Scenic Drives in the Smoky Mountains: 7 Beautiful Roads Worth Exploring
When planning a vacation to Pigeon Forge, a visit to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a must. While hiking is one of the most popular ways to experience the park, you don’t have to hit the trails to enjoy its incredible beauty. Some of the best views can be found right from your vehicle.
Whether you’re looking for mountain overlooks, historic sites, waterfalls, or wildlife viewing opportunities, these scenic drives in the Smoky Mountains offer unforgettable experiences for visitors of all ages.
Cades Cove Loop Road
Cades Cove is one of the most visited areas in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and for good reason. This 11-mile, one-way loop road winds through a picturesque valley surrounded by mountains and offers some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing in the park.
Along the drive, you’ll pass historic churches, log cabins, and open fields where deer, wild turkeys, black bears, and other wildlife are frequently spotted.
Plan to spend two to four hours exploring the loop, especially if you stop to take photos or visit some of the historic structures.
Highlights:
11-mile one-way paved loop
Excellent wildlife viewing
Historic buildings and churches
Numerous pull-offs and photo opportunities
PLEASE NOTE: Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to vehicular traffic on Wednesdays from May through September. For more information about vehicle-free Wednesdays, please refer to this blog post:
Located just off Newfound Gap Road, Kuwohi Road leads visitors on a scenic seven-mile drive to the highest point in Tennessee at 6,643 feet. Formerly known as Clingmans Dome Road, the area was officially renamed Kuwohi in 2024, honoring its original Cherokee name.
Several pull-offs along the route provide spectacular views of the Smokies, and on clear days, visibility can stretch more than 100 miles. At the end of the road, visitors can take the short but steep paved path to the iconic observation tower.
The road is typically open from April through late November, weather permitting.
Highlights:
Highest point in Tennessee
Panoramic mountain views
Observation tower
Beautiful sunrise and sunset opportunities
Newfound Gap Road
Stretching 33 miles between Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Cherokee, North Carolina, Newfound Gap Road is the park’s main roadway and one of its most scenic drives.
As you climb through varying elevations, you’ll experience dramatic changes in vegetation and numerous overlooks offering breathtaking views. Newfound Gap itself sits at an elevation of 5,046 feet and features a large parking area, restrooms, and the famous Rockefeller Memorial.
The drive from Gatlinburg to Cherokee takes about one hour without stops, but you’ll want to allow extra time for the many overlooks along the way.
Highlights:
Connects Tennessee and North Carolina
Multiple scenic overlooks
Rockefeller Memorial
Easy access to Kuwohi Road
Blue Ridge Parkway
Often called “America’s Favorite Drive,” the Blue Ridge Parkway begins near Cherokee, North Carolina, and extends 469 miles through the Appalachian Mountains.
Although it requires a bit more driving from Pigeon Forge, the Blue Ridge Parkway rewards visitors with stunning vistas, hiking opportunities, and peaceful mountain scenery. Commercial vehicles are prohibited, making it a relaxing and enjoyable drive.
Popular nearby stops include Waterrock Knob and the Richland Balsam overlook.
Highlights:
469 miles of scenic roadway
Sweeping mountain views
Peaceful drive with minimal commercial traffic
Easy access from Cherokee, NC
Foothills Parkway
One of the most underrated scenic drives in the Smokies, Foothills Parkway offers some of the most spectacular panoramic views in East Tennessee.
The newest section, often referred to as the “Missing Link,” connects Wears Valley with Walland and provides incredible vistas overlooking the Great Smoky Mountains. There are numerous overlooks where visitors can stop for photos, enjoy a picnic, or simply soak in the scenery.
Because traffic is usually lighter than in other areas of the park, Foothills Parkway is perfect for a leisurely drive.
Highlights
Incredible panoramic views
Connects Wears Valley and Townsend
Less crowded than other park roads
Beautiful sunrise and sunset locations
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
Located just minutes from downtown Gatlinburg, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a 5.5-mile one-way loop that immerses visitors in the forested beauty of the Smokies.
You’ll pass rushing mountain streams, historic cabins, and old-growth forests while enjoying one of the park’s most peaceful drives. Access to popular hiking trails, including Rainbow Falls and Grotto Falls, can also be found along the route.
Because of its narrow curves, buses, RVs, and trailers are prohibited.
The road is typically open seasonally from spring through late fall.
Highlights:
Closest scenic drive to Gatlinburg
Historic cabins and mills
Streams and waterfalls
Access to popular hiking trails
Lakeview Drive: The Road to Nowhere
Just outside Bryson City, North Carolina, you’ll find one of the Smokies’ most intriguing drives. Lakeview Drive, better known as “The Road to Nowhere,” stretches approximately six miles before ending abruptly at a tunnel.
Originally intended to continue through the mountains, the road project was halted, leaving behind the mysterious nickname that attracts curious visitors today.
At the end of the road, you’ll find a pedestrian tunnel that leads to hiking trails and additional views overlooking Fontana Lake.
Highlights:
Unique Smoky Mountain history
Scenic overlooks
Tunnel access to hiking trails
Close to Bryson City and Fontana Lake
Enjoy the Journey
One of the best things about visiting the Smokies is that you don’t always have to hike to experience the area’s natural beauty. These scenic drives offer unforgettable views, abundant wildlife, and plenty of opportunities to create lasting memories.
Whether you’re spending a weekend in Pigeon Forge or planning a longer Smoky Mountain vacation, be sure to add a few of these scenic routes to your itinerary. Sometimes, the journey really is the destination.
