Great Smoky Mountain National Park
Clocking in over 14 million visitors last year, the Smokies is by far the most visited traditional national park in America. The eastern entrance to the park is just about a 50-minute drive west past Cherokee, NC. While most of the tourist development sits on the Tennessee side around Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, those looking for a quieter experience and the true beauty of the mountains typically head to the south or east side of the park.