01 May Clingmans Dome: What to Do in Rainy Weather

Most people never want to experience rainy weather on a road trip. My ideal road trip day? Well, that day would have nice, sunny weather in the 70s (Fahrenheit) with maybe a couple of clouds in the sky. Alas, not every day can be my ideal day. On the fourth day of my road trip from Pennsylvania to California with friends, we experienced our first batch of rainy weather. We had scheduled time in our itinerary to check out Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but the weather altered our plans slightly. Keep reading below to find out how we made the most of the rainy weather.

Some nearby attractions in the state of North Carolina include Judaculla Rock in Cullowhee and Sliding Rock in Pisgah Forest. Additionally, you have to check out the Road to Nowhere Tunnel in Bryson City.

Contents:

1) Location

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

3) The Best Time to Visit

4) Quick Facts

5) Clingmans Dome: General Information

6) Clingmans Dome: Rainy Weather

7) Other Activities/Attractions in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

1) Location

Clingmans Dome is located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which crosses between Tennessee and North Carolina. The lookout is on the North Carolina side of the park (though just barely). Additionally, it is one hour north of Bryson City, North Carolina and one hour south of Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers over 520,000 acres and also has the highest number of visitors per year out of all U.S. national parks. If I can convince you to visit one other national park in the US, let it be Glacier National Park. Some of my favorite hikes in Glacier include the Iceberg Lake Trail as well as the Hidden Lake Overlook Trail. 

Parking – Clingmans Dome Weather

To arrive at Clingmans Dome, drive along Clingmans Dome road for approximately seven miles (~11.3 kilometers) and then park in the lot at the end of the road. The parking lot is fairly large, so you should not have trouble finding a space unless you visit at a peak time. For example, you might have to drive around for a couple of minutes to find a spot on a holiday weekend in the summer or fall. 

Additionally, Great Smoky Mountains National Park instituted the need for parking tags in 2022. A daily parking tag costs $5. You will need a parking tag to park at the lot for Clingmans Dome.

However, you do not need a parking tag if you are just passing through the park or are visiting for less than 15 minutes.

Nearby Lodging

While there are a variety of hotels and Airbnbs available within the national park, maybe you are interested in something just a little different? If so, then I highly recommend you check out glamping (aka glamorous camping) sites. For example, check out this article with the five best glamping sites in the Great Smoky Mountains.

Nearby Airports

The closest domestic airport is the McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, Tennessee. It is located one and a half hours northwest. However, the closest international airport is the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in Greer, South Carolina. It is located three hours southeast. Additionally, the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is located four hours south in Atlanta, Georgia. 

You will need to either rent a car or utilize a ride share service from these airports as public transportation is not available. 

View from along the side of the road leading to Clingmans Dome

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

First, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open all day, every day. This means you can visit the park whenever you like, whether that be at 2:00pm or 2:00am.

However, Clingmans Dome is only open from spring through autumn. More specifically, the road is generally open from around April to November. Why? The road to Clingmans Dome closes in the winter due to hazardous weather conditions. You can check their site for exact dates on the road closure. 

Entrance Fee

Second, there is no entrance fee for Great Smoky Mountains National Park or Clingmans Dome specifically. 

Parking Fee

Third, there is a small parking fee of $5 per day. Great Smoky Mountains National Park instituted parking tags beginning in 2022. A daily parking tag costs $5, a weekly parking tag costs $15, and a monthly parking tag costs $40. You will need to purchase a tag if you plan to park at the lot for Clingmans Dome. However, you do not need a tag if you are just passing through the area or park for less than 15 minutes. 

3) The Best Time to Visit

The best time of day to visit Clingmans Dome is in the morning around sunrise or at night around sunset. First, you will have gorgeous views of the sun either rising or setting in the sky. Second, you will avoid some of the peak crowds, which tend to arrive in the afternoon hours. 

Best Season to Visit – Clingmans Dome Weather

In my opinion, the best season to visit Clingmans Dome is in the autumn. You will be rewarded with stunning views of the park as the leaves are changing colors. Another great national park to visit during autumn is Acadia National Park due to the stunning colors. When in Acadia, make sure you stop by Thunder Hole to hear the waves roar. 

