Great Smoky Mountains

Oconaluftee Visitor Center - Our journey through the stunning Smoky Mountains starts at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Get ready to explore the Smokies and find out why it’s the most visited National Park in the U.S.! Buckle up for an in-depth look at the most renowned part of the Appalachians, from the history and legends of the Cherokee to the breathtaking Rainbow Falls.

NOTE: This 47-mile tour highlights the key attractions of the Great Smoky Mountains in 2-3 hours.

Mingus Mill - Our first stop is Mingus Mill, an 1886 grist mill that is still fully operational! On weekends, you can watch the mill operators grind corn just as they did in the 1800s. As we continue, we’ll learn about the Cherokee, the area’s original inhabitants, and hear their stories and legends, from the buzzard that shaped the Smoky Mountains to the witch whose blood turned into corn stalks! We’ll also delve into the geology of this fascinating landscape.

Quiet Walkways - As we drive, we’ll reach the Beech Flats Quiet Walkway, an ideal spot for those who want to enjoy the natural beauty of the mountains without a strenuous hike.

Clingmans Dome - Next, we’ll visit Clingman’s Dome Tower, an incredible observation tower with unmatched views. You haven’t truly seen the Great Smoky Mountains until you’ve seen them from here! We’ll also learn about the park’s funding and its connection to the Rockefeller family.

Newfound Gap Road - Our drive continues to Newfound Gap, a beautiful mountain pass with significant historical importance. Hear the story of how trappers, farmers, and merchants used to cross the Smokies, and how this gap changed everything.

Rockefeller Memorial - Next is the Rockefeller Memorial, dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt, highlighting Rockefeller’s importance to the park.

Morton Overlook - Continue driving to Morton Overlook, famous for its stunning sunset views.

Alum Cave Trail - Our next stop is the Alum Cave Trail. Explore the remains of an old salt mine and learn about its history, its role during the Civil War, and why it’s empty today.

Chimney Tops Trail - Continue to Chimney Tops Overlook, where we’ll learn about wildfires in the Smokies and their lasting impact on the mountains. We’ll also explore the history of Cades Cove, a 4,000-acre meadow that was once home to hundreds of people.

Carlos Campbell Overlook - The next overlook on our route offers panoramic views of towering mountains and lush forests. Here, we’ll learn some quick facts about the flora of the Smokies.

Sugarlands Visitors Center - The road leads us to the Sugarlands Visitor Center, a great rest stop and the starting point for several trails.

Cataract Falls - Our drive continues to Cataract Falls, a beautiful, secluded waterfall beneath a canopy of beech trees.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Gatlinburg - Our next stop is perfect for those who enjoy quirky oddities. This museum features everything from shrunken human heads to rare animal skeletons. We’ll learn how it started as a simple comic strip and grew into a national phenomenon.

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail - Follow the road to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, a driving trail that invites you to slow down and enjoy the forest and historic buildings. It also features three of the park’s most famous waterfalls!

Rainbow Falls Trail - Our route takes us to the Rainbow Falls Trail, leading to the park’s most popular waterfall. Standing at 80 feet, Rainbow Falls is the tallest waterfall in the Smokies. When the sun hits it just right, it glimmers like a rainbow, hence the name.

Grotto Falls Trail - Continue driving to the Grotto Falls trail. While not as grand as Rainbow Falls, this secluded, less crowded waterfall is worth a visit. On the way, we’ll learn about a rare salamander found only here!

Baskins Creek Falls - Our drive takes us to Baskin Creek Falls, a sparkling waterfall where we’ll hear the amusing and slightly misguided history behind its name.

Ely’s Mill - Next, we visit Ely’s Mill, a historic mill on the outskirts of Gatlinburg, offering a glimpse into the lives of early Appalachian settlers. We’ll learn about Andrew Ely, a prominent lawyer who abandoned his practice after his wife’s death to start a new, simpler life in Gatlinburg.

Gatlinburg - Finally, we arrive in the mountain town of Gatlinburg. We’ll hear about its beginnings with the ill-fated William Ogle, who built the town’s first cabin but never lived there. We’ll also learn about the town’s growth, its struggles during the Civil War, and how it became what it is today. This is where our tour officially ends.

Cades Cove

Cades Cove Methodist Church - Established in the 1820s, the Cades Cove Methodist Church initially met in a simple log structure with a small fire pit and dirt floor.

