The Sugarlands Visitor Center is filled with great information, amazing park rangers, and fun souvenirs! I loved going there as my first stop in Great Smoky Mountains National Park! Keep reading to learn more about this amazing Visitor Center.
Sugarlands Visitor Center Details & Location
Driving Time:Â About 11 min from Gatlinburg, TN (depending upon traffic) |Â Distance:Â 3 miles from Gatlinburg, TN
Location: The Sugarlands Visitor Center is located on the right, shortly after you enter Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Newfound Gap Road from Gatlinburg. There is a parking lot right next to the Visitor Center.
The Sugarlands Visitor Center has a wonderful museum showcasing local wildlife and plants
One thing I loved about the Sugarlands Visitor Center was the small museum. I enjoyed reading about plants, insects, and animals native to the Great Smoky Mountains. Â
My sister’s favorite spot, of course, was next to the foxes! Her book, Evarance, features firefoxes and mythical creatures, so she is always looking out for more inspiration for her book series. Great Smoky Mountains National Park provided the perfect venue for inspiration.
The Sugarlands Visitor Center has several maps and information guides available for a small fee
One thing I loved about the Visitor Center was the plethora of maps and information available. The pamphlets are inexpensive and offer a lot of advice and information.
This pamphlet showcased the top places to visit within 2-3 hours from the Visitor Center. Here is a list of the top things to see and do at Great Smoky Mountains National Park as recommended by the pamphlet:
- Cataract Falls, Fighting Creek Nature Trail
- Sugarlands Valley Trail
- Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
- Grotto Falls Trail
- Noah “Bud” Ogle Place
- Alum Cave Trail
- Chimneys Picnic Area/Cove Hardwood Nature Trail
- Clingmans Dome
- Laurel Falls
In addition to a museum and amazing information, the park rangers were an invaluable asset
My favorite part of visiting the Sugarlands Visitor Center was talking with the park rangers. They gave me a map, told me where the top sunset and sunrise locations were, as well as shared the best time to hike Grotto Falls. I loved talking with the rangers and getting their perspective as they spend a lot of time at Great Smoky Mountains National Park and know a lot.
Overall, visiting the Sugarlands Visitor Center was worth it! I hope you get the opportunity to visit the Sugarlands Visitor Center and Great Smoky Mountains National Park for yourself. If not, at least you can see it through my photos! Thanks for reading and sharing my adventures with me!
Happy travels!
Juventa Vezzani
One of my bucket list items is to visit all 60 National Parks! For detailed posts about my adventures, click here!
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