Do I need a parking tag in the Smokies?
Required for all vehicles parking longer than 15 minutes anywhere inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park boundaries.
National park parking tag
What you need before you park in the park
If you park more than 15 minutes inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you need a physical parking tag: 5 USD day, 15 USD week, or 40 USD year. A tag does not guarantee a space. Buy it before you lose cell service.
Last checked: 2026-07-22 · NPS page last updated July 7, 2026 (as of our check).
Rules that matter
- When required: Required for all vehicles parking longer than 15 minutes anywhere inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park boundaries.
- Prices: Daily 5 USD, weekly 15 USD, annual 40 USD
- Does not guarantee: A tag does not guarantee a parking space and does not authorize parking outside designated areas.
- Display: Physical tags only. Digital representations are not accepted. Daily/weekly tags go face-up on the front lower passenger-side dashboard; annual tags on the front lower passenger-side windshield. License plate on the tag must match the vehicle.
- Not accepted as substitutes: America the Beautiful entrance passes (Senior, Access, Military, etc.) are not accepted in place of a parking tag.
- Disability exemption: Vehicles displaying a disability license plate or placard are exempt from the parking tag requirement (NPS FAQ).
Where to buy
Online: Recreation.gov daily/weekly · Annual tag (Smokies Life)
Sample purchase locations
- Gatlinburg Welcome Center — 1011 Banner Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
- Sugarlands Visitor Center — 1420 Fighting Creek Gap Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
- REI Pigeon Forge — 2655 Teaster Ln Suite 310, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
- Cades Cove Visitor Center — 686 Cades Cove Loop Road, Townsend, TN 37882
Officially confirmed · NPS fees page · Checked 2026-07-22
FAQ
How much does a parking tag cost?
Daily 5 USD, weekly 15 USD, annual 40 USD (NPS fees page, checked 2026-07-22).
Does a parking tag reserve a space?
A tag does not guarantee a parking space and does not authorize parking outside designated areas.
Are disability placards exempt?
Vehicles displaying a disability license plate or placard are exempt from the parking tag requirement (NPS FAQ).