Here’s What You Need to Know About What’s Open (& What’s Not Open) in the Smoky Mountains
Should I reschedule my visit to the Smokies after Hurricane Helene?
Planning a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains is going to look different for a while after massive flooding caused unfathomable damage from the national park to Western North Carolina. If you’re considering a visit of your own, we want to help you understand what’s open, what’s closed, where to go, and where to avoid.
The excessive rainfall of late September, which was connected to Hurricane Helene, was unprecedented in modern history. Some even call it “biblical.”
As the communities grieve, heal, and rebuild, we can help you find ways to support the community with your tourism dollars without getting in the way of much-needed recovery efforts.
What Happened in the Smokies in September 2024?
On Wednesday, September 25, most of the nation was eyeing a tropical development in the Gulf of Mexico. From Tampa to the Panhandle of Florida, tensions were high.
At the same time, rain was already falling across the Smokies, and the North Carolina Governor issued an emergency declaration. By the time a Tropical Storm Warning was in place across the Southern Appalachian region, anywhere from four to nine inches of rain fell across the Smokies.
The National Weather Service warned that “catastrophic, life-threatening flooding” was imminent when Helene worked its way through Georgia.
By the evening of September 26, Helene was just making landfall in Florida’s Big Bend. The worst was on its way with a wingspan of nearly 600 miles. The bullseye was on Western North Carolina by then.
The devastation that followed shattered records and communities throughout this mountainous region we all love. If there’s a better example of a worst-case scenario for flooding in the Smokies, we don’t want to know about it.
Over the next few weeks, months, and years, it will take determination, perseverance, and healing to rebuild what nature destroyed.
What Smokies Area Is Most Impacted by the Flooding?
Western North Carolina took the brunt of the storm, with an initial warning in the aftermath that all 400 roads in this section of the state should be considered closed.
What warnings didn’t accomplish, nature did, as part of I-40 was washed away at the North Carolina/Tennesse state line on the eastern edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Asheville and the collection of smaller towns in Western North Carolina were hit the hardest by the flooding related to three days of rain around Hurricane Helene.
The Tennessee side wasn’t unscathed, with serious issues on the east side of the national park and communities near the Tri-Cities.
Let’s look at each section of the Smokies and travel resources one at a time.
Check Road Conditions Before You Go
Considering that more than 400 roads in Western North Carolina were damaged or destroyed, checking road conditions before taking a trip to the Smokies is paramount. It will take years to make the necessary repairs.
Tennessee communities were hit hard on the eastern edge of the state, too. Part of I-40 washed out near the state line with North Carolina, and a mudslide hit another section. Interstate 26 was also impacted.
Bookmark the sites or download the apps for Tennessee’s Road Conditions and North Carolina’s Road Updates.
If you prefer to call, dial 511 while you’re in Tennessee or North Carolina. You can also call from out of state. For North Carolina, that number is (877) 511-4662, and for Tennessee road conditions, dial (877) 244-0065.
Within Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you can check the alerts page for the most recent road conditions and closures. Call (865) 436-1200 to get road conditions by phone. You can check on Newfound Gap, Little River Road, Laurel Creek Road, and Cades Cove Loop Road on the X account for Smokies Road Info.
What’s Open? Tennessee
From Gatlinburg west to Knoxville, you’ll find the best places to visit and stay in the Smokies as the region recovers from the impacts of the historic flooding.
Most of the major damage was limited to the eastern edge of the park and far east Tennessee. Those worst-hit counties include Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington.
On October 1, the Tennesse Department of Transportation stated, “We anticipate hundreds of millions of dollars in damage and months of closures.”
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
RESOURCES:
The most important thing to keep in mind when planning a trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is how hard the flooding impacted employees. This will lead to staffing shortages while crews try to clean up main roads, then side roads, then trails, and then backcountry areas over the next few months to years.
The park stayed open during the worst of the storm, but visitor centers and certain roads were closed due to flooding and then damage.
Use the resources listed above to check any road, trail, or campsite you wish to visit. Be prepared for even easy hikes to be more challenging with the potential for downed trees, debris, or other types of storm damage.
The park website has been transparent about whether visiting is recommended or not, and we suggest you follow their guidance.
