Show only these on map Horseshoe Hammond Be sure to take refreshment breaks and schedule more stops accordingly. Places to Visit on a Smoky Mountains Road Trip | Marriott TRAVELER You'll find loads of iconic spotsand a fair few hidden gemsas you head southeast! Thanks Ravekid, for all your recommendations. Connecting Midwesterners to a world full of road-trips, hikes, nature and adventure. Get ready for an incredible journey into the Souths top attractions and best-kept secrets in this road trip that begins in Chicago and leads you to the nations most visited national park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you're having issues using the site, please enable JavaScript and refresh your browser. A trip to Nashville is not complete without immersing yourself in its vibrant music scene. arkansas governor's distinguished scholarship 2020 recipients. The quickest way to get from Chicago to Smoky Mountains is to fly which costs $180-$650 and takes 6h 26m. See if you can catch a show at the legendary Grand Ole Opry where pop artists and country singers perform or head to a smaller venue like The Bluebird Cafe to see incredible live music in a really intimate space. Music fans must check out the famous Grand Ole Opry House. Finally, before heading to Miami, take a trip to Tampa and witness the wonderful museums, historic Ybor City neighborhood, and the fabulous Busch Gardens. After spending few hours in Oakridge, we continued our driving and entered into Smoky Mountain park from the Gatlinburg side and drove around Gatlinburg city for some time before going to our rental home that we had booked up in the mountains. It is perfectly placed to take in the nightlife and indulge in the delicious southern cuisine. They included short trips to nearby cities like Milwaukee and Indianapolis, and longer drives to places like South Dakota and the Smoky Mountains. The distance between Chicago and Smoky Mountains is 2206 km. Tip: If you are a vegetarian, best to carry your own food or plan ahead with the restaurants where you want to eat. The national COVID-19 helpline number in Smoky Mountains is 800-232-4636. Designed by architect Frank Gehry, this outdoor concert venue has 4,000 fixed seats and room for an additional 7,000 people on the Great Lawn. After doing this, you will have to perform a new availability search.The number next to the favorites tab is the number of properties you have selected. Alternatively, you may use, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Travel Forum, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Tourism, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Hotels, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Vacation Rentals, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Vacation Packages, Flights to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Restaurants near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Things to Do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Photos, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Travel Guide. Hello my husband and I will be traveling with our 11month old from Chicago to Hilton Head Island on Saturday, May 14th and trekking back on Saturday, May 21st. There is construction in area and is sometimes down to a crawl. We reserved this cottage at Sevierville, Tennessee via VRBO. You can easily avoid the smaller roads that go through the Smoky Mountains From Nashville.head toward Chattanooga then Atlanta. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2.5 mile round-trip trek to the waterfalls. Explore these articles to learn more about fun e -, Make the most of your vacation in the Smoky Mountains with our tips and tricks! Rise and shine We left sharp at 6 AM in our Durango R/T to kick-start our first summer road trip of 2021. If you're looking for some unique food to try along the way, Skyline Chili is a fast casual restaurant chain that's only based in the Ohio River valley. We have family in northern TN so travel that way about every month or so. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Chicago to Smoky Mountains via St Louis, Denver, Twin Falls, and Ketchum, ID in around 46h 9m. Really. Kat_Cubs_fan - We will probably go through Indianapolis, Louisville & Lexington. It was almost 10:30 PM by the time we got off the Skylift and finding food was a huge pain at that time in Gatlinburg. Exceptions may apply, for full details: Centers for Disease control and prevention (CDC). Here is the other water drop, this needed a short climb downwards from the main fall. View ListTo see all of your favorite rentals on one page, simply click "view list". Other than that, you can hit the open road whenever you feel like it. Making the trip in May will also appeal to sports fans, with both the Kentucky Derby and the Indy 500 usually taking place at this time. He knows his home well -, Planning adventures in the great outdoors? Thank you so much for your time and efforts!! See the Gary Railcats stadium. View all posts by Amit Sharma, Your email address will not be published. It is about 20-30 minutes from Lexington. Fly Chicago O'Hare to Sun Valley/Hailey/Ketchum, Fly Chicago Midway to Sun Valley/Hailey/Ketchum, Centers for Disease control and prevention (CDC), Ketchum Sun Valley Historical Society Heritage & Ski Museum, There is a social distancing requirement of 2 metres. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/laurel-falls2. However, with stops and traffic, the whole drive can take up to 11 hours. Find all the transport options for your trip from Chicago to Smoky Mountains right here. Streams, rivers and waterfalls appear along hiking routes that include a segment of the Appalachian Trail. 