The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is staying open during the federal funding lapse thanks to a patchwork of local support.
Communities, nonprofit partners, tribal leaders, and volunteers have stepped in to fund and staff park operations through November 2. This gives visitors continued access while park managers and local leaders monitor the bigger funding picture.
Why this matters
The Smokies are not just a scenic stop for RVers, they’re an economic engine for towns like Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and surrounding counties.
In 2023, visitors to the park generated more than $2.2 billion in spending in gateway communities. They also supported tens of thousands of jobs in the region. Keeping the park open protects livelihoods for hotel owners, campgrounds, restaurants, outfitters, and truck stops that cater to road-tripping travelers.
Filling the gap
Groups like Friends of the Smokies, county and city governments, and tribal partners have pooled resources to underwrite daily operations where possible. Together, they fund trash collection, basic restroom maintenance, and a minimal in-park presence so the landscape and visitors stay protected.
This model echoes how other communities have responded in prior shutdowns, with nonprofits and local governments paying daily operating costs or sending trusted staff to serve as ambassadors while rangers are limited. Those efforts reduce vandalism risk and keep visitors safer than an entirely unstaffed park would.
RVers can help
If you want to be part of the solution while traveling through the Smokies, here are realistic ways to help.
• Buy local: Fill propane, buy groceries, eat at nearby restaurants, or patronize RV-friendly businesses in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Every dollar helps keep payrolls flowing.
• Support Park partners: Donate to Friends of the Smokies or similar nonprofits that fund operations, search-and-rescue support, and maintenance projects. These organizations have explicit programs for donating or volunteering.
• Volunteer your time: If you can commit and meet requirements, the National Park Service and Friends of the Smokies run trail, litter, and stewardship programs. Some accept group or short-term commitments that work for RVers who want to pitch in. Check official volunteer pages before arrival for sign-up details and safety rules.
• Follow Park guidance: Respect closures, pack out trash, obey posted rules, and avoid driving or camping in restricted areas. Responsible visitors reduce the workload for the small crews on site.
• Top off fuel and supplies in gateway towns to support the local economy.
• If you are able to, tip generously and share information about park partner donation pages with other travelers. Remember, small, practical actions do a lot.
A shout-out to supporters
The volunteers, nonprofits, local governments, and tribal partners who organized and funded these temporary arrangements deserve credit. Their quick coordination is keeping trailheads open, restrooms serviced, and campgrounds available for families and RVers. Friends of the Smokies and other partners are explicit that community donations and volunteer time are the reason these arrangements are possible.
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RVT1232b
This is a wonderful story. It shows how a community can take care of the community. Tip of the hat.
Is there any word on how many federal employees from those very same communities, that are currently furloughed, who live in those communities, are part of those communities and participate in the economies of those local communities, have volunteered to help the communities deal with the shutdowns? Or are they simply taking the deferred paid time off and leaving it to their unpaid friends and neighbors to handle it? Just curious about the level of community altruism in the federal workforce.
✌️😎
Yup! Local people stepping up and getting things done.
What’s really interesting is that the entire area is predominantly conservative Republicans.
Imagine that!
Super point Cancel….. interesting to know the answer. I can guess the outcome, having worked for the government for about 10 years….. enuf said.
My God! The sky’s not falling after all. Thanks, Gail, for reporting this.
WOW! I read about 60% of this excellent article and I had to go back to the top to see who wrote it! It was too much of a positive approach so it was out of line with all the other articles I have read here. So thank you so much Gail………
Yep. Wasn’t an R&T article.
Great article Gail really enjoy your article unlike most of the one sided articles written by R&T.
I understand it’s not fair to the writers but I will not donate as long as R&T are senior editors
Kev, at times I feel the same but I have to remind myself that just because others see the exact same subject different than I do, it doesn’t mean they’re wrong nor me right. It only means our perspectives are different. Said differently, water feels deeper if have short legs but that don’t mean a duck will drown. Donate my friend, not everything in life is agreeable and thank goodness it isn’t!
But there is a difference when they are the senior editors not just the writers sorry too many sky is falling articles by them
Yellowstone Forever, the non profit partner of the park is currently funding 3 visitor centers, Old Faithful, Canyon and Mammoth, to be open until November 1st, when the interior of the park closes the interior roads.