The legendary Great Smoky Mountains National Park conjures up images of classic blue silhouette of mountain ridges, black bears, elk, and rolling waterfalls. The national park spans both North Carolina and Tennessee and makes for quite the epic road trip. The question is, what’s the best way to do it?
With this 6 day Smoky Mountains itinerary, you’ll gain inspiration for how to make the most of a trip that covers both states and includes the best places to see, do, eat, and stay for those with an adventurous spirit.
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Great Smoky Mountains Road Trip Guide
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited of all of the US national parks but for someone that’s never been there, it’s a daunting task to put together an itinerary, especially when you only have 6 days to work with.
If you love the outdoors, beautiful landscapes, wildlife, and exhilarating adventure, this one’s for you!
What To Know Before Planning Your Road Trip
There are probably a million ways to see the Smoky Mountains.
Something you’ll learn is that most road trips will include a combination of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park itself and the surrounding towns and cities that flank it on both sides of Tennessee and North Carolina.
Since there’s so much to see, do, eat, and stay in the region, you’ll have to pick and choose what you want to do. Much of it will depend on your travel style, your group, the number of days you have, and how much of the national park you want to do versus the periphery.
As we’ve mentioned, this Smoky Mountains itinerary is meant to be guide for a trip that someone real has actually done, to give you an idea of one way to plan a trip here.
To help put this together, we employed our art of planning trips as a way to visualize the trip and stay organized. Keep reading to find out how you can get access to the 6 day Smoky Mountains itinerary spreadsheet.
How To Get Around The Great Smoky Mountains?
Like most, if not all national parks in the United States, The Great Smoky Mountains and its surroundings are best explored by car.
This means that your best bet to getting around here is to come here by your own car if you’re doing a much larger road trip through the US or simply rent a car.
The easiest way to rent a car is to pick it up at the airport you’re landing in. The two major airports are Knoxville, Tennessee (TYS) and Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT). You can either book a one-way car or round-trip rental.
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For those that don’t drive, there are a couple of options that you can look at:
- Base yourself in North Carolina (i.e. Waynesville, Bryson City) and do day trips.
- Base yourself in Tennessee (i.e. Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville) and do day trips.
- Book a guided Smoky Mountains tour.
How To Use This Smoky Mountains Itinerary
As with all of our detailed itineraries such as our 9 day Northern California road trip, 2 days in Istanbul, 8 day Iceland itinerary, 3 days in Kauai, and others, our goal is to share as much detail as we possibly can so you can be as prepared as possible.
That said, everyone is going to want something a little different with this Smoky Mountains itinerary so use this as a a place to start and adjust from there.
Where we’ve been able to, we provide alternatives and other recommendations for things like accommodations, activities, tours, and restaurants.
For this road trip, we arbitrarily decided to start in North Carolina and end in Tennessee but you could easily do it the other way around.
7 Driving Tips For Exploring the Smoky Mountains
As you start planning your epic road trip, it’s worth noting a couple of things when it comes to driving around the Smoky Mountains:
- Rent from the airport – If you’re flying in and out of the region, you’d be better off renting from the airport than trying to find a city location. This would be a lot more efficient than having to find ways into and out of the city.
- Gas up often – Trust me, you don’t want to run out of fuel while in the national park or in more rural areas. A good rule of thumb is to fuel up when you’re at half gauge.
- No tolls – We’re happy to report that there are no tolls to speak of in and around the Great Smoky Mountains so there’s no need to stress here. To be doubly sure, make sure to turn off toll routes on your navigation app.
- SUV is a great idea – This isn’t mandatory but there are a lot of steep winding roads in and around the Smokies and not all of them are paved. Getting around in a compact sedan would be fine but we did enjoy having the extra confidence of the SUV.
- Many single-lane roads – There were a lot of rural roads that reminded us of our road trip in southern Ireland where the hedges went straight up to the road and the opposing traffic were too close for comfort. That was the easy part. On some of the roads you’ll find in the national park or winding up/down to a cabin, you’ll be faced with single-lane roads that also feature hairpin turns and steep drop offs on one side without guard rails. Make sure to drive safely.
- Watch for elk – Elk aren’t shy and will hang out near or on the roads so be alert, especially when you see the yellow elk warning signs.
- Pre-save points of interest – There is no cell service and hence no data in the entirety of the national park. For ease of mind, it’s worth saving pins on your Google Maps app and also make your maps available offline.
Best Time To Do This Road Trip
We’re not blowing any smoke here! The truth is that the Smoky Mountains National Park and both sides of North Carolina and Tennessee are amazing all-year round. It really depends on what you’re looking to do and see.
A better way to put it is that there isn’t a wrong time of the year to come to the Smokies.
Spring
One of the nicknames of the national park is “Wildflower National Park” and that’s because in the spring time, 1,500 different flowering plants bloom. The lush green foliage combined with the rainbow of colours from all of the flowers is a sight to see and an incredible opportunity for photographers.
Snowmelt and rain also means that the waterfalls will be full and gushing with water.
Wildlife wise, this is calving season for elk so you may be able to spot their babies. Spring is also bear season where they start emerging from their dens and coming out of hibernation. This happens between late March through early April.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has a great page on black bears that you should definitely read.
The weather is quite cool throughout the season and you’ll be faced with unpredictable rain but the benefit is that there’ll be fewer crowds and lower lodging prices.
Summer
The summer months are undoubtedly the most popular and busiest times in the Smoky Mountains. With the kids off from school and the weather the warmest, lookouts, trails, and activities in both Tennessee and North Carolina will be packed with people.
That said, you’ll have the whole national park available to you as all of its amenities are open and you’ll have access to all elevations.
Weather wise, it will get up to the 80’s and 90’s (27°C to 32°C) in July so you’ll want to plan to do most of your activities in the morning or late afternoon. That said, this’ll depend on what elevation you’re at. July also has the most rainfall in the year where the surprise afternoon thunderstorm will seemingly pop out of nowhere.
Summer is also great for wildlife viewing where you’ll see turkey, deer, bears, and elk be quite active.
Bear-wise, mating season begins in July so you’ll find them active in the early morning or late evening. This’ll give you opportunities to view them but you’ll also need to be careful on trails.
Fall
After a hot and humid summer, crisp and cool air descends and the fall colors emerge in mid-September.
There’s a quick dip in crowds and lodging prices after Labor Day but because of how popular the autumn season is, it spikes again once the colors start changing.
Whether you’re in the park or viewing it from the Tennessee or North Carolina side, you’ll see a carpet of orange, red, and yellow hues. The peak of the fall colours is in October and quickly fade when November hits.
Similar to spring, it gets cold at night and averages in the 70s (21°C) during the day.
For wildlife, this is also the best time to see the elk as this is when the antlers of males are fully grown and they challenge other bulls and bugle to attract females.
Winter
No surprise that this is the least visited season of the year in the Smoky Mountains. The advantage of coming here is that you won’t find crowd anywhere and it reveals a completely different landscape filled with frozen waterfalls and snow-capped mountains.
Extra care is required when travelling through the national park at this time because of the icy and slippery conditions. You also have to pay close attention to closures and weather warnings.
There’s something quite magical about staying in a cabin in the winter and cozying up by the fireplace.
While it does get cold at higher elevations, towns such as Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Bryson City, and Waynesville don’t get much snow so it’s not as cold as you think.
Overall
Now if we were forced to choose, the best time to come to the Smoky Mountains is in the autumn season. You’ll see from our photos just how lush and green the forests are in the spring so just imagine how vivid the changing of the leaves would be in the fall.
If you want to avoid the massive crowds in the fall season, try to plan a trip in late September or early November.
6 Day Smoky Mountains Itinerary
Map of Smoky Mountains Itinerary
The below is an interactive map showing you all of the locations mentioned in the itinerary. Click on each point of interest to find out more information and links to reviews or to book an activity.
TIP: You can make this accessible on your phone. Simply expand the map and then make a copy to your own account. This will give you access to the map on the Google Maps app.
Day 1: North Carolina – Charlotte to Waynesville
You’ll be starting your 6 day Smoky Mountains itinerary on the North Carolina side and for those that are flying in, the Charlotte airport (CLT) will be the easiest to get to. If looking for more small town finds while in the area, check out our guide on quick trips around Charlotte.
All of the major car rental companies are accessible in the parking garage right across from the airport so you won’t need to take a shuttle. Once you pick up your car (we used Avis;s code AWD #A519319 for easy savings), you’ll hit the road and drive 2.5 hours to the foothills of the Smoky Mountains.
