Great Smoky Mountains & Cades Cove Self-Guided Driving Tours

Gatlinburg, US
82% of travellers recommend this
Very Good (78 reviews)

Highlights

  • Explore the majestic Smoky Mountains
  • Discover the rich history of the Cherokee and early settlers
  • Visit picturesque overlooks, hiking trails, and waterfalls
  • Learn about the pioneer and Civil War history of Cades Cove
  • Experience the beauty of Gatlinburg, a charming mountain town

Meeting Point

ADDITIONAL NOTE: Between May and September, Cyclists and pedestrians have exclusive usage of the Cades Cove Loop Road every Wednesday. No other vehicles are allowed during this time.

Meeting point

8440 TN-73, Townsend, TN 37882 , United States

End point

End Point

ADDITIONAL NOTE: Between May and September, Cyclists and pedestrians have exclusive usage of the Cades Cove Loop Road every Wednesday. No other vehicles are allowed during this time.

Meeting point

8440 TN-73, Townsend, TN 37882 , United States

End point

What to expect

1

1151 Parkway

2

Oconaluftee Visitor Center

After booking the tour, search your email for the phrase "Set up your self-guided tour now." Follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.

3

Oconaluftee Visitor Center

Your drive through the beautiful, majestic Smoky Mountains begins at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Get ready to explore the Smokies and discover why this is the most visited National Park in the country! NOTE: This 72+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Great Smoky and Cades Cove Bundle in 3-5 hours.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
4

Mingus Mill

As you drive, you'll have the option to take a detour to the Mingus Mill, an 1886 grist mill which, believe it or not, is still fully functional! If you're here on weekends, you can even see the mill operators grind corn just like they did back in the 1800s.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
5

Quiet Walkways

Your first major stop is the Beech Flats Quiet Walkway, a perfect spot for anyone who wants to soak up the natural beauty of the mountains without having to hike an arduous trail.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
6

Rockefeller Memorial

Up next is the Rockefeller Memorial, where you'll learn more about Rockefeller's importance to the park! This memorial was dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt himself.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
7

Newfound Gap Road

From there, your drive continues to Newfound Gap, a stunning mountain pass with huge historical significance. Hear the story of how trappers, farmers, and merchants used to cross the Smokies, and how this gap changed all of that.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
8

Alum Cave Trail

Next you'll pass the Alum Cave Trail, which takes hikers to the remains of an old salt mine packed with fascinating history.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
9

Morton Overlook

After that, you'll reach Morton Overlook, hugely popular for its unbelievable sunsets.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
10

Carlos Campbell Overlook

The next overlook on your route is Carlos Campbell Overlook, which serves up panoramic views of towering mountains and lush forests.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
11

Chimney Tops Trail

Your route takes you next to Chimney Tops Overlook, where you'll hear all about wildfires in the Smokies and how they cause lasting damage to mountains like this one.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
12

Kuwohi

Next up is the most accessible trail in the park: Sugarlands Valley Trail! This scenic trail can be accessed by wheelchair or stroller, and offers a great way to venture into the wilderness.

Duration 60 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
13

Sugarlands Visitors Center

The tour leads next to the Sugarlands Visitor Center, a perfect rest stop and the site of a few trailheads.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
14

Cataract Falls

Your drive continues to Cataract Falls, a beautiful, secluded set of waterfalls tucked beneath a shaded canopy of beech trees.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
15

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Gatlinburg

Our next stop is perfect for anyone amused by kitschy oddities. This funky museum displays everything from shrunken human heads to rare animal skeletons. We'll get the inside scoop on how it started as a simple one-panel comic strip and grew into a national phenomenon.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
16

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

Continue following the road to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. This driving trail invites you to slow down and enjoy the forest and historic buildings of the area. It also features three of the park's most famous waterfalls!

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
17

Rainbow Falls Trail

Our route takes us next to the Rainbow Falls Trail, which leads to the park's most popular waterfall. Standing at 80 feet, Rainbow Falls is the tallest waterfall in the Smokies, but that's not all! When the sun hits it right, it glimmers like a rainbow--hence the name.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
18

Grotto Falls Trail

Keep driving until you reach the Grotto Falls trail. While it's not quite as grand as Rainbow Falls, this secluded, less crowded waterfall is absolutely worth a visit. On your way, hear about a rare salamander you can only find right here!

