The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was created by local citizens who wanted to protect the area.

VOA: special.2009.09.28

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is America's most visited national park.

VOA: special.2009.09.28

At 469 miles long, the drive connects two national parks Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.

FORBES: Top 10 American Road Trips

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles the Tennessee and North Carolina border, is the most-visited national park in the United States.

CNN: Crews search Smoky Mountain wilderness after deadly storm

Most recently, two people died and eight were injured when a storm struck Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Thursday night, park officials said.

CNN: July 7, 2012 -- Updated 0222 GMT (1022 HKT)