Make your way to your lodgings for the night, Boyd Mountain Log Cabins. Set in a family-owned Christmas tree farm with 150-acres overlooking the Smoky Mountains, you’ll find 8 authentic hand-hewn log cabins that date back 150-200 years. Each one has been relocated from other locations, rebuilt, restored, upgraded to modern standards, and tastefully furnished. They are also named after the locations where they originally stood.
The particular cabin we stayed at was Meadow Fork Cabin, a two-story cabin that can accommodate 8 people, has central heat and air conditioning, full dining room space, firepit, and picturesque front porch with matching rocking chairs.
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After you settle in, you won’t want to leave. You can either grab a book on the mantle to read, play checkers on the porch, take a stroll around the pond or go fishing in the ponds which are stocked with rainbow trout, bluegill, bass and catfish.
For dinner, head into the cute town of Waynesville, North Carolina. The local watering hole you’ll want to visit is Boojum Brewing Company. They’re a microbrewery that has a refreshing line up of beers that range from hoppy IPAs, crisp pale ales, deep and silky stouts, and tangy sour ales.
Their taproom features 16 taps of their latest rotation of freshly brewed beer and they also have a fine menu of tasty pub snacks, burgers, steaks, and seafood. We highly recommend trying out their brew brew day pretzels and farmhouse stack starters. A local also had us try the Graveyard Fields and I absolutely loved it.
TIP: They have an outdoor patio in the back that has its own bar and tables. If there’s space, try to get a spot there!
Before you end the night, head over to the nearby grocery store, Ingles to pick up your road trip supplies. Grab everything you think you’ll need for your 6 days including snacks, water, other drinks, and breakfast. There’ll be other chances to drop by grocery stores but you’ll save a lot of time by just making this one stop.
Get some early rest because you’ll be up early the next day.
Day 1 Summary
Where you’ll eat:
- Dinner – Boojum Brewing Company Taproom – Relaxing and casual restaurant located in the heart of downtown Waynesville with a great selection of beers and seasonal pub faire.
Where you’ll stay:
- Boyd Mountain Log Cabins (Meadow Fork Cabin) – Authentic log cabins set in a Christmas tree farm that’s perfect for a retreat and family getaways. This is one of the best places to stay if you’re coming to the Waynesville and Maggie Valley area.
We also recommend staying here:
- Brookside Mountain Mist Inn – A lovely B&B that is known for its friendly hosts, comfortable rooms, and 3-course breakfast.
- Best Western Smoky Mountain Inn – If you’d rather stay in a traditional hotel, this one is highly rated and conveniently located in Waynesville.
Day 2: North Carolina – Valley and Dome
Your first full day in North Carolina as part of this Smoky Mountains itinerary is going to be packed with hidden gems and the highest peak.
Waking up before the crack of dawn, make breakfast, pack your bags, and start heading out from Waynesville towards Cataloochee Valley. You’ll want to depart 30 minutes before sunrise.
Nestled within giant peaks is a historic community that prospered here in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Cataloochee Valley is one of the remote areas to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park but in here you’ll find well-preserved historic frame buildings such as churches, schools, and homes.
Starting in 2001, a plan was put into motion to reintroduce elk into the park and they’ve since flourished in this valley, making it to best place to watch and photograph elk in the particularly vast and open fields.
When you arrive in the morning as the fog hovers over the field, the sun just starts to reach its arms to the mountain tips, and the air is still. This is a tranquil retreat that you’ll want all to yourself.
How come no elk in the photo above? While we were the first to arrive in Cataloochee Valley, we didn’t have any luck spotting elk on the field but we did see a ton of turkey. Here, you’ll also have a chance to spot white-tailed deer, black bears, birds.
There’s no guarantees to spot elk here but this is one of two spots that give you the best chance.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW – CATALOOCHEE VALLEY
The Smoky Mountains is a massive national park but what’s unique about it is that it straddles both North Carolina and Tennessee. As a result, each side also has their own special areas of the park.
Cataloochee Valley is one such area and it’s one of the hidden gems that you have to visit that’s most easily accessible from North Carolina.
Website: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Cataloochee Valley
Price:
- This is an easy answer! It’s free. Unlike the other national parks which either have park fees or a reservation system, there are no gates to enter any part of the park. You simply drive right in or through.
Best time to visit:
- You’ll be coming here to see elk and the best time to see them is in the early morning or late afternoon when the temperatures are cooler.
Driving tips:
- The most direct way to get to Cataloochee is to take Cove Creek Road which is easily accessible from Waynesville, North Carolina.
- Cave Creek Road is a winding road that starts off as paved but once you pass through the residential area, it turns to a gravel road. You’ll be on this gravel road for 15-20 minutes and it’ll eventually turn into Old Cataloochee Turnpike.
- The gravel road is quite narrow and twists and winds quite a bit so drive carefully.
- Turn left into Cataloochee Entrance Road and the gravel road continues until right you’re about halfway down where it finally turns into a paved road.
- Technically, you can drive gravel roads from Tennessee along Mt. Sterling Road which eventually becomes 45 minutes of gravel road towards Cataloochee Valley but it’d be much easier to take I-40 into North Carolina and then up through Cove Creek Road.
Photography tips:
- Have your zoom lens prepared and ready to go before heading out.
- There is a great view back towards the towns near Waynesville on Old Cataloochee Turnpike right before you have to make that left onto Cataloochee Entrance Road.
- You’ll be tempted to go to Cataloochee Valley Overlook when you just get in. The view here is just ok so we’d recommend getting down to the valley floor first and spend your time with the elk.
- Sunrise is a great time to go because the lighting isn’t harsh, the sun just lights the trees at the top of the valley, and you might be able to catch the mysterious fog that hovers over the field.
- There are two single beam bridges across the creek that are photogenic so make sure not to miss them. One is near the school and the other is at the start of the Caldwell Fork Trailhead. Make sure to look down at the water where you might see trout passing through.
- The barn across from Hiram Caldwell House has two floors and has a giant opening that is great for portrait photography.
- Your chances of seeing elk diminishes significantly if you come during the day.
- You cannot fly a drone in the national park whatsoever.
General tips:
- Cataloochee Valley has 3 main fields for elk viewing. One is a smaller one by the Cataloochee Seasonal Quarters & Ranger Station, one right before the Palmer Chapel Methodist Church, and the largest is the field that covers the area between Hiram Caldwell House to the end of the road.
- There are a few parking lots marked on Google Maps and while you could certainly park there, Cataloochee Valley is more of a place where you drive to the field where elk can be spotted and park on the gravel pull offs.
- At first it wasn’t clear whether this was meant to be a driving safari. Yes, you’ll be driving to the various fields in the valley but once you’re there, you park, get out of your car and choose a spot on the gravel or edge of the field to watch the elk. There aren’t any fences here.
- The bathroom isn’t marked on Google Maps but there is one right between the Palmer Chapel Methodist Church and the marked parking lot. You don’t need the comfort station by the campground.
- If there are elk on the field, don’t walk on the field but if they’re not there, you’re allowed to get onto the grass.
- There are no gates to enter Cataloochee Valley so you can enter as early as you’d like or leave as late as you’d like.
- If you have the time, explore the historic buildings that have been preserved such as the Palmer Chapel, Hiram Caldwell House, the school, and Palmer House. You can enter many of the buildings and explore their interiors.
- There are several trails here including the Rough Fork Trail (takes you to Steve Woody House) and Big Fork Ridge Trail which is at the end of the road, Pretty Hollow Gap Trail, and Caldwell Fork Trail.
- Learn about the elk seasons of Cataloochee Valley to plan your trip.
Next, you’ll see a whole other side of the Smokies. At an elevation of 5,000 feet and overlooking the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you’ll find a luxury mountaintop retreat called The Swag.
It’s more than just a small rustic inn. It’s a hideaway and invigorating getaway that allows you to truly disconnect with its view of the mountains, boundless activities, authentic hospitality, and delicious dining.
While we didn’t plan early enough (at least a year or more in advance), we got a local tip that you can book a packed picnic lunch here without being a guest. This gives you access to the entire grounds, giving you the opportunity to hike up to Gooseberry Knob, watch the hummingbirds, explore the grounds, or enjoy book a spa treatment.
TIP: They have two vintage coolers right outside the main lodge where they stock ice cream and drinks. They’re free for all guests!
From the get-away-from-it-all feels, you’ll crank things up a notch with a visit to Dale’s Wheels Through Time. This is one of the top motorcycle museums in the United States. Curated and collected by Dale Walksler, his exhibits focus on an array of rare American motorcycles.