180 miles into your journey, this vibrant city is a car enthusiast's dream. Continue reading to get all you need to make an exciting itinerary, exploring everything this route has to offer. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Visit the Island, a 23-acre entertainment destination with fun for all the family, and a trip to Pigeon Forge would not be complete without a visit to Dollywood, recognized as one of the world's best theme parks, with something for everyone. We went to AMSE, and spent few hours there. The population was 1,406 at the 2010 census, down from 1,427 in 2000. View our suggested park itineraries. The first stop was at a coffee joint at Lafayette, Indiana. Along the way, you'll visit four national parks, see some of the Midwest . Its Luhville to you. Smoky Mountain Brewery Trails Gatlinburg Trail.very close to Riverhouse at the Park and Bearskin Lodge Laurel Falls.very popular.try to be at trailhead by 7 AM. Road Trip from Chicago to Asheville - LazyTrips The views from our cottage did not disappoint. Luckily, we found this hidden pearl called Bigfoot Philly Cheesesteaks. We did ours at the Walmart store at Knoxville which was around 30 mins away from our cottage. But you can also get away from it all at a unique lodging option with Under Canvas. Michael Jackson's childhood home and after that there is not much to see except ground hogs on the side of the road when you hit the Tennessee border. Knoxville This is the last large city you'll pass through on your way to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. It is about a 20 minute drive from Gatlinburg entrance to national park. Other popular stops include Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, Ark Encounter, and Market Square. It is currently at MM 6not sure where it might be in May. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. We had planned to stop in Kentucky so we continuously drove till mid night to get to the hotel. Thanks to SMO rafting team who did us a solid by pushing our reservation otherwise we would have kissed our rafting money good-bye. Additionally, the best way to get around the Smoky Mountains is by car since public transportation is lacking in this part of the country. Nonetheless, It offers a panoramic view of the park and is less visited than other roads in the area. Gretto Falls 2.5 mile round-trip trek to the waterfalls. The incline was mostly easy but there were some tight spots as we neared the waterfall and the sign board reminded us of the lurking danger. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. Enter the park at the Townsend entrance and follow Laurel Creek Road to Cades Cove. For each of the fields, please provide the following information: After your first search, it isn't necessary to click the "search" button again as this feature will automatically filter your results for any new search features you provide, unless you change the date, the number of nights, or go to a new webpage. The Mega Cavern underneath Louisville, Ky. But kids had the most fun as they were allowed to go on zipline. Route 66 - cross-country USA road trip. They are known for their handmade crafts and artwork. Why Smoky? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-47930643', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Cars Rust Lollapalooza. Clingmans Dom - highest point at Smoky with stunning views. The 1,385-mile journey from Chicago to Miami takes 21 hours and 10 minutes of pure driving, passing Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, Gatlinburg, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Montgomery, Orlando, Tampa, and the natural beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains. Here youll find plenty of hotels, grocery stores, and gear shops. Continue south on the I-65 for a further 115 miles, through rolling hills of horse country, crossing the famous Ohio River to arrive at Louisville. Furthermore, specific Designed by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, the towers feature water flowing out of an outlet, which gives the illusion that water is pouring out of the mouths of the faces appearing on each tower. There are many places to stop between Chicago and the Great Smoky Mountains and you'll pass many cities and be spoilt for choice with accommodation options. I can't add much to above but I assume when you leave Lexington you are headed home to Chicago? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-47902110', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Gatlinburg and the suggestions you have given for Berea and the Daniel Boone National Forest are really interesting for us. The Sherman Minton on I-64 is toll free but the bridge is currently under construction. If you are I would go north from Lexington on 75 and hit 74 in Cincinnati and not go over to Louisville. And you can now go glamping near Gatlinburg, Tenn. Chock-full of souvenir shops, craft stores, restaurants, and kitschy attractions (think Ripleys Believe it or Not! We went back to our cottage to recharge the batteries and then went for Skylift again, to take advantage of the night views. Be sure to enjoy the magnificent 23 miles of Daytona Beach and experience the thrill of the many theme parks of Orlando. Very safe. (Photo: Alamy) Your next stop on your Smoky Mountains family vacation is Sevierville, which lays claim to Dolly Parton and her eponymous family amusement park. Chicago to Pigeon Forge - any stops? - Great Smoky Mountains National Bad part Every one of them was brimming with people. So, it took us couple of hours to have lunch. The options are endless, so here are