Depends on where you are staying. We stayed at Smokey Bear RV Park, about 20 minutes east of Gatlinburg. We came in on I-40 and took US 321 to the CG, which is also East Parkway and goes right into Gatlinburg. Avoided PF. Actually we avoided PF and Seiverville the entire week. Unless you have kids, you would not be missing anything.
We left at 5:00 AM and that road is pitch black at night and narrow, so we went through PF and Seiverville on the way back instead. No one on that road at 5:00 AM. ;)
As far as the Interstates and mountains go, we hardly knew we were climbing if not for the scenery. It's nothing compared to towing a trailer west of Denver on I-70.