SeasonMapGatlinburg weather in September
United States
September in Gatlinburg: warm, rainy, with clean air — an excellent time to visit.
#3 of 12 months in Gatlinburg · #483 of 1383 destinations to visit in September · comfort 85/100 (tier A)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Gatlinburg in September
Notes from nearby Asheville (87 km away)
Gatlinburg doesn't have its own notes for September yet — these are about Asheville, close enough to share the season.
September in Asheville is the quiet month before the rush — the forum describes it as usually very slow, right after school goes back and just before October's leaf season. Days reach about 25°C, warm enough for shorts, while early mornings and after dinner drop toward 15 and want a light jacket. Rain tends to arrive late afternoon or evening. The mountain caveat regulars stress is how local it all is: a thunderstorm on one side of town while the other stays bone dry, clear on one side of a ridge and wet on the other. On colour, September is too early — a trace at most. The change starts in early October and can run well into November.
Add your own note from Gatlinburg's card on the map.
Gatlinburg climate normals — September
| Daytime high | 27°C / 81°F | 🌤 warm |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 17°C / 62°F | |
| Rainfall | 87 mm / 3.4 in | 🌧 rainy |
| Rainy days | 8 days | |
| Humidity | 75% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 16°C / 60°F | |
| Sunshine | 10 h/day | |
| Daylight | 12.4 h | |
| Wind | 9 km/h / 5 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 37 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
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
Best months for Gatlinburg's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Best weatherGatlinburg's best weather comes in May, September and October — separate windows, not one continuous season.
September includes Fall colour in the Smokies.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Gatlinburg in September
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Nature
Fall colour in the Smokies
25 Sep – 5 Nov · usuallyAutumn colourCrowdedThe high ground above four thousand feet turns first in early October and the valleys follow from mid-October into early November. October is the busiest month in the park, and a drive that normally takes an hour can take three. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Gatlinburg — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Gatlinburg?
Gatlinburg in September — FAQ
- Is September a good time to visit Gatlinburg?
- September in Gatlinburg: warm, rainy, with clean air — an excellent time to visit. It ranks #3 of 12 months for Gatlinburg on SeasonMap's comfort score (85/100).
- What is the weather like in Gatlinburg in September?
- In September, Gatlinburg averages a daily high of 27.2°C and a low of 16.7°C, with about 86.8 mm of rain over roughly 8.4 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Gatlinburg in September?
- Gatlinburg has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 37 in September.
Other months in Gatlinburg
Compare Gatlinburg in September
Warmer or cooler than Gatlinburg in September
Similar destinations in North America — September
Within 300 km: Great Smoky Mountains National Park's Cades Cove vehicle-free Wednesdays around 6 May – 30 Sep, and Mammoth Cave National Park's Green River paddling season around 1 May – 15 Oct.