Great Smoky Mountains in November: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

Shoulder · VisitWhen score 49/100 · #9 of 12 months

November is a solid shoulder-season month to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park: crowds run 62% of the October peak (992,043 average visits), days average 50°F with 10.3 hours of daylight. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

Crowds in November

Great Smoky Mountains averages 992,043 recreation visits in November — 62% of what October, the peak month, draws. Trailheads and parking fill accordingly.

Weather & daylight

Days are cool (highs average 50°F), and mornings are chilly (lows average 32°F). This is one of the wetter months (5.9″ of precipitation on average). Mid-month daylight runs 10.3 hours.

NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station NEWFOUND GAP, TN US (0 mi from park coordinates, 5,040 ft elevation) — conditions vary inside the park, especially with elevation. Daylight computed for the 15th of November.

What to pack for Great Smoky Mountains in November

Computed from the month's weather normals above — not a generic list.

• Warm mid-layer (fleece or light puffy) — mornings average 32°F
• Rain shell + pack cover — 5.9″ of precipitation is normal this month
• Headlamp — only 10.3 hours of daylight in mid-November
• Sturdy broken-in footwear, navigation and a basic first-aid kit — every park, every month

If your dates are flexible, consider shifting: The computed best months for Great Smoky Mountains are April and May.

Common questions

See also: the best national parks to visit in November · Last verified 2026-07-16