Gatlinburg Great Smoky Mountains High Points Tour 3 hr - Image 1
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Gatlinburg Great Smoky Mountains High Points Tour 3 hr

TourTruth score 8.7 out of 10

Very goodTop 11% in Gatlinburg

150 reviews · Rated on 2 providers · How we score

  • Gatlinburg
  • 3 hrs
  • Updated November 2, 2026

Ride above 5,000 feet on a guided Smokies drive, with mountain vistas, local stories, and a stop at the Clingmans Dome parking area.

About this tour

Take in the high country of the Great Smoky Mountains on a scenic drive from Gatlinburg, where ridgelines, deep forests, and far-reaching views unfold above 5,000 feet. This Gatlinburg Great Smoky Mountains High Points Tour follows the Appalachian Trail and the Crest of the Smokies in a comfortable high-top van.

Along the way, your guide brings the landscape to life with Native American stories and insights into the region’s geography. Travel into the North Carolina side of the national park, pause for mountain vistas, and hear how logging shaped the area and how the forest has reclaimed the land. The route reaches the Clingmans Dome parking area, the park’s highest point at 6,643 feet. When weather permits, an optional short walk through the spruce-fir forest offers a closer look at this distinctive high-elevation environment.

With snacks, bottled water, and a knowledgeable local guide, this Gatlinburg Great Smoky Mountains High Points Tour makes it easy to experience the mountains’ changing scenery and history. Set out for a memorable look at the Smokies from above.

Highlights

  • Admire sweeping views from above 5,000 feet
  • Travel along the Appalachian Trail and the Crest of the Smokies
  • Visit the Clingmans Dome parking area at the park’s highest point
  • Hear Native American stories and learn about mountain geography
  • Discover how the forest has reclaimed land once affected by logging

What's included

Included

  • Luxury high-top van transportation
  • Local tour guide
  • Bottled water
  • Snacks
  • Scenic vistas

Not included

  • Lunch
  • Weather-appropriate clothing
  • Closed-toe shoes

Ratings on each provider

The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.

What reviewers mention

Themes that come up most in this tour's reviews.

Common complaints

Important information

  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Children under 4 years are not permitted
  • Pets are not permitted; assistance dogs are allowed
  • Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes
  • Bring a camera

Frequently asked questions

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts 3 hours.

What is included?

Luxury high-top van transportation, a local guide, bottled water, and snacks are included.

Where does the tour go?

The route travels past the Appalachian Trail and along the Crest of the Smokies, with a visit to the Clingmans Dome parking area.

What will I learn?

Your guide shares Native American stories, geographical facts, and information about logging and forest recovery.

Is the tour suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

How this score is calculated

This tour scores 4.94 on Viator and 5.00 on GetYourGuide. Ratings on these sites cluster near the top of the 5-star scale, so we compare each one with all other ratings on the same site before combining them.

How the score works and rating distribution in Gatlinburg
  • Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
  • Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
  • Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
  • The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 8.7. Top 11% in Gatlinburg means it ranks in the top 11% of tours in Gatlinburg by this score.

Provider rating distribution in Gatlinburg

How many tours in Gatlinburg have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.

  • GetYourGuide
  • Viator

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