GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK – The most visited park in the country will start charging visitors to park soon. It’ll cost $5 for daily parking, $15 for a seven-day parking tag and $40 for annual parking at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The fee goes into effect March 1st for any vehicles parking longer than 15 minutes, but the tags can be purchased now.
The park is also addressing the issue of unsafe roadside parking by blocking off key areas, including busy trailheads. In some cases, signs, bollards, boulders or fencing will be installed to prevent cars from parking.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park does not charge an entry fee, which is unusual for many people accustomed to paying for access, especially at popular parks in the west. NPS officials say revenue from the “Park It Forward” program will be prioritized for law enforcement and maintenance at the park, which saw a record 14.1 million visits in 2021.
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