Note: This 25+ mile tour covers the essentials of Cades Cove in 2-3 hours.
In 1902, the current building was constructed in 115 days at a cost of $115 by carpenter and pastor John D. Campbell. The cemetery behind the church has over 100 graves and is the second oldest in the Cove.

Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church - Formed in 1841 due to a conflict at the Primitive Baptist Church, the Missionary Baptist Church initially met in members’ homes as they had no building.

Elijah Oliver Cabin - Elijah, son of John and Lucretia Oliver, was born in the original Cades Cove cabin in 1824. Before the Civil War, Elijah and his family moved away but returned in 1865 and built a homestead here.

The Elijah Oliver Place, a pioneering complex with several buildings, is a short one-mile (roundtrip) walk from Cades Cove Loop Road. The main cabin, built from hewn logs on a stone foundation, includes a section over a spring, providing refrigeration for food.

Abrams Falls Trail - The Abrams Falls Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park of Blount County, Tennessee, runs parallel to Abrams Creek and passes Abrams Falls, one of the park’s most voluminous waterfalls, before ending at a junction with the Hatcher and Hannah Mountain trails.

Cades Cove Historical Grist Mill - Built by John Cable in 1867, the Cable Mill is a popular landmark in Cades Cove. In the late 1800s, it provided homesteads with a place to turn corn or wheat into flour for bread. The mill also milled lumber, and the nearby farmhouse was built from lumber cut at this mill.

During this period, the barter system was often used to purchase goods and services. Mill owners typically charged customers a percentage of the ground items, taking one-sixth of any wheat ground and one-eighth of the corn.

Carter Shields Cabin - The Carter Shields Cabin is the last historical structure on the eleven-mile, one-way scenic loop through Cades Cove. This small cabin was home to George Washington “Carter” Shields from 1910 to 1921 but was likely built around 1880 by William Sparks. Carter Shields, a Civil War veteran disabled in 1862 at the Battle of Shiloh, retired here.

This simple, one-bedroom cabin is the only remaining building on the property. The rustic structure sits in a beautiful clearing and has a covered porch and a small loft.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Blue Ridge Parkway - As we drive along the parkway, you’ll notice spots where you can pull over to enjoy the most scenic vistas. There are over 200 overlooks along the entire Blue Ridge Parkway!

Each one features a large wooden sign listing the name of the mountain or ridge you’re viewing and your current elevation. These signs add a personal touch to the otherwise similar-looking mountains you drive through.

NOTE: This 550+ mile tour covers the essentials of Blue Ridge Parkway in 15-20 hours.

Oconaluftee Visitor Center Parking C - Welcome to the Blue Ridge Parkway! This scenic drive follows the iconic Blue Ridge, the eastern side of the Appalachian mountains. As you drive through majestic mountain vistas, we’ll learn about the native Cherokee, pioneer settlers, and Appalachian culture today. When you’re ready, exit the Visitor Center parking lot and turn left onto the main road.

Ballhoot Scar Overlook - Look out at the ridge beyond, and you’ll see a blemish on the landscape, resembling the aftermath of a landslide. It was a man-made landslide.

Thomas Divide Overlook - People have reported seeing ghost lights, mysterious white orbs with no known explanation. These reports date back to the 1700s! At night, you may find cars parked along the road, hoping to glimpse these mysterious lights.

Big Witch Overlook - Named after a Cherokee medicine man who was also an eagle hunter. Eagle feathers were sacred and necessary for healing ceremonies.

Bunches Bald Overlook - The Appalachian mountains are usually covered in trees, but some mountaintops look like grassy prairies. These patches are known as Appalachian Balds, and Bunches Bald is one of them.

Plott Balsam Overlook - The Plott name is still famous in the Appalachian region, thanks to Henry Plott’s family, who immigrated from Germany in the late 1700s and settled in the Blue Ridge Mountains with their children and five German hunting hounds.

Soco Gap - In the early 1700s, the Cherokee were at war with the Shawnee. The Blue Ridge Mountain range naturally separated the two tribes, keeping them apart most of the time.

Thunder Struck Ridge Overlook - Facing west, this overlook is a great place to watch the sunset. If you time it right, you’ll be

• Full itinerary with travel tips, narration, videos, text, and hidden gems.
• Offline GPS Map & route with stop-to-stop directions - no internet needed.
• Private self-driving tour - pause for photos, snacks, hikes at your leisure.
• Tour Guide App access with download link and tour password provided.

• Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations