Touring / By Car

Scenic Drives in the Smokies

You do not have to hike to see the Smokies at their best. These drives wind past wildlife, waterfalls, historic cabins, and overlooks that open onto ridge after blue ridge.

Plan Your Visit

What to Know

Best Seasons

Beautiful year round. Spring greens the valleys, summer is lush, and fall draws crowds for the color, when the loops can back up for hours. Some high roads close in winter, but a clear cold day offers the longest views of all.

What to Bring

A full tank, a camera, water and snacks, and patience for slow traffic at the overlooks and on the loop roads. Download directions ahead of time, since cell service drops out across most of the park.

How to Choose

Find the Right Fit

1

Pick Your Route

A slow wildlife loop, a high mountain crossing, or a short historic motor trail are very different outings. Decide what you want before you set out, since they sit in different parts of the park.

2

Go Early or Late

Wildlife is most active and traffic is lightest near sunrise and in the evening. Midday in fall, the popular loops can crawl, so time your drive to the edges of the day.

3

Plan Your Stops

These drives are about pulling over. Note the overlooks, cabins, and short walks you want to catch so you are not deciding on the fly while traffic stacks up behind you.

Drives and Overlooks

7 Options Across the Smokies

Sorted by visitor rating and review count. Click any card for full details, photos, and directions.

Cades Cove Loop Road
Top Rated

Cades Cove Loop Road

4.8 stars, 12543 reviews

Great Smoky Mountains NP
Newfound Gap Overlook

Newfound Gap Overlook

4.8 stars, 8765 reviews

Great Smoky Mountains NP
Newfound Gap

Newfound Gap

4.9 stars, 5678 reviews

National Park
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

4.7 stars, 4321 reviews

Gatlinburg
Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook

Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook

4.8 stars, 2345 reviews

Gatlinburg
Carlos C. Campbell Overlook

Carlos C. Campbell Overlook

4.7 stars, 876 reviews

National Park
Chimney Tops Overlook

Chimney Tops Overlook

4.6 stars, 543 reviews

National Park
Find It

Where to Go

Insider Knowledge

Tips and Getting There

Insider Tips

  • The Cades Cove loop is best at dawn for wildlife and the lightest traffic. In peak fall it can take hours, so go early or skip the weekend.
  • The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a narrow one way loop near Gatlinburg, closed to buses and trailers, with cabins and a roadside waterfall along the way.
  • Newfound Gap Road climbs through several climate zones to the state line. Stop at the overlooks on the way up for the big layered ridge views.

Getting There and Parking

The drives start at different points, with Cades Cove on the Townsend side, Newfound Gap Road running from Gatlinburg to Cherokee, and Roaring Fork just off the edge of Gatlinburg. A parking tag is required only where you stop and park over fifteen minutes.

Who Is This For

Choosing the Right Drive

For Wildlife and History

The Cades Cove loop is the classic. An eleven mile one way road circles a broad valley full of deer, turkeys, and often bears, past historic churches and cabins. Go at dawn and give it half a day.

For the High Crossing

Newfound Gap Road is the spine of the park, climbing from lowland forest to the spruce fir of the state line. The overlooks along the way deliver the layered blue ridge views the Smokies are named for.

For a Short Scenic Loop

The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail packs rushing streams, old cabins, and a roadside waterfall into a short one way loop right by Gatlinburg. It is the best quick drive when time is tight.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most famous scenic drive?

The Cades Cove Loop Road, an eleven mile one way loop through a broad valley known for wildlife, historic buildings, and mountain views. It is the most popular drive in the park.

Can I see wildlife from the car?

Yes. Cades Cove in particular is excellent for deer, turkeys, and black bears, especially at dawn and dusk. Stay in or near your car and never approach or feed any animal.

Are the roads open in winter?

Main roads usually stay open, but high roads like the Clingmans Dome spur and sometimes Newfound Gap close for snow and ice. Check current road status before a winter drive.

How long does the Cades Cove loop take?

Without heavy traffic, about two to four hours with stops. In peak fall or on busy weekends it can take much longer, so go at dawn or on a weekday.

Do I need a parking pass to drive through?

No pass is needed to drive. A paid parking tag is required only if you park and stop for more than fifteen minutes at an overlook or trailhead.

Is the Roaring Fork drive RV friendly?

No. The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is narrow and one way and is closed to buses, trailers, and RVs. Drive it in a car or smaller vehicle.

Where to Stay

Tour by Day, Relax by Night

Base your road trip in a luxury Smoky Mountain cabin near the park entrances and the loop roads. Come home to a hot tub and a long deck view each evening.

Browse Cabins
Also Explore

Related Categories

Waterfalls Easy Hikes Picnic Areas Hiking Trails Summit Hikes
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