How long is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Loop route?

This route takes 8 days taking in 6 stops.

Where does this route start and end?

The route runs from Knoxville, Tennessee to Knoxville, Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee and North Carolina, United States.

When is the best time to travel this route?

The best time to travel this route is Mid-October for foliage; April to May for wildflowers.

How active is this route?

Activity level: Active. Moderately active — expect some walking and light physical activity.

What transport do I need for this route?

This route works best with a car.

What budget do I need for this route?

Mid-range spending — expect comfortable accommodation and a mix of dining options.

What type of accommodation suits this route?

Mixed accommodation works well along this route.

What is the pace of this trip?

Balanced — a good mix of sightseeing and downtime.

What type of trip is this?

This route is well-suited to: Scenic, Nature, Classic road trip, Adventure, Culture.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Loop

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The route · 6 stops

4 overnight bases · 2 stops on the way

Knoxville, Tennessee

1 night

The Smokies' main gateway city, set on the Tennessee River about 45 minutes from the park. Spend a night before heading in: walk Market Square, ride up the 1982 World's Fair Sunsphere, and stock up. It is close to both the Townsend and Gatlinburg entrances.The Smokies' main gateway city, set on the Tennessee River about 45 minutes from the park. Spend a night before heading in: walk Market Square, ride up the 1982 World's Fair Sunsphere, and stock up. It is close to both the Townsend and Gatlinburg entrances.

Recommendations

On to Townsend (Cades Cove)

Townsend (Cades Cove)

2 nights

Townsend is the quiet side of the Smokies and the best base for Cades Cove, an 11-mile one-way loop of historic cabins, churches, and open meadows rich with deer, black bear, and wild turkey. Tuckaleechee Caverns and tubing on the Little River easily fill a second day.Townsend is the quiet side of the Smokies and the best base for Cades Cove, an 11-mile one-way loop of historic cabins, churches, and open meadows rich with deer, black bear, and wild turkey. Tuckaleechee Caverns and tubing on the Little River easily fill a second day.

Recommendations

On to Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

2 nights

The park's busiest gateway and a natural two-night base. From here drive US-441 over Newfound Gap to Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome), the highest point in the park at 6,643 feet, and the one-way Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail past waterfalls and log cabins. The town has a tramway, distilleries, and Anakeesta.The park's busiest gateway and a natural two-night base. From here drive US-441 over Newfound Gap to Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome), the highest point in the park at 6,643 feet, and the one-way Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail past waterfalls and log cabins. The town has a tramway, distilleries, and Anakeesta.

Recommendations

On the way

Cherokee, North Carolina
Quick stop
Worth a stop on the drive: The southern park entrance and home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The Oconaluftee Visitor Center and Mountain Farm Museum show 19th-century mountain life, while the Museum of the Cherokee People tells a far older story. Mingo Falls nearby is one of the tallest cascades in the southern Appalachians.Worth a stop on the drive: The southern park entrance and home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The Oconaluftee Visitor Center and Mountain Farm Museum show 19th-century mountain life, while the Museum of the Cherokee People tells a far older story. Mingo Falls nearby is one of the tallest cascades in the southern Appalachians.
Recommendations

On to Bryson City, North Carolina

Bryson City, North Carolina

2 nights

A relaxed town on the Tuckasegee River and the hub for the Nantahala Gorge. Ride the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad through the gorge, raft or kayak the Nantahala's whitewater, and walk the easy waterfall loop at Deep Creek, a quieter park entrance made for tubing in summer.A relaxed town on the Tuckasegee River and the hub for the Nantahala Gorge. Ride the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad through the gorge, raft or kayak the Nantahala's whitewater, and walk the easy waterfall loop at Deep Creek, a quieter park entrance made for tubing in summer.

Recommendations

On the way

Knoxville, Tennessee
Quick stop
Close the loop back in Knoxville via I-40 through the Pigeon River Gorge, around 75 miles from Bryson City. Time a final evening on Gay Street or by the river before flying out of McGhee Tyson Airport.Close the loop back in Knoxville via I-40 through the Pigeon River Gorge, around 75 miles from Bryson City. Time a final evening on Gay Street or by the river before flying out of McGhee Tyson Airport.
Recommendations

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Loop