Historic Site and Historical Park · NPS · KY, TN, VA
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
Photo: NPS Photo, Hensley Settlement
Alerts and conditions
Information Temporary Rolling Roadblocks on Pinnacle Road
Park staff will conduct rolling roadblocks along Pinnacle Road to remove fallen leaves from the roadway. Visitors may experience temporary traffic delays while crews work. Leaf removal will continue as needed to help keep the road safe while maintaining visitor access. Please use caution and allow extra travel time.
Overview
Cumberland Gap was the first great gateway to the west. Come follow the path of bison, Native Americans, longhunters, and pioneers. Walk where 300,000 people crossed the Appalachians to settle America. Explore 85 miles of trails and 14,000 acres of wilderness. Stand in 3 states at once. Explore a cave, see Hensley Settlement, or camp under the stars. Come find your connection to Cumberland Gap.
From the National Park Service
History
The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.
What to see and do
Activities
- Biking
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Caving
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Wildlife Watching
- Park Film
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Plan your visit
Hours
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park: The park is open 24 hours a day to pedestrian and cyclist, weather permitting. Some services and facilities have separate hours, however; please see descriptions of those facilities elsewhere.
Getting there
By Plane The closest major airport is located in Knoxville, Tennessee approximately 85 miles away. Flights can also be made into Lexington, Kentucky approximately 130 miles away. By Car The park entrance is located on Highway 25E just south of Middlesboro Kentucky.
Visitor centers
- Cumberland Gap National Historical Park Visitor Center
- Daniel Boone Visitor Information Station
Campgrounds
- Wilderness Road Campground (150 sites) — reserve
Weather
Summers at Cumberland Gap are hot and humid, with temperatures commonly in the mid to upper 90s. Winters are generally mild with rain and some periods of snow January through March. Temperatures usually range in the 30s and 40s. Weather can sometimes be unpredictable, especially at higher elevations.
Phone: 6062482817
Whose lands these are
These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.
Photos
Pair it with
- Andrew Johnson National Historic Site NPS · 54 miles
- Daniel Boone National Forest USFS · 56 miles
- Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area NPS · 59 miles
- Obed Wild & Scenic River NPS · 66 miles
- Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument NPS · 70 miles
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park NPS · 71 miles