Additionally, spring as well as summer months tend to bring a fair amount of rain. You are thus more likely to have clouds blocking your view during those seasons. For example, I visited in August when it was raining and was met with a view of clouds at Clingmans Dome.

Estimated Visit Time

I would recommend you plan 45 minutes to one hour for visiting Clingmans Dome in your itinerary. First, you might need a couple of minutes to find a parking spot if you visit at a busy time. Second, you need about 30 minutes to walk (round trip) along the pathway to Clingmans Dome. Third, you will want to spend some time walking around the viewpoint area and taking pictures. 

The road to Clingmans Dome on a rainy day

4) Quick Facts

1. Clingmans Dome is located within Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.

2. There is no entrance fee, however, there is a $5 daily parking tag fee if you park in the lot for Clingmans Dome. 

3. The road leading up to Clingmans Dome is only open from late spring to late autumn. 

4. The walk to Clingmans Dome is approximately 1.3 miles (~2.1 kilometers) round trip.

5. Clingmans Dome stands around 6,650 feet (~2,030 meters) tall and thus offers panoramic views of the surrounding scenery. 

5) Clingmans Dome: General Information

Hundreds and possibly even thousands of people will trek to the top of Clingmans Dome on a day with nice weather. At the top visitors can enjoy 360 degree views of the national park. Moreover, Clingmans Dome stands at 6,650 feet (~2,030 meters) tall.

Trail to the Viewpoint

The Clingmans Dome trail is not too long, just over a half mile to the summit and then another half mile to return to the parking lot. However, it is somewhat steep, especially for those not used to hiking inclines. You will experience an increase of about 330 feet (~100 meters) in elevation during the half mile ascent.

Overall, the Clingmans Dome observation trail is 1.3 miles (~2.1 kilometers) round trip with 330 feet (~100 meters) in elevation gain. Moreover, an average hiker can complete the trail in 30 minutes. 

Looking for some more challenging and adventurous trails? Then check out the three most difficult trails in Zion National Park.

Tips for Visiting – Clingmans Dome Weather 

Looking for some additional tips for a visit to Clingmans Dome? First, try to avoid arriving in the afternoon. This is often the busiest time, so it is best to arrive early in the morning if possible to avoid crowds and obtain a parking spot. Second, leave pets and bikes at home as they are not allowed along the trail. Third, consider bringing binoculars. Visibility can reach as far as 100 miles (~160 kilometers) on the clearest days.

Bracing the wind and the rain for a foggy view

6) Clingmans Dome: Rainy Weather

While all visitors crave the beautiful views from the top of Clingmans Dome, the weather does not always cooperate. My friends and I unfortunately learned this from personal experience. We visited Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a day full of rain, wind, and fog. Definitely not the preferred weather for a viewpoint over 6,000 feet (~1,830 kilometers) in the air.

My Experience and Recommendations – Clingmans Dome Weather

Even though the weather was not on our side, we still decided to drive the road up to Clingmans Dome. Would I recommend others do the same? Yes. Sure, it was raining and fog covered the majority of our view. BUT it was beautiful. I felt as though we were driving through an enchanted forest. We thus decided to pull off the road at one point to take pictures. Some might even argue a forest on a rainy, foggy day is even more beautiful than a forest on a sunny day. 

However, when we arrived at the parking lot for Clingmans Dome, we decided against walking the trail to the viewpoint due to the weather. We assumed the view from the viewpoint would be fog, fog, and some more fog. Therefore, we appreciated the view (of what we could make out through the fog) from the parking lot before driving back down the road and out of the park.

Fog, fog, and some more fog

7) Other Activities/Attractions in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

• Hiking & nature trails 
• Fishing
• Biking
• Horseback riding
• Camping
• Visitor centers
• Waterfalls
• Historical landmarks
• Picnicking 
• Boating, kayaking, canoeing on the lake 
• Scenic drives 
• Wildlife spotting
• Wildflower viewing 
• Kids’ ranger programs

I will not go into great detail about each activity listed here, but I will say that you should check out at least one or two of them for your planned visit. There is truly something for everyone at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. For example, my dad would definitely take advantage of the fishing opportunities while my mom might stroll down a nature trail. 

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Love national parks? Be sure to plan a visit to Zion: 7 Things Besides Hiking to Do in Zion.

On that Zion trip, consider tackling one of the park’s hardest hikes: Angel’s Landing.