Updated October 2026
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Weather by Month
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is warmest in July, when the nearest NOAA climate station averages a high of 74°F and a low of 57°F, and coldest in January, with an average high of 39°F and an average low of 22°F. July is the wettest month, with about 7.3 inches of precipitation.
These figures are NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, the 30-year average for each calendar month, from the nearest long-record weather station, 4.5 miles from the park's reference point. A single station cannot describe a whole park: temperatures elsewhere in Great Smoky Mountains National Park can differ from these, particularly with elevation.
Warmest month
Jul
74°F avg high
Coldest month
Jan
22°F avg low
Wettest month
Jul
7.3 in avg
Longest days
Jun
14.4 h of daylight
Average weather at Great Smoky Mountains by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precipitation | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 39°F | 22°F | 6.8 in | 9.8 h |
| February | 42°F | 25°F | 6.0 in | 10.7 h |
| March | 49°F | 30°F | 6.6 in | 11.7 h |
| April | 58°F | 38°F | 6.0 in | 12.9 h |
| May | 66°F | 47°F | 6.2 in | 13.9 h |
| June | 71°F | 54°F | 6.1 in | 14.4 h |
| July | 74°F | 57°F | 7.3 in | 14.2 h |
| August | 72°F | 57°F | 5.1 in | 13.3 h |
| September | 68°F | 51°F | 5.4 in | 12.2 h |
| October | 59°F | 41°F | 5.4 in | 11.1 h |
| November | 50°F | 32°F | 5.9 in | 10.1 h |
| December | 43°F | 27°F | 7.0 in | 9.6 h |
| Year total | 73.8 in |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals from station USC00406500, 4.5 miles from the park's reference point. Daylight is the monthly average, computed from the park's latitude. Each month links to how crowded Great Smoky Mountains is at that time of year.
Great Smoky Mountains weather by season
Winter: December to February
Average highs bottom out at 39°F in January, between 43°F in December and 42°F in February, with average lows between 22°F and 27°F. The average low is at or below freezing in all three months. Together the three months average 19.8 inches of precipitation, about 27% of the yearly total and more than in any other season. Daylight is at its shortest, about 9.6 hours in December.
Spring: March to May
Average highs climb from 49°F in March to 66°F in May, with average lows between 30°F and 47°F. The average low is at or below freezing in March. Together the three months average 18.8 inches of precipitation, about 25% of the yearly total. Daylight lengthens from about 11.7 hours in March to 13.9 in May.
Summer: June to August
Average highs peak at 74°F in July, between 71°F in June and 72°F in August, with average lows between 54°F and 57°F. Together the three months average 18.5 inches of precipitation, about 25% of the yearly total. Daylight is at its longest, about 14.4 hours in June.
Fall: September to November
Average highs fall from 68°F in September to 50°F in November, with average lows between 32°F and 51°F. The average low is at or below freezing in November. Together the three months average 16.7 inches of precipitation, about 23% of the yearly total and less than in any other season. Daylight shortens from about 12.2 hours in September to 10.1 in November.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
Elevations in the park range from approximately 875 feet (267 meters) to 6,643 feet (2,025 meters) and the topography can drastically affect local weather. Temperatures can vary by 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit from mountain base to top, and clear skies lower down do not guarantee equally pleasant weather at higher elevations.
Weather description courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Today's forecast for Great Smoky Mountains
Averages describe a typical month, not this week. For current conditions and the seven-day outlook, the National Weather Service issues a forecast for the park's reference point at 35.60°N, 83.51°W. It covers that one spot, so other elevations in the park can differ from it, as they do from the averages above.
National Weather Service forecast for Great Smoky Mountains National Park →
Weather and crowds together
July is both the warmest month and the busiest, with about 1.5× the visitors of the park's average month. January is the quietest. To see those crowds set against the weather for all twelve months, read the best time to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park. For hotels, cabins and rentals close to the park, see where to stay near Great Smoky Mountains.
Where to stay near Great Smoky Mountains
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Top-rated places to stay near Great Smoky Mountains
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Frequently Asked Questions
July is the warmest month at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with an average high of 74°F and an average low of 57°F. That is the 1991–2020 average at the nearest long-record NOAA station, 4.5 miles from the park's reference point. Temperatures inside the park can differ, particularly with elevation.
January is the coldest month at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with an average low of 22°F and an average high of 39°F, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.
July is the wettest month, with about 7.3 inches of precipitation. August is the driest, at about 5.1 inches. The station records about 73.8 inches of precipitation in an average year.
Daylight at Great Smoky Mountains National Park runs from about 9.6 hours a day in December to about 14.4 hours in June, computed from the park's latitude.
Weather at nearby parks
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Keep exploring
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station USC00406500), daylight computed from latitude, weather description from the National Park Service, crowd levels from National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025). Updated 2026-10-11. Lodging results are provided by Stay22; WhenToVisitParks may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.