Staff Pick

Road Trip Nashville to Great Smoky Mountains – Gatlinburg

Nashville Gatlinburg
360
km
5h
drive
All seasons
season

The Itinerary

From Nashville — country music capital — to Gatlinburg — gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park — I-40 runs east through the Tennessee Appalachians. Great Smoky Mountains NP is America's most-visited park (12 million visitors/year) and is free, unlike most national parks.

Cades Cove Loop Road, a 17 km loop through a historic valley, is the signature attraction: pioneer barns, log churches, and nearly guaranteed black bear sightings at sunrise or sunset. Clingmans Dome summit (2,025 m, Tennessee's highest point) gives a 360° panorama from its futuristic observation tower.

Gatlinburg, the resort town at the mountain's foot, and Pigeon Forge with Dollywood (Dolly Parton's amusement park) draw families. In fall, Smokies colours rank among America's most spectacular. En route, Loretta Lynn's Ranch and the Tennessee Whiskey Trail are worth a stop.

Points of Interest

  • ✦
    Cades Cove Loop
    17 km loop, pioneer barns, near-guaranteed black bears.
  • ✦
    Clingmans Dome
    2,025 m, futuristic observation tower, 360° panorama.
  • ✦
    Gatlinburg
    Resort town, gondola, moonshine distilleries.
  • ✦
    Dollywood (Pigeon Forge)
    Dolly Parton's theme park, top-ranked in the US.
Practical info
  • Departure Nashville
  • Destination Gatlinburg
  • Distance 360 km
  • Duration 5h
  • Category Long (250–500 km)
  • Best season All seasons
Themes
national-park mountain appalachians bear Family Fall music tennessee

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