There are almost no food options inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so most families end up eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the car or driving all the way back to Gatlinburg for an overpriced lunch between activities. But you don’t have to do that. Smoky Mountains picnic areas have everything you need for a great lunch set up.

The Smokies have picnic areas spread throughout the park, and they’re not just a table in a parking lot like some others. These are full setups with charcoal grills, stream access, restrooms, and enough space for kids to play for hours. We’ve cooked full meals here and spent entire mornings streamside before lunch even started.

One morning we made oatmeal over a charcoal grill at 9am (cinnamon, almonds, and raisins in paper bowls, eaten at the water’s edge) while the boys played in the stream until lunch. That’s what these spots can be when you know which ones to pick, where to sit, and what to bring.

One thing to know before we get into it: these picnic areas fill up fast around lunchtime, so if you want the best spots, plan to arrive by 10:30am. Earlier is better, especially on weekends (we’ve learned that the hard way more than once.) That being said, even when we showed up late, we have grabbed a spot on the forest side, set up a hammock, grilled out, played music and had a great afternoon. But we do try to make it earlier when we can.

We’re covering the three we come back to every trip (Metcalf Bottoms, Chimneys, and Cades Cove) plus a bonus on the North Carolina side that’s worth knowing about. Each one has charcoal grills, picnic tables, restrooms, and bear-proof trash cans, but they’re very different experiences depending on your kids’ ages, what kind of water access you want, and how long you plan to stay.

If your kids are getting near water (and they will), you’ll want to pack for it. My creek day packing list has everything we bring.

This is our go-to for a long, slow day by the water, and the one I’d recommend first if you have younger kids.

When you pull in, there are restrooms right at the entrance. If you keep going straight, a bridge crosses over the river and takes you out of the park toward Highway 321 (right near my favorite coffee shop in the Smokies and the best fried apple pies we’ve ever had, but more on that in a future post). For the picnic area, you’re turning right or left into two separate loops.

Most people turn right because that’s the main loop and it’s what you see first, with restrooms at the back and plenty of tables. But the left side is better, and most people miss it entirely because the entrance is set a bit further back and the trees block your view from the road. It has its own loop with restrooms about halfway down, and half the tables are streamside while the other half are forested with Little River Road behind them.

Our favorite spot is about four or five tables down on the stream side of the left loop. We park by the trash cans about halfway down. From there, you’re sitting at the water’s edge with room to put down camping chairs right at the stream. There aren’t a lot of big boulders here because the water is wide, shallow, and level with no cascading drops or sudden depth changes. Of the three picnic areas in this post, Metcalf has the calmest and most even water by far.

That’s what makes it the best option for younger kids. The boys have waded out to the middle of the shallow sections and sat on rocks to read books in the stream (I have a photo of this and it’s one of my favorites).

We’ve even tied strings to small tubes and let the kids float while we pulled them back to our chairs. I wouldn’t do full-on tubing here unless your kids are old enough to get themselves out on their own, but the tied-tube setup works beautifully for littles. It’s also great for rock skipping because of the wide, flat water. You’ll want to teach your kids some basics on rock safety before heading out.

The left loop is part shade, part sun, and every now and then I can actually get a bar of cell service while sitting near the stream (it’s not consistent, but worth knowing).

There’s also a side road before 321 that leads to the historic Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse if you want a quick add-on after your picnic. You can also hike from Metcalf Bottoms — trailhead starts to the right just after the bridge (which is one-lane and for both pedestrians and vehicles).

If your kids like climbing boulders and exploring, this is the picnic area in the Smokies that they’ll want to explore.

Chimneys sits along the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River off Newfound Gap Road (441), between the Sugarlands Visitor Center and Newfound Gap. When you drive in, there’s one big loop, and you won’t hit stream access until you turn to cross back toward the entrance.

Our favorite spots are the first two just after you make that turn. There’s a pair right next to each other (great if you’re with another family or have two vehicles), and you pull in and back into them. The restroom is right there, too.

