Hi there!
Well, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known for its grand scenic views!
Yes, you can just drive through Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
It’s very possible to get grand scenic views from the comfort of your car!
There are a number of scenic drives in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
I spent 10 days in the Smoky Mountains which including driving around Tennessee and North Carolina, and here are the scenic drives you need to know about!
5 best scenic drives in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Here are some of the best scenic drives in Great Smoky Mountains National Park that come with VIEWS!
1. Newfound Gap Road
Newfound Gap Road is THE main road that goes through the Smoky Mountains, running north – south.
This road connects the gateway towns of Gatlinburg TN in the north to Cherokee NC in the south.
This is among the most popular scenic drives in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
You’ll get scenic mountain views even as you’re driving without stepping foot out of your car.
If you do want an excuse to get out of the car, you’ll find tons of opportunities to do so.
There are many scenic overlooks with parking areas.
For a picnic spot in the mountains, you can find Chimneys Picnic Area (Tennessee) and Collins Creek Picnic Area (North Carolina) along Newfound Gap Road.
The trailheads for some of the best hikes in the Smoky Mountains can also be found along Newfound Gap Road.
On the north end just before you start Newfound Gap Road you’ll find the Sugarland Visitor Center.
On the south end, you can find the Oconaluftee Visitor Center which can be one of the most convenient places to see elk in the Smoky Mountains.
You’ll also find a historic mill on the North Carolina side of the road.
There is one campground along Newfound Gap Road, and that is Smokemont Campground in North Carolina.
See more about the best hikes in the Smoky Mountains with views!
2. Clingmans Dome Road
The end of Clingmans Dome Road will take you to one of THE most popular spots in the Smoky Mountains.
At the end of the road is a parking lot and from there you can see grand views of the Smoky Mountains.
This is also where you’ll find the start of the Clingmans Dome Trail which will take you to the highest point in the Smoky Mountains.
For more hiking, you can also hike to Andrews Bald from the end of Clingmans Dome Road.
See more about Clingmans Dome Road and the drive from Gatlinburg to Clingmans Dome.
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Here is a quick list of places to stay for your Tennessee North Carolina road trip, and you can read the reviews at partner website booking.com.
- Sevierville: Serenity, A Rustic Log Cabin Retreat
- Gatlinburg on a budget: Marshall's Creek Rest Motel or River Edge Inn or Gatlinburg Mountain Inn
- Gatlinburg resort: Embassy Suites By Hilton Gatlinburg Resort
- More in Gatlinburg: Greystone Lodge on the River
- Asheville: Princess Anne Boutique Hotel
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3. Cades Cove Loop Road
Cades Cove Loop Road is another one of the most popular scenic drives in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
This is a slow-going one-way road in Cades Cove that does loop around. It’s around 11 miles long.
There are actually a few different ways you can experience Cades Cove Loop Road, and driving it is one way.
There are historic cabins (for example the John Oliver Cabin), a historic mill, and the Cades Cove Visitor Center along the way.
You may also want to make an extended stop to hike to Abrams Falls, which is among the best waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains.
The Abrams Falls trailhead is located down a road off of Cades Cove Loop Road.
Aside from driving, biking the Cades Cove loop and walking the Cades Cove loop are popular ways to experience Cades Cove.
If you will be driving the Cades Cove Loop Road, note that in 2021, Wednesdays are closed to cars all day long.
This also makes Wednesday the perfect day to bike and walk!
Oh, and it’s not uncommon to see bears in Cades Cove, if seeing bears is one of your goals for your trip to the Smoky Mountains.
Be sure to keep your distance from all wild animals though.
That’s for your safety, and everyone else’s future safety too.
It’s better that bears not get too comfortable with humans.
See more about things to do in Cades Cove and the drive from Gatlinburg to Cades Cove.
4. Little River Road
Little River Road is a winding road that does go right along a river which you’ll see as you’re driving.
There are also some small roadside waterfalls along the way that you can stop to see. (For example: the Sinks, Cane Creek Twin Falls, or Meigs Falls.)
For a picnic spot, you can eat right along the river at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area.
See more about Little River Road.
5. Foothills Parkway
The western Foothills Parkway can be a perfect welcome if you’re driving to the Smoky Mountains from the north on I-75!
