Visceral smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are an integral component of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that regulate GI motility. SMC contraction is regulated by post-translational signaling and the state of differentiation. Impaired SMC contraction is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, but the mechanisms regulating SMC-specific contractile gene expression, including the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), remain largely unexplored. Herein, we reveal a critical role of Carmn (Cardiac mesoderm enhancer-associated noncoding RNA), a SMC-specific lncRNA, in regulating visceral SMC phenotype and contractility of the GI tract.