Parking Tag Sales Have Started in the Smokies

It starts March first. That’s the day the Park It Forward program begins in The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As some of you are already aware, and I’m sure have let your voice be heard, tag sales have begun.

They became available on Tuesday, January 17, and the next day their initial allotment of 2,000 sold out. This is good news for what figures to be an enormous amount of interest in supporting many of the Park’s projects, which have been stressed due to the unfortunate desecration of different parts of Smoky Mountains. More on that in a bit.

Once the Park gets more passes in February, they will cost $5 for a daily pass, $15 for a week, or $40 for a full year. They are required if you want to stay parked for longer than 15 minutes in any designated parking area in the Smokies.

I know it is a controversial issue and some of you are vehemently opposed to it. I was on the fence when I first heard the news, but I now support it. My positive opinion of the Park It Forward program is multi-pronged and somewhat personal. Since 2013, we have visited the Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains multiple times every year (2011 and 2012 were our first two, but we only went once).

If you’ve spent any kind of time hiking and exploring the National Park, you probably have noticed the trash and increased graffiti written or carved into anything. Yes, tourism is increasing, but that’s no excuse for discovering that many markings on signs, cabins, and identification markers. Also, vehicles are creating problems for roads and paths leading to trails. The Park simply doesn’t have the money it needs to take care of these problems, making it rough for visitors who enjoy the natural beauty of the Smokies. Do your part by following the Leave No Trace principle and dispose of your trash properly, and please don’t mark your territory with a “Corey was here, 2023.” This shows you don’t care, so if you’re mad about the Park charging a parking fee, you should be mad at the visitors who don’t respect these magnificent grounds.

I’m going to leave you with a few links so you can gather more information about the program, including an extremely helpful video from the Smoky Mountain Family.

I would like to thank you if you have plans to purchase one of these passes, and if you don’t, I hope you consider it. We all know prices on everything have increased, but this is something I think you could feel good about if you love and respect the Smoky Mountains. Thank you for supporting me as well, and if you haven’t already, subscribe to help me give you more content like this. Enjoy!

parking fee link for WATE Knoxville

The Smoky Mountain Family YouTube video below. Click on play button.