Cades Cove

[NC_Paramedic]

Trying to find a route from the Shelby NC area to Cades Cove. Pulling a cougar 33 ft 5th wheel. Wanting to avoid a gatlingburg/ pigeon forge areas, don’t mind going a little further to avoid these areas.
Anyone have any suggestions?
TIA
Andy

[ken56]

Another snippet for Cades Cove, they will be closing the loop the last 3 weeks of September for resurfacing.

[ferndaleflyer]

Time of year? Wonder what time that is?

[ken56]

Understand that 129 from I-40 is fine to Maryville so you can pick up 321 to Townsend. No issues. Taking 74 to 129 from the south is the Tail of the Dragon. AGAIN, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TAKE THIS WAY.

[Beaker]

And be aware that Cades Cove area, not the campground, has the worst traffic I have ever seen in a park. Iook over an hour yo advance half a mile on single lane roads.

Depends on time of year.

[schlep1967]

Please do not try 129. 318 curves in 11 miles, motorcycles seeing how fast they can travel it and signs saying no trailers allowed.

[ken56]

Is your destination Cades Cove campground? or Townsend? I see you will have to come up 26 to Asheville and pick up 40. there are only 2 good ways to get to Cades cove and that is either 321 heading west out of Sevierville or east out of Maryville on 321. That's it. DO NOT TRY TO TAKE RIVER ROAD IN THE PARK.

The easiest route is to go to Knoxville and pick up 129 (airport highway) south to Maryville. Then hit 321 all the way into Townsend. You are still going to be in some moderate to heavy traffic because it's ALWAYS that way.

If you come in from the east and Sevierville you will get off at the Newport exit 432A and pick up 411. There is a short stretch of that road that is narrow and up hill. After that it's all good road into Sevierville. Then you would turn south at the parkway and pick up 321 and go west into Townsend. There is about 3 miles of a downhill grade with one sharp turn, it's been widened so there is plenty of room to make the turn. Going slow is critical.

Things have been as busy as ever around here so traffic is unavoidable. Patience is required. And don't do 74 to 129 that way. That's the Tail of the Dragon and it would not be nice with your rig....beautiful drive when you arn't towing.

[BarabooBob]

We were there about 4 years ago in June and arrived early in the morning. We had moderate traffic. When we got out of the area at around noon, the traffic was really picking up.

[jaycocamprs]

Well there is US-74 to US-129. It will keep you out of Gatlinburg, but US-129 is not even close to straight or level.

[ferndaleflyer]

I attempted it twice in our Smart car and after an hour of little progress made a
U turn and went back.

[DrewE]

It's pretty hard to completely avoid Gatlinburg. If you take I-40 to US321, you avoid a lot of the congestion and craziness.

I guess going through the park on US441 is an option, but it's not exactly a straight and level road, not by a long shot. I did drive it with my 32' class C without trouble or a lot of drama. I'm fairly comfortable with switchbacks and fairly narrow roads and steep hills, but I also realize that not everyone is like that.

[agesilaus]

And be aware that Cades Cove area, not the campground, has the worst traffic I have ever seen in a park. Iook over an hour yo advance half a mile on single lane roads.

[schlep1967]

The only way I see to avoid both of those towns is to circle out around to Knoxville and come down through Maryville.