Great Smoky Mountains National Park Self Driving Tour

Stop At: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 107 Park Headquarters Rd, Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738

Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. The sprawling landscape encompasses lush forests and an abundance of wildflowers that bloom year-round. Streams, rivers, and waterfalls appear along hiking routes that include a segment of the Appalachian Trail. An observation tower tops Clingmans Dome, the highest peak, offering scenic views of the mist-covered mountains.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Oconaluftee Visitor Center, Us-441, Tennessee 28719

Your drive through the beautiful, majestic Smoky Mountains begins at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Get ready to explore the Smokies and discover why this is the most visited National Park in the country!

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Mingus Mill, 1/2 Mile North of Oconaluftee Visitor Center, North Carolina

As you drive, you'll have the option to take a detour to the Mingus Mill, an 1886 grist mill which, believe it or not, is still fully functional! If you're here on weekends, you can even see the mill operators grind corn just like they did back in the 1800s.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Quiet Walkways, Tennessee

Your first major stop is the Beech Flats Quiet Walkway, a perfect spot for anyone who wants to soak up the natural beauty of the mountains without having to hike an arduous trail.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Clingmans Dome Visitor Contact Station, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Clingmans Dome Rd, Bryson City, NC 28713, USA

Heading toward Clingman's Dome, you'll soon see its famous observation tower. You really haven't seen the Great Smoky Mountains until you've seen them from up here!

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Newfound Gap Road, Between Sugarlands and Oconoluftee, 13.2 MIles from Sugarlands Visitor Center is the state line marker overlook, Tennessee

From there, your drive continues to Newfound Gap, a stunning mountain pass with huge historical significance. Hear the story of how trappers, farmers, and merchants used to cross the Smokies, and how this gap changed all of that.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Rockefeller Memorial, Newfound Gap Stae Line Marker, 13.75 Miles from Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Up next is the Rockefeller Memorial, where you'll learn more about Rockefeller's importance to the park! This memorial was dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt himself.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Morton Overlook, Us-441, Tennessee

After that, you'll reach Morton Overlook, hugely popular for its unbelievable sunsets.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Morton Mountain Tunnel, US-441, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USA

Continuing on, you'll pass through the heart of a mountain using the Morton Tunnel. Here, you'll also hear about how a politician named Ben Morton got his name all over the park.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Alum Cave Trail, Newfound Gap Road, Tennessee

Next you'll pass the Alum Cave Trail, which takes hikers to the remains of an old salt mine packed with fascinating history.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Chimney Tops Overlook, US-441, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USA

Your route takes you next to Chimney Tops Overlook, where you'll hear all about wildfires in the Smokies and how they cause lasting damage to mountains like this one.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Carlos Campbell Overlook, Newfound Gap Rd, A little over 2 miles from Gatlinburg on Newfound Gap Rd, Tennessee

The next overlook on your route is Carlos Campbell Overlook, which serves up panoramic views of towering mountains and lush forests.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Clingmans Dome, 7 miles off US-441 on the Clingmans Dome Road, About 19.6 Miles from Sugarlands Visitor Center, Tennessee

Next up is the most accessible trail in the park: Sugarlands Valley Trail! This scenic trail can be accessed by wheelchair or stroller, and offers a great way to venture into the wilderness.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Sugarlands Visitors Center, 2 miles south of Gatlinburg on US-441, Tennessee

The tour leads next to the Sugarlands Visitor Center, a perfect rest stop and the site of a few trailheads.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail, Tennessee

Next up is the most accessible trail in the park! Sugarlands Valley Trail can be accessed by wheelchair or stroller, and offers a great way to venture into the scenic wilderness. We'll also turn back the clock to get an in-depth look at the complicated history of this valley and the settlers who once lived here.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Cataract Falls, Cove Mountain Trail, Tennessee

Your drive continues to Cataract Falls, a beautiful, secluded set of waterfalls tucked beneath a shaded canopy of beech trees.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Finally, you'll arrive in the picturesque mountian town of Gatlinburg, where your tour will conclude.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Ripley's Believe It or Not!, 800 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USA

Our next stop is perfect for anyone amused by kitschy oddities. This funky museum displays everything from shrunken human heads to rare animal skeletons. We'll get the inside scoop on how it started as a simple one-panel comic strip and grew into a national phenomenon.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Rte. 441, Enter from stoplight 8 at Airport Road, Tennessee 37738

Continue following the road to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. This driving trail invites you to slow down and enjoy the forest and historic buildings of the area. It also features three of the park's most famous waterfalls!

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Rainbow Falls Trail, Tennessee

Our route takes us next to the Rainbow Falls Trail, which leads to the park's most popular waterfall. Standing at 80 feet, Rainbow Falls is the tallest waterfall in the Smokies, but that's not all! When the sun hits it right, it glimmers like a rainbow--hence the name.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Grotto Falls Trail, Tennessee

Keep driving until you reach the Grotto Falls trail. While it's not quite as grand as Rainbow Falls, this secluded, less crowded waterfall is absolutely worth a visit. On your way, hear about a rare salamander you can only find right here!

