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Scenic Drives

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.

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.

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.

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.

Vantage Stays · Smoky Mountain Guide

Scenic Drives

The most beautiful drives in the Smokies. Cades Cove Loop, Newfound Gap Road, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, and the best overlooks near Gatlinburg.

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hours & details

7 places3 areasvantagestays.com/explore/scenic-drives.html

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.

The Checklist

PlaceRatingHoursPhoneAddress
Gatlinburg
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail4.7 ★Sunrise to SunsetHistoric Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook4.8 ★Open 24 HoursParkway Bypass, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Cades Cove Loop Road4.8 ★Sunrise to SunsetCades Cove Loop Rd, Great Smoky Mountains NP
Newfound Gap Overlook4.8 ★Open 24 hoursNewfound Gap Rd, Great Smoky Mountains NP
National Park
Newfound Gap4.9 ★Open 24 HoursHwy 441, GSMNP (~15 mi from Gatlinburg)
Carlos C. Campbell Overlook4.7 ★Open 24 HoursHwy 441, GSMNP (~4 mi from Sugarlands)
Chimney Tops Overlook4.6 ★Open 24 HoursHwy 441, GSMNP (~9 mi from Sugarlands)

Picking the Right One for Your Group

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.

Insider Tips

Hours change seasonally; scan the code above for live info. Book your cabin: vantagestays.com · (865) 408-1817
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