What makes Wheels Through Time more than just another museum is in their tagline of “the museum that runs”. Every single one of their machines on display can be fired up and they are more than willing to let you hear their beautiful growls.
In many ways, it feels like you’re walking through Dale’s personal workshop with bikes of all kinds, generations, and eras all under one roof. If you’re into Harleys, motorcycles from World War 2, or the most rare bike in the world, they have it all!
You’ll be driving through Maggie Valley and eventually into Bryson City. Check into your tiny home for the night at Gina’s Great Getaways, eat an early dinner at Nantahala Brewing’s Burger + Bar (or takeout to eat on the road), and start making your way back into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
This time, you’ll be heading up to the famous viewpoint, and tallest peak in the park, Clingmans Dome.
On the way though, make sure to be on the lookout for elk grazing on the side of the road. While we didn’t see elk at Cataloochee Valley, they were right by Highway 441 near the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, munching on grass, casually crossing the road, and causing quite the stir amongst the motorists passing by.
Clingmans Dome is a unique piece of architecture in the national park. At 6,643 feet, the observation tower was built in 1959 and features a spiral ramp that is in sync with the same 12 percent grade that the trail leading up to the tower has.
When you arrive, the panoramic views of the mountains and cascading ridges will take your breath away. This is just from the parking lot and visitor center area.
Continue hiking up the trail and this is when you actually start losing your breath because of how steep the path is. The 0.5 mile hike takes you to the base of Clingmans Dome where you’ll do the remaining spiral to get up to the top of the 45-foot circular observation platform.
The reason for the slightly awkward dinner option is because you’re trying to rush here to catch the sunset. It’s been a packed day so decompress out here with everyone else that has gathered here and watch nature’s finest light show.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW – CLINGMANS DOME
At the highest peak in the national park is a unique spiral structure that offers 360 degree unobstructed views of the Smoky Mountains and cities below.
Clingmans Dome is built along state lines so half of it is in Tennessee and the other half is in North Carolina.
Website: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Clingmans Dome
Price:
- Free
Best time to visit:
- Sunrise or sunset for the best views from the tower.
Driving tips:
- The road from the main Newfound Gap Road (Highway 441) is windy but easy to drive and newly paved.
- The drive towards Clingmans Dome has a number of scenic pullouts.
- While open all year round, the 7-mile road to Clingmans Dome from Newfound Gap Road closes from December 1 – March 31 so the only way to get there is by hiking.
- There is a large parking lot but during high-season it can fill quickly so come early.
- If you’re coming here for sunset, this means you’ll be driving in the dark through the national park so be careful and use your high beams (while not blinding oncoming traffic at the same time).
Photography tips:
- Many photographers will try to capture the sunrise or sunset from Clingmans Dome but most photographers prefer sunset because the curve leading up towards the tower points west.
- Photographers will set up tripods along the ramp up and on the tower itself so you will want to go early to pick a spot. It does get quite busy at sunset.
- The best spot overall is actually on the ramp and not in the tower itself because there are less foreground trees obstructing the view of the mountain range.
- Right before the visitor center is a lookout point with log benches. This is a great spot to shoot the silhouette or mountain ridges.
- You cannot fly a drone in the national park whatsoever.
General tips:
- Pets and bicycles aren’t allowed.
- The trail up to Clingmans Dome is not wheelchair accessible.
- If you’re going for sunrise or sunset, make sure you have the right headlamp. The Fenix HM65R we’ve reviewed is highly recommended.
- Open all year round.
- The hike up to Clingmans Dome is only 0.5 miles and well-paved but don’t be fooled, the elevation change is quite large and so you’ll find yourself quite gassed when you reached the base of the tower.
- Since this is at 6,643 feet, the dome can be 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit (6-12°C) colder than where you came from so make sure to pack a jacket, even in the summer.
- The Appalachian Trail crosses Clingmans Dome if you want to do a short segment of it while you’re here.
- There are washroom facilities in the parking lot.
- If you can’t do the hike up to the dome, there’s actually a great view of the mountains looking westwards which is perfect for sunset. You’ll see many people lining up their camping chairs to watch from the parking lot.
- The visitor center is right by the trailhead and their hours can be found on the Visitor Centers page. There’s a bookstore, shop, and park information here.
For the next two nights, you’ll be staying in the Sweet Pea Tiny Home. As a tiny home, you’ll be amazed by how spacious and functional it is for its size. Inside, you’ll find a full kitchen, dining area, bathroom, bedroom. Outside, there’s a front porch, back deck, fire pit, and barbecue.
This Smoky Mountains itinerary is filled with unique stays like this but you need to know where to look, so hopefully this gives you a few ideas.
Day 2 Summary
What you’ll see:
Where you’ll eat:
- Breakfast – Make your own breakfast at the cabin.
- Lunch – The Swag – Exclusive luxury mountain lodge where you can book a picnic lunch to get a sneak peek. You won’t find it on their website so just call them to set it up.
- Dinner – Nantahala Brewing and Burger Bar – If you have time, come here for dinner or pick something up to go and eat it on the way up to Clingmans Dome.
Tours you can book:
- Clear Creek Falls Hike – This is a guided 4.5 hour hiking tour to Clear Creek Falls that starts and ends in Waynesville.
Where you’ll stay:
- Gina’s Great Getaways – They have a wide selection of getaway homes from a Lil’ Red Caboose to the Sweet Pea Tiny Home we stayed in. A heads up that their wifi is a bit slow because they’re in a remote area.
We also recommend staying here:
- McKinley Edwards Inn – This is located in the outskirts of Bryson City that runs like a B&B with a superb breakfast, great hosts, comfortable rooms, and is well-reviewed.
- Nantahala Cabins – If you’ll be spending time with the activities along Nantahala River, this place has a collection of cabins to choose from that range in sizes and budgets. Many of them hot tubs as well!
Day 3: North Carolina – Raft and Rail
For your day 3, you’ll be combing two iconic activities in western North Carolina – riding the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad and rafting the Nantahala River.
Start your morning by heading into Bryson City. Park in the giant lot reserved for Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (GSMR) guests and stop by Mountain Perks across from the train depot for breakfast.
Check in at the GSMR office where they’ll provide you the tickets that you need. The beauty of the Raft & Rail package is that it’s a continuous experience that’ll start with your train ride through the Nantahala Gorge, where you’ll then get picked up by Wildwater on the other end to start the rafting segment of the trip.
Once they give the signal to board the train, you’ll make your way to your designated car and off you go.
Compared to the train ride we did in Sacramento in our Northern California road trip, I’d say the Nantahala Gorge Excursion is much more exciting, passing through Fontana Lake, Nantahala Gorge, two trestle bridges, ravines, waterfalls, and relocated towns created from the Fontana Dam.
This is a trip back in time as the diesel or steam-powered locomotive runs through tracks known as the Murphy Branch of the Western North Carolina Railroad. The brakeman responsible for your car will also come around to provide commentary on things you can see along the track.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW – GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS RAILROAD
This is a must-do activity for those exploring the western edge of North Carolina. With 53 miles of track, 2 tunnels, and 25 bridges, Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (GSMR) offers two different tracks – one to Nantahala Gorge, and another to Tuckasegee River.
Take a step back in time with this classic train ride through the beautiful countryside and the same track that was part of the Murphy Branch built in the late 1880s.
They have two locomotives – diesel powered and steam powered.
Website: Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Price:
- They have a number experiences and locomotives. It’s best to look at the calendar ahead of time especially if you’re set on riding a steam train.
- Each train ride also has multiple classes of service.
- For Nantahala Gorge, you can look at the Class Comparison table that has a clear table of what’s included in each class.
- Prices increase in October.
- Throughout the year, they’ll also have seasonal excursions.
- They also offer a special Raft & Rail combination. This is $121.75 for adults (13+) and $104.75 for children (7-12).
Duration:
- Nantahala Gorge Excursion – 4 hour 30 minutes. 1 hour and 45 minutes in, you’ll reach the end and the train turns back. This includes a 1 hour layover at the Nantahala Outdoor Center.
- Tuckasegee River Excursion – 4 hours. 1 hour 30 minutes in, there’s a 1 hour 20 minute layover in the historic town of Dillsboro.
Best time to visit:
- GSMR runs all year round but their primary schedule is from April to October.
- The most popular time to visit is during the fall colours. You’ll notice that they run more trains most of October.
