Is Newfound Gap Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park open amid government shutdown?

As the partial federal government shutdown passes the two-week mark, folks headed to Great Smoky Mountains National Park should know the popular park is still welcoming guests, including drivers just passing through.

It’s good news for people looking to catch peak fall colors in the Smokies. October is also one of the most critical months for businesses surrounding the park. Nearly two million people visit the Smokies in October. Last year, the park generated $2.04 billion in visitor spending and $2.86 billion in total economic output.

Fall foliage surrounds cars driving along Newfound Gap Road as seen from Morton Overlook in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022.

Here’s what people driving through the country’s most-visited national park amid the shutdown need to know about roads, trails and reservations.

Is Great Smoky Mountains National Park open now?

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open and fully operational through at least Oct. 19, allowing visitors to use all facilities, roadways, visitor centers, restrooms, campgrounds and trails as normal.

The funding is provided by a partnership that includes 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.

Is US Highway 441 from Cherokee to Gatlinburg open?

Newfound Gap Road/U.S. 441, a federal highway between Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Cherokee, North Carolina, through Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is open.

The 31-mile scenic route sees an average of 5,000 vehicles per day, according to the park. And having the road remain open during the shutdown has been crucial to keeping the region’s tourism steady amid the busy fall season.

“If 441 was closed, we'd be having a drastically different conversation,” Chad Netherland, president of the Gatlinburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, told Knox News.

The road provides access to popular sites such as the Kuwohi lookout tower, Newfound Gap, Appalachian Trail and the Sugarlands and Oconaluftee visitor centers.

Can I drive through Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

Most roads and trails at the national park are open during the federal government shutdown.

Before the plan for local and state entities to temporarily fund the park, the Cades Cove area, one of the most popular sites in the park, was closed, including the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road.

Cades Cove, along with other roads and trails, is now open, at least through Oct. 19.

Are Great Smoky Mountains National Park campsites open?

Backcountry reservations and permits for Great Smoky Mountains National Park are still valid as of Oct. 14.

Visitors can still get new backcountry reservations and permits on Smokiespermits.nps.gov or through calling the Backcountry Office, according to the park's website.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Is Newfound Gap Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park open amid government shutdown?