12 Best Scenic Drives in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most beautiful parks in the world, and the most visited National Park in the United States.  There are numerous ways to experience and see the park's beauty, with the most popular way being one of the many scenic drives.

Taking a scenic drive through the Great Smoky Mountains allows you see the beautiful scenery, biodiversity the mountains have to offer, and learn all about the rich history of the land that now makes up the park.

Here are our 12 top picks for the best scenic drives in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park:

1 - Newfound Gap Road (Highway 441) - Between Cherokee and Gatlinburg

Newfound Gap Road is by far the most popular scenic drive in the park, and is full of various overlooks and pull-offs to enjoy. Newfound Gap Road is the primary way the majority of the visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park see the park.   

The highpoint in the drive is Newfound Gap, where 441 crosses over the ridge line of the Smokies at 5,046 feet.  The road also contains access to many hiking trails, and is the road where you will find both of the main visitor centers: The Oconaluftee Visitor Center and Sugarlands Visitor Center.  

You can begin this drive in either Gatlinburg TN and drive to Cherokee, or begin in Cherokee and drive to Gatlinburg.  Be sure to stop along the way at the many attractions and pull-offs to get the full experience.

2 - Clingmans Dome Road

This seven mile drive, which begins near Newfound Gap takes you out to Clingmans Dome, one of the most famous and the tallest peaks in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  The views along the road and at the parking lot are breathtaking.    

We've travelled this road often, and it's a great location to see Black Bears, both along the road and on the trail up to Clingmans Dome.  Once you reach the parking area, you can enjoy the views from there, which are breathtaking, or hike up to the top, and enjoy the 360 degree views from the observation tower.  The hike up is short, but very steep.

The road begins just across from the Newfound Gap area, and ends at the parking area for Clingmans Dome.  

3 - Roaring Fork Nature Trail

If you want to drive on one of the most beautiful scenic drives in the world, and feel as if you have almost gone back in time, then this 6-mile paved loop road is for you.  

Highlights along the drive include gorgeous forest scenery, wildlife (including Black Bear), streams, creeks and small waterfalls.   The drive also contains a number of historic structures as well.  Roaring Fork Motor Trail is also the trailhead for Rainbow Falls Trail, one of the most popular hiking trails in the park.

4 - Cades Cove Loop Road

Another VERY popular drive is the 11 mile loop takes you through the most popular area of the park, Cades Cove.  

While driving the loop, you'll see gorgeous scenery, historic structures, and lots of wildlife.  This road will take you back in time, and allow you to experience what life in the rural Blue Ridge Mountains was like before the park was created, and before the area became a popular tourist attraction.  The loop road is also the access point for the popular hiking trail to Abrams Falls.

5 - Rich Mountain Road

Rich Mountain Road begins in Cades Cove, an is a 7-mile one way drive along a twisting gravel road and ends up in Townsend TN.   

The road travels through quiet forest, and offers scenic views, wildlife viewing and photography opportunity, and a great way to escape the traffic of Cades Cove.

The road is a primitive back country road, and while graveled, it can get a bit rough in spots.  The road is also seasonal, and open from April through mid-November. Buses, RVs, or vans longer than 25-feet along with vehicles towing trailers are prohibited on Rich Mountain Road by the National Park Service.

6 - Cove Creek Road and Cataloochee Valley Road

If you're looking for a little adventure, head down Cove Creek Road into Cataloochee Valley.  This 11 mile long gravel road, twists and winds its way through the mountains to Cataloochee Valley.  

The road is very narrow, often high up, and very few guard rails.   But don't let that deter you, because the destination is worth it.   Just go slow and take your time.  

Can you imagine that this road was once on the main highways to Tennessee from North Carolina?  Along the way you'll see plenty of beautiful scenery, and most likely see some wildlife, including Elk.

7 - Little River Road

This 22 mile long road winds its way through the park, between Gatlinburg, TN and Townsend, TN.   The road is the primary access point for Cades Cove, Elkmont, Greenbrier School, and Tremont.

Little River Road is also the location of the sinks, a popular swimming area, and historic railroad location.   The scenery along the drive is simply beautiful, and there are a number of pull-offs where you can explore a little, admire the scenery, or get closer to the river.

8 - Upper Tremont Road

If you're looking to get away from the busy roads and crowds, often found in the more popular sections of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Upper Tremont Road might be just what you're looking for.

This 8 mile roundtrip drive (it dead-ends after 4 miles) is beautiful all times of the year, but especially during the Fall.

The road also features a number of scenic pull-overs with trailheads that lead down to the river, and to several waterfalls as well.

From Pigeon Forge, take the Parkway out to South Wears Valley Road toward the National Park. After making a right turn towards Cades Cove, drive a few hundred yards and take a left at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont.

To reach Upper Tremont Road, head towards Cades Cove, and the Townsend Wye.  The turn for Tremont is  The turn immediately after the Townsend Wye on the road as it begins to ascend into Cades Cove.

9 - Mount Sterling Road from Big Creek to Cataloochee Valley NC

Mount Sterling Road, also called Cataloochee Turnpike, from Big Creek To Cataloocheee Valley is a beautiful drive, full of dense woods, creekside views, wildlife, and waterfalls.    

This 20 mile drive will take you down a gravel road from the entrance to the Big Creek area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, into Cataloochee Valley.  Along the way, you'll encounter some historic homes, cemeteries, hiking trails, and bridges that cross creeks.   

The road is a really nice, and remote back county mountain drive.   Due to frequent rough road conditions, while doable in a normal car, we do recommend an off road vehicle with ground clearance.

10 - Heintooga Round Bottom Road

Heintooga Round Bottom Road is located at the very end of Balsam Mountain Road off the Blue Ridge Parkway, near Maggie Valley NC.  This 14 mile, gravel, and one-way back mountain road, will take you from the Blue Ridge Parkway, down to Cherokee.

The road is heavily wooded, and provides a beautiful back country mountain drive, that is very remote.  Along the way, you'll get scenic views, tons of wildflowers, access to hiking trailheads, creeks, small waterfalls, and bridges.  If you're lucky, you might even see Elk or Bear on your journey.

The road can be a bit rough in spots, and while an off-road vehicle isn't required, we do recommend one just for the ground clearance.

11 - The Road To Nowhere - Bryson City NC

The Road To Nowhere, is exactly that, a Road to ... well, nowhere.   The road is also known as Lakeshore Drive, and begins just outside of Bryson City, and winds itself through the surrounding mountains of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  The road is close to and above Lake Fontana, and some of the pull-outs offer incredible views fo the lake.  

This is a gorgeous drive any time of the year, but especially during the Fall, when colors are peaking.  

At the end of the road, is a parking area, where you can walk through the tunnel and come out at the end of the road.  Be sure to bring a flashlight, as the tunnel will be a bit dark.  There are also a few trailheads here for those wanting to do longer hikes, including the long Lakeshore Trail, which goes around Lake Fontana.

12 - Blue Ridge Parkway

While not officially part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway is accessible just down from the Oconaluftee Visitor's Center.   The Parkway is one of the most scenic roads in the world, and goes from the Park to the Virginia Blue Ridge where it connects up with Virginia's Skyline Drive.