NOTE: In the summer of 2024, the Kuwohi name was restored to the highest peak in the Smokies, formerly known as Clingmans Dome. That means the road, visitor’s center, and destination are now referred to as Kuwohi in all NPS publications and local maps.
Blue Ridge Parkway
RESOURCES:
- Blue Ridge Parkway NPS Alerts
- Blue Ridge Parkway Facebook
- Park Phone Number: 828-298-0398
Nearly 80 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway were closed before the remnants of Helene arrived, with the closure expanding to all of North Carolina and part of Virginia in the immediate aftermath.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is designed to have limited exits and only natural surroundings throughout the length. Don’t go around any barricades if you approach a section that is closed. Check the road conditions before you head that way.
The resources above will help you learn more about which sections are open and which remain closed.
Sevierville/Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg Flooding Impacts
RESOURCES:
After Helene passed through the Smokies, the Tennessee cities of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg were surveyed and deemed safe to stay open.
If you are planning a trip to the Smokies in the aftermath of the historic flooding, these Tennessee cities are the safest and best options. The main message has been, “If you can get here safely, you’re welcome to visit.”
Dollywood closed for just one day during the storm and has been operating since. The storm did not impact other popular spots like Anakeesta and the Gatlinburg SkyPark.
Cocke County – The Adventure Side of the Smokies
RESOURCES:
On the Tennessee side of the eastern edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Cocke County. This area was the hardest hit of all the Tennessee counties, especially from Cosby east to the North Carolina state line.
The communities of Newport and Hartford will face a long road to recovery. Before considering staying there, reach out to local leaders to get more information about the rebuilding process.
If you’re looking for whitewater rafting, you should know there are plenty of vendors in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Wears Valley, and Townsend, too.
Erwin, Tennessee
RESOURCES:
If you saw the video of people trapped on the roof of a hospital with flooding all around, that was in Erwin, Tennessee, in Unicoi County. It’s part of the Tri-Cities metro area, including Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol.
Erwin is also where two bridges over I-26 were destroyed by floodwaters on the Nolichucky River. That interstate is also one of the main routes to get into Asheville. Be sure you double-check road conditions because fixing that route will take some time.
Road damage and construction work could impact access to Hatley Point.
Wears Valley/Townsend
Over on the “Quiet Side of the Smokies” in Wears Valley and Townsend, everything is open for business. This is another area that escaped relatively unscathed after the remnants of Hurricane Helene moved through.
Foothills Parkway was closed for a while after the storms, but that was the eastern section near Crosby. The western section of the Foothills Parkway from Wears Valley to Chilhowee remains open.
What’s Open? North Carolina
In the days following the devastation, all of Western North Carolina was listed as closed for business, recreation, and travel. As a loose guideline, that generally impacted everything west of I-77.
Once travel is allowed again, you’ll find the most damage and destruction, which could take years to rebuild on this side of the Smokies and the Blue Ridge Mountains in Southern Appalachia. Some cities were hit harder than others.
As a general guideline, when you look at all the cities on the southern end of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it gets worse the farther east you go. To get the most recent updates, call the Visit North Carolina Call Center at 800-847-4862.
Cherokee
RESOURCES:
Near the Oconaluftee Visitors’ Center at the southern terminus of Newfound Gap Road, Cherokee is home to the Eastern Bank of Cherokee Indians. Their community is on sovereign land known as the Qualla Boundary.
While the community sustained damage, efforts were made to make things as normal as possible, including the 112th Cherokee Indian Fair. The only challenge about visiting Cherokee is that you have to drive around the western edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park to get there.
Use the NC 511 website to check road conditions because U.S. 19 east of Bryson City but west of Cherokee was closed initially. The tourism website listed above will have updates about attractions, closures, or re-openings.
Bryson City
RESOURCES:
Swain County was prepared for the worst, and while Bryson City saw some flooding, it largely escaped the worst of the worst.
Many attractions were closed in the days following the storm, but ongoing efforts had most places up and running within the week. You can see the link above for travel advisories, which is a great resource to use before planning a trip.
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad closed for one day during the storm but resumed operations the following week. We’ve gotten a lot of questions about the Polar Express plans on the railroad, and nothing suggests those rides will be impacted.
