Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Oconaluftee Visitor Center

The Oconaluftee Visitor Center is located in and managed by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but you’ll find it situated near the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway when you exit or enter the Parkway in Cherokee, NC. Visitors marvel at spotting elk in the area, as well as the museum-quality exhibits available for viewing free of charge.

A green-built facility, the Oconaluftee Visitor Center includes a gift shop, picnic area, river trail, and historic Mountain Farm Museum on the grounds showing a glimpse of early farm life in the region.