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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

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.

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).