Smoky Mountain Scenic Drive
Thank you to Aaron Granger for providing us with maps and turn by turn directions for the drive.
Overview Map
Turn by Turn Map
Turn by Turn Directions
1 |
Depart the staging area at the base of Fontana Dam | |
2 |
Trip: 0.0 mile 7.7 miles to next turn |
Turn right from the lower dam access road onto 28 towards the Dragon (Reset your trip meter as you take this turn) |
3 |
Trip: 7.6 mile 14.9 miles to next turn |
Turn right onto US 129 (State 115) aka the Dragon |
4 |
Trip: 22.4 mile 16.8 miles to next turn |
Turn right onto Foothills Parkway - Do Not Speed This is a federal land and tickets can easily reach $500! |
| Trip: 25.9 or 37.7 mile | Scenic Overlooks - Great kodak moments | |
5 |
Trip: 39.1 mile 4.7 miles ot next turn |
At the end of the Foothills Parkway, Turn Right onto US-321 (State 73) aka The Smoky Mountain Highway |
6 |
Trip: 43.5 mile | Drive through Kinzel Springs and Sunshine to the Apple Valley Kitchen Stop for Lunch |
7 |
Trip: 43.5 mile | Turn right out of driveway and continue on US 321 (TN 73) Get gas in next few miles (BP station on left at 45.7) No gas for the next 2 hours after this |
8 |
Trip: 46.3 mile 2.3 miles ot next turn |
Continue straight through the lights in Townsend and Bethel. TN 73 will turn left, but you will CONTINUE STRAIGHT |
9 |
Trip: 48.5 mile 17.4 miles to next turn |
Turn left on Cades Cove Road (aka Old TN 73 and/or Little River Road) Follow the sign to Gatlinburg |
10 |
Trip: 65.7 mile 31.5 miles to next turn |
Turn right onto US 441 (aka TN 71) |
| Trip: 72.2 mile | Good video opportunity if someone wants to run ahead of the pack and stand on the left side of the road adter the second tunnel. The road loops over itself and if all the cars are packed together, it makes for a great shot looking down at all the cars | |
| Trip: 78.4 mile | Scenic Overlook - 30 cars are a tight squeeze | |
11 |
Trip: 97.7 mile 5.4 mile to next turn |
Turn right onto US 19 (aka Ela Road) |
12 |
Trip 103.0 mile 1.7 mile to next turn |
Turn left onto Hyatt Creek Road ( a 45 degree left turn) |
13 |
Trip: 104.7 mile 11 miles to next turn |
Take US 74 West (aka Great Smoky Mountain Expressway) It merges into NC 28 and Highway 19W |
14 |
Trip: 115.4 mile 21.4 miles to next turn |
Bear right onto NC 28 (aka Fontana Road) |
15 |
Trip: 135.4 mile 1 mile to Fontana |
Turn left at the stop sign to Fontana |