Route to Smokies

[djbogue]

We are going to the Smokies later this fall and was wondering which route would be better to take:

1) Louisville or
2) Cincinnati

According to Streets & Trips the difference is only 4 miles.

Is I-65 or I-71 a better road. Thanks.

[blknomad]

Riverside rv park and resort in Sevierville. Its on Boyd's Creek Road about 100yds off the main drag. Nice and quiet and still close to every thing.
Those folks are right about Chattanooga come up I-24 to I-40 a couple of times, never got into one of those backups but traffic is a real bi!$h.

[rbtglove]

We like Twin Creeks has trolley acess and is close to resturants, shopping and the park entrance. Going through Pigeon Forge can be a pain but if you get off the main drag it is faster.

[djbogue]

Thanks WrightOn. Looks like we will be using the Cinny route.

[WrightOn]

We live near Kankakee and just returned from Townsend. I generally travel 65 to Louisville to 75 in Lexington. Once in Knoxville, if going to Townsend, take bypass around and head to Maryville and then to Townsend. If headed to PF, go east.

We ran into constant construction on 65 from Indy to Louisville. On the way back, I took 75 to Cincinnati to Indy. There is a spot just north of Lexington were construction was going on, but that was the only area. It should be done by fall.

Pick your poison.

Tremont Outdoor Resort and the sites along Little River are really nice - especially in the "B" section. Rapids are right below you.

[djbogue]

I was going to take I74 to Indianapolis I65 to Louisville I64 to Lexington I75 to Knoxville I40 to Twin Creeks in Gatlingburg.

Or I74 to Cincinnati I75 to Knoxville I40 to Twin creeks in Gatlingburg.

It seems that I57 to I24 to Nashville to I40 to Knoxville is a little out of the way.

[stickdog]

I74 to I65 to I64 to I75 Avoid Indy at rush hour and Louisville as well.
I would take I57 to I24 to I40 less traffic avoids Indy and Louisville, only need to run Nashville at other than rush. We always take this route from western burbs of Chicago a couple times a year.

[Alabama_Jim]

A nice campground is Creek Side in Pigeon Forge. We stayed there about 2 months ago and it was great. As far as roads, I would avoid pulling my trailer over the narrow winding road through the park. I always like to come through Knoxville and go through Pigeon Forge.

[RoyB]

I guess you are aware there are no hookups inside the SMOKY Natl Park. Just water and centrally located toilet and wash up buildings...

Alot of folks like to stay in Townsend TN as it is out of the hoopla of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge... Lots of nice full hook-ups in that area.

When we go we usually like to camp at ELKMONT inside the Natl Park with no hookups or at Riveredge RV Park in Pigeon Forge just as you enter the town coming from Gatlinburg side...

We always come in from NEWPORT TN at I40 and Take either 32 or go on down a short way to 321 and follow that all the way into Gatlingburg...

Roy Ken

[TundraTower]

Whatever you do, avoid I=-24 thru Chattanooga. We just went to Smokys from north Alabama last Saturday 7/25 and returned 8/1. We found I-24 thru Chattanooga to be an insurmountable obstacle going and coming.

Going to the Smokys EB on 7/25 we came upon a dead stop that extended 10 miles into Chattanooga according to MapQuest. We got off on I-59 and took a 40 mile detour to the south.

Coming back WB on 8/1 we also found dead stops on I-24 on both sides of the I-75 exchange. Again we bailed out and took a detour south thru Georgia.

No one seems to know what the problem is, other than I-24 goes right thru the middle of town - no bypass.

Whatever you do, cut over to the east in time to avoid Chattanooga at all costs. I have officially written off that route.

You will eventually hit I-40 that would go to Knoxville that would be my choice this summer. Give us more details on where exactly you are going and we can give better guidance. For example, you do not want maneuver an RV from Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg to get to the mountains.

[ken56]

South of Cinci I75 is fine, as in no real construction going on. Some but minor. 65 and 71 dont make sense to me if you are going to the Smokies. 65 goes into Nashville. Might want to clarify your route intentions.