Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most-visited National Park in the U.S. is giving ‘park’ a new meaning this year, with a “Park It Forward” plan that will raise funds for the park without imposing an entrance fee.
The park covers a large area, straddling the border between Tennessee and North Carolina.
The fees, which are $5 for a day, $15 for 7 or $40 for a year, apply to visitors who park for more than 15 minutes at the various facilities and parking lots throughout the park. The parking permit, which is displayed in the car window, is vehicle-specific and can’t be shared. School groups and disabled visitors are exempt.
“All revenue generated through the Park it Forward program will remain in the park to support operational costs for managing and improving visitor services such as trail maintenance, custodial services, and trash removal,” the park said in a press release. “The program will also support more resource education programs, emergency responders, and law enforcement staff across the park.”
