Every spring, the National Park Service releases its annual visitation data. Every spring, the answer is the same: the Great Smoky Mountains National Park tops the list.
In 2025, the park welcomed 11,527,939 visitors, securing its position as the most visited national park in the United States by a wide margin. For context, Zion National Park came in second with just under 5 million visits. The Smokies drew more than twice that.
These numbers are exciting for anyone owning or considering a short-term rental property in Sevier County.
A gap that doesn’t close
The 2025 figures are part of a pattern that has held for years. The Smokies have exceeded 10 million annual visitors every year since 2014.
Even in 2025, when overall National Park System visitation declined slightly to just over 323 million visits, the Smokies held strong at 11.5 million.
That consistency is what matters most for STR investors. Markets built on trend-driven demand are fragile and the Smokies are not that.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park draws families, couples, retirees, and school groups across every season, and the gateway communities of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville have built an entire ecosystem of lodging, dining, and attractions around that demand.
Why the Smokies hold their audience year after year
Part of what makes this region unusual is that it doesn’t have an off season in the traditional sense.
Spring brings wildflowers and waterfall season.
Summer offers relief from heat elsewhere in the Southeast.
Fall transforms the ridgelines into color that draws visitors from across the country.
Winter brings a quiet beauty and the holiday energy of downtown Gatlinburg.
The park is also free to enter, which removes a barrier that limits visitation at other major parks.
It sits within a day’s drive of roughly one third of the U.S. population. For a family in Atlanta, Charlotte, or Columbus, it’s an accessible long weekend.
What the 2025 numbers signal for Short Term Rental Property owners
Across 2025, our market showed longer days on market and more selective buyers than the boom years of 2021 and 2022. But the fundamentals haven’t changed, demand for quality short-term rentals in this region remained steady because visitor flow remained steady.
Properties priced correctly and presented well continued to find buyers. The visitors driving that rental income kept arriving, 11.5 million of them, in 2025 alone.
For investors weighing where to place capital, that kind of consistent, deep demand is difficult to find. The Smokies are not dependent on a single employer, a single industry, or a single trend. They draw visitors because of what they are, and that doesn’t change with a rate cycle or a news cycle.
If you’re exploring a first investment in the Smokies or evaluating your current portfolio, we’d be happy to have a conversation. The Jason White Team has been working in this market since 1996, and we bring that experience to all our client conversations.
Enjoy the rivers, streams and waterfalls in the Smokies all year!
Fishing!
Located at 221 Chimney Tops Way, Gatlinburg. This beautifully-built 2BR 2BA log cabin is only minutes to downtown Gatlinburg. This cabine has generated near or above $30K in consistent rental income each of the past 3 years. Interior has a large living/dinning room combo w/high vaulted ceilings, full kitchen and a private BD on each level complete w/private BA and closet space. There are two full level decks as well as a unfinished day-light basement with a separate entrance.
Located at 1020 Vista Drive, Gatlinburg. Private log-style cabin with 2 BD/2BA 1,200+ sq ft with incredible views of Mt. LeConte and the Smokies. This cabin has generated over $24K in rental income since May 2015. Inside the home there is a large, open great room with a full kitchen and vaulted ceilings. Home has a partial wraparound deck complete with a hot tub, where you can sit and enjoy the the amazing views. Only mins to dwtn. Gatlinburg, the Nat’l Park and many attractions.
