Nestled deep off the east coast of the United States and covering a good portion of North Carolina and Tennessee are the breathtakingly beautiful Great Smoky Mountains. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is considered a globally unique eco-system with life teeming everywhere, from ferns and moss on rocks, to black bears and salamanders. Home to more than 5,500 species of plants, 65 species of mammals, 240 different kinds of birds, and more than 80 types of reptiles and amphibians, you couldn’t possibly see it all in one trip!
In 2019, Great Smoky Mountains National Park was the third-most-visited national park in the US, with more than 12 million visitors. If you’re considering a trip there, you’ll be in good company. Before you leave, though, make sure to purchase visitors medical insurance to protect yourself against any mishaps that may occur along the way.
Visitors Medical Insurance for Travelers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park – FAQs
Exploring the great outdoors is a wonderful pastime that’s good for both our physical and mental health. However, there are risks involved. Just one wrong step can mean a trip to the hospital. And if you’re visiting the United States from another country, that hospital trip could prove to be very expensive.
Due to high healthcare prices, it is recommended that every visitor to United States purchase visitors medical insurance. It can help cover the cost of treatment for any new illnesses or injuries that occur after the effective date of the policy on your trip.
Do I need visitors medical insurance for Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
Visitors medical insurance is not legally required to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park or any other part of the USA unless you are visiting on a J visa, which will not be the case for most tourists.
But when you consider the astronomical price of healthcare in the US – where just a few hours in a hospital bed can cost thousands of dollars – you absolutely need the coverage provided by visitors medical insurance to protect your bank account.
Why buy visitors medical insurance before traveling to Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
Injuries and illnesses cannot be predicted. And they’re just as likely to occur on a trip to the US as they are in your hometown. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t gotten hurt or sick in years; it’s simply too risky to hope that nothing will happen on a USA trip, only to get stuck with a medical bill that you cannot afford. You can avoid this unenviable situation with visitors medical insurance.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s Most Popular Activities for Visitors
Once you arrive in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the opportunities for fun and enjoyment are vast. You may see animals that you have never seen before, and certainly not in such numbers. At many places, you are able to just pull the car over to the side of the road and see a herd of white-tailed deer, maybe 70-100, grazing and basking in the sun; wild turkeys coming and going; it is even common to see the stereotypical mother black bear in a tree, playing with her cubs. There are also a multitude of trails and walking paths, and even a few points of interest that are fully handicap-accessible, so that everyone can have a great time.
Some of the other top activities to take part in while you’re in the area include:
Nantahala Outdoor Center
If you are a thrill seeker, look no further than Nantahala Outdoor Center Adventure Resort near Bryce, North Carolina. For $50 a person, you can hop on a zipline from 550 feet, navigate a multi-level rope challenge course at 60 feet, and wobble your way across sky bridges, spider webs, and 13 additional obstacles for at least half a day of fun. If you are taking a trip with kids, invite your parents along to spend quality time with their grandkids while you and your spouse are off enjoying yourselves. Of course, make sure to insure yourselves properly, just in case something unexpected happens. With the scenic views, it is sure to be one of the most exciting and enjoyable outings you will ever have.
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
Whether you go with friends or family, head to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. This is a very large aquarium; there are more fish in this aquarium than there are people in the town! You can spend hours enjoying each of the many different areas like:
- Penguin Playhouse
- Discovery Center
- Touch a Ray Bay
- Tropical Rainforest
- Gallery of the Seas
- Ocean Realm
- Shark Lagoon
Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, US Highway 129
Be sure to make time for US Route 129, the “Tail of the Dragon!"
This highway runs between Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cherokee National Forest; a stretch in Tennessee near the Tennessee-North Carolina border that boasts 318 curves in 11 miles, making it a popular choice for motorcyclists and sports car enthusiasts. There is actually an internet company called “Killboy.com” that has photographers stationed along the highway taking pictures, so you can go home, find your photos online, and order prints of your wild ride. If you are feeling adventurous, you can rent a motorcycle from several places and have some real fun!
Key Guidelines for Travelers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Like all destinations, there are a few key things you should keep in mind when deciding to travel to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Here are our suggestions:
Best Time to Visit
The summer months are the most popular time to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The forest will be teeming with life, and temperatures will be comfortable even during the early morning and late afternoon. Early fall is another great choice, as it will allow you to see the leaves begin to turn to fiery reds. The winter months are far less busy, but roads can be icy, and rain and snow are possible.
How Long to Stay
Experts recommend budgeting at least four days to see all of the sights in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Of course, you can make the trip shorter if you’d like, but it’s impossible to see everything here in just a day or two. Plan to spend a week in the area if you’d like to see all of the surrounding attractions.
Be Prepared for Extra Flights
Most visitors who fly to visit the park do so by taking a flight to McGee-Tyson Airport in Alcoa, Tennessee. This is not an international airport, so you’ll need to work at least a couple of extra flights into your travel time and budget if you’re arriving from overseas.
Before You Travel to Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Do This
- Rent a car ahead of time – You will need a car to access most of sights of the park, and rental agencies in nearby cities can sell out quickly during the peak summer season.
- Bring bug spray – If you’re visiting in the summer, you’ll be sharing space with plenty of mosquitoes, biting flies, and other insects. Apply repellent regularly when spending extended amounts of time outdoors.
- Insurance is important – Research and purchase visitors medical insurance that will provide coverage meeting all of your needs.