A great way to enjoy the fresh mountain air is having a picnic! Great Smoky Mountains National Park has a number of fantastic picnic areas that offer picnic tables and facilities surrounded by the beauty of nature. If you’re looking for a scenic spot to enjoy your meal, check out this list of the top picnic areas in the Smoky Mountains:
1. Chimneys Picnic Area
The Chimneys Picnic Area is one of the most popular picnic areas in the Smoky Mountains. This picnic area has 68 picnic sites in the forest with plenty of shade. You can eat your lunch or dinner while enjoying picturesque views of the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River as it flows by. You can find this picnic spot along Newfound Gap Road about 20 minutes from downtown Gatlinburg. After you finish your meal, you can explore more of nature by hiking the short Cove Hardwood Nature Trail or the challenging Chimney Tops Trail nearby.
2. Greenbrier Picnic Area
Another one of the best picnic areas in the Smoky Mountains is the Greenbrier Picnic Area. The Greenbrier section of the national park is often less crowded, so you can enjoy a peaceful meal surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature. This picnic area has 12 picnic tables, and just a mile up the road is a large picnic pavilion with covered seating and a stone fireplace. This section of the national park is easy to reach and sits just 15 minutes east of downtown Gatlinburg. After your meal, you can explore one of the many great hiking trails in the area such as the Ramsey Cascades Trail or Porters Creek Trail!
3. Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area
One of the top picnic areas in the Smoky Mountains is the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area. This area has 122 picnic sites, each with a table and a charcoal grill. Many of these sites are located next to the river, providing beautiful and peaceful scenery for your picnic meal. After you eat, you can dip your feet in the cool water or splash around in the swimming hole for refreshing fun! There’s also a 1.5-mile hiking trail nearby. The Metcalf Bottoms Trail starts right next to the picnic area and features old homesteads, a cemetery, and the Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse.
4. Cades Cove Picnic Area
The Cades Cove Picnic Area is located in the most visited section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and it’s a great place for a meal in nature! You can stop at this picnic area for a relaxing lunch or dinner before you start your scenic drive around Cades Cove Loop Road. This is also a great spot to fuel up with a hearty meal before you embark on a hike to Abrams Falls or other Cades Cove trails. If you’d rather dine with a mountain view, you can stop at one of the parking areas along the Cades Cove Loop and have a picnic in your car!
Where to Find the Best Picnic Meal in the Smokies
Before you head to one of these picnic areas in the Smoky Mountains, make sure you grab a delicious meal to enjoy while you bask in the beauty of nature. Our Sevierville restaurant offers ready-to-eat Family Packs with barbecue meats, sauce, buns, sides, cookies, and drink. They also include all the plates, utensils, and napkins you’ll need for an easy, hassle-free picnic meal! Find out the reasons you’ll love our Buddy’s BBQ Family Pack and order one for your next Smoky Mountain picnic!
