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NC_Paramedic's avatar
NC_Paramedic
Explorer
Jun 01, 2020

Cades Cove

Need a route from Shelby NC to Cades Cove, wanting to bypass gatlingburg and pigeon forge, did know of a way off I40, getting on Strawberry something, anyone familiar.
TIA
Andy
  • My second wife had lived in Marysville it was only twice we went but she directed me through what she called the backdoor into the park. Just Google maps Cades Cove then directions from Marysville. Piece of cake.
  • Maryville is out of the way but we avoided the traffic of Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge.
  • The only other way into Cades Cove without going through Pigeon Forge is through Maryville and then east on 321 to Townsend and straight through into the park. Go through K'ville to 129 (airport highway) its all good road though time of day determines how congested it is with traffic...but it's always busy.
  • The exit you are thinking of is probably Strawberry Plains. its x395 iirc.

    imo, best access to CC is thru Townsend. Big Meadow CG if you are camping is like 5 miles from CC.
  • CFerguson wrote:
    The exit you are thinking of is probably Strawberry Plains. its x395 iirc.

    imo, best access to CC is thru Townsend. Big Meadow CG if you are camping is like 5 miles from CC.


    Exit 398 is Strawberry Plains Pike and it is a good bypass to get around K'ville traffic. You need to turn left onto 168 and it will connect to 129 south of K'ville. Don't miss the turn onto 168 or you will end up in downtown K'ville.