How many national parks are in Tennessee?

1: Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Tennessee also has 14 other National Park Service sites, such as Andrew Johnson National Historic Site and Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Great Smoky Mountains crosses into North Carolina.

Do national parks in Tennessee charge an entrance fee?

No: it's free to enter, per the National Park Service. An America the Beautiful pass covers entrance fees.

What is the closest national park to Nashville?

Mammoth Cave National Park, about 80 miles from Nashville in a straight line, roughly 1 h 50 min by road on our estimate (straight-line miles × 1.3 at 55 mph, not a route). Nashville is Tennessee's largest city.

Tennessee · 1 national park · 14 other NPS sites

National parks in Tennessee

Last verified October 1, 2026Sources ↓

Tennessee has one national park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 14 more National Park Service sites round out the map, from Andrew Johnson National Historic Site to Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.

Numbered by 2025 visits. ★ Nashville, Tennessee's largest city.

At a glance

Tennessee, by the numbers

National parks in Tennessee at a glance
National parks	1: Great Smoky Mountains
Other NPS sites	14 see nps.gov
Most visited park, 2025	Great Smoky Mountains 11,527,939 visits (#1 of 63)
Entrance fees	Free
Established	June 15, 1934
Nearest to Nashville	Mammoth Cave 80 mi straight-line, ≈ 1 h 50 min drive (est.)

Great Smoky Mountains (NC, TN) crosses state lines; visits are for the whole park.

1 national park

Tennessee's national park

Busiest first, by 2025 recreation visits.

Photo: NPS / Bob Carr
Est. 1934 · NC · TN
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
2025 visits
11,527,939
Entrance
Free entry
Busiest month
October
Quiet month
November
“World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life…” (NPS)

From Nashville

The closest national parks to Nashville

Measured from Nashville, Tennessee's largest city (721,074 people, Census 2025 estimate). Straight-line miles; drive times are our rough estimate.

Nearest national parks to Nashville
Park	Straight line	Drive (estimate)
Mammoth Cave National ParkKY	80 mi	≈ 1 h 50 min
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNC · TN	188 mi	≈ 4 h 20 min
Gateway Arch National ParkMO	252 mi	≈ 6 h
New River Gorge National Park & PreserveWV	340 mi	≈ 8 h

National parks near Nashville →National parks near Memphis →

14 other NPS sites

Beyond the national parks

Monuments, historic sites, trails and more: every other place the National Park Service lists for Tennessee, grouped by type. Links go to nps.gov.

2 National Battlefield · 2 National Historic Trail · 2 National Historical Park · …Show all 14

National Battlefield · 2

National Scenic Trail · 2

Appalachian National Scenic TrailCT · GA · MA · MD · ME · NC · NH · NJ · NY · PA · TN · VA · VT · WV
Natchez Trace National Scenic TrailAL · MS · TN

National Historic Site · 1

Andrew Johnson National Historic Site

National River & Recreation Area · 1

Big South Fork National River & Recreation AreaKY · TN

Parkway · 1

Natchez Trace ParkwayAL · MS · TN

Wild & Scenic River · 1

Obed Wild & Scenic River

From the NPS Data API; the same list as Tennessee's page on nps.gov. Trails and other multi-state sites appear under each state they cross.

FAQ

Tennessee, answered

How many national parks are in Tennessee?: 1: Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Tennessee also has 14 other National Park Service sites, such as Andrew Johnson National Historic Site and Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Great Smoky Mountains crosses into North Carolina.
Do national parks in Tennessee charge an entrance fee?: No: it's free to enter, per the National Park Service. An America the Beautiful pass covers entrance fees.
What is the closest national park to Nashville?: Mammoth Cave National Park, about 80 miles from Nashville in a straight line, roughly 1 h 50 min by road on our estimate (straight-line miles × 1.3 at 55 mph, not a route). Nashville is Tennessee's largest city.

Sources · 5

1.Tennessee: parks and places (nps.gov) · National Park Service
2.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
3.NPS Visitor Use Statistics — monthly recreation visits, 2021–2025 (IRMA stats REST service) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior) — Visitor Use Statistics Program
4.City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2025 · U.S. Census Bureau
5.2025 Gazetteer Files: Places · U.S. Census Bureau

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