For a perfect picnic spot to rest after a few hours of driving, you can go to Look Rock Picnic Area and you can eat with scenic views!
You can make the Look Rock overlook your destination on google maps to navigate you onto the Foothills Parkway.
And then from there, you’ll continue driving east to get to the main area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park (and Gatlinburg).
There is also the eastern Foothills Parkway if you’re coming over from that side that can also be a nice welcome to the Smoky Mountains.
That is near Cosby TN (and near Cosby Campground). (map)
See more about the Western Foothills Parkway.
Recap! Quick list: Smoky Mountains drives you need to do!
1. Newfound Gap Road
Newfound Gap Road is THE main road that goes through the Smoky Mountains, running north – south.
This is among the most popular scenic drives in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
There are scenic overlooks, picnic areas, and the best hikes in the Smoky Mountains directly off of Newfound Gap Road.
If you want just ONE scenic drive, Newfound Gap Road may be the most scenic route in the Smoky Mountains!
2. Clingmans Dome Road
Drive above the clouds!
The end of Clingmans Dome Road will take you to one of THE most popular spots in the Smoky Mountains.
You can get grand views of the Smoky Mountains at the end of the road which is the Clingmans Dome parking lot.
And then from there you can hike up to the highest point in the Smoky Mountains!
3. Cades Cove Loop Road
Cades Cove Loop Road is another one of the most popular scenic drives in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
This is a slow-going one-way road that does loop around.
As you are driving through Cades Cove, you can stop off at historic cabins, a historic mill, and you have a chance at seeing different types of wildlife including BEARS!
Along with driving the loop road, it’s also popular to bike the Cades Cove Loop Road and walk the Cades Cove Loop Road.
Wednesdays are designated as car-free days which means you can’t drive the Cades Cove Loop Road on Wednesdays.
4. Little River Road
Little River Road is a winding road that does go right along a river which you’ll see as you’re driving.
You can make stops to see small roadside waterfalls or for a picnic along the river.
5. Foothills Parkway
The western Foothills Parkway can be a perfect welcome if you’re driving to the Smoky Mountains from the north like driving down on I-75!
And that’s a bit about the best drives in the Smoky Mountains!
List of best scenic drives in Great Smoky Mountains National Park:
- Newfound Gap Road
- Clingmans Dome Road
- Cades Cove Loop Road
- Little River Road
- Foothills Parkway
- Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
- Driving from Gatlinburg to Clingmans Dome
- Driving from Gatlinburg to Cades Cove
HAPPY DRIVING IN GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK!
Here are more ideas for a few days in the Smoky Mountains!
More of the best things that the Smoky Mountains is known for is hiking!If you're looking for just one solid day hike in the Smoky Mountains, there's the Mount LeConte hike. Most often this is done as a day hike, but you can also stay overnight near the Mount LeConte summit! There is the LeConte Lodge, which claims to be the highest guest lodge in the eastern part of the United States! (It does book up!)
There are also lots more hikes that come with mountain views. See more about some of the best hikes in the Smoky Mountains.
There are also a lot of hikes to waterfalls. See more about the best waterfall hikes in the Smoky Mountains.
You can also go camping in the mountains. See more about the best campgrounds in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. (No showers in the national park, though!)
Cost to go to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
There is no national park entry fee for Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but as of 2023, there is a parking fee.You'll need a parking pass when you go to the Smoky Mountains.
You can wait until you arrive to buy the parking pass, or you can buy it online before you go at recreation.gov.
Depending on how many days you will be in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the cost of parking will be $5 or $15 per vehicle.
Plan out your time in the Smoky Mountains!
Some of the best known things in Great Smoky Mountains National Park include Clingmans Dome, Cades Cove, and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail!For Clingmans Dome, you can get great views from the parking lot, or you can hike up to the highest point in the Smoky Mountains! (No matter what, you do need weather on your side, though! For me, 3rd time was the charm at Clingmans Dome!) See more about Clingmans Dome.
For Cades Cove, it's all about the slow-going Cades Cove Loop Road! You can drive it, bike it, or walk it! You can make stops to walk inside historic cabins, see a historic mill, and even do a waterfall hike! See more about Cades Cove.
The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is also a slow-going road that you drive and make stops along the way, including quiet stops along a creek or waterfalls hikes. See more about the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
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