Smoky Mountains Road Trip Itinerary from Gatlinburg to the North Carolina Highlands
The Great Smoky Mountains refers to the range of mountains cutting through the Tennessee-North Carolina border, full of natural beauty, wildlife, and wholesome family fun. The surrounding park lands have become the most visited national park in the American Park System.
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When you live in Texas, there are few things you look forward to as much as the heat breaking after a long, sweltering summer. While the rest of country seems to be basking in pumpkin spice lattes, we are usually still slurping on freeze pops until late-ish October. So, planning a fall get-away to a higher elevation and latitude has been the answer for getting my autumn color fix.
I’ve been visiting the Smoky Mountains since I was kid. My dad was an avid outdoorsman and always had a camping trip in the works. But, there is something special about this place when the temperatures drop and the leaves start their encore.
The tricky part about planning a trip to see fall colors is timing it just right. Even just a week can make a difference in the color progression. So, my advice is to plan a trip that you will enjoy regardless of how much color you may or may not see.
The photos here were taken during the third week of October, for a point of reference. There was some color change at the higher elevations, but still fairly green in Gatlinburg. As we drove from Tennessee to the North Carolina Highlands, the color show improved dramatically.
Our itinerary was as follows:
- Day 1: Arrival & Drive to Gatlinburg
- Day 2: Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Grotto Falls Trail
- Emerts Cove Covered Bridge
- Little Greenbriar School
- Cades Cove Scenic Loop
- Day 3: Newfound Gap Road, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Chimney Tops Trail
- Ben Morton Overlook
- Clingman’s Dome Overlook
- Smokemont Riding Stables
- Mingus Mill
- Day 4: Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Nantahala Gorge Excursion
- Day 5: Ashville, NC & Cidery Visit
- Day 6: North Carolina Highlands
- Linville Falls
- Hawk’s Nest Ziplining
- Mast General Store, Boone
- Blowing Rock
Day 1: Arrival and Drive to Gatlinburg
We flew into Nashville, Tennessee and rented a car for our 6 day trip across the Smokies and into North Carolina. The drive from Nashville to Gatlinburg via Knoxville was very do-able. Gatlinburg is right outside the entrance to Smoky Mountains National Park and is the perfect base camp for all of your activities.
We decided to rent a cozy little cabin off the beaten path for our first couple of nights. There are loads of cabin rentals available in this area and quite a few websites that offer booking services. We booked a little on the late side, but still were able to find this perfect place for us just a short ways away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Gatlinburg.
Above photo: Gatlinburg, TN
Day Two: Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Our first full day, we got up early and made our way to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. I really was not expecting to spot much wildlife, but much to our surprise, we saw wild turkeys and other furry critters.
The trail is a one-way driving tour through an area with several buildings with historical significance. You can pull-over to explore and read the informational kiosks. There are also several hiking trailheads. We had decided to hike the Grotto Falls trail, which leads to a really nice waterfall that you can walk behind and under. For a couple guided tour options, please see the links below:
There were several other couples and families we passed along the trail. Nothing terribly challenging for the average hiker. Probably the most challenging part of the hike was finding parking at the trailhead. For real.
Above photo: Grotto Falls from behind the waterfall
Above photo: Noah “Bud” Ogle homestead (left)
Above photos: Flora and wildlife in Smoky Mountain National Park
The Motor Nature Trail, Grotto Falls, and stops at the historical sites filled our entire morning. It was time to eat! I had heard good things about the Hofbrauhaus (upstairs above the Cheese Cupboard) at The Village Shops and it was delish. It was one of the less obvious choices, but my husband cannot resist a proper Rueben. So, we had to do it.
After lunch, I insisted we go check out Emerts Cove Covered Bridge. Gah, I’m such a sucker for covered bridges. It was a really quaint bridge and looks legit old. But, then we read up and learned that it isn’t old at all. Built in 2000. Honestly, I felt a little bamboozled. It is cute, nonetheless.
Above photo: Emerts Cove Covered Bridge
We spent the rest of the afternoon driving Fighting Creek Gap Road to Little River Gorge Road, stopping off to visit the Little Greenbrier School. The unpaved road up to the schoolhouse was a little dicey in our rental car and I found myself wishing we had rented a Jeep. The Greenbrier School was built in 1882 and it is interesting to imagine what it was like for folks back then. There is also an adjacent cemetery that was nice to wander through.
Above photo: The Little Greenbriar Schoolhouse & Church
Above photo: Driving through Smoky Mountain National Park
If you follow Little River Gorge Road to Laurel Creek Road, you will arrive at Cades Cove Scenic Loop. Not only is this a fantastic location to spot wildlife, but the historical homes throughout the cove offer a glimpse into the lives of the original settlers of this area prior to the establishment of the national park.
Above photos: Wildlife and historical markers in Cades Cove
Day 3: Newfound Gap Road, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Our second day in Smoky Mountains National Park we had planned to drive Newfound Gap Road, also marked as Route 441. This main artery cuts through the mountain range and offers many scenic overviews and trailheads along the way. We pulled over often and took our time enjoying the beautiful scenery. Our favorite stops included the Chimney Tops Trail, Ben Morton Overlook, and the Smokemont Riding Stables. There aren’t any places to buy lunch along this drive, so be sure to plan ahead and pack a brown bag lunch.
