Great Smoky Mountains National Park Virtual Campout

Great Smoky Mountains National Park will co-host the National Park Service Memorial Day Weekend Virtual Campout. This three-day social media event will offer a trove of unique park adventures. The cool thing is visitors can enjoy the event from the comfort of their own living room.

Twenty national parks across America and the Caribbean have teamed up for this effort. The event kicks-off on Facebook on Saturday, May 23, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. The offering will include a range of videos, activities and livestreams suitable for all ages covering topics from history to nature and recreation.

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Clingmans Dome Opens

Clingmans Dome Opens to the publi for 2020 season.
Clingmans Dome Opens to the public for 2020 season.

Clingmans Dome Opens. Clingmans Dome is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This high elevation oasis in the clouds is the highest peak in Tennessee at 6,643 feet above sea level.

Getting There

From Gatlinburg: Take Newfound Gap Road (U.S. Hwy 441 South) for 14 miles to Newfound Gap. Just past Newfound Gap, turn right onto Clingmans Dome Road and travel 7 miles to the parking area.

From Cherokee: Take Newfound Gap Road (U.S. Hwy 441 North) for 19 miles and turn left onto Clingmans Dome Road and travel 7 miles to the parking area.

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Smoky Mountain Attractions Open

Smoky Mountain attractions open after two months of covid-19 fears.

Smoky Mountain attractions open after two months of covid-19 fears. Beginning Friday, May 22, 2020 popular Smoky Mountain attractions will open with new social distancing guidelines.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee remarked, “Tennesseans have worked incredibly hard to do their part and help slow the spread of COVID-19 so that our state can begin to reopen. Thanks to their continued efforts we’re able to allow restaurants and retail businesses to operate at greater capacity and large attractions to open in a safe and thoughtful way.“

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park Opens

Great Smoky Mountains National Park opens with much anticipation.

The Covid-19 virus pandemic forced the closure of Great Smoky Mountains nearly two months ago and the public is itching to return to their favorite places in the park. The opening will be done in phases over the coming weeks beginning May 9, 2020.

“We are excited to return to our favorite national park,” said Reba Miller. ” Our family loves the Smoky Mountains and our plan is to picnic in Cades Cove!“

The following roads and facilities will open May 9, 2020. The remaining closed facilities are scheduled to announce their opening dates in the coming weeks.

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Karen Pence Gets Outside Smoky Mountain Style

Karen Pence gets outside Smoky Mountain Style. Second Lady Karen Pence and Deputy Secretary of the Interior Katherine MacGregor met with park officials at Clingmans Dome recently to talk about the mental health benefits of being outdoors as the next phase in the park’s plan to restore public access to more roads and picnic areas was announced. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has created an urgent need for us to pay closer attention to our mental health and emotional well-being,” said Second Lady Karen Pence. “Our amazing national parks offer many mental health benefits and more than ever before, we must ensure that we are taking care of ourselves and each other.”

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