Best Route through the Smokies

[howdy35]

Looking for advice going from Gatlinburg to Ashville NC. Anyone made that trip and know of the best road? Is 441 across the Smokies any good for a Diesel Pusher with Toad? Planning for the summer-fall of 2020. Thanks for any advice. Arnold, Happy travels.

[crawford]

441 isn't just a challenge is isn't very wide when you got crazy 4 wheeler s on both sides of switch backs. Relaxing I don't think so LOL.

[Busskipper]

howdy35 wrote:
Looking for advice going from Gatlinburg to Ashville NC. Anyone made that trip and know of the best road? Is 441 across the Smokies any good for a Diesel Pusher with Toad? Planning for the summer-fall of 2020. Thanks for any advice. Arnold, Happy travels.

As a personal view driving in the Smokies will Test even the Best drivers - PERIOD.

Straight is not in the description of anything.

Can you, sure, either one but IMHO I-40 is just Crazy - the speed limit for trucks is set to the slowest truck driving as they are - for the most part - Restricted to the right lane, and most are doing well over 65 on a road designed for a Sports Car, if you dare to get into the Left lane you will be run over by the local traffic doing 75+.

I remember thinking that while I love a Challenge and I love to Drive this would not be Fun in the RV - Luckily I was in Really Nice New Truck (Brothers) and it was still a drivers drive.

Guess what I'm trying to say is that it is like Driving the Washington Beltway - At Rush Hour - with two lanes closed - Jersey walls on both sides - 11' lanes - at 75+ MPH.

So while RT 441 may be a challenge it will allow you to get out of the way and take the drive at a much more leisurely pace.

JMHO,

[jaycocamprs]

kohldad wrote:
Then you still have to deal with 19 and it's ups/downs to Asheville.

Just follow US-441 on south a few miles to US-74. 4 lane to Asheville.

But I-40 would be a better choice.

[ken56]

The smell of burned brakes is in the air constantly on 441 going over the mountain. If you are not well experienced in steep grade driving and using that exhaust brake and down shifting you will be in for a workout and possible a brake job by the time you are down the mountain. Its easy enough to head east on 321 and go over to 40. Do your sightseeing in the toad and take the DP over to 40 when you head out.

[CFerguson]

I40. Period.
Lived in that area most of my life and spent untold hours on all those roads. Just watch for the semiyearly rockslide that narrows the interstate down to 1 lane for a month or so.

[kohldad]

Unless you are familiar and comfortable with mountain driving, I wouldn't recommend it. Once you pass Sugarlands Visitor Center @ 1,480', it's 13.3 miles constant up to Newfoundland Gap @ 5,040'. On the way down you drop to 2,800' in 8.4 miles before becoming more gradual decent for the remaining 7.4 miles to Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Then you still have to deal with 19 and it's ups/downs to Asheville.

You can figure about 1.5 hour via I40 or 3 hours via 441 because while it isn't that much further, you will be a lot slower.

I go over the mountain frequently for the last 40 years but I definitely don't go out of my way to do it. Only if I'm in GA and headed to Elkmont with a stop at Smokemount will I usually take 441.

Since you will be in Gatlinburg to start with, make sure you take a day to drive up to Clingmans Dome in the car so you can stop at the overlooks on the way up and down. Then you can decide yourself.

[crawford]

I live here don't take 441 you will be sorry with all the switch backs and narrow rds for a suv ok but that's it.

[dodge_guy]

It depends on what you want. Beautiful scenery take 441 and enjoy. Fast route take die-40. Although the turns on that route at highway speeds is not relaxing. IDE rather take 441 even though it is a bit out of the way!

[rgatijnet1]

Horsedoc wrote:
You would be headed too far south to do the 441 route. Go up to I-40 and take a right 🙂

Yes, it is 6 miles farther to take 441 rather than I40 but you would miss some of the best scenery in the Smoky Mountains.

[Horsedoc]

You would be headed too far south to do the 441 route. Go up to I-40 and take a right 🙂

[fishingbob61]

I-40 all the way.

Bob

[JoeH]

accsys wrote:
If it were me, I would take I-40. You definitely DO NOT want to take US 19 between Cherokee and Maggie Valley. US 74 from 441 just south of Cherokee to US 19 north of Waynesville is a good ride but you will wind up on I-40 regardless.

I agree with above. 441 to Cherokee is full of gawkers and very tight turns and grades. 19 to Maggie Valley is not a good road for a coach, although I've been on worse, but certainly not fun. I-40 is the way to go.

[accsys]

If it were me, I would take I-40. You definitely DO NOT want to take US 19 between Cherokee and Maggie Valley. US 74 from 441 just south of Cherokee to US 19 north of Waynesville is a good ride but you will wind up on I-40 regardless.

[rgatijnet1]

I did it with a gasser pulling a toad. I am sure that a DP should make it without any issues.