Above photos: Chimney Tops Trail
Above photo: Ben Morton Overlook
One of the more highly recommended stops off of Newfound Gap Road is the Clingman’s Dome Overlook. The view is pretty impressive, but it is a steep ascent to the top. If you aren’t a fitness enthusiast or really bent on seeing this view, there are plenty of others along Newfound Gap Road that won’t leave you breathless (in the heart-attack sense).
Above photos: Clingman’s Dome Overlook
We had made late-afternoon reservations at Smokemont Riding Stables for an hour-long guided horseback ride as our final activity of the day. Our guide was fantastic and provided some really interesting insights as we took the horses through a river crossing and up the mountainside. More information about rides and experiences can be found here.
Above photos: Horseback riding in Smoky Mountain National Park
Just past the riding stables, the Mingus Mill is another interesting, historical place to stop. This grist mill dating to 1886 provides tours and demonstrations of its still-functional sluice, turbine & other machinery during the summer months. When it isn’t open, visitors can still walk around the outside. Check for opening hours and additional information here.
Above photos: Mingus Mill
As we approached the end of our drive, we had the luck of encountering a herd of elk. We were able to pull over and get out of the car to get a closer look and take photographs as the herd crossed an open meadow. It was such a thrill!
Above photo: Elk
We spent the night in Cherokee, North Carolina just outside of the park boundary. Cherokee is a town on the reservation home of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation. There are quite a few things to see and do here, but at this point, the only thing on our agenda was finally sitting down to eat after our long day and then hitting the hay.
Day Four: Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
The next day, we had tickets on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. I highly, highly recommend booking a train ride if your itinerary allows. It is a great way to spend four and a half hours and see the breathtaking fall foliage.
The Premium Open Air Gondola is 100% the way to go, if you can snag seats. This car has completely unobstructed views and affords the best opportunity for photographers to capture the idyllic scenery.
Our morning ride was super chilly, but we were perfectly fine once we had cups of hot cocoa in our hands. A little lap blanket would have been nice, but we were okay without it. Our foggy morning weather created a mystical-magical atmosphere and all the autumn feels.
Above photo: Aboard the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad
To read my complete post with details and photos about our excursion on the GSMR here.
Above photos: Great Smoky Mountain Railroad through the Nantahala River Gorge
From the train depot in Bryson City, we drove about an hour or so to Asheville, and more specifically, to the Grand Bohemian Hotel for a couple nights of true luxury. The older I get, the more of a hotel snob I’ve become. The hubs and I like a cushy stay and this property had been on our wish list for a while. Both the hotel and the swanky Red Stag Grill were exactly what we needed after “roughing it” (I use that phrase very loosely) for a few nights.
The Grand Bohemian Hotel is also adjacent to the entrance to Biltmore Estate. If your plans include Biltmore, you couldn’t be in a more convenient location from which to set-off your visit. I have visited Biltmore multiple times and in different seasons. It is really worth going again to see the changes in the estate decorations, exhibits, and gardens.
To read about our visit to Biltmore Estate in mid-November, please click here.
Day Five: Asheville & Cidery Tasting
Most of our trip up to this point had been fairly full, bouncing from one thing to the next. We decided to slow things down for a day and just chill. Since the area is well-known for apples, we set off to visit the Appalacian Ridge Artisan Hard Cidery in Hendersonville. Loved this place! The main building is a converted antique barn with seating outside overlooking the orchard. We ordered a tasting flight so we could try a bit of everything:) On the drive back, we stopped at a local farm stand to pick up a bag of apples for “car snacks” (always important to have car snacks!). For more information about the cidery, click here.
Above photos: Appalacian Ridge Artisan Hard Cidery
Day Six: North Carolina Highlands
For the final day of our Great Smoky Mountains adventure, we headed north to the North Carolina Highlands. Although technically, we were no longer in the Smoky Mountains. This area is considered the southern tip of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The fall color in this area was much closer to peak color and we finally had the kaleidoscope mountainsides we had been hoping to see.
Above photo: North Carolina Highlands near Linville Falls
The most famous, and arguably the most beautiful, waterfall in the Blue Ridge is Linville Falls. The short hike to the falls was spectacular! It definitely satisfied that longing for complete immersion in the woods in full fall color. There were a few stretches along the drive to the trailhead where there was absolutely zero cellular service. So, if you are following GPS on your phone, it might be a good idea to take a some screen captures of your route ahead of the drive.
Above photos: Linville Falls
Continuing further north, we headed up to Hawk’s Nest for some seasonal ziplining. We had brought our kids to Hawk’s Nest a few years back for snow tubing. But, the thin-blooded southerners we are, there was no way we would have entertained the notion of ziplining in the cold. However, it is a perfect activity for the fall!
The zipline tours are all guided and very safe. The other couple in our group had previous zipline experience, like us, which made for a really smooth and fun tour.
Above photos: Ziplining at Hawk’s Nest
Since we were ultimately headed to Charlotte by the end of the day, our driving route took us through Boone and then down past Blowing Rock. Even though we have visited the area in the past, it is always fun to stop off at the Mast General Store and the Blowing Rock viewpoint.
Above photo: Blowing Rock
The North Carolina Highlands are a great add-on to a vacation in the Smokies. Countless scenic drives, waterfall hikes, and family-friendly adventures await year-round. Below are a few more tour options that depart from Ashville:
Need help packing? Click here for Travel Essentials for Fall.
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