Driving tips:
- GSMR has a large parking lot on Mitchell Street across from the railroad depot. When booking your tickets, the parking fee is mandatory and built in. Pre-paid parking is $6 per vehicle.
Photography tips:
- The best car to book is the Open Air Gondola (or Premium Open Air Gondola) which is a covered open air car with benches on each side. This gives you unobstructed views.
- There’s a lot to see throughout the train ride so make sure your camera is already ready.
- For photos, look for the trestle bridges and big bends in the track which will allow you to take photos of the entire train.
General tips:
- You need to arrive 1 hour before departure.
- There are bathrooms on board.
- You can walk between cars and you’ll have an opportunity to purchase lunch and drinks (including alcoholic beverages).
- Before you book, make sure to check out their deals page which has discounts for local residents, seniors, military, AAA, and others.
- For both primary excursions, they are one way trips up and the same track back to the railroad depot.
- During the train ride, a brakeman will be coming by to provide insightful and thoughtful commentary about the surroundings.
- With the open air gondola, you’re exposed to the elements so make sure you bring layers in case it gets cold.
After passing the Nantahala Outdoor Center and going further upriver, the train eventually comes to a full stop. For those that are on the Raft & Rail or Rail & Trail package, this is where you’ll disembark.
A Wildwater mini school bus will pick up the rafters, with the rafts themselves in tow. After a short ride, you’ll reach the launch site and riding down rapids in no time.
If you’ve done higher class rapids on the Ottawa River, you may have encountered class III to V. To set expectations, these are class I to III rapids which means that this is more of a low-intensity rafting trip that’s great for non-swimmers, multi-generation and groups with children 7+.
Your expert guide will take you down the fast-moving Nantahala River and navigate over a dozen different named rapids such as “Whirlpool”, “Patton’s Run”, and “The Bump”. The final drop is the biggest one called “Nantahala Falls”.
Paddling is quite minimal except for the occasions where your guide will say “give me 2!” where you’re then expected to do two strokes. At most you might have to do 5 continuous strokes together.
This is why we think this is great for those that want to experience rafting without it feeling scary or too serious. It’s extremely family friendly and many parts feel like one of those water rides in theme parks except this one’s in the real world.
There’s one stop along the way where you’ll be able to explore a natural rock cave that the Cherokee likely used.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW – WILDWATER
The Nantahala River is not only abound with visual beauty but nestled in the gorge are 8 miles of clear and gushing water that creates the perfect condition for whitewater rafting for beginners. It’s great for families because the whitewater only goes up to Class III.
While there are many companies that ofter whitewater rafting excursions, Wildwater is the exclusive operator that works with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. The Raft & Rail package allows you to uniquely combine both the train with rafting experience. We’ll be focusing on this in the details below.
Website: Wildwater
Price:
- The Raft & Rail package is $121.75 for adults (13+) and $104.75 for children (7-12).
- Wetsuit rental – $10
- Wetsuit booties rental – $5
Duration:
- The rafting experience itself takes 1 hour and 45 minutes.
- There is usually only one departure time available for Raft & Rail but check the schedule (most likely 10:30AM.
- Rafting is only available April – October.
Best time to visit:
- GSMR runs all year round but their primary schedule is from April to October.
- The most popular time to visit is during the fall colours. You’ll notice that they run more trains most of October.
How does raft and rail work?:
- Check into GSMR where you’ll receive all your tickets.
- In the waiting area is the cafe and this is where you exchange your boxed lunch tickets for your boxed lunches.
- Just outside on the other end of the waiting area is an outdoor Wildwater kiosk where a member of team will ask you to fill out the waivers and brief you on how the trip will work. This is also when they’ll ask whether you need paddle jackets, wetsuits, or booties.
- Board the Nantahala River Excursion train (could be diesel or steam) with everyone else. You will be on the Wildwater open air gondola car.
- Eat your lunch on the train ride.
- Once you reach the train’s turnaround point (2 hour 45 minutes to 3 hours in), you will disembark and the Wildwater team will pick you up in one of their small buses.
- You’ll head in the Nantahala National Forest where there’s a launch site. Gear up on the bus or on the ground as they get their rafts ready. There’s a few porta-potties here if you need it. You can leave your bags on the bus.
- After a safety briefing, you’ll help carry the rafts down the ramp to the water.
- Raft for 1 hour 45 minutes. The pick up point is right by the Nantahala Outdoor Center.
- The same bus will pick you up and once the rafts are loaded back on, they’ll drive you to the Wildwater outpost/office.
- At the office, you’ll be able to use their change rooms, take a hot shower if you want, buy souvenirs, and purchase photos.
- The bus will then drive you all the way back to Bryson City and drop you off to the parking lot. This will be around 4:30PM.
Difficulty:
- Beginner level rafting (no prior experience required).
- The rafting is exciting but does not require too much paddling so it is not strenuous.
- You will get wet but flipping is almost impossible with these classes of rapids.
Driving tips:
- You can continue to park in the lot after you return to Bryson City so feel free to explore the city.
Photography tips:
- Since the rafting is quite easy going, you’ll have a lot of opportunities to take photos. Make sure to bring a waterproof phone case.
- For video, bring your GoPro with orange floatie as many of their helmets have mounts. To mix things up, you can have a floating hand grip ready.
- If you want to bring camera gear, be prepared by bringing your own dry bag. There are a few loops at the front and back of the raft that you can clip to.
- They have a dedicated photographer capturing the final Nantahala Falls. Those are the photos you can purchase at the end. They don’t have a videographer.
General tips:
- If you’re booking the Raft & Rail package, you will be in the Wildwater open air gondola car on the Nantahala River Excursion.
- To save time, fill out the trip waiver beforehand found on the Nantahala River Rafting page.
- For some reason it seems like it’s cheaper to book the Raft & Rail package through Wildwater (make sure to opt out of the “Trip Cancellation Guarantee”) but I believe they tack on the parking fee afterwards.
- Helmets are optional.
- There aren’t any official changing rooms at the launch site so it makes sense to wear your swimwear when you board your train.
- Pack your bags accordingly for both the train ride and rafting and think in advance how you’ll shift your gear around once you get on the Wildwater bus.
- The rafts rafts can carry up to 8 people + guide so these aren’t the massive rafts we had at OWL Rafting in Ontario’s Highlands.
- To be clear, Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) has their own rafting tours but it is not the same as Wildwater which is a different company. There are in fact a dozen or more companies that operate on the river. Wildwater is the only one that is partnered with GSMR.
Wildwater will eventually deposit you back to Bryson City where you parked. At this juncture, you can hang around town and grab dinner at a restaurant such as The Bistro at the Everett Hotel or if you wanted to see more of Nantahala River, you can drive back in.
Since Wildwater doesn’t linger around the rafting end point, you’ll be able to come back to get a glimpse of all the facilities around the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC). You’ll be able to walk the bridge where you’ll see the river rushing past, slalom gates used for canoe/kayak training, fishing from the shore, and a huge swathe of exhausted Appalachian Trail hikers.
River’s End is right along the side of the river and is an iconic spot for those hiker and paddlers alike. With a view of the river on one side, you’ll devour their yummy pizzas, burgers, world-famous sherpa rice, and seasonal entrées.
Day 3 Summary
What you’ll do:
- Raft and Rail Tour with Great Smoky Mountains Railroad and Wildwater
Tours you can book:
- Waterfalls and Breweries Tour – Combination of four waterfalls and five breweries in this small-group tour that leaves from Bryson City.
- Blue Ridge Parkway Day Tour – Since you won’t get to truly explore the Blue Ridge Parkway on your own, this could be a great alternative private tour.
Where you’ll eat:
- Breakfast – Mountain Perks – Right across from the GSMR depot, this is a popular spot in the city to grab a coffee or full breakfast.
- Lunch – Boxed lunch that’s part of the Raft & Rail tour.
- Dinner – Rivers End – Great location right beside the Nantahala River that serves yummy pizzas, burgers, and specialty entrees like the blackened local trout. This is a popular pitstop for Appalachian Trail hikers. Alternatively, The Bistro at the Everett Hotel is great if you’re looking for something in Bryson City.
Where you’ll stay:
- Gina’s Great Getaways – They have a wide selection of getaway homes from a Lil’ Red Caboose to the Sweet Pea Tiny Home we stayed in.
We also recommend staying here:
- McKinley Edwards Inn – This is located in the outskirts of Bryson City that runs like a B&B with a superb breakfast, great hosts, comfortable rooms, and is well-reviewed.
