Clingmans Dome, Smoky Mountains

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Great Smoky Mountains Media Update
Release Date: March 29, 2022
Contact: Ashley Courtney

Clingmans Dome Road to open for the season on April 8

Great Smoky Mountains National Park announced that the seasonal opening of Clingmans Dome Road will be delayed until April 8. The delay in opening is necessary to complete repairs to improve drainage in the main parking area, including a culvert replacement and roadway patching. This work must be completed before the pavement preservation project begins.

Upon opening to motor vehicles on April 8, single-lane closures will be in effect on Clingmans Dome Road through Friday, September 2, 2022. Visitors should expect traffic delays throughout the pavement preservation project. Single-lane closures are permitted from 7:00 a.m. on Mondays through 12:00 p.m. on Fridays and will be managed with flagging operations. No daytime lane closures will be allowed on Federal Holidays, or during the week of Easter and July 4. Additionally, no daytime work (7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.) will be permitted June 15 through August 15, 2022.

The Federal Highway Administration awarded the more than $2.6 million construction contract to Bryant’s Land and Development Industries, Inc., from Burnsville, NC. The project work will consist of patching deteriorated sections of the roadbed, sealing cracks in the pavement, and applying a high-performance surface treatment. The pavement preservation work will extend the life of the existing pavement by approximately five to seven years.

Motorists are asked to reduce speeds and use extra caution when traveling through the work zone. Clingmans Dome Road will be open for the season through November 30, 2022, and is subject to closure due to snow, ice, and other hazardous weather events. For more information about road closures, please follow SmokiesRoadsNPS on Twitter or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/grsm.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, this....

Great Smoky Mountains News Release
Release Date: March 10, 2022

Park announces Clingmans Dome Road pavement preservation project

Great Smoky Mountains National Park announced that a pavement preservation project along Clingmans Dome Road begins this month during the seasonal winter closure. When the road opens to the public for the 2022 season on April 1, the paving work will continue with single-lane closures through Friday, September 2, 2022. The lane closures along the seven-mile roadway are necessary to safely and efficiently complete the project.

During the month of March, while the road is still closed to the public, workers will repair drainage systems, reset curbing, and complete other work that can be accomplished during cooler weather. Upon opening to the public on April 1, visitors traveling on Clingmans Dome Road should expect weekday, single-lane closures, and traffic delays. Lane closures will occur from 7:00 a.m. on Mondays through 12:00 p.m. on Fridays. The lane closures will be managed with flagging operations and a pilot car to lead traffic through work zones. No daytime lane closures will be allowed on Federal Holidays, during the week of Easter, or between June 15 through August 15.

Clingmans Dome Road is one of the most popular destinations in the park and receives more than 500,000 visitors annually. The roadway includes several scenic overlooks, high-elevation trailheads, and direct access to Clingmans Dome, the highest peak in the park. Visitors can walk along the paved, 0.5-mile trail to the top of Clingmans Dome at 6,643 feet and view the surrounding mountains from the historic Clingmans Dome Observation Tower.

The Federal Highway Administration awarded the more than $2.6 million construction contract to Bryant’s Land and Development Industries, Inc., from Burnsville, NC. The project work will consist of patching deteriorated sections of the roadbed, sealing cracks in the pavement, and applying a high-performance surface treatment. The pavement preservation work will extend the life of the existing pavement by approximately five to seven years.

Motorists are asked to reduce speeds and use extra caution when traveling through the work zone. For more information about road closures, please follow SmokiesRoadsNPS on Twitter or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/grsm.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, this....

Open! Clingmans Dome is open! Check this official National Park site for updates on the phased opening and related closures:

Current Conditions - Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is increasing recreational access and services through a phased approach that aligns with local, state, and national opening p...

Second Lady Karen Pence visits Great Smoky Mountains National Park

GSMNP officials announced that all park areas, except the Foothills Parkway and the Spur, will close at noon on Tuesday, March 24 through Monday, April 6, in a continuing effort to support federal, state, and local efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The park will continue to assess changing conditions in the region and work with local communities to extend or terminate closures, as appropriate to ensure the health and safety of visitors, employees, volunteers, partners, and local residents.

Updates can be found at

Current Conditions - Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Great Smoky Mountains National Park continues to take steps to implement the latest guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), and local and state authorities to promote social distancing. As of Thursday, March 19, seasonally open campgrounds at Smokemont, Cades C...

GSMNP officials announced that campgrounds, picnic areas, and restrooms will be closed on Monday, March 23 through Thursday, April 30, in a continuing effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. Outdoor spaces including trails and roads remain accessible to the public.

Here is the link to see the most recent official information regarding access and closures specific to Great Smoky Mountains National Park:

Current Conditions - Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Current weather forecasts are available by phone at (865) 436-1200 extension 630 or online from the National Weather Service:

OPEN! The road to Clingmans Dome is now open as of March 30, 2019!

Clingmans Dome Revealed is available on Amazon in paperback, Kindle and audio book.

Clingmans Dome Road is now open to drive the seven miles to access the highest peak in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.