Both Great Smoky Mountains and Glacier National Parks offer unique experiences. Great Smoky Mountains is more accessible with no entrance fee and extensive trails, but has limited lodging. Glacier offers lodging and diverse wildlife viewing, but requires an entrance fee and has restricted access due to construction.
| Attribute | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Glacier National Park |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Glacier National Park |
| Annual Visitation | Over 12 million recreational visits in 2024 (13 million in 2023) | Visitation has reached record numbers in recent years. |
| Park Size (Acres) | 522,427 acres (800 square miles) | Over a million acres. |
| Entrance Fee | No entrance fee, but parking tags are required for vehicles parked longer than 15 minutes. Daily tags are $5, weekly are $15, and annual tags are $40. | $35 per vehicle for 7 days (Summer), $25 per vehicle for 7 days (Winter, November 1 to April 30), $30 for motorcycles (Summer), $20 for motorcycles (Winter). |
| Number of Hiking Trails | Over 150 trails, totaling 848 miles (AllTrails.com lists 367 trails) | Not available |
| Accessibility (ADA Compliance) | Details need to be checked on the NPS website or by contacting the park directly. | Many facilities meet wheelchair accessibility standards during the snow-free season (May to October). Park shuttles are ADA accessible. Accessible campsites are available at Apgar and Avalanche Campgrounds. |
| Wildlife Viewing Opportunities | Cades Cove, Cataloochee, and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail | Home to 71 species of mammals and 276 species of birds. Iconic species include grizzly bears, black bears, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, elk, and moose. Best areas: Many Glacier, Logan Pass, Going-to-the-Sun Road, Two Medicine, and Lake McDonald. |
| Camping Facilities (Number of Campgrounds) | 10 developed campgrounds with around 1000 sites. Five designated horse camps are also available. | 13 frontcountry campgrounds. 7 campgrounds are available by reservation only. Camping is permitted in designated campgrounds only. |
| Availability of Lodging Inside the Park | No hotels or rental cabins, except for LeConte Lodge (accessible only by hiking) | Lodging is available inside the park. |
| Ranger-Led Programs Offered | Available. Check the park's website for schedules. | Ranger-guided activities are generally free. |
| Cell Phone Service Availability | Extremely limited within the park. Generally available in surrounding communities. | No cell service or Wi-Fi is available at Two Medicine Campground. |
| Pet-Friendly Policies | Dogs allowed in campgrounds, picnic areas, and along roads (leashed). Permitted on Gatlinburg Trail and Oconaluftee River Trail only. | Pets are allowed in developed areas, frontcountry campgrounds, picnic areas, along roads, and in parking areas. Pets are not allowed on trails, along lake shores outside of developed locations, in the backcountry, or in any buildings. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet. |
| Air Quality Index (Average) | Not available | Check current air quality data for West Glacier and St. Mary. |