Nantahala National Forest closed during and after the storm, and you should check the link above before planning a trip to visit or drive through.
Waynesville
RESOURCES:
It would be wise to avoid Waynesville for a while, as the city got hit hard, and safety was such a concern that a curfew was put into place. We rounded up the resources above to help you stay on top of changing conditions and improvements.
Maggie Valley
RESOURCES:
To give some insight into the damage in Maggie Valley, we turn to Thelma Ray, who manages a trio of hotels there.
“We had a wonderful October coming, and I don’t think that October or the rest of the year is going to be good,” she told the WLOS television station. “The water splashed up to the beds. I’m sure we’re going to have to replace the carpets. The water just took our air conditioners and just pushed them through the rooms. I mean, it’s a mess.”
Keep an eye on the Haywood County Emergency Services Facebook page to gauge the recovery efforts before planning a trip.
Canton
RESOURCES:
“What we are experiencing is a region-wide apocalyptic flooding disaster. The last time western North Carolina experienced a flood like this was in the book of Genesis and Noah. There is nothing in between. This is the big one.” Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers told a WRAL reporter in the days following the storm.
While Canton saw a lot of flooding from the Pigeon River that cuts through the center of town, the lack of technological communication hindered relief efforts.
Until you hear from the city that everything is clear to visit, the mayor asks you to stay away.
Asheville Flooding Impacts
RESOURCES:
The fun, artsy, adventurous city of Asheville is the Ground Zero of the devastation in Western North Carolina. The entire city should be considered closed, and only rescuers and those providing relief efforts should attempt to enter the city.
“When the time is right, we’ll be ready to welcome you back with open arms. Until then, thank you for your love and support as we rebuild,” the Asheville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau posted on October 1 on Facebook.
Major attractions like the Biltmore, Pisgah National Forest, and many state parks in this part of the state are closed until further notice. That includes Grandfather Mountain, Gorges State Park, and Chimney Rock State Park.
Across Buncombe County, the feedback just keeps getting more ominous in the days following the flooding.
“There’s no place we’ve been where there hasn’t been severe flooding. In this county alone, it’s miles and miles of complete devastation,” Scott Dean with a FEMA Search & Rescue Team said.
“This isn’t a sprint; it will be a marathon as we recover from this disaster.” Buncombe County Manager Avril Pender added during a news conference.
Chimney Rock/Hickory Nut Gorge
RESOURCES:
One of the most heartbreaking scenes in the initial days after the storm was the village of Chimney Rock, where the heart of the Hickory Nut Gorge went from picturesque to post-apocalyptic within a few hours.
The swollen Broad River that carved the gorge cut a path of destruction from Chimney Rock to Lake Lure.
The steep features that created the tourism destination ultimately boxed in the flood waters, ripping out roads and buildings along the way. That includes the destruction of the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge between Chimney Rock and Lake Lure.
Lake Lure officials ask that visitors stay away as of October 1, stating in part, “Your absence will allow First Responders to focus on rescue operations.”
Town leaders said it would be “some time” before power is restored. Even the lake water isn’t safe for any activities due to debris and chemicals.
All of Rutherford County was under a curfew following the catastrophic flooding.
Can Chimney Rock and the surrounding communities ever recover from something so awful?
Deli owner Derek Hennessey told WSOC-TV, “The life in Chimney Rock is strong, like the rocks. Boulders may be moved, but we will come back together.”
Key Takeaway of What’s Open in the Smokies
We put together this guide on October 1, hoping to give you as much information about what to expect as a fan of the Smokies, Blue Ridge Mountains, and Southern Appalachia. The region is largely still in search and rescue mode. Things will change quickly, but we’ve given you the resources you’ll need to keep up with the days, weeks, and months to come.
To summarize, if you must visit the Smokies after Helene’s devastating blow, stick to the Tennessee side in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, Wears Valley, or Townsend.
Consider Western North Carolina off-limits through at least October and perhaps through the end of 2024. Maybe longer.
It’s hard to understand just how cataclysmic this damage is because there’s nothing to compare it to. It’s a good thing that nothing compares to the tenacity and love of the Smokies and Blue Ridge region, either. Everyone wants to rebuild. It’s just going to take some time.