- Nantahala Cabins – If you’ll be spending time with the activities along Nantahala River, this place has a collection of cabins to choose from that range in sizes and budgets. Many of them hot tubs as well!
Day 4: North Carolina & Tennessee – Waterfalls, Mountains and Zorbs
This is an exciting day of your Smoky Mountains itinerary because not only will you be seeing both sides of the national park, you’ll also be doing some of our favourite parts of the trip.
You’ll want to get an earlier start to your day and get to the Deep Creek section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The reason for the early start is because this’ll give you an opportunity to see the 3 waterfalls here uninterrupted from large crowds.
Start with Juney Whank Falls which is closest to the parking lot. There’s a gradual climb on this trail but it’s a short hike. There’s picturesque wooden footbridge that crosses the falls and divides it into an upper and lower section. You’ll see a combination of cascades and sliding water.
Next is Tom Branch Falls which is the most easy to access out of all 3 waterfalls. Along the primary walkway you’ll have a wide open view of this elegant waterfall on the right side. Standing 75 feet high, it features a multilevel cascade.
To complete the trio of waterfalls, there’s Indian Creek Falls. This is a 45-foot sliding waterfall. From the trail, you’ll take stairs down to a viewing platform and it’s here that you get the best photos.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW – DEEP CREEK
Another great part of the Great Smoky Mountains that you can only get to from North Carolina is Deep Creek which is well-known for its streams and waterfalls. What you’ll love about hiking here is that you can see 3 waterfalls in close proximity together.
Website: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Deep Creek
Price:
- Free
Duration:
- To see all 3 waterfalls, you should budget 1.5-2 hours here.
Best time to visit:
- Early morning is a great time to go when the light isn’t too harsh for photography and there are fewer people on the trail.
Driving tips:
- There is plenty of parking. Drive all the way to the Deep Creek Falls and Trail parking.
Photography tips:
- If you’re looking for milky waterfalls, make sure you pack your ND filters and tripod (we use the Peak Design Travel Tripod) or have a camera like the OM System OM-1 which has built-in ND filters that can be used hand-held.
- You can’t fly drones whatsoever here because you’re within the national park.
General tips:
- There is some elevation change up to Juney Whank Falls. This loop is the only trail that takes you into the forest.
- The Deep Creek Trail to Tom Branch Falls and Indian Creek Falls is extremely wide and groomed gravel. This trail also has plenty of benches along the way.
- If you have difficulty walking, Tom Branch Falls is right along the easy-to-walk path , has no elevation change, and the waterfall can be viewed right across the creek.
- For a more challenging hike, you can ado the Deep Creek Horse Trail from Juney Whank Falls up to Indian Creek Falls before coming back down to the trailhead and catch Tom Branch Falls.
- There aren’t restrooms at the trailhead but you’ll find them in the picnic area.
- Pets are not allowed on the trail to see Juney Whank Falls nor both Indian Creek and Tom Branch Falls.
If you didn’t end up making breakfast at your tiny home, make a brunch of it and grab a sandwich and coffee to-go from The High Test Deli and Sweet Shop.
Halfway through the trip, it’s only fitting to now make that crossing over the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The first part of the drive will be familiar because it’s the same Newfound Gap Road (Highway 441) that you took earlier to get to Clingman’s Dome.
Along the way, take the obligatory sign in front of the national park sign. There’s a pull off for the sign so you won’t need to rush this part.
Make sure to stop at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. There aren’t many shopping stops on this itinerary so this is your chance to pick up some souvenirs. Behind the center is also the Mountain Farm Museum which has historical buildings dating back to the early 1900s.
For those that are keen on learning more of the history of settlers in the area, Mingus Mill, an 1886 grist mill with functioning machinery, is also worth stopping by.
The first part of the drive is mostly uneventful as you’ll be going uphill and driving through what will feel like a tunnel through a thick forest of trees.
You’ll pass through a number of lookouts along the way but here are the ones you should focus on:
- Luftee Overlook – This viewpoint has an elevated view of not only Oconaluftee Valley but also the gentle bend in the road. You can’t cross the road so you’ll be taking photos from the parking lot.
- Newfound Gap – The Appalachian Trail cuts right across and this is perhaps the important stop you’ll make because it’s here that you’ll find the North Carolina/Tennessee State line sign, and also both UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserves plaques. The path below the parking lot offers stunning views of the mountains and road that you just took up.
- Morton Overlook – Once you get here, you’re starting to make the downhill drive. This is one of the famous overlooks that looks down the line of the valley of trees and you get a small sliver of the road in the foreground.
- Chimney Tops Overlook – The Chimney Tops sustained massive fire damage in 2016 and so the landscape is quite a bit different from before. This pull off on the left gives you a glimpse of how extensive the damage was. Mark this on the map because this will come up on you really quick and there isn’t any signage. Also, heads up that the Chimneys Picnic Area doesn’t have any view of the Chimney Tops.
- Carlos Campbell Overlook – Named after the director of the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce in the 1930s, advocating for the creation of the national park, you’ll see 3 peaks in one view. The official overlook has quite a lot of tree cover in the foreground so we recommend driving to the smaller pull off just a bit further downhill.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW – GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS
The entirety of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a guide all on its own but here are some of the key things you should know when making the crossing on Newfound Gap Road.
Website: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Price:
- Still free :)
Driving tips:
- The speed limit through the Smoky Mountains is at most 45 miles per hour (72 km/h) but is generally 35 miles per hour (56 km/h).
- There are a lot of pull offs on Newfound Gap Road and not only is that for scenic views but it also allows cars to let others pass if you find that you’re being pressured to drive faster.
- Overall the road is vert well-maintained, not too twisty, very safe with its rock barriers, and newly paved.
- Crossing North Carolina to Tennessee without stops is only 1 hour so it is not a long drive.
Photography tips:
- As we mention above, there are a ton of scenic overlooks especially along Newfound Gap Road (Highway 441). You’ll be tempted to do a lot of them but you’ll be better off to plan the specific ones you want to do and then see how you feel when you’re there.
- Be on the lookout for wildlife and more specifically, bears! Bears aren’t shy and they’ll come right up to the road. Typically, if you see a big traffic jam with people looking into the forest, it’s most likely a bear.
- We spoke to a ranger at Oconaluftee Visitor Center and they said that the elk can be seen typically from the entrance to the park on Highway 441 all the way to Smokemont Campground but never any further.
- Two popular spots for elk are in the huge meadow beside the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, near Mingus Mill, and by the side of the road in the mile leading up to the visitor center.
- You cannot fly a drone in the national park whatsoever.
General tips:
- Always check for closures on the Great Smoky Mountains page. Their “Alerts in Effect” show all of the important notices at the top.
- Cellular service – There is no service once you enter the park. The edges of the park might have a bit of service but plan to be disconnected while here.
- If you want to support the national park, don’t buy souvenirs in town but at the visitor centers instead where the money can make a difference.
- The two major visitor centers are Oconaluftee on the North Carolina side and Sugarlands on the Tennessee side.
- If you plan on doing any hikes, try to get to the trailhead early in the morning because the parking lots and pull offs fill up very quickly.
Take the road straight into Pigeon Forge, Tennessee where you’ll see a dramatic change to a street filled with larger-than-life themed shows, rides, and a whole lot of fun.
Along the main parkway, stop at the popular Local Goat to satisfy your hungry with their selection of craft beer, and locally-sourced and sustainable menu items such a their highly-touted burgers, ribs, pastas, salad, and more. You’ll need to build up your energy reserves for what’s coming next!
How does being inside a giant-sized 11 foot beach ball filled with 10 gallons of water to get you wet while rolling down a 1000 feet hill sound? Absolutely ludicrous right?
Well, that’s exactly what you’ll find at Outdoor Gravity Park.
EXCLUSIVE DEAL WITH OUTDOOR GRAVITY PARK
We’ve secured a special deal with OGP where 1 roll and 1 video is $25 (discount of $14), and 3 rolls and 3 videos is $62 ($20 savings). This is the best offer you’ll find on the market right now.
The link below will take you straight to the booking platform Outdoor Gravity Park uses. The initial page shows the standard information about how the rolls and videos work. Once you’ve selected a date and time, you’ll see the discounted rates on the next page.
You may have heard of something called zorbing in New Zealand. It’s one of those bucket-list items that you’d do when there along with skydiving in Abel Tasman, or bungee jumping in Queenstown. One of the engineers of ZORB in Rotorua, came to Pigeon Forge to build his dream course.