The walk down to the stream from these spots is the roughest of the three picnic areas, with tree roots and uneven ground that isn’t baby-friendly. But once you’re down there, the boulders are incredible and my boys love it here. They boulder-walk up and downstream, climbing and jumping and exploring. If your kids love water like mine do, I have a full list of swimming holes in the Smokies worth checking out.

The tradeoff is that the water is loud here because of the cascading rocks, and once your kids make it past the first set of boulders it’s hard to see them. We have ours check in every few minutes so we always know where they are.

If you have younger kids, skip our favorite spots and head to the end of the loop near the handicapped parking, almost back to the entrance. There’s more open water there with forested access and fewer of the big, precarious boulders. It’s also a great spot for salamander hunting (I have a full guide for that).

This is mostly a shaded picnic area, which makes it a solid choice on hot summer days. There’s also a second section at the back of the big loop, but it’s almost always roped off and I’ve only seen it open once.

One more bonus here: the Cove Hardwood Nature Trail starts right at this picnic area, so you can pair lunch with an easy family hike without driving anywhere else.

If you’re doing the Cades Cove loop, the picnic area is right there at the entrance (or exit depending on what time you want to go), and it’s the only one in the park where you can grab supplies if you forgot something.

When you pull into the picnic area, it’s one big loop with stream access mostly on the right side (the left side has some access too, but it tends to dry up when there hasn’t been much rain or runoff). Our favorite spots are all the way at the end of the loop, in the last few parking spaces before you turn to head back.

There are three picnic tables just ahead of you with stream access, and a walkway continues past them on the left for a nice post-meal walk. We like it back there because it’s away from the traffic of people coming and going, especially near that first restroom by the entrance which gets a steady stream of visitors.

That said, those first two or three tables near the entrance have their own appeal because they’re shallower, and they used to be our go-to when the boys were younger. I have pictures of my kids at those spots when they were little, and now at the back spots as bigger kids. Different chapters, same picnic area.

The stream here has more character than Metcalf, with drops and uneven terrain and rocks that require some attention. It’s not dangerous, but the footing is more precarious than the flat, even bottom at Metcalf, and you can’t easily put camping chairs at the water level except at those first few tables.

Our kids pick the “perfect” sticks when we arrive and use them as hiking sticks up and down the stream. They claim specific boulders as their “houses” and visit each other back and forth, and there are a few fallen trees that cross over the stream they like to explore, too. No tubing here though, since the stream isn’t deep enough or wide enough for it (plus, too many rocks blocking the way).

The big advantage at Cades Cove is the campground store right behind the picnic area. It has a small gift shop, snacks, and a counter where you can order a few things to eat and drink, so you can grab charcoal, drinks, or anything else you forgot. That makes this the easiest of the three to cook a real meal at without a lot of planning ahead. And if you’re spending time on the loop before or after your picnic, don’t miss the wildlife— the Cove is one of the best spots in the park for it. Also, my Screen-Free Family Field Guide has a full week schedule and mission cards that pair perfectly with a Cades Cove day.

And if you’re looking for motivation to finish the Cades Cove loop strong with your kids, the soft serve ice cream at the campground store is the move (vanilla, chocolate, or swirl). Our boys always look forward to that treat.

Back section of Cades Cove, our favorite spot for older kids

All three of these picnic areas have charcoal grills at every table, but most families don’t think beyond hot dogs. We bring a cast iron skillet from the camper and throw it right on the grill grate.

One of our go-to picnic meals is sliced peppers and onions with chicken sausages cooked in the skillet, because it’s easy and fast.

We’ve also made Goodles mac and cheese in a pot over the charcoal for the kids (I always throw in a gallon of water for the day — much easier to fill up our reusable water bottles than bringing bottled water), grilled cheese sandwiches in the skillet, grilled chicken breasts and hamburgers straight on the grill plates, and diced potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil with butter and spices tossed right on the grill (we’ve done corn and sweet potato cubes the same way).

We also almost always have some prepped fruit in a storage container, which I just throw in the truck in the morning. My kids usually eat that at some point in the day. I love having that option because my boys will reach for it before other processed snacks.

