Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville TN, is a thriving east Tennessee city situated near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Three Interstates run through Knoxville. Knoxville is home to The University of Tennessee Volunteers football team and the folks around here take their football very seriously. Knoxville has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. The fall is a […]
Sevierville, Tennessee
Sevierville, Tennessee was founded in 1795 and named for John Sevier, the first governor of the state of Tennessee. The oldest of Sevier County’s four sister cities, it is also the 8th oldest town in Tennessee (Nearby Jonesborough TN takes the #1 spot). Sevierville has a popular heritage—daughter Dolly Parton’s statue resides on downtown’s courthouse […]
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Pigeon Forge, TN was originally called Fanshiers, but later renamed “Pigeon” from the river and “Forge” from the iron works at the Old Mill on the river. The Old Mill (right) is on the National Register of Historic Sites and serves to remind us of the original pioneer community that once lay alongside the Pigeon […]
Horseback Riding
There are five drive-in horse camps with handy access to back country trails in the Smokies. They are located at Big Creek in Tennessee; Anthony Creek, Cataloochee, Round Bottom and Tow String in North Carolina. For reservations, call (877) 444-6777 10am until 10pm. Parties larger than six people or four horses require additional reservations. Horseback riding availability varies […]
Blue Ridge Parkway Auto Tour
This route follows the Appalachian Mountain chain from Shenendoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park—a distance of 469 miles. There are frequent turnouts for mountain vistas, waterfalls, picnic areas, and visitor centers. Much of the Parkway is closed in winter. The speed limit is strictly limited to 45 miles per hour, and […]
Rich Mountain Road Auto Tour
This 7-mile, one-way route runs north from Cades Cove to the Park boundary at Rich Mountain Gap and on down the mountain to Townsend TN. Rich Mountain Road was built in the 1820s following an old Indian trace into Cades Cove. Points of interest include a stand of shagbark hickory, a species rarely found in […]
Parson Branch Road Auto Tour
This 8-mile gravel road leads from the Cades Cove Loop Road to US 129 toward the North Carolina side of the Park and Calderwood Dam. Parsons Branch Road was originally a main artery among a complex of roads feeding the smaller coves and hollows with Cades Cove. These highlands coves were home to several mountaineer […]
Cades Cove Loop Road Tour
The most visited part of the Park—and for good reason. A favorite in the Fall, this 11-mile loop road is located in an idyllic setting and offers a self-guided tour of historic homesteads, preserved structures, and churches. Mountain vistas, beautiful pastureland, abundant wildlife, and a visitor’s center allow the visitor a real feel for what […]
Lakeview Drive Auto Tour
About the Lakeview Drive Auto Tour This 6 drive is also known as “The Road to Nowhere.” This Smoky Mountain driving tour gives you amazing views of Fontana Lake. When the Fontana Dam was created, in the 1940s, the roads in the area flooded. The solution was to build this new road to follow the shore of […]
4 Things You Can Only Find At A Smoky Mountain Visitor Center
There are countless numbers of fun and exciting things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, starting with visiting a Smoky Mountain Visitor Center. From historical exhibits to unique programs, there is a ton of fun things to do here you cannot find anywhere else in the area. To discover all of our […]