Great Smoky Mountains National Park is ideal for visitors seeking a vast, heavily visited park with extensive hiking trails and diverse camping options. Acadia National Park is better suited for those looking for a smaller, coastal park with more pet-friendly hiking and closer proximity to lodging.
| Attribute | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Acadia National Park |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Acadia National Park |
| Annual Visitors | Over 12 million recreational visits were recorded in 2024 | 4,069,098 visitors in 2021. Approximately 2.5 million visits per year, with 75% of the visitation occurring between June and September. |
| Park Size (acres) | 522,427 acres (800 square miles) | 47,633 acres to over 48,000 acres. Another source states 49,075 acres (19,860 ha) as of December 31, 2017. |
| Entrance Fee | A parking tag is required for vehicles parked for longer than 15 minutes | Standard Entrance Pass: Private Vehicle: $35.00 (valid for 7 days), Motorcycle: $30.00 (valid for 7 days), Per Person: $20.00 (valid for 7 days). Acadia Annual Pass: $70.00 (valid for 12 months). America the Beautiful Pass: $80.00. Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservation: $6. Entrance fees are collected from May through October. |
| Number of Hiking Trails | 848 miles of trail (150 trails) | Over 120 miles to over 150 miles of hiking trails. |
| Accessibility (wheelchair, stroller) | Adaptive ranger-led programs using assistive technology. Four GRIT Freedom Chairs (off-road wheelchairs) are available | The park offers tours for wheelchair users. Many trails can be combined with walks on the carriage roads and dirt fire roads. The Hulls Cove Visitor Center provides direct access to carriage roads and serves as a hub for park transportation. The 27-mile Park Loop Road provides access to scenic viewpoints. |
| Camping Options (number of campgrounds, RV availability) | 10 developed frontcountry campgrounds. More than 420,000 camper nights were recorded in Calendar Year 2024. Nine of the 10 campgrounds offer standard RV/tent sites. Smokemont Campground has 44 sites specifically for RVs (no hook-ups). Look Rock offers sites for large RVs with water and electric hook-ups | Two campgrounds (Blackwoods and Seawall) with a total of 520 sites. Blackwoods and Seawall Campgrounds permit pets. Reservations are required for all campgrounds and can be booked up to two months in advance. |
| Pet-Friendly Policies | Dogs are allowed in campgrounds, picnic areas, and along roads, but must be kept on a leash (6 feet max). Pets are only permitted on two hiking trails: the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail. | Pets are allowed on 100 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of carriage roads. Pets must be kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times. Pet-restricted areas include most lakes (public water supplies), Sand Beach (June 15-Sept 8), Echo Lake (May 15-Sept 15), public buildings, ranger-led programs, Wild Gardens of Acadia, and Duck Harbor Campground. Pets are prohibited on the following trails: Precipice, Beehive, Ladder Trail to Dorr Mountain, Beech Cliffs Trail and Perpendicular Trail (Mansell Mountain). |
| Availability of Lodging (hotels, cabins) | Lodging options inside the park are limited to camping. However, the surrounding gateway towns like Gatlinburg and Cherokee offer hotels, cabins, and other lodging. | Lodging is available just outside the park entrance. |
| Ranger Programs Offered | Guided hikes, historic mill demonstrations, wildlife talks, and Junior Ranger programs | Ranger-guided programs are offered in the summer and fall. Programs include guided walks, talks, hikes, narrated boat cruises, and bike rides. Virtual and online Junior Ranger programs are available. Acadia's Junior Ranger Program is popular with kids. There are also children's expeditions to learn about tide pools and geology. |
| Cell Phone Service Availability | Cell phone reception is generally unreliable within the park | Cell service is very limited in Acadia National Park. No cell service is available along most park trails, Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and Otter Cliffs. Verizon is reported to have the best coverage, followed by AT&T and T-Mobile. |
| Average Temperature (Summer) | In the lower elevations, July and August afternoon highs can reach the 90s (Fahrenheit), with evening lows in the 60s and 70s. At higher elevations like Mount Le Conte, temperatures above 80 F are rare. | Daily high temperatures increase from 65 F to 72 F, rarely falling below 55 F or exceeding 83 F. Daily low temperatures increase from 48 F to 55 F, rarely falling below 41 F or exceeding 65 F. Average temperature in July ranges from a high of 71 F (21 C) to a low of 59 F (15 C). |
| Distance to Nearest Major Airport | McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in Knoxville, Tennessee | Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport (BHB) is approximately 10 miles away. Bangor International Airport (BGR) is approximately 50 miles away. |
| Price | Not available | Not available |
| Ratings | Not available | Not available |