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
19

Baskins Creek Falls

Our drive takes us next to the Baskin Creek Falls, a sparkling waterfall where we'll hear about the amusing, and slightly misguided history behind the name of these falls.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
20

Ephraim Bales Cabin

Up next, we'll pass the Ephraim Bales Cabin, a portal back in time to the 19th century. We'll hear all about the family that lived here, and why there's a big hole in the middle of their cabin!

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
21

Alfred Reagan Tub Mill

The road brings us next to the Reagen Cabin, which displays a perfect example of old-timey technology in the form of the so-called "tub mill." Hear all about what that is and why it was useful here.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
22

Ely's Mill

Next, our drive takes us to Ely's Mill, a historic mill on the outskirts of Gatlinburg which gives us another window into the lives of the early Appalachian settlers. Here, we'll learn about Andrew Ely, the bigshot lawyer who upended his entire life after his wife died, abandoned his law practice, and moved to Gatlinburg to start over and live a simpler life.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
23

Gatlinburg

Finally, you'll arrive in the picturesque mountian town of Gatlinburg, where your tour will conclude.

Duration 10 minutes
24

Cades Cove Methodist Church

Past that is the Methodist Church, which cost only $115 to build when it was constructed in 1902!

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
25

Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church

Then there's the Missionary Baptist Church, which split off from the Primitive Baptist Church during the early days of Cades Cove due to ideological divides.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
26

Elijah Oliver Cabin

Continuing on, you'll come to the Elijah Oliver Place, accessible via a half-mile trail. This secluded homestead once belonged to an abolitionist who found himself in grave danger when the Civil War broke out.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
27

Abrams Falls Trail

Up next is the Abrams Falls Trail, which takes hikers to a powerful waterfall hidden deep in the wilderness.

Duration 10 minutes
28

Cades Cove Historical Grist Mill

After that, you'll see the John Cable Grist Mill. This mill dates back to 1870 and you can still see it in operation today!

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
29

Tipton Rd

Next on your route is Tipton Place, which was once home to a war hero of the American Revolution.

Duration 10 minutes
30

Carter Shields Cabin

Finally, you'll come next to the Carter Shields Cabin, a staunchly abolitionist home that lost much during the Civil War. There are many stories that you'll hear along the way, including • A Cherokee Homeland • White Settlers Arrive in Cades Cove • Smokies Wildlife • The Cussing Cover • Last Family who lived in Cades Cove • Ancestral Cherokee Land • Tsali and the Trail of Tears • Revolt Against the Ani'kutani • Sequoyah's New Storytelling System • The Milky Way • Selu's Sacrifice • Great Smoky Geology • Webb View • Appalachia's Settlers • Appalachian Trail • Ghost Firs of Clingman's Dome • Funding the Smokies • Appalachian Balds • Balsam Point Quiet Walkway and more.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
31

1151 Parkway

32

Oconaluftee Visitor Center

After booking the tour, search your email for the phrase "Set up your self-guided tour now." Follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.

Additional Information

  • Additional information
    Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Additional information
    Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Additional information
    How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email with instructions. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the separate app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular.
  • Additional information
    How to start the tour: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
  • Additional information
    Amazing Savings: why pay for an expensive, crowded, and limited bus tour — priced per person! — when you can have ONE amazing audio guide on your OWN phone for your WHOLE group?
  • Additional information
    Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It's perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. • Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
  • Additional information
    Comprehensive Tour Experience: •The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
  • Additional information
    Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
  • Additional information
    Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
  • Additional information
    Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
  • Additional information
    Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app's features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.
  • Additional information
    Minimum Mobile OS Requirement: iOS 14 or later / Android 9 (Pie) or later. It is compatible with iPad models that have a GPS chip.
  • Additional information
    CarPlay and Android Auto are not yet supported. Connect your phone via Bluetooth, USB, or Aux for audio. Use phone speakers if needed.
Provided by Travel with Action

What our experts say

  • icon
    Download the app before arrival.
  • icon
    Visit Mingus Mill for history.
  • icon
    Stop at Morton Overlook for sunsets.
  • icon
    Try local eateries in Gatlinburg!
  • icon
    Check for seasonal road access.

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