Best time to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Month-by-month weather averages for Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina, United States
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6.4 °C / 44 °F | -3.1 °C / 26 °F | 131 mm / 5.1 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 9.2 °C / 49 °F | -1 °C / 30 °F | 132 mm / 5.2 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 13.6 °C / 56 °F | 2.7 °C / 37 °F | 131 mm / 5.2 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 18 °C / 64 °F | 6.6 °C / 44 °F | 133 mm / 5.2 in | good month |
| May | 20.9 °C / 70 °F | 11.3 °C / 52 °F | 143 mm / 5.6 in | good month |
| June | 24.5 °C / 76 °F | 15.4 °C / 60 °F | 116 mm / 4.6 in | good month |
| July | 25.6 °C / 78 °F | 17.1 °C / 63 °F | 155 mm / 6.1 in | neither best nor good |
| August | 25.3 °C / 78 °F | 16.6 °C / 62 °F | 138 mm / 5.4 in | good month |
| September | 22.8 °C / 73 °F | 13.4 °C / 56 °F | 117 mm / 4.6 in | good month |
| October | 18.1 °C / 65 °F | 7.1 °C / 45 °F | 101 mm / 4 in | good month |
| November | 12.7 °C / 55 °F | 1.5 °C / 35 °F | 99 mm / 3.9 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 9 °C / 48 °F | -0.3 °C / 31 °F | 133 mm / 5.2 in | neither best nor good |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: good
- MMay: good
- JJune: good
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: good
- SSeptember: good
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Good
- April–June, August–October
Why these months
April · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 16.4 °C / 62 °F, average daily high 18 °C / 64 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 78%, relative humidity 66%, average daily low 6.6 °C / 44 °F.
Against: precipitation 133 mm / 5.2 in, days with heavy rain 4.9 days, wet days 12.5 days.
May · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 21.2 °C / 70 °F, average daily high 20.9 °C / 70 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 77%, average daily low 11.3 °C / 52 °F, relative humidity 76%.
Against: wet days 15.8 days, precipitation 143 mm / 5.6 in, days with heavy rain 4.9 days.
June · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 26.4 °C / 80 °F, average daily high 24.5 °C / 76 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 82%, precipitation 116 mm / 4.6 in, average daily low 15.4 °C / 60 °F, days with heavy rain 4.2 days.
Against: wet days 16.4 days, relative humidity 78%.
August · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 27.8 °C / 82 °F, average daily high 25.3 °C / 78 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 84%, average daily low 16.6 °C / 62 °F.
Against: wet days 17.1 days, precipitation 138 mm / 5.4 in, days with heavy rain 4.7 days, relative humidity 81%.
September · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 23.9 °C / 75 °F, average daily high 22.8 °C / 73 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, precipitation 117 mm / 4.6 in, average daily low 13.4 °C / 56 °F, days with heavy rain 3.4 days.
Against: wet days 12.7 days, relative humidity 81%.
October · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 17 °C / 63 °F, average daily high 18.1 °C / 65 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 78%, precipitation 101 mm / 4 in, wet days 9.3 days, days with heavy rain 3.1 days, average daily low 7.1 °C / 45 °F, relative humidity 76%.
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: good
- AApril: good
- MMay: good
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: good
- OOctober: best
- NNovember: good
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- October
- Good
- March–May, September, November
Why these months
March · good
In its favour: average daily high 13.6 °C / 56 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 71%, daylight per day 12 h, feels like (high) 10.9 °C / 52 °F, precipitation 131 mm / 5.2 in, average daily low 2.7 °C / 37 °F, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 9 mph.
Against: days with heavy rain 5 days, wet days 13.1 days.
April · good
In its favour: average daily high 18 °C / 64 °F, feels like (high) 16.4 °C / 62 °F, average daily low 6.6 °C / 44 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 78%, daylight per day 13.1 h, precipitation 133 mm / 5.2 in, wet days 12.5 days, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 9 mph.
Against: days with heavy rain 4.9 days.
May · good
In its favour: average daily high 20.9 °C / 70 °F, feels like (high) 21.2 °C / 70 °F, average daily low 11.3 °C / 52 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 77%, daylight per day 14.1 h, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph.
Against: wet days 15.8 days, precipitation 143 mm / 5.6 in, days with heavy rain 4.9 days.
September · good
In its favour: average daily high 22.8 °C / 73 °F, precipitation 117 mm / 4.6 in, average daily low 13.4 °C / 56 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, daylight per day 12.4 h, days with heavy rain 3.4 days, feels like (high) 23.9 °C / 75 °F, wind (daily max) 9 km/h / 5 mph.
Against: wet days 12.7 days.
October · best
In its favour: average daily high 18.1 °C / 65 °F, precipitation 101 mm / 4 in, wet days 9.3 days, feels like (high) 17 °C / 63 °F, average daily low 7.1 °C / 45 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 78%, days with heavy rain 3.1 days, daylight per day 11.3 h, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph.
November · good
In its favour: average daily high 12.7 °C / 55 °F, precipitation 99 mm / 3.9 in, share of daylight that is sunny 74%, wet days 10.2 days, feels like (high) 10 °C / 50 °F, days with heavy rain 3.2 days, average daily low 1.5 °C / 35 °F, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph, daylight per day 10.3 h.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Sugar Mountain Resort, 158 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | 2.8 °C | 5.8 °C | 10.9 °C | 16.4 °C | 21.2 °C | 26.4 °C | 28.4 °C | 27.8 °C | 23.9 °C | 17 °C | 10 °C | 6 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 4 days | 4.6 days | 5 days | 4.9 days | 4.9 days | 4.2 days | 5.8 days | 4.7 days | 3.4 days | 3.1 days | 3.2 days | 4.6 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 9 pm | 6 am | 6 am | 3 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 5 pm | 9 am | 5 pm | 9 am |
| Sunshine per day | 6.6 h | 7.1 h | 8.5 h | 10.3 h | 10.8 h | 11.9 h | 11.6 h | 11.3 h | 9.8 h | 8.8 h | 7.6 h | 5.9 h |
| Relative humidity | 69% | 68% | 65% | 66% | 76% | 78% | 81% | 81% | 81% | 76% | 71% | 73% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 4.6 µg/m³ | 6.3 µg/m³ | 6.4 µg/m³ | 6 µg/m³ | 8.3 µg/m³ | 11.1 µg/m³ | 10.2 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ | 7 µg/m³ | 4.4 µg/m³ | 4.4 µg/m³ | 4.3 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 8.9 µg/m³ | 11.9 µg/m³ | 12.2 µg/m³ | 10.5 µg/m³ | 13.4 µg/m³ | 16.6 µg/m³ | 15.1 µg/m³ | 12.6 µg/m³ | 10.5 µg/m³ | 7.2 µg/m³ | 7.8 µg/m³ | 8.6 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.
World Heritage sites nearby
UNESCO World Heritage sites within 25 km, nearest first.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
8 km away