Smokies to remain open through Jan. 4 amid shutdown
Amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, the nonprofit Friends of the Smokies will continue to provide funding to ensure Great Smoky Mountains National Park remains open with basic visitor services and limited staffing from Nov. 3, 2025, through Jan. 4, 2026. The latest agreement allows the popular Cades Cove Loop Road to remain open to the public along with all visitor centers and picnic areas that are normally open this time of year.
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Smokies to stay open through October
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will remain fully open amid the government shutdown through at least Nov. 2 in a combined effort from Sevier County, the Cities of Gatlinburg, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Pittman Center, Blount County, Cocke County, the State of Tennessee, the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, Friends of the Smokies and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Through this agreement, local and state partners will continue to ensure uninterrupted operations of the national park. While the Nov. 2 date extends beyond a standard increment, multiple agreements will be signed over the next couple of weeks to maintain funding through Sunday, Nov. 2, if necessary. If the federal government shutdown continues into early November, the partners plan to meet during the week of Oct. 27–31 to discuss next steps.
This commitment ensures that Great Smoky Mountains National Park remains open and fully operational for residents and visitors, with all facilities, roadways, visitor centers, restrooms, campgrounds and trails continuing to operate as normal.
Federal shutdown brings patchwork closures across WNC
As the federal government shutdown continues, North Carolina residents may be left with a patchwork of closures, service limitations and uncertainty across the region’s parks, forests and federal agencies. While some federal programs will continue without interruption, others have scaled back operations, leaving communities in the state’s westernmost counties to rely on a mix of official websites and local offices for updates.
FEMA says operations will continue as normal during shutdown
As Western North Carolina settles in for what could become a protracted federal government shutdown, a Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesperson tells The Smoky Mountain News the agency’s disaster response operations remain fully funded and active, with payments to survivors, debris removal and other essential recovery work continuing uninterrupted.
