Auto Tours in the GSMNP

Though much of the 500,000+ acres of park consists of backcountry wilderness interspersed with natural features such as trout streams, hiking trails, waterfalls, and walking nature trails, the Park contains both improved and unimproved roads that showcase the size and beauty of the GSMNP. If you have only a short period of time to visit, try some of the auto tours described here to get a good feel for what wonderful things the Great Smokies National Park offers.

Blue Ridge Parkway Auto Tour - Follows the Appalachian Mountain chain from Shenendoah National Park to the Great Smokies National Park—a distance of 469 miles, while section in the Park runs from North Carolina near Oconoluftee to the Tennessee side and on north to Shenandoah.

Cades Cove Loop - For an investment of just a couple of hours (twice that if you visit most of the exhibits) you get to see what the Park is all about. Cades Cove is the most visited part of the Park--a must-see.

Clingman's Dome Tour - Near Newfound Gap and State Line Ridge, you will come to Clingmans Dome Road, which will take you to the Clingmans Dome parking area, where you will find the trailhead and hike the last half-mile to the 45-foot observation tower. This is the highest point in the Park, where, on a clear day, you can see 7 states.

Cosby-Big Creek-Cataloochee Tour - This 11-mile tour passes historic structures, mountain views, secluded backroads on the NC side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Greenbrier Road Tour - This route, just outside Gatlinburg, follows the Little Pigeon River to Trillium Gap and the trailhead (challenging hike, but great reward) to Ramsay Cascades, arguably the best waterfall in the Park.

Lakeview Drive - This 6-mile drive is also known as "the Road to Nowhere" and affords great views of Fontana Lake on the North Carolina side of the Park.

Little River Road Tour - Once a railroad roadbed (before the establishment of the GSMNP this was logging country) in Little River Gorge, this 18-mile drive begins at the Sugarlands Visitor Center (a must-visit) to the start of the Cades Cove Loop Road (see link above).

Newfound Gap Road - Newfound Gap Road, which completely traverses the GSMNP, meanders for the 32 mile drive between Cherokee NC and Gatlinburg TN.

Parson Branch Road - An 8-mile gravel road that can only be accessed from the Cades Cove, and ends at US 129 on the North Carolina side of the Park. U.S. 129 is a popular spot for motorcyclists because the road is loaded with curves and thrilling to ride.

Rich Mountain Road - This seven-mile, one-way route runs north from Cades Cove to the GSMNP boundary at Rich Mountain Gap and on down the mountain to Townsend TN. This road has a popular pullout from which to look back at the Cove and photograph one of the churches and cemetary in Cades Cove.

Roaring Fork Motor Tour - A five-mile one-way tour near Gatlinburg that is referred to as a "motorized nature trail". Narrow road that is limited to certain vehicle sizes, but it is very accessible from Gatlinburg and close to other attractions and dining.

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