Gatlinburg Scenic Drives : Smoky Mountains

The scenic drives around Gatlinburg, in the Smoky Mountains, are some of the most serene I have ever driven. The rolling green hills and subtle blue light, the lush greenery and wildlife sighting opportunities, all make this area perfect for road trips. Here’s a list of my favourite Gatlinburg scenic drives, attractions along the way, and the best photo opportunities too.

NOTE: Make sure you check the National Park site and road information before setting off on your scenic drive – roads can close at short notice, and often in the winter months

Map of Scenic Drives near Gatlinburg

Little River Road

Little River Gorge is more of a transit route that connects you to other scenic drives, but it is well worth a mention. Running from the Sugarlands Visitor Center to a fork in the road in between Cades Cover and Townsend. It is a perfect gateway to these two areas, and is beautiful in its own right. It is also home to The Sinks, a popular waterfall and natural pools.

Notable stops: Laurel Falls, Elkmont Village, The Sinks

The Sinks

The Sinks is an accessible picnic area and popular scenic waterfall along the Little River Road. These fast moving waterfalls, and deep sink pools are a very photogenic attraction, with no hiking involved. The deep chasm that created The Sinks was made by dynamite, after a logging company cleared a log jam in the 1800s. But be warned, the seemingly serene pools beyond the waterfalls have deceptively swift currents; so swimming is definitely NOT recommended.

Cades Cove Loop

One of the busiest scenic drives near Gatlinburg, the Cades Cove Loop is a circuit in a remote cove in the Smoky Mountains. This 11 mile one-way loop is prime wildlife spotting territory – with deer, black bears, wild turkeys and more often making an appearance. Cades Cove does, however, get incredibly busy – the one way system is often congested during the height of summer. NOTE: Please follow the instructions on the drive and don’t stop anywhere other than the pull-outs!

Foothills Parkway

The Foothills Parkway is a scenic drive that took over 50 years to complete. Until 2018, there was a 1.65 mile ‘missing link’ between Walland and Wear Valley. With this now finished, the 33 mile section between Wear Valley (near Gatlinburg) and Lake Chilhowee is a dream for road-trippers. We particularly enjoyed the scenic overlook near the Walland end, which has a view map to identify all the mountains you can see from this vantage point.

Notable stops: Look Rock Tower, Top of the World TN, Foothills Parkway West Overlook #5, Scenic overlooks on the recently opened ‘Missing Link’!

Happy Valley Road + Chilhowee Lake + Tail of the Dragon

This drive can be combined with the Foothills Parkway, or done in combination with the Cades Cove loop. Chilhowee Lake on the Little Tennessee River is a great spot for picnicking, boating, fishing, or just enjoying the scenic drive alongside it. The Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap has over 300 bends in the road in a mere 11 miles – making it a prime motorcycling route.

Notable stops: Abram’s Creek, Tail of the Dragon scenic lookout.

Newfound Gap Road (Hwy 441) + Clingman’s Dome

Highway 441 is one of the main roads over the Smoky Mountains, and is unutterably beautiful. There are so many stops, trails, scenic overlooks, and beautiful winding vistas to take in along this road, that you should really leave a whole day to enjoy it. Like many scenic drives around Gatlinburg, it can get very busy in the summer – so leave early. I loved the solitude of the river walk along Walker Camp Prong. While the other areas were full to bursting with people trying to get the best views, these valley walks and pullouts are often much quieter.

Notable stops: Carlos Campbell Overlook, Chimney Tops Overlook, Morton’s Gap, New Found Gap, Clingman’s Dome + access to the Appalachian Trail.

You can also keep following Highway 441 through Pigeon Forge, up to Norris Lake north of Knoxville!

care of Clayton from KnoxRoadTripper

Wildlife

One of the highlights of our time in the Smoky Mountains was seeing wildlife everywhere – especially this elk, who crossed right near an ‘Elk Crossing’ sign! We saw wild turkeys and deer too, but sadly no black bears during our visit. We visited in spring and the butterflies were abundant – bright blue varietals en masse near the rivers made for magical picnics.

Cherokee

Highway 441 is usually used as either an entry or exit to Gatlinburg, or as a stop-off through the Smoky Mountains. I really enjoyed Cherokee, and would definitely suggest that you stay a while. Even if it is just to visit the Museum of the Cherokee Indian – this informative and insightful museum is definitely worth a visit.

Where to stay in Gatlinburg

The great thing about Gatlinburg accommodation is that you really do have a diverse range of both price and type – there is something for everyone. From mountain view luxury holiday homes for the family; to the perennial resort favourite – Margaritaville! For a mid-range option, why not try Exploria Resorts, who have a number of buildings on Historic Nature Trail, and often have great discounts. Gatlinburg also plays host to all the usual budget favourites like the Econo Lodge, and many hostels.

Travelling from the Smoky Mountains to North Carolina? Drive the breathtaking Cherohala Skyway!

care of Jason from Road Trips & Coffee

Gatlinburg Scenic Drives

I really enjoyed Gatlinburg as a base for all these enchanting scenic drives. If, like me, you enjoy nature, photography and road-tripping, then the Smoky Mountains provide unparalleled routes and vistas. The advantage of staying in Gatlinburg is that you can also then enjoy the local nightlife – barbecue restaurants, bars, distilleries and more! I would definitely recommend at least 4-5 days in the area, especially if you intend on visiting Dollywood and the other Pigeon Forge attractions, as well as these scenic drives around Gatlinburg.

Planning road trip itineraries is my jam – check out how I organised our Southern BBQ Road Trip here.

All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM; and an iPhoneX.