****Updated 2/28/25

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the primary national park we work with, requires a CUA for commercial vehicles operating in the park.  This means that all commercial motor coaches, mini buses, and vans operating tours on any road managed by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with the exception of the “Spur” between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, will need to be operating under a CUA. This includes sections of the Foothills Parkway, the Gatlinburg Bypass, Newfound Gap Road, and more.

Key Notes:

1. Each for-profit group visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) must have a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA). Only one CUA is required per group.

2. All full-package for-profit groups traveling with Tennessee Express Tours and accompanied by one of our step-on guides are covered under our CUA for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP).

3. If you’ve booked a stand-alone guide service through us (guide only, not a full package), your for-profit group will need to provide its own CUA — unless the group is a non-profit, in which case a CUA is not required.

4. There are not currently any per person fees of any kind for visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Beginning in March on 2023 – All vehicles, including motorcoaches, that park in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for more than 15 minutes, will require a parking pass.  Almost all groups and vehicles entering the park will need to purchase this pass in advance.   If you are using TNET for your guide service work and you booked this trip prior to 1/1/23, this fee was not included in your confirmation and will be added to the cost of your tour.  Guide services booked and contracted after 1/1/23, the parking fee will be included in the total tour cost and will be outlined in the confirmation.

5. ALL COMMERCIAL VEHICLES must carry proof of insurance meeting the required minimums and listing the United States Government as an additional insured.  Specific details on this are available on the NPS website listed below.  If a Park Ranger checks for a CUA, they will also request this certificate from the coach company.  More insurance details here

For the area we cover, that is the basics.  For other questions and all other parks, you should keep an eye out on the NPS website at https://www.nps.gov/grsm/getinvolved/dobusinesswithus.htm for changes and details.

The National Park Service and the Department of the Interior can change these policies at any time, but this is how we understand they are to be enforced at this time.