Featuring 3 different tracks, you can fill up the zorb with up to 3 people on some or go solo on the most daring “Extreme Zig Zag” course.
There are a lot of fun and crazy things you can do in this region of Tennessee but this is easily the most extreme, wild, and fun.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW – OUTDOOR GRAVITY PARK
Made popular in New Zealand, this is the only place in the United States where you can go zorbing. Don’t miss this! It’s ridiculously fun.
Website: Outdoor Gravity Park
Address: 203 Sugar Hollow Rd, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863, United States
Hours: Monday – Sunday 11AM – 4PM
Price:
- 1 roll is $24
- 3 rolls is $7 ($19 each)
- 5 rolls is $90 ($18 each)
- 10 rolls is $170 ($17 each)
- 20 rolls is $340 ($17 each)
- Video for one roll – $15 ($5 for additional rolls)
- Unlimited video for all of your rolls – $50
Duration:
- Each track is slightly different but on average it takes about 30-45 seconds to get downhill.
Photography tips:
- The park’s GoPros are free to use but the video needs to be purchased.
- They come with a selfie stick (GoPro 3-Way) and are already protected from fog. The cameras are not mounted and require you to hold the selfie stick.
- You are allowed to bring your own GoPro as well! Before you come, make sure to coat the lens with Rainx Anti Fog Repellent otherwise it will fog up.
- Your best bet is to have the stick fully extended and the camera pointed back at you in either wide or super wide mode.
How does it work?:
- You’ll get a wristband that indicates the number of rolls you get.
- After changing and getting ready, there’s a line you get into behind the main building for the mini bus.
- Once you get on the bus, it’ll take you uphill to the start of the course.
- Indicate to the staff which course you’re doing as they get the zorb ready.
- When it’s your turn, the staff will place a small pad over the entrance of the zorb to prevent your clothes or skin catching on the zipper.
- Holding the zorb in place, you’ll jump in head first. You’ll immediately get wet because of the water that’s inside.
- The staff will zip up the zorb (it’s double sealed).
- When the track is cleared and ready, they’ll open the gate and give you a gentle (ish) push.
- Cue the screaming.
- The common misconception is that your body will be rolling around as the zorb goes downhill. On the contrary, you actually stay relatively planted at the bottom with the water as the zorb rolls around you.
- At the end of the track, you’ll come to a complete stop. The staff will open up the zippers and you’ll come out feet first onto the grass.
General tips:
- There are 3 available tracks. For the most bouncing and change of catching some air inside the zorb, do the “Extreme Zig Zag” track (you have to have done another track first in order to do this one). For the fastest speeds, choose the middle “Fast Tracks”. For the best of both, “FUNnel” is a great one to start with.
- Zorbs can fit up to 3 people (depending on the track). Each person rolling will cost 1 roll.
- The main building has change rooms and restrooms. There are no showers.
- You’re guaranteed to get wet so come prepared with a swim suit, your own towel (unless you’d like to buy one of theirs), and change of clothes.
- Outside of summer, you’ll get cold once you’re out of the zorb, so it’s a good idea to have a large towel to wrap around you to dry and warm up.
- When booking, you’ll have to pick a time slot. You have to arrive during that slot but you can go over time. Wait times are generally shorter at the beginning of your time slot and gets slower at the end.
- If you’re traveling in a large group, it makes one sense to purchase all the rolls so you can save money with the bundle prices.
- While you have to select the number of rolls when booking online, you can always add more when you’re there.
- They have discount packages so make sure to see if those suit you. You’ll find these on the checkout page.
- If you are military, first responder, or educator, use THANKYOU for a 10% discount.
- You must be 5+ to roll. Maximum weight is 275 pounds per person.
- We found that with two people, the water seemed to fling up and around the zorb quite a bit more which meant we were rubbing water out of our eyes. Going solo, there was much less water splashing on your face.
End off your night at the illustrious RT Lodge in Maryville, Tennessee. This rustic retreat and continues the line of unique stays you can find in the Smoky Mountains. Leaping off the pages of wedding magazines, Southern charm oozes throughout the classic revival property.
Sure, it’s a bit out of the way but you’ll love the nightly s’mores firepit, outdoor fire place accompanied by lounging rocking chairs, wooded grounds, free bike rentals, and lounge salons.
For dinner, you’ll eat at The Restaurant at RT Lodge which is an upscale dining experience to match the atmosphere and ambiance of the lodge. Executive chef, Chef Stockton, sources from local farmers and homegrown ingredients to prepare the most delectable dishes.
Day 4 Summary
What you’ll see:
- Deep Creek – Hike the waterfall loop for Juney Whank, Tom Branch, and Indian Creek waterfalls
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Luftee Overlook
- Newfound Gap
- Morton Overlook
- Carlos Campbell
What you’ll do:
- Outdoor Gravity Park – The only place in the United States you can go zorbing. Ridiculously fun!
Tours you can book:
- Museum of the Cherokee – Skip the line with this admission ticket to the museum to learn the history and culture of the Cherokee people.
- North Carolina Steams and History Tour – A 5 hour guided nature walk through the Smokies by A Walk In The Woods that starts at Oconaluftee Visitor Center.
- Audio Driving Tour – GyPSy Guide is a well-known self-driving guide that we also recommend for our 5 day Maui itinerary.
Where you’ll eat:
- Breakfast – The High Test Deli and Sweet Shop – They’re a take-out only restaurant which is perfect because you’ll be able to eat it along your drive through the Smoky Mountains National Park.
- Lunch – Local Goat – A highly rated restaurant that has a great selection on their menu. Don’t miss their ahi tuna burger, fall-off-the-bone ribs, steaks, and craft beer.
- Dinner – The Restaurant at RT Lodge – Pairing with the picture-perfect lodge is a gourmet dining experience that will impress with their upscale ambiance, creative dishes, and some of the best service you’ll find in a restaurant. Remember to make reservations (closed on Monday).
Where you’ll stay:
- RT Lodge – While a bit out of the way, is a spectacular luxury lodge that’s tucked in the forest for cozy rooms, high-class restaurant, plenty of lounging areas, and firepit. S’mores are free for all and breakfast is included as well.
We also recommend staying here:
- Blue Mountain Mist Country Inn -Located not far from Dollywood and Pigeon Forge, this is a rustic and intimate inn with exceptional service and includes breakfast.
- Twin Mountain Inn & Suites – A more traditional hotel located in Pigeon Forge that’s next to Dolly Parton’s Stampede and at the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. Pets are allowed, there’s a swimming pool, and breakfast is included.
Day 5: Tennessee – Roaring and Pink
The Tennessee side of the Smoky Mountains has a lot to offer and what you’ll find is that while the view of its peaks might be similar, they have a different take to it.
There’s no time to lose so enjoy a cup of coffee on the grounds of RT Lodge before setting off for brunch at the famed Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant.
The original farmhouse for the 65-acre apple orchard property was transformed into a family eatery and ever since then it’s become a staple of traditional southern dining in the town of Sevierville.
Your experience starts off with a complimentary basket of apple fritters and apple cinnamon muffins, side of apple butter, and cup of their Applewood julep. This is before you get your southern favourites including their must-order Savannah pecan pancakes, Smoky Mountain biscuit Benedict, and country omelets that you see above.
You may not have had a grandma living in the south but after your brunch here, you’ll get a really good taste of what it’s like if you did.
TIP: Ask for the table with swinging chairs. There are only two at the moment in the restaurant but they’re definitely one of the exclusive tables to dine in if they’re available.
Next up is the iconic Pink Jeep Tours made famous in Sedona, Arizona but now has their own set of tours in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Since you have already done Newfound Gap on your own, one of the tours that we recommend is the Roaring Fork Smoky Mountains Tour which takes you through the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
On this tour, you’ll travel in a custom open-air Pink Jeep Wrangler where the advantage of doing this versus on your own is having an expert interpretive guide provide great commentary about the area you’re driving through, make stops at the best locations, and help with group photos.
Being in an open-air jeep means that you’ll get awesome elevated views of the bridges, waterfalls, steams, and maybe even a bear. One surprise is that you will get an opportunity to get off the jeep as well and walk around the Ephraim Bales Cabin along with the lesser-known scenic streams that’s just behind.
At the end of the tour, you’ll be taken to a private-property 4×4 off-roading course and turn the adventure knob to a 10. The true power of the jeep will be on display, thundering up and down rocky hills like its nobody’s business.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW – PINK ADVENTURE TOURS
Pink Adventure Tours (also known as Pink Jeep Tours) got its award-winning start in Sedona and specializes in off-road and road-based tours in the US. They now have locations also in Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Branson, and the Smoky Mountains.
