Absolutely Beautiful

A possible route could start at Newfound Gap and hike to Ice Water shelter (2.8) miles for the first night. You could hike to the Bunion while your companion rests.
Start the second day on the Boulevard trail to LeConte (5.3) miles. It has a series of ups and downs. After a night at the LeConte shelter, you could hike down one of the other trails to your car or return on the Boulevard to Newfound (not recommended). However, it would require a second vehicle or arrangements with one of the areas taxi services.

@Jenny: If the goal is to see LeConte, I'd go for a crazy early departure day trip up and down Alum Cave. The weight differential to camp is huge, especially for the unconditioned. Start hiking before dawn and start down so you reach the bottom at sunset. Assume time down = time to climb. In between, spend the day relaxing on the rocks at Myrtle Point.
If the goal is to spend a night somewhere in a shelter, try Mount Collins. It VERY easy to get to. Icewater is awesome, but the issues discussed here are real. More of the annoyance variety than dangerous. The Icewater to LeConte Plan is ok, but there is a bunch of climb between Icewater and LeConte. Add in camping equipment and it gets dicey from a weight/distance/climb standpoint.
It would make sense to test your capabilities where you have an out before trying your July hike. Newfound Gap to Clingmans Dome, for example, gives you the opportunity to hike in a couple miles, spend the night at Mount Collins, then hike to Clingmans Dome. You could escape that location by car, then drive up the next day and hike back down to NG with all your gear. If you can do that, you are ready for LeConte. If not, tip your driver!

Can anyone speak to the accuracy of mountain-forecast.com? I linked to it from the LeConte homepage. I'm planning on making it to the shelter this Saturday. When I take a forecast for Gatlinburg and account for elevation it's not even close to mountain-forecast.com. I'm no meterologist so I can't speak the the disparity.

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=35.652832827451626&lon=-83.44871520996094&site=mrx&unit=0&lg=en&FcstType=text
A blend of this NOAA site and mountain-forecast.com seems to keep me out of trouble.

Jenny: I think that g abner's suggestion will definitely work for you; If you nor anyone in your group has done any serious backpacking in years, I might give careful consideration to the distance you mentioned; that, to some, may be a rather ambitious distance, but only you can make that determination; In July I would perhaps avoid the Icewater shelter, even with reservations, as that one is close to Newfound Gap and I've heard that there are often conflicts, misnunderstandings, and lots of overcrowding there, but, agaiin, that's only my personal opinion from my experiences. Far be it fromo me to discourage anyone, but exercise good thorough judgement in selecting a route, etc. There are plenty of short(er) day hikes to take; I think there's a guy here sometimes who might be able to make a suggestion, or any of several readers who know the Park well. But, the Mt. Leconte area is certainly a great choice. Good luck.

Sometimes the overcrowding is thru hiker related. The park now has 2 full time back country LE rangers, maybe 2 more in the spring. Hopefully this will reduce some of these issues.

Love the Cliff Tops picture today. I'm looking for a cabin for July 4th week before I come up that night. The more we look the pickier I get. Maybe I'll just shelter hop all week.

I can't believe what i'm reading here. Folks more less saying it's ok to just tent camp. This rule is here to protect the environment. Just because others don't follo

And don't forget about the horses! one horse will tear up the backcountry far more than a hiker with a tent.

ELF wallow... although elves may also wallow.

josh c: you are so right; but the ldoge has been there so long and has many, many followers and supporters, including me, that I doubt the Park Service would ever revoke their Commercial Use Authorization permit. The thing is that the people who are truly concerned with protecting the environment will strive with great diligence to do just that, despite whatever rules some others may disregard and/or ignore. An occasional leave-no-trace camping experience does absolutely no harm to the environment. The only true way to protect the Park is to fence it in completely and close it off to all human traffic. Existing as we humans do we affect our environment; no way around that. And the horses definitely harm the ground far more than hikers do ! So, get off your self-righteous podium about the rules on tent camping in the backcountry ! Stand up for yourself and pressure the Park Service to do more than make more unenforcable rules that aren't preventing the damage done by those morons who arrive at shelters sans permits, Rules are necessary in our society, but following them when they break down does no one any good. I'll tell you what I'll do: I'll tell you when and exactly where I'll go to pitch my tent, or place my sleeping bag under a tree somewhere out in the backcountry away from a shelter or campsite and after I leave if you can find any trace whatsoever of my being there I'll provide you a week's free lodging at the hotel or lodge of your choice !! dot cooper: low impact backcountry camping on a limited basis, of course, is the solution, not getting up on your podium and giving your self-centered judgments.

One more question: What are some other good websites/blogs for me to learn more about the GSM park? I've only hiked there once, to LeConte Lodge, in spite of living nearby in Kentucky (I'm pretty fond of my own mountains, though). I'd like to do more exploring--suggestions?

Thanks, Wayne. I am familiar with Google. As you have no doubt noticed, you get A LOT of returns with a search like that. I was hoping for some specific recommendations--so many websites, so many blogs, so little time to slog through them all to find the best ones. I'm just glad I found this one! Although I miss JP...

Jenny, an invaluable resource for hiking in the GSMNP is the little brown book (Hiking Trails of the Smokies). It has detailed descriptions of most of the trails and is small enough to throw in your pack. It also comes with a map. You can pick one up at the visitors centers or buy it online through the park website.

Who made those rules "Reminder" ? The lodge management ? Doesn't matter all that much. It appears that a few get their feelings hurt when discussion takes place which involves the lodge or the Park, but discussion is necessary for the continuation of the operation and existence of this fabulous Park. Otherwise, you might as well close it completely, which is what will happen if things aren't "fluid" and adaptable to ouir changing society which seems to want things faster and more convenient. Pesonally, I think they should charge an entrance fee to the Park itself, not to mention placing more stringent restrictions on access to the backcountry. There are some, with which I actually disagree, that Leconte Lodge should be closed and eliminated. I hope that doesn't happen, but without honest discussion, well, I don't like thinking about that possibiliity.

Well 'Reminder", I will. Perhaps I spouted off too harshly earlier and I apologize for that, but the fact remains that at least I identify myself and not hide behind some label. And, the fact remains that basically, it's not anyone who posts their honest opinions in here who has any malice directed at the lodge or anyone who comments here, and those who do get offended by the truth can ignore me and some others who agree that things need to be examined by the Park Service before the Park declines because of some people who choose to ignore the "rules" as you so stated. As for me, I'll acknowledge the satisfaction you'll surely get from not seeing me waste my time here. I, sir, hope that you. too, have a good day !