below. Its one of the most highly-rated destinations in the country, and almost everybody reports that they absolutely loved their experience. Tripadvisor gives a Travelers Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor. Maps (for $1) and personalized help from rangers are available for many areas of the park. Visitor Centers Closed now 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Visit website Call Write a review About GSMA Store Locations and HoursCades Cove Visitor Center HoursOpen every day except Christmas Day.January 9:00 am - 4:30 pmFebruary 9:00 am - 5:00 pmMarch 9:00 am - 6:00 pmApril - Aug. 9:00 am - 7:00 pmSept. Brian Searl May 29, 2013. If youre a fan of geology or just want to see something incredibly unique, its hard to top Carlsbad Caverns. The building has a cool roof system, which allows heat to escape freely, generating lower cooling costs. Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and gift shop. Entrance to the center is free and it is open to the public every day except Christmas day. Near Gatlinburg, TN, Sugarlands Visitor Center is an excellent starting point as you enter the park's North District. Better yet, this center rests in a historic part of the Smokies that's filled . The center is your starting point for three different hikes, all of them rated as easy. Take a left to Gatlinburg. You will be glad you did. And there are restrooms. Prior to 2020, the Sugarlands Visitor Center was also something of a small museum with extensive natural history exhibits that even young children could enjoy, which included a free 21-minute movie about the park. Find Sugarlands Visitor Center-inspired gifts and merchandise printed on quality products one at a time in socially responsible ways. While many of those people enter from the North Carolina side of the park, as well as through other entrances on the Tennessee side, most access the park through the Gatlinburg entrance, which is only a couple of miles from Sugarlands Visitor Center - a great starting point for any adventure one might plan within GSMNP boundaries. Free Movie and Exhibits. Visit the Clingmans Dome Visitor Center from April through November (2022). a visitor center, museum and gift shop all under the same roof. Carlsbad Caverns National Park Visitor Center, 2. Yes! There is plenty of free parking near the visitor center. A big parking lot and grassy area to picnic on before or after you begin your step back in time on the loop drive. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Cataract Falls Visited today. $42. In addition to the free movie, knowledgable rangers, and exhibits, you will find several easy hikes with a trailhead next to the visitor center. . The Sugarlands Visitor Center is the perfect spot to begin your Smoky Mountain vacation! Demonstrations of farm life are conducted seasonally.Available FacilitiesGreat Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. The only downside of this experience is the price point. We are visiting with my parents who love nature, but are not as sure on their feet as they used to be. Great Smoky Mountains Association members receive many benefits: discounts online and at bookstores You may purchase flour milled here when the mill is in operation. The temporarily closed Sugarland's museum featured local flora, fauna and wildlife (photo by Morgan Overholt/TheSmokies.com) There is a wall of maps and informational pamphlets. Did you visit the Sugarlands Visitor Center on a recent National Park visit? These structures are original to the park and give visitors a first hand look into southern mountain life and culture. Restaurants near Sugarlands Visitors Center: Attractions near Sugarlands Visitors Center: Sugarlands Visitors Center, Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Hours, Address, Sugarlands Visitors Center Reviews: 4.5/5. Stop by a park bookstore for a wide array of fun and educational items to help you explore the park: The park's bookstores are operated by Great Smoky Mountains Association, a nonprofit partner of the park. In the visitors center, there are several extensive natural history exhibits, a free 20-minute film about the national park and an information center. Helpful Park Rangers and park volunteers staff all the visitor centers. Let us know in the comments. Today, Sugarlands serves as one of the most frequently visited areas of the park. One of Sugarlands' best functions is that of provider of information. - May 9:00 am - 5:00 pmJune Oct. 9:00 am - 6:00 pmNov.- Dec. 9:00 am - 5:00 pmLocation7906 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy (U.S. 321)Townsend TN 37882Available FacilitiesGreat Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. Bikes are also allowed on this popular trail. Oconaluftee Visitor Center is located on Newfound Gap Road (US 441) about a half mile past the entrance to Blue Ridge Parkway. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. We hiked from the Gatlinburg Trail to get here only to find out that there is a line to get in. Learn about the park's plants and animals with natural history exhibits. Gatlinburg Trail Look for national-park-themed clothing items as well as souvenir mugs and ornaments and games and activities designed for kids. Parking for the Gatlinburg Trail can be found at either the Sugarlands Visitor Center or in a small parking area on . If you wanted to walk to the Sugarland Here are the top 4 reasons to stop by the Sugarlands Visitor Center: 1. The Becky Cable house, a barn, and other structures may be toured also. In fact, Newfound Gap Road runs essentially from the Sugarlands Visitor Center to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, North Carolina. $$ - $$$ American Pizza Vegetarian Friendly, $$ - $$$ American Vegetarian Friendly Vegan Options, $$$$ American Steakhouse Vegetarian Friendly, $$ - $$$ American Steakhouse Vegetarian Friendly, $$ - $$$ American Bar Vegetarian Friendly. Sugarlands Visitors Center: Sugarlands Visitor Center - See 1,056 traveler reviews, 367 candid photos, and great deals for Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN, at Tripadvisor. TN Make your trip to the park more enjoyable and memorable! Smoky Mountain National Park may be the most visited park, but most people don't seem to actually leave their cars to hike on the trails. - April 8:30 am - 4:30 pmMay 8:30 am - 5:00 pmJune Aug. 8:00 am - 6:00 pmSept.- Oct. 8:30 am - 6:00 pmNov. Parking Pets Allowed Restrooms Wifi Wheelchair Accessible Credit Cards Accepted See More Details (5) Nearby Hotels Whittier, North Carolina Illuminated Heart Sanctuary Robbinsville, North Carolina Visitor centers are one of the best ways to learn about a new area. You dont want to miss this experience. A separate building houses modern bathrooms and several trails begin at the center. Some park newspapers and maps are available free of charge, while the gift shop on site has tons of books and other informative resources for sale, covering everything from the history of the area to more in-depth studies of the native flora and fauna.