FRIENDS OF THE SMOKIES LICENSE PLATES AND DONATION BOXES
Discover Life in America receives funding to conduct the ATBI in Great Smoky Mountains National Park through donations from Friends of the Smokies and the Great Smoky Mountain Association (GSMA). By purchasing books and other products in GSMA stores in the park, placing a donation in Friends donation boxes in the Park or by purchasing Friends of the Smokies License plate in Tennessee or North Carolina, you are indirectly supporting this project.
North Carolina License Plate
The State of North Carolina’s Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park official license plate is available any time from your local license plate agency office for an extra fee of $30 per year. $20 of the fee goes to Friends of the Smokies to support our efforts to preserve and protect Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The remaining $10 helps support the state’s highway beautification program and other activities associated with the state’s specialty license plate program. For an image of the plate or for additional information, visit the website of the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. You can also contact your local license plate agency office, or call our Waynesville, North Carolina office at (828) 452-0720.
Tennessee License Plate
The State of Tennessee’s Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park official license plate is available from your County Clerk’s Office for an extra fee of $25 per year. $21 of the fee goes to Friends of the Smokies to support our efforts to preserve and protect Great Smoky Mountains National Park. For an image of the plate and additional information, visit the website of the Tennessee Department of Safety. You can also contact your County Clerk’s Office, or call our Sevierville, Tennessee office at (865) 453-2428. Friends of the Smokies send its sincere thanks to the 20,000+ Tennessee drivers who purchase or renew their Friends of the Smokies license plates each year!
Donation Boxes in the Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the only major national park without an entrance fee. Most other national parks charge $10 to $20 per vehicle. We believe the Smokies experience is worth a whole lot more! On your next visit to the park, please consider a donation a few pennies or a few dollars to help support visitor facilities, trails, wildlife conservation, historic preservation, and education programs. Donation boxes are located at all of the park’s visitor centers, as well as several outdoor locations, including Cades Cove, Cataloochee Valley, and Newfound Gap.
Great Smoky Mountains Association
The Great Smoky Mountains Association’s (GSMA) purpose is also to help the Park. GSMA is a nonprofit organization authorized by Congress to support the Park's educational, scientific, and historical programs. Its mission is to enhance public enjoyment and understanding of thel Park. To accomplish this goal GSMA participates in a variety of activities that include: distribution and publication of educational books and guides, funding visitor center exhibits and artifact collections, sponsoring free historic demonstrations and festivals, funding the Park's library, and helping fund the environmental education programs. Publications, sales, and membership dues sustain these operations. To purchase Discover Life in America merchandis and online through the GSMA store, click here.
