Smokey Mountain NP

[JnJnKatiebug]

I am making a business trip in a couple of weeks. I will be driving my pickup and staying in hotels (yuck). I have a meeting in Anderson SC on Thursday afternoon then my next meeting is in Nashville TN on Saturday morning so I have a day to kill. I was thinking about driving thru the park. Is the road from Cherokee to Gatlinburg open this time of year? If so how long does it take to make a leisure drive thru the park.

[OutdoorPhotogra]

Make the hike to Alum Cave Bluffs if you have time. Mt Leconte is the peak but Alum Cave Bluffs is doable in half a day.

[JnJnKatiebug]

Thanks for the info. Looking forward to checking it out.

[ken56]

Yeah, it should be fine. Nothing but snow and fires close the road. As long as you are looking to kill a day start at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian right there in Cherokee. Then make a stop at the Oconaluftee visitor center at the entrance of the park. A not to be missed stop is Clingmans Dome, the highest point in the park, great view. Lots of water falls to see along the way if you don't mind a little hike so bring the hiking boots. Then you have a stop at Newfound Gap, Then the down hill side of the trip into Gatlinburg so you can either make a stop in town or head west at the turn off at the Sugarlands center to go to Cades Cove and Townsend area. You can pick up I-40 by way of Rt. 321 and cruise on into Nashville.

Mileage wise its only 35 miles from Cherokee to Gatlinburg but the speed limit is 35 all the way thru the park and depending on traffic it will take and hour if you drive straight thru, throw in a few stops and it can be who knows how long. All up to you.

[Alabama_Jim]

It stays open most of the year. Unless there is a freak cold weather front coming in, you should be okay.

[coolmom42]

Check TDOT Smartway Traffic for any weather related or other road closings. Do the same on NC DOT.

[agesilaus]

Barring some problem the road is open 365 days a year. It takes maybe 3 hours including a stop at the Gap.