SeasonMapGatlinburg weather by month
United States
The best time to visit Gatlinburg is May, September and October — 87/100 in September, 25°C and 9 rainy days. The best season is autumn, September to November (80/100 on average).
The worst month is January at 53/100 — cold, rainy, clean air. See January →
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Planning the wider trip? Best time to visit United States →
Gatlinburg, month by month
Comfort score out of 100 for the kind of trip Gatlinburg is best for, the average high, rainy days and hours of sun a day from the climate normals, and how busy it tends to be.
| Month | Score | Tier | High | Rain | Sun | Crowds | On |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanJanuary | 53 | D | 7°C | 12 d | 6 h | Peak | 1 |
| FebFebruary | 59 | D | 12°C | 13 d | 7 h | Busy | 1 |
| MarMarch | 68 | C | 16°C | 11 d | 8 h | Busy | — |
| AprApril | 80 | A | 20°C | 12 d | 10 h | Shoulder | — |
| MayMay | 85 | A | 24°C | 13 d | 11 h | Busy | 1 |
| JunJune | 82 | A | 27°C | 12 d | 12 h | Busy | 1 |
| JulJuly | 71 | B | 29°C | 14 d | 12 h | Peak | 1 |
| AugAugust | 76 | B | 27°C | 13 d | 11 h | Busy | — |
| SepSeptember | 87 | A | 25°C | 9 d | 10 h | Peak | 1 |
| OctOctober | 83 | A | 20°C | 8 d | 9 h | Busy | 1 |
| NovNovember | 70 | B | 15°C | 8 d | 7 h | Peak | 2 |
| DecDecember | 57 | D | 10°C | 11 d | 6 h | Peak | 1 |
What's on in Gatlinburg through the year
Festivals, natural spectacles, holidays and the seasons to watch out for — curated and sourced. The month pages carry the detail.
Crowds in Gatlinburg in September
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsFall colour in the Smokies, Summer break in United States(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet