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 […]
Little River Road Auto Tour
About the Little River Road Driving Tour Originally an old railroad, this 18-mile Smoky Mountain driving tour runs from the Sugarlands Visitor Center to the Cades Cove Loop Road. A relatively slow-go, the Little River Road meanders alongside (you guessed it) Little River, passing at one point the exit to Townsend TN. Along the road, you will […]
The Only Great Smoky Mountain National Park Map and Guide You Need for Your Vacation
As the most visited national park in the country, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is filled with all sorts of amazing things to see and do. While it is massive – 816 mi² to be exact – we want you to be excited about your adventure into the national park! That’s why we’ve put […]
Greenbrier Road Auto Tour
The Greenbrier area is less visited than many areas in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but once people have visited, they return each time they visit the Smokies. It’s most known for the Ramsey Cascades waterfall area, but there are many other reasons to visit the Greenbrier area. About the Greenbrier Road Auto Tour […]
Cataloochee Auto Tour
This 11-mile tour passes an historic school, home, and church on the North Carolina-side of The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Cataloochee is bounded on the north by Mount Sterling Ridge and on the south by the Cataloochee divide. Furthermore Cataloochee is enclosed by Balsam Mountain to the west and Scottish Mountains on the east. For […]
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
About Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail Roaring Fork is one of the most popular driving tours in the Smoky Mountains. It gets its name from the large, fast stream that flows next to the trail — “Roaring Fork.” The motor nature trail is popular because you get to experience the wooded forestry views as well […]