In the Smoky Mountains, they have several tours but we’ll be focusing on their Roaring Fork Smoky Mountains Tour.
Website: Pink Adventure Tours
Price:
- Adult – $74
- Child (2-12) – $67
- Private (up to 7 people) – $518
Duration:
- 2.5 hours
Photography tips:
- Once you’ve picked your seat on the jeep, there’s not much moving around. That said, there are things to see on both sides of the jeep and since it’s open air, you can get up and peek over to the other side if you need to.
- Try to keep your gear minimal as there isn’t really extra space for luggage. There’s also quite a bit of bouncing around in the 4×4 adventure at the end.
General tips:
- You need to arrive 30 minutes before departure.
- Use the bathrooms before heading out because there aren’t really any bathroom breaks along the way.
- Tighten your seatbelts real good during the 4×4 adventure because if you don’t, you’ll be flung around pretty hard.
Next, head to Five Oaks Farm Kitchen for an early dinner.
The restaurant pays homage to the legacy of Dr. John and Blanche Ogle who were important figures to the growth of the agricultural and breeding of Tennessee Walking Horses in the area.
In what feels like a giant two-story barn, you’ll be able to have a true Southern-style supper.
With choices like chicken and dumplings, cornbread, smoked beef brisket, chicken pot pie, meatloaf, and fried chicken leaping off the menu, you’ll eat just as well as the weary travellers that passed through these exact parts in the early 1900s.
TIP: Grab a jar of fresh raw mountain honey before you leave the restaurant.
Wind down in the comforts of RT Lodge for the night, taking full advantage of its grounds, and of course as many s’mores as you can eat.
Day 5 Summary
What you’ll see:
- Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
- Roaring Fork Interpretive Marker Overlook
- Ephraim Bales Cabin
- The Place of a Thousand Drips
What you’ll do:
- Pink Adventure Tours – Roaring Fork Smoky Mountains Tour
Tours you can book:
- Explore a Simpler Time Smoky Mountain Tour – 3 hour tour where you’ll hear stories of the Cherokee people and a glimpse of settlers’ daily lives.
- Old Growth Forest Cascade – This hike takes you to a towering waterfall deep in the old-growth forest.
- Hidden Cascades Hiking Tour – Starting from NOC Gatlinburg, your local guide will take you on a quiet rail down to see a beautiful cascade in the Smokies.
- Clingmans Dome Hike – If you happened to miss this earlier, you can join a guided tour up to Clingmans Dome.
- Ghost and Haunt Tour of Gatlinburg – Learn about the ghost and ghouls that haunt Gatlinburg in this 2-hour night walking tour.
- Thunder Streams and Falls – 3 hour hiking tour that takes you off the beaten path in the Smoky Mountains.
Where you’ll eat:
- Brunch – Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant – The oldest restaurant in Sevierville that’s the perfect spot to have Southern breakfast classics. Their apple fritters can’t be missed (because they’re complimentary)!
- Dinner – Five Oaks Farm Kitchen – An inviting Southern restaurant that carries the tradition of the Ogle family that’s filled with farmhouse ambiance and amazing service.
Where you’ll stay:
- RT Lodge – While a bit out of the way, is a spectacular luxury lodge that’s tucked in the forest for cozy rooms, high-class restaurant, plenty of lounging areas, and firepit. S’mores are free for all and breakfast is included as well.
We also recommend staying here:
- Blue Mountain Mist Country Inn -Located not far from Dollywood and Pigeon Forge, this is a rustic and intimate inn with exceptional service and includes breakfast.
- Twin Mountain Inn & Suites – A more traditional hotel located in Pigeon Forge that’s next to Dolly Parton’s Stampede and at the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. Pets are allowed, there’s a swimming pool, and breakfast is included.
Day 6: Tennessee – Peak to Peak
The fun doesn’t stop because you’ll be going wire to wire (literally and figuratively) on your last day of this Smoky Mountains itinerary.
Wake up bright and early for Day 6 because you’ll need to make the drive from Maryville to Gatlinburg. Gatlinburg is a mountainside town at the footsteps of the Smokies that’s filled with outdoor adventure.
One of the unmissable attractions you’ll find in town is the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park. On select days, they offer sunrise access which allows you to get up to their SkyBridge right at dawn.
From this side of the mountain, you’ll be able to watch the city below transition from night to day as the sun climbs up from behind the mountains in the distance. The view from up here is spectacular, especially when you’re on the suspension bridge.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW – GATLINBURG SKYLIFT PARK
The main attraction here is the SkyBridge which features 5 panels of glass and incredibly views of Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains. You’ll also find their SkyTrail with The Tulip Tower, SkyDeck viewpoint, and of course the SkyLift 3-seat chairlift that takes you up from the town below.
Website: Gatlinburg SkyLift Park
Address: 765 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, United States
Hours: Their hours of operation vary throughout the year. They are closed Jan 31 – Feb 3 for winter maintenance but are otherwise open all year round.
Price:
- Adult – $31.95
- Child (4-11) – $18.95
- Seniors (65+) – $24.95
- 3 and under – Free
Driving tips: There are two primary parking lots that are supposed to be $10. These are marked on the interactive map in the beginning of the article. Both are short walk to the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park chairlifts.
Photography tips:
- They offer special sunrise access on specific days where you’ll be able to load the SkyLift 45 minutes prior to sunrise time. These tickets are slightly more expensive.
- Drones are not allowed here (we had special permissions to fly).
General tips:
- If you purchase and redeem your ticket after 8PM, you’ll be able to access the SkyLift Park the next day as well.
- Re-entry is allowed throughout the day.
- Once you reach the other end of the bridge, there’s a small deck with gift shop. You can then connect this with the SkyTrail that follows the side of the mountain and goes back to the main SkyCenter.
- Being a suspension bridge, the SkyBridge does sway and is more noticeable when there are more people on the bridge.
Your last chance for true Southern food on your trip will be at Crockett’s Breakfast Camp. You won’t be able to make reservations here so come here immediately after the SkyLift Park.
Based on the story of the frontiersman, David C. “Crockett” Maples, you’ll be transported to the Old West with artifacts and decor matching a time of westward expansion and exploration.
With their menu printed on a traditional newspaper, have a hearty breakfast of all the southern favorites. Don’t miss their giant cinnamon roll while you’re here.
There are many attractions to choose from while in Gatlinburg but many of them will feel a little kitschy and from a different time. In seeking out an activity to truly round out your road trip in the Smoky Mountains, it only felt appropriate to find something that embraces the outdoors and magic of the mountains.
Touting the highest point in downtown Gatlinburg is Anakeesta. More than just another theme park, this is a whimsical and immersive outdoor experience that combines thrilling elements with a place to chill amongst sculptures, flowers, lights, and breathtaking viewpoints.
Great for all ages, you can spend as much time as you’d like here. Recommended activities are the Rail Runner mountain coaster which features the only single-rail coaster in the United States and the Dueling Zipline Adventure.
They also have some of the best dining experiences in Gatlinburg. We recommend having dinner at Cliff Top Grill & Bar which serves modern American cuisine with the Smoky Mountains serving as its backdrop.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW – ANAKEESTA
More than just a theme park, Anakeesta is an immersive outdoor experience which combines its whimsical mountain atmosphere with thrilling rides, botanical gardens, lookout tower, meandering trails, shopping, dining, and play areas.
Website: Anakeesta
Address: 576 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, United States
Hours: Changes throughout the year. Check their calendar for the day-by-day schedule.
Price:
General admission:
- Adult – $32.99
- Child (4-12) – $19.99
- Seniors (60+) – $25.99
- 3 and under – Free
Dueling Zipline Tour is $59.99 for all ages
Rail Runner is $14.99 for single rider and $18.88 for tandem rides.
Gem mining is $8 per “Paydirt” bag.
Duration: You can easily spend a full day or a few hours here. It depends on how many of the activities you want to do.
Driving tips: There are two primary parking lots that are supposed to be $10. These are marked on the interactive map in the beginning of the article. Both are short walk to Anakeesta.
Photography tips:
- You cannot mount a GoPro on the Rail Runner vehicle itself but head and chest mounts are fine.
- For the Dueling Zipline tour, they have helmets with GoPro mounts on them so just request them. You are also allowed to use your phone or other device but you are responsible for its safety.
- Photos are taken before you take the chairlift and rides such as Rail Runner. You can purchase physical prints similar to other amusement parks or you can buy digital-only copies.
