This network of trails and byways covers over 60 miles of private gardens, and each is maintained and made available to the public by its owner. As River Divide Rd. Trucks and commercial vehicles arent allowed on the parkway. When you research the Pigeon River, youd think it was designed with all levels of white-water rafter in mind. No matter which season you end up in Pigeon Forge, youll find something to celebrate. The is the oldest scenic byway in North America. You can find many natural wonders, such as Great Falls and Twin Falls. After purchasing a new bottling line in 2006, the winery now bottles up to 3,000 bottles of wine per hour. Watch for a large, colorful sign . Time spent outdoors in this pretty state is endlessly rewarding. Youll cross the Little Tennessee River before you enter into Maryville. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies do not store any personal information. We care about the protection of your data. Nashville to Gatlinburg Road Trip Itinerary Trip Length: It takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes to drive from Nashville to Gatlinburg. Hours Of Operation: Tuesday to Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM, Sundays 1-5 PM. The weather is usually mild, and there are plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking and camping. We had heard that it was a city currently going through some revitalization, but to be honest, we didnt have any reference point for what it would be like. The "Mile High Legend" passes through the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests. Let us know in the comments below, friends, and happy (and safe) driving! Get your free printed guide or e-guide to start planning. Scenic Highway 30A Destin to Rosemary Beach, Gulf Coast Drive Rosemary Beach to Apalachicola, Campgrounds & RV Park Reviews Scenic Drives, Highlights Traveling the Natchez Trace Scenic Parkway, Best Compact RV Motorhomes from Winnebago, Winnebago Revel & Adventure Van Alternatives, Shell Mound Campground Cedar Key, Florida, Walking, Nature & Hiking Trails | Cedar Keys, Cedar Keys Florida Top Things to See and Do, Scenic Road Trip: Wisconsin Great River Road. Which is your favorite? It is about a 2 hour. CMP, One of Tennessee's 3 All American Roads, The Trace offers a beautiful drive through more than 10,000 years of interpreted history. Nor are billboards, stop lights, or commercial establishments. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We honestly have never been too interested in Nascar, but we walked away with a deeper appreciation for the sport. You . 1. Exploring Family Fun In Pigeon Forge, Tn Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is a popular vacation destination for both tourists and residents. The best time of year to drive from Nashville to Knoxville is in the spring. Other popular stops include Fall Creek Falls, Cummins Falls State Park, and American Museum of Science and Energy. From there we walked north and enjoyed amazing coffee at Remedy Coffee. The tour also includes viewing archival footage of some of the most important moments in Opry history as well as 3D photographs. Scenic Drives in the Great Smoky Mountains Cades Cove Loop Road Newfound Gap Road Upper Tremont Road Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail National Park Cades Cove Clingmans Dome Foliage Hiking Scenic Drives Waterfall Hikes Wildlife . We suggest exploring a few of the scenic byways, for very little added time to your journey. Want to know more? You can hike among beautiful wildflowers and powerful waterfalls at the Roaring Fork Motor Trail, climb to the top of Chimney Tops, or pay respects to early pioneers at Cades Cove. While music may be the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks Nashville, if youre a foodie, Nashville Hot Chicken is a close second. They were paving the track for an upcoming race so we werent able to take a car around the track, but we enjoyed hiking up the hundreds of steps to the top of the arena and checking out the views. Buckle up for a 200-mile journey through the best of Tennessee. Meghan Kraft loves to travel the world, but she makes her home right here in Nashville, Tennessee. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. There are all sorts of country roads crisscrossing The Volunteer State. Credit for Deal's Gap is most commonly given to North Carolina, but it actually lies on the North Carolina/Tennessee state line, so we'll count it. tree-based adventure park. Sign up for our newsletter and deals from our partners. This includes an average layover time of around 1h 43m. Known as Americas Favorite Drive, this is one of the best scenic drives youll find anywhere in the nation. Also by this time a defined trail had taken shape between Natchez and Nashville as an overland return route from farmers and traders who floated their crops and products down the Cumberland, Ohio, and then the Mississippi Rivers to markets in Natchez and New Orleans. By 1900, due to improvements in river travel and the competition from more recent roadways, the Trace had reverted to a wilderness state along much of its original course. Is either better or is there another better way. Unlimited stops Plan trips worldwide Divide your trip into days Export to GPS or Print and more handy features! She holds a degree in English, and has worked in the digital marketing realm with companies such as Apartments.com, USA Today and HarperCollins Publishing. The navigation said it would take us 17 hours to make the trek to Eastern TN from Austin, Texas and let me tell you, every hour of that drive was worth what we were about to experience. Day 1: It all beginsExploring Chattanooga and the Tennessee River Gorge. Unsubscribe anytime by clicking the link at the bottom of your email. Tips to grow your RV rental business. Thank you! Although it cracks state lines, the road in Tennessee runs down Highway 61 just south of Memphis and through to Mississippi. Townsend is a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well as Cades Cove. Along the roadsides, the human footprint is light, only a changing variety of scenery and topography provided by Mother Nature. