Outdoors / Easy Meals

Picnic Areas in the Smokies

Some of the best meals in the Smokies happen on a picnic table by a rushing stream. These spots make it easy to spread out, eat outdoors, and let the kids play in the water between bites.

Plan Your Visit

What to Know

Best Seasons

The developed picnic grounds are busiest spring through fall, with summer the prime time for streamside tables and wading. Many spots stay open and peaceful in mild winter weather. Fall weekends are beautiful but crowded.

What to Bring

Your food and drinks, a tablecloth, trash bags to pack out everything, and water shoes for the kids. Charcoal works on the grills at developed sites. Store food securely and never leave it unattended, since this is bear country.

How to Choose

Find the Right Fit

1

Pick the Setting

A streamside table, a shaded grove, or an overlook with a view are all on offer. Choose the setting that fits your group and how far you want to drive.

2

Arrive Early on Weekends

The popular developed picnic areas fill their best streamside tables first. Come before midday on summer and fall weekends to claim a good spot.

3

Be Bear Aware

This is black bear country. Keep food in sealed containers, never leave a table unattended with food out, and pack out every scrap when you leave.

Picnic Spots

5 Options Across the Smokies

Sorted by visitor rating and review count. Click any card for full details, photos, and directions.

Cades Cove Loop Road
Top Rated

Cades Cove Loop Road

4.8 stars, 12543 reviews

Great Smoky Mountains NP
The Greenbrier

The Greenbrier

4.5 stars, 2045 reviews

Gatlinburg
Deep Creek Loop Trail

Deep Creek Loop Trail

4.6 stars, 1567 reviews

Bryson City, NC
Metcalf Bottoms Trail

Metcalf Bottoms Trail

4.5 stars, 876 reviews

Great Smoky Mountains NP
Chimneys Picnic Area

Chimneys Picnic Area

4.7 stars, 765 reviews

National Park
Find It

Where to Go

Insider Knowledge

Tips and Getting There

Insider Tips

  • The streamside tables go first on busy days. Arrive before lunch on weekends to grab a spot right by the water.
  • Pack out everything, including food scraps. A clean site keeps bears wild and the area open for the next family.
  • Pair a picnic with a short nearby walk or a swim in the creek to turn a quick lunch into an easy half day outdoors.

Getting There and Parking

The developed picnic areas sit inside the park near the Sugarlands and Metcalf Bottoms areas off Little River Road, with more on the Greenbrier and Deep Creek sides. A parking tag is required for stops over fifteen minutes. Arrive early for the streamside tables.

Who Is This For

Choosing Your Picnic Spot

For a Streamside Lunch

The Metcalf Bottoms and Greenbrier areas put picnic tables right beside the water, where the kids can wade while the adults relax. They are the most popular settings for good reason and fill early on weekends.

For an Easy Stop on a Drive

The Chimneys picnic area along Newfound Gap Road is a convenient, scenic place to break a mountain drive, set among the boulders and the river just up from Gatlinburg.

For Combining with a Walk

Picnic spots near Deep Creek and the nature trails let you pair lunch with a short, easy hike or a tube float, turning a meal into a relaxed outdoor afternoon.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best picnic areas?

The developed grounds at Metcalf Bottoms, Greenbrier, and the Chimneys along Newfound Gap Road are favorites, all with tables, many right beside the water. Deep Creek is another good choice.

Are there grills?

The developed park picnic areas provide grills and tables. Bring your own charcoal. Pack out all trash and food scraps when you leave to keep the sites clean and bears wild.

Do I need a parking pass?

Yes. A paid parking tag is required for any stop over fifteen minutes in the park, including picnic areas. There is no entrance fee. Buy a tag online or at a visitor center.

Can the kids play in the creek?

Yes, the streamside picnic areas are made for it. Bring water shoes, watch the current, which rises after rain, and keep an eye on young children near moving water.

Is it safe with bears around?

Yes, with care. Keep food sealed, never leave it unattended, and pack everything out. Most problems come from food left accessible, so a tidy site keeps everyone safe.

When should I arrive?

Before midday on summer and fall weekends, when the best streamside tables go quickly. Weekdays and mornings are far quieter and easier for grabbing a prime spot.

Where to Stay

Picnic by Day, Cabin by Night

Pack a lunch from your fully equipped luxury Smoky Mountain cabin and picnic by the river, then return to the hot tub and the grill. Browse cabins near the park.

Browse Cabins
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Related Categories

Scenic Drives Easy Hikes Waterfalls Hiking Trails Boating and Marinas
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