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Great Smoky Mountains National Park

UPDATED | Coronavirus Impacts Reaching National Parks, Raising Concerns

Concern over the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 on Friday led to cancellation of the annual maple sugar festival at Indiana Dunes National Park, the planned closing of the Washington Monument on Saturday, and worry for park employees who must interact with visitors in the National Park System.

Great Smoky Mountains Considers Changes To Cades Cove Biking Access

It's not just cars that are clogging the loop road to Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Bicyclists and pedestrians flood the 11-mile, one-way route during vehicle-free periods, currently Wednesday and Saturday mornings until 10 a.m. from May through September. Due to growing use and congestion, the park is proposing to implement a pilot study for 2020 to evaluate changing this vehicle-free period to a weekly, full-day closure on Wednesdays from May through September.

Cades Cove Is Open During Repairs To Bote Mountain Tunnel, But Not That Easy To Reach

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials closed Laurel Creek Road, as scheduled, on Sunday, January 5, and it will remain closed to the public through Saturday, February 29, to repair the Bote Mountain Tunnel. The seven-mile access road leading from the Townsend Wye to Cades Cove, is closed to all motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians.

Repairs To Bote Mountain Tunnel Will Close Laurel Creek Road To Cades Cove

The Laurel Creek Road, the seven-mile access road leading from the Townsend Wye in Tennessee to Cades Cove at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, will be closed to all motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians at 8 p.m. on Sunday, January 5, through Saturday, February 29, to repair the Bote Mountain Tunnel.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.