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: The Place of a Thousand Drips, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN 37783, USA

Why settle for one waterfall when you can have several? Our next stop is the Place of a Thousand Drips, where numerous narrow falls come together to form a stunning torrent.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Baskins Creek Falls, Baskins Creek Trail Trailhead, Baskins Creek Trail, Tennessee 37738

Our drive takes us next to the Baskin Creek Falls, a sparkling waterfall where we'll hear about the amusing, and slightly misguided history behind the name of these falls.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Ephraim Bales Cabin, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USA

Up next, we'll pass the Ephraim Bales Cabin, a portal back in time to the 19th century. We'll hear all about the family that lived here, and why there's a big hole in the middle of their cabin!

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Alfred Reagan Tub Mill, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Reagan Tub Mill (Historic), Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USA

The road brings us next to the Reagen Cabin, which displays a perfect example of old-timey technology in the form of the so-called "tub mill." Hear all about what that is and why it was useful here.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Ely's Mill, 393 Roaring Fork Rd, Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738

Next, our drive takes us to Ely's Mill, a historic mill on the outskirts of Gatlinburg which gives us another window into the lives of the early Appalachian settlers. Here, we'll learn about Andrew Ely, the bigshot lawyer who upended his entire life after his wife died, abandoned his law practice, and moved to Gatlinburg to start over and live a simpler life.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Finally, we'll arrive in the mountian town of Gatlinburg, we'll hear how it all began with the unfortunate, ill-fated William Ogle, who built the town's very first cabin but never got to live there. Then we'll hear about how the town grew, the struggle that consumed it during the Civil War, and how it became what it is today. This is where our tour officially concludes.

There are many stories that you'll hear along the way, including
• Ancestral Cherokee Land
• Tsali and the Trail of Tears
• Revolt Against the Ani'kutani
• Sequoyah's New Storytelling System
• The Milky Way
• Selu's Sacrifice
• Great Smoky Geology
• Webb View
• Appalachia's Settlers
• Appalachian Trail
• Ghost Firs of Clingman's Dome
• Funding the Smokies
• Appalachian Balds
• Balsam Point Quiet Walkway and more.
Explore the captivating Cades Cove and the stunning Great Smoky Mountains by purchasing our special bundle that includes both destinations.

Duration: 10 minutes

• Reservations are REQUIRED for all bookings
• Book Your Package On-Line and Receive Your Confirmation
• Departure point: Detailed check-in instructions - including the address and parking information if applicable - will be included in your final confirmation email.
• Duration: 5 to 6 hours (Approx.)
• Departure Time:
  Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
  Great Smoky Mountains National Park Self Driving Tour
  7/22/2020 - 9/26/2024

  Monday - Sunday :

  06:00 AM - 07:00 PM

• Return Details: Returns to original departure point
  

• Easy to use: Stories play automatically by GPS. Hands-free. Get HELP all day: Call, Chat, or Email.
• Don’t miss a thing: Full itinerary, travel tips, professionally narrated, videos, text, hidden gems.
• Offline use: No cell signal or wifi required. Offline GPS Map & route. Stop-to-stop direction.
• Private tour in your/rental car: No group. Take breaks for photos/ snacks/hikes. Go at your own pace
• App on your phone: A link to download the Tour Guide App by Action and Password for your tours.
• Flexible schedule: Use any day, any time. Travel over multiple days or on next trip. Never expires.
• Good value: Buy just one per car. Don’t pay for each person. Save money compared to a bus tour.
• Gratuities (Optional)
• Transportation, parking fee, food/drinks
• National Park/attraction Passes, entry tickets, or reservation

• Confirmation Voucher (printed or mobile)
• Any required or suggested items listed on your confirmation email.
• A Smile!

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• How it works: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a text/email with instructions. Download the app (while in good wifi/signal) and use your unique password to access your tours. To begin touring, go to the Starting Point and launch the app. The audio starts automatically. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience. Please note that no one will meet you at the starting point.
• Good value Purchase only one tour for the entire vehicle instead of taking the bus and paying for each person. You will see a significant saving. Connect your phone to car speakers by a wire or bluetooth. Enjoy the tour by listening together as you drive.
• Flexible Schedule: Once the app/tour is on your phone, you can use it any day and at any time. You can use it over multiple days. And, also use it on your next trip here. This tour never expires.
• Preview the tour: You can use it before the trip at home (highly recommended), use it during the trip, and use it after you come back.
• Don't miss a thing: You will get everything with the app - a complete itinerary, travel tips, professionally narrated audio stories, story script, images, videos, deep dives, hidden gems, exciting locations, recommendations for hikes, adventure, activities, treks, and stop-by-stop direction.
• Private tour: You can use it in your car or rental car. No worries about groups or crowds. Start the tour app on your phone. And it will direct you step by step. You can stop for as many breaks as you like. Take a break for Instagram photos, and take a break for lunch/snacks. Go on a hike. The tour will wait for you and start when you start again. You can even do the tour over multiple days. Go at your own pace.
• Easy to use: The stories play themselves as soon as the GPS is activated. It requires no use of your hands at all. You can get HELP by calling, chatting, or emailing any time of the day.
• Offline: There is no need for a cell signal or Wi-Fi while touring. App’s GPS map works offline.
• Expiration/go again: The tour will last for the rest of your life on your phone. It is available for use on any day of your next trip.
• Use pictures for a photo book: Create a photo book using clean (no crowd) app images of each spot to make a memorable trip. All the photos and the correct sequence is ready in the app for you to use.
• Social media: Share clean (no crowd) images with friends/family.
• Devices supported include iPhones with iOS 13 & above, Android phones with version 9 & above and all cellular-enabled tablets & iPads.
• Face masks required for travelers in public areas

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.