If you want more ideas for what to cook at camp for a family, my cookbook has 20 tested family dinners — many of them work great over a charcoal grill and all of them are high-protein and family-friendly. And if you’re looking for quick, high-protein snacks to pack alongside your picnic, grab my High Protein Snacks That Taste Like Dessert freebie — six recipes that take five minutes or less.

If this is your first time cooking at a picnic area, my grilling guide will save you some trial and error, and give some inspiration on meals beyond hot dogs.

One important thing: never leave food unattended at any of these spots. These are bear-active areas and the park takes it seriously, which is why every trash can has a bear-proof latch. Pack your food up when you step away from the table, even for a few minutes. For more on staying safe around bears in the Smokies, check out my bear safety guide.

You can fly fish at these picnic areas, but some are much more practical than others.

Metcalf Bottoms is the easiest because the stream is wide and open, so you’ve got room to cast without snagging on anything. If your family fishes, this is the one to plan around. Cades Cove works too, but the stream is narrower with more forested brush along the banks and you’ll catch your line on branches here and there if you’re not careful.

Chimneys isn’t really practical for most families because of the boulders, though fly fishermen love to hike upstream from the back of the picnic area and if you’re that invested, it’s worth it and I’d rank this spot the best of all three.

If you fish anywhere in the park, you’ll need a valid Tennessee or North Carolina fishing license. You have to be 16 or older, no trout stamp is required, and licenses aren’t sold inside the park so buy one in a surrounding town or online before you go. Full NPS fishing rules here.

Deep Creek is on the North Carolina side of the park near Bryson City, which is a completely separate entrance. It’s not something you’ll stumble into on the way to Cades Cove or Chimneys, but if you’re staying on that side of the park or looking for a half-day trip with tubing, it’s worth the drive.

There’s one road in, and the first turn takes you to the picnic area which is a big loop. The tables on the right side as you start the loop are streamside with water access, and as you continue around you move away from the stream into forested spots (there are also tables on the inside grass area of the loop).

Our favorites are about three or four tables down from the start, and we park in the first section to the right just after the handicapped spots. The stream access is shallow at first in a few of these, which makes them great for younger kids.

One difference from the other three: most of these spots are not shaded, so bring a canopy or plan on sunscreen.

If you keep going down the main road past the picnic area, there’s a smaller parking lot for the falls and trails, then a small turnaround. Restrooms and bear-proof trash cans are in the picnic area, and they have charcoal grills though we’ve never used them here.

The real draw at Deep Creek is the tubing. You head past the trail parking lot, pick your entry spot on the river, and tube down the creek. You can go all the way downstream to the Smoky Mountain Campground, which has a nice let-out spot with stairs, and most people get out around the park entrance or there.

There are a few tube rental outposts on Deep Creek Road just before the entrance to the park, and our favorite is at Smoky Mountain Campground because they have a campground store and tube rental right together. We’ve stayed at their campground plenty of times and they’ve always been great. If you’re planning to camp in the park, my campgrounds guide.

There’s also a small walkup food option just before the park entrance, called Wize Guyz Grille Express, if you don’t want to pack food in.

Collins Creek is another designated picnic area in the park, and on paper it has everything: a loop with a crossover road in the middle, restrooms, picnic tables, charcoal grills, and bear-proof trash cans. It’s shaded and forested, and Collins Creek runs somewhat nearby though the tables aren’t streamside.

In all my years visiting the Smokies, I’ve only been able to actually use this one once. For the past several years the gates have been closed every single time we drive by, even in the middle of the day on a Friday in peak July season, and even when Google Maps says it’s open. I’ll update this post if that changes, but for now I wouldn’t plan a trip around it.

Before your next trip into the park, grab our free Nature Scavenger Hunt Printable for Kids. Print it at home, hand it out at the picnic table, and let them explore while lunch cooks.

For less than a gas station snack, my Mini Explorer Packs on Etsy give your kids a real outdoor mission they can run on their own. Print before your next trip and toss it in the car — it takes up zero space and buys you hours.

My Great Smoky Mountains Family Travel Field Guide includes a full week schedule, printable journal pages, and mission cards organized by theme. The planning is already done — pick your campground, print the guide, and show up.