- Drones are not allowed here (we had special permissions to fly).
- Bears are known to be on the mountain slopes nearby so be on the lookout!
- If you love sunsets, plan to stay around and watch it from the top of AnaVista Tower.
General tips:
- If you start your visit at night, your next day is free.
- General admission effectively includes everything in the park except for Dueling Zipline, Rail Runner, and Gem Mining activities.
- The ride up is called the Chondola. These are mostly regular 4-person chairlifts but you can also wait for a closed gondola (fits 6 people) which we’d recommend if you’re carrying a lot of gear or not comfortable with heights. These are much less frequent so you’ll have to wait 10-15 minutes for the gondola to come around. They come by 2 at a time.
- You can also go up the mountain by taking the Ridge Rambler which is an open air passenger truck.
- It is recommended to book the Dueling Zipline Tour beforehand as there are limited spots. You have to call to reserve.
- Save time on your check-in process for Rail Runner and Dueling Zipline by completing your waiver online.
- They recommend getting to the Anakeesta base 2 hours before your Dueling Zipline reservation to account for parking, lift and the 30 minutes you need to be there before your reserved zipline time.
- Bears are nearby but the park staff do a good job at making sure they don’t come into the park itself so you don’t need to worry.
Perhaps the most unique stay of the whole trip is on the last day or if you’re a big fan, you could arrange it so you’re here the entire time in Tennessee.
Luxury treehouses are real and bookable just outside of Gatlinburg in a place called Treehouse Grove.
If anyone’s watched Treehouse Masters on Animal Planet, you might’ve heard of Pete Nelson. As the host of the show, he’s built some of the coolest treehouses around America.
One of his team’s special projects was this community of treehouses nestled in the forest. With not a single tree cut down, these are modern cabins built around the trees, using them as foundation and support.
Each treehouse in the grove are unique but these are all equipped with modern furnishings, a kitchen, multiple bedrooms, screened porch and deck.
This may be one of the Great Smoky Mountains best kept secrets.
And that’s a wrap for your 6 day Smoky Mountains itinerary. The next day, you’ll be either flying out of the nearest airport which in this case is the McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in Knoxville, Tennessee. Otherwise, you’ll be continuing your road trip to the next exciting place!
Day 6 Summary
What you’ll do:
- Gatlinburg Skylift Park and SkyBridge
- Anakeesta
- Dueling Zipline
- Rail Runner
Tours you can book:
- Wine and Shine Walking Tour – The ultimate moonshine distillery tour where you’ll learn how moonshine is traditionally distilled. The tour includes plenty of samples!
- Impossibilities Magic Show – Family-friendly admission to the show ‘Impossibilities: An Evening of Magic, Mindreading, and Mayhem’ at the Iris Theater in Gatlinburg.
Where you’ll eat:
- Brunch – Crocketts Breakfast Camp – Southern breakfast favorites served in a space that takes you back to the days of the Western Frontier.
- Dinner – Cliff Top Grill & Bar at Anakeesta – Gourmet dining within the park that will surprise you with dishes such as their charcuterie board, bison burger, and ribeye.
Where you’ll stay:
- Treehouse Grove (The Maple) – These are luxury treehouses come to life. Built by Pete Nelson of Treehouse Masters fame, this is a tiny community of modern treehouses not far from Gatlinburg.
We also recommend staying here:
- Greystone Lodge on the River – Conveniently located right in the heart of Gatlinburg, this hotel offers an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, fitness centre, and free breakfast. This means you don’t have to worry about parking when you’re in town.
- Bearskin Lodge on the River – This hotel isn’t quite as central but the nice thing is that all rooms are fitted with a balcony, microwave, fridge, free parking, and complimentary continental breakfast. Room layouts are spacious and the large outdoor pool is great for the kids.
What to Pack for a Smoky Mountains Road Trip
The key to any successful road trip is to be prepared with all of the right gear. If you’ve followed the itinerary above, you’ll know that it is packed with a bunch of outdoor activities and each one is quite different from one another.
This list doesn’t cover everything but we’ve identified a bunch of key items to get you started with your packing list.
- Car USB adapters – As a road trip, you’ll want to make sure you bring your own charging gear. This’ll allow you to keep your devices and batteries topped up. Most cars have two cigarette adapters so bring two chargers if you have them. Photographers will likely want to make use of this so you can charge your camera and drone batteries on the fly.
- USB charging cables – Along those lines, remember all the variations of cables you’ll need (USB-A, USB-C, Micro USB, and Lightning) depending on what you’ll need to charge.
- Car phone mount – This one is easy to forget. Pack your own car mount so you’ll be able to navigate with ease.
- Binoculars – There’s a lot of wildlife in the national park so a good pair of binoculars is a good idea. Think birds but also the bigger animals like bears if they’re in the distance.
- Layers – Pack accordingly depending on the season that you’re in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It can swing from cold to hot quickly so have a sweater/fleece/hoody handy. One we recommend is the Arc’teryx Delta LT Hoody.
- Waterproof jacket – A jacket is handy for the cooler temperatures at sunrise, sunset, and at mountain peaks. Depending on the time of year, rain can also come and go. For this we recommend Arc’teryx Beta jacket for men and women.
- Buff Headwear – Along the lines of layers, something I swear by for all of our packing guides, are the same buffs that you see on Survivor which I use either as a headband, scarf, or wristband to wipe off sweat.
- Wifi hotspot – If you live outside of the US, you’ll need a hotspot for data. I recommend using something like Pokefi (use code GAP23200 to get $20 off) or Solis (rebranded from Skyroam).
- Sunscreen – Protect your skin. Yes, there’s a lot of cover from trees but the UV is strong so apply that 50 SPF Sun Bum before you head out.
- Headlamp – Especially for sunsets, this is going to be mandatory equipment. Check out our review of the Fenix headlamp which is the best one we’ve owned.
- Hiking shoes – A quality waterproof hiking shoe such as the Keen Targhee II for Men and Women is highly recommended. While there isn’t any big hikes in this itinerary, you might want to add them to yours so these will be very useful.
- Waterproof sandals – We usually pack the Keen Newport H2s with us for those hot days where we don’t want to wear shoes or when you need them for whitewater rafting.
- Water bottle – With your own bottle, you’ll be able to fill it with water. This will allow you to buy large 5L jugs of water if you don’t want to drink tap although it’s entirely safe to do so. For the coffee drinks, having a Hydroflask with a coffee sip lid will come in handy because you’ll be able to either pour or brew your own coffee in the morning in any of the cabins or lodges we stayed at.
- Dry bag for your phone – If you’re planning on going rafting in the Nantahala River, make sure to pack this to be able to have your phone with you.
Closing Thoughts
Before starting to plan this 6 day Smoky Mountains itinerary, we certainly didn’t know much about the region but as we learned more about North Carolina and Tennessee, it was clear that we needed to do a lot more homework to figure out how to build a road trip that would do both states justice.
I’m not going to lie, this trip is one of our more ambitious out of all of our itineraries but we’re happy with how it turned out.
For us, we were seeking a trip that would allow us to be outdoors, to try new things, stay in cool accommodations, eat hearty Southern food, and of course capture the amazing scenery around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
We did just that and more!
Two resources that really helped us with our planning were the two tourism boards below so make sure to check them out as they are chock full of information.
Frequently Asked Questions
You are not allowed to fly your drone anywhere in the national park.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park are one of 15 free national parks to visit. This means that you don’t need reservations, and you won’t be crossing through any entrance gates to get into the park.
6 days is as tight as you’d want to make a Smoky Mountains road trip. If you have more time, 8-10 days would be a comfortable amount of time to see not only the national park but explore both the North Carolina and Tennessee side of the mountains.
The simple answer is in the fall. Between mid September to late October, the changing of the leaves attracts many visitors to see the rainbow of colours in the Smokies.
Each side of the Smoky Mountains has their own access to the national park which means completely different scenery and wildlife. For instance, Deep Creek in North Carolina is a wonderful place to see 3 waterfalls in close proximity to one another. Cataloochee Valley is another in North Carolina with elk viewing opportunities. Then you have places like the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail and Foothills Parkway which you can only access from Tennessee.
Straddling both Tennessee and North Carolina, both sides and the park itself are in the Eastern time zone.
The highest point of the national park is at Clingmans Dome which you can visit and is part of this 6 day Smoky Mountains itinerary.
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This article was brought to you as a result of a campaign with Travel South USA but all opinions are our own.
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