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The tour also takes visitors to Fort Sanders, a Union outpost, as well as the Old Gray Cemetery, where countless veterans from both sides of the war still rest. Smack in the middle of Tenn. lies Nashville, the country western capital of the country. The town is home to numerous events and festivals, ideal for adding an exciting touch to your scenic trip. You'll find it along Little River Road, a beautiful, quiet backroad that boasts its pretty waterfall about 13 miles from the Sugarlands Visitor Center. stay at Gaylord Opryland Resort. This drive along Highway 143 is full of majesty, including wildflowers, rolling mountains, and water features. There are other options including I-40 to 441. Sometimes, though, taking the beaten path may mean sitting in traffic with rush hour or in line with the thousands of other visitors coming to Pigeon Forge. Make sure to ride the Lightning Rod, the worlds fastest roller coaster and dont forget to check out other amazing roller coasters like the Wild Eagle and FireChaser Express. Benefits: Bypass traffic in Knoxville and Exit 407 on I-40, beautiful rural views, historical towns, travel alongside the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Google Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/apPVyH6EMQK2. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Clingman's Dome Road is a 7-mile scenic route that starts near Newfound Gap Overlook and ends at a large parking area just below the summit of the mountain. Then either follow Laurel Creek Road to Cades Cove or drive the scenic Newfound Gap Road with a stop at Clingmans Dome. Read more on USA Road Trips. The top stops along the way from Knoxville to Asheville (with short detours) are Sugarlands Distilling Company, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, and Smoky Mountain Outdoors (SMO) Rafting. No thanks, Im not into adventure We arrived at the course and after a 5-minute hike through the forest showed up at a fully lit up adventure-forest-world that looked like something out of Avatar. The Chattanooga Choo Choo Historic Hotel has Victorian Train Car hotel rooms right in Downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee. Learn more about Construction (lettings, bidding, contracts)? Take This Trip. View Website Open in Google Maps. When you reach the end of Highway 25 E in Newport, TN, take a right onto Highway 25 W and then a left onto Highway 441 shortly after passing under the interstate. 6:01 pm Grand Ole Opry. Tennessee, you were amazing we cant wait to return! Veterans has much less traffic than the Parkway while running parallel to it. Rather than following I-75 to Knoxville, visitors seeking a more scenic drive south can take Highway 25 E south. Drive west about six miles from Morristown, Tennessee, and you will reach Panther Creek State Park. Youll travel on Highway 74 for a little over 2 miles past Haywood Regional Medical Center and Tuscola High School before taking Exit 103 onto Highway 19 / Dellwood Rd. Trucks and commercial vehicles aren't allowed on the parkway. eventually feeds into Chapman Highway / US Highway 441. After substantial growth, Stonehaus Winery wines can now be found in liquor stores and grocery stores across Tennessee as well as on site. It is a 315-acre nature center where visitors can enjoy environmental education programs, hiking, biking, paddling, climbing, or just a simple stroll through the outdoors. Theres so much to love about the great outdoors here in Tennessee! Recommended option Bus, shuttle, drive 11h 22m Take the bus from Nashville to Johnson City Another great stop along this route is Wears Valley, a small town with a big personality and lots of history. . Your first stop is the citys famous Gay Street. That was great description of I-40 nashvols. It's shared with Tennessee and North Carolina, so you can get to cracking along some state lines again! Downtown Nashville Along the route are numerous historical markers, restored historical sites and exhibits, rest stop parks, picnic areas, hiking trails, and public campgrounds. It was such a fun and memorable experience, and one Sarah and I will talk about for years to come. It was traveled by Native Americans . Tennessee is a state with multiple motorcycle rides that work well for beginners as well as experienced riders and offers motorcycle touring opportunities ranging from day trips to long distance multi-day motorcycle trips. By 1810 an estimated 10,000 Boatmen (called Kaintucks) were using the Trace and the two towns at either end (Natchez and Nashville) had become cemented as major communities. CMP, Cross the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on this 31 mile byway that includes numerous pull-offs, stopping point, and scenic opportunities. It's known as the, "Blues Highway," traveled by legends like Elvis Presley and BB King. A little over half of the state is covered in dense forest (52%, if you're wondering). Escalators move you from level to level allowing you to see everything from local river otters to the new Lemur Forest. Scenic RoadwaysCoordinator We have several particularly stunning state parks (56, to be exact), including some gems like Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park, in Unicoi County, and Fall Creek Falls, which features an incredible, 256-foot-tall waterfall (one of the tallest in the entire country!). 10:00 am start in Nashville drive for about 54 minutes 10:54 am Gordonsville stay for about 1 hour and leave at 11:54 am drive for about 34 minutes 12:28 pm Cookeville stay for about 1 hour and leave at 1:28 pm drive for about 40 minutes 2:08 pm Crossville stay for about 1 hour and leave at 3:08 pm drive for about 1 hour 4:15 pm Loudon (Tennessee) Learn about the mysterious city of Oak Ridge, the Appalachian crafts around every corner, and the areas long history of coal mining. Youll find lots of craft shops and one-of-a-kind stores in this town. The Tail of the Dragon begins in Deal's Gap, Tennessee and takes you on a twisting, turning 318 curves in 11 miles. "for a summertime experience with wonderful music, outstanding food, and scenic views." more. From there, head north and let the adventure begin. Share. With 75 overlooks and a speed limit of 35 mph, Skyline Drive is a true opportunity to take in the beauty of Shenandoah and a trip to the Luray Caverns is well worth a visit. Motorcyclists and sports car drivers come from all over the world to make their mark on this iconic road that carves its way through the east Tennessee mountains. The peak is often shrouded in ice or snow in the winter months. Stop in Chattanooga and go to the Aquarium or Rock City or stop at the Chattanooga Choo Choo for a few minutes. The road to Camp Nakanawa is right off of I-40, near Crossville. Roadways in this collection are often the road less travelled, have unmatched intrinsic qualities, and have a regional or national significance. She holds a degree in English, and has worked in the digital marketing realm with companies such as Apartments.com, USA Today and HarperCollins Publishing. Copyright - PigeonForgeChamber.com & Pigeon Forge Chamber of Commerce. But if youre looking for a trip that has it allscenic views, historical landmarks, and plenty of opportunities for adventurethen the 180-mile drive from Nashville to Knoxville might be the one you want to try next!