Planning Your Visit to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in the Smoky Mountains
Published Sep 4, 2023
Oconaluftee Visitor Center is the gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the park’s North Carolina side. Located an hour from Gatlinburg, the center is a great base for a day of history, hiking and wildlife watching. Here’s what to expect.
Getting There
From Gatlinburg, take Newfound Gap Road (US-441 S) all the way to Oconaluftee Visitor Center. This scenic route includes trailheads, viewpoints and picnic spots, so take a break on the way and enjoy the views.
In the Visitor Center
Park rangers offer ideas on things to do, and you can pick up maps and guides to the park and nearby Cherokee, N.C. Take time to see the center’s fascinating exhibits on Smokies history, from Native American life to European settlement to creation of the national park. The center is open every day except Christmas.
Mountain Farm Museum
Stroll to the Mountain Farm Museum next door. This outdoor museum is a collection of historic buildings relocated here from throughout the park. Learn how mountain families lived more than a century ago, as you explore the barn, apple house, log farmhouse and working blacksmith shop.
Mingus Mill
History buffs, don’t miss Mingus Mill, built in 1886 and located just down the road from the visitor center. The restored mill features a working water flume powering the grindstones. Catch a demonstration to watch the mill grind grain just like it did nearly 140 years ago.
Walking Trails
Two trails–one easy, the other more of a hike–begin near Oconaluftee Visitor Center.
The flat Oconaluftee River Trail is stroller and wheelchair accessible and gives you a shaded, three-mile round trip near the river. Look for the trailhead near the Mountain Farm Museum entrance.
Mingus Creek Trail, which starts at Mingus Mill, is a moderately challenging six-mile round-trip. This woodland trail passes old farms. It’s off the beaten path for most hikers, so it’s ideal for those who want a quieter, more solitary hike.
Elk Viewing
During summer and fall, stately elk trek down from the mountains to graze in the fields around the visitor center. Watch these huge yet graceful creatures against the backdrop of serene Smokies ridges. The best times to spot elk are early morning and late afternoon.
Watch the sun set as you drive back toward Gatlinburg, where your luxurious cabin rental awaits. Browse Gatlinburg cabins today and book the mountain vacation of your dreams.