our recommendations. With the help of car insurance comparison and broker app with help from Jerry Sign up for our newsletter! We started on Thursday evening before the long weekend, and we had threecars carrying the group of 12. Mileage: It's 1,379 miles between the two cities. A showcase of whos who in architecture, this interactive park is an adult playground. A road trip from Chicago to Myrtle Beach covers four distinct types of landscape: bustling cities, peaceful countryside, dramatic mountains, and sandy beaches. You can view your selected properties by click the "favorites" tab at the top of the search bar. Good part Gatlinburg has a ton of restaurants. Chicago to Gatlinburg drive - plan a road trip Expect to see lush greenery as you drive down the route and hit the mountains. After a quick pit-stop at Louisville, KY to feed our V8 engine hauling us; we had lunch at Taco Bell in Lexington city. The 580-mile road trip from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park takes 8 hours and 50 minutes. An alternative to our main route, on leaving Indianapolis, take Interstate 74 passing Shelbyville and Greensburg and you'll arrive at Cincinnati, situated on the banks of the Ohio River. businesses, or services on the Cabins USA Gatlinburg web site is for informational purposes only. Chicago to GSMNP - Great Smoky Mountains National Park Forum To cover all the attractions in Smoky mountains 2 days are not enough, and needs lot of planning if we you want to cover all the natural sceneries and attractions. The period between June and August is an excellent time to go on a road trip from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains. Your road trip will start by the shores of the calming turquoise blue waters of Lake Michigan, and then on to Indianapolis where you can then take our recommended route to Lexington or a detour to Cincinnati, which will add 20 miles and about an hour to your trip. From Gatlinburg, take the US-441 south to Cherokee and then join the US-23 passing through Franklin and Tallulah Falls, continuing for 197 miles as you make your way into the Deep South and the city of Atlanta. Amit is a financial engineer by profession, road trip addict, wannabe tennis player and has a gregarious personality. Atlanta to Great Smoky Mountains Loop Road Trip, Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip From Shenandoah to Great Smoky, Charlotte to Asheville to Great Smoky Mountains Loop Road Trip, Chicago to Nashville and Great Smoky Mountains Road Trip, Nashville to Knoxville to Great Smoky Mountains Road Trip, Washington DC and Outer Banks to Great Smoky Mountains National Park Road Trip. Hiking is popular in this park. The 1,385-mile journey from Chicago to Miami takes 21 hours and 10 minutes of pure driving, passing Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, Gatlinburg, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Montgomery, Orlando, Tampa, and the natural beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains. Hello my husband and I will be traveling with our 11month old from Chicago to Hilton Head Island on Saturday, May 14th and trekking back on Saturday, May 21st. Forest. You'll soon arrive at Bryson City, a peaceful mountain town, where you can ride the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad or simply enjoy the local crafts and cuisine on offer in downtown Bryson. Thrill-seekers can take a ride on the rocky top alpine mountain coaster. Since you have some time on your way down, you might consider taking I-65 through KY. Since it looks like you're a baseball fan, you might enjoy the Louisville Slugger museum and factory. Please Note: Cabins USA Gatlinburg's area information, Sunrise at Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Ticket fares are divided into five subclasses: Saver, Value, Flexible, Business and Premium. An important thing to know is the citys name is actually pronounced Luhlville by the locals and everyone else in Kentucky. Having said that, if the humidity is predicted to be really high, plan your boat trip for the morning before the sun gets too high in the sky. Continue your journey past the Gold Mine Trail, before reaching Melrose, where you will take the US-321, passing Townsend and Wears Valley before arriving back at Pigeon Forge. We dont mind passing by mountains in the view on interstate but correct we want to avoid smaller roads through mountains. Oak Ridge was established in 1942 as a production site for the Manhattan Projectthe massive American, British, and Canadian operation that developed the atomic bomb. Newfound Gap. From Nashvillehead toward Chattanooga then Atlanta. Scenic Drives in the Smoky Mountains - NeverStopTraveling You can also catch Oktoberfest at Ober Gatlinburg, a festival of Bavarian food, drink, and music accompanied by the fabulous Smoky Mountains Oompah band. River Tubing at The River Rat Main Outpost. Road trips don't come more iconic than Route 66, which makes its way from Santa Monica in California to Chicago, Illinois. From Pigeon Forge, head south on US-321 to Gatlinburg, where you can enjoy one of the many mountain trails before joining US-441 and heading towards the loop. After a quick pit-stop at Louisville, KY to feed our V8 engine hauling us; we had lunch at Taco Bell in Lexington city. If traffic or construction along I-65 is particularly bad, you might want to consider by going through Cincinnati, though this route adds about 1 hour of driving time. . Users of this Indiana area. Music lovers can experience the Motown sound at the Sounds of Soul in the Smokies Festival at the end of July. This is about 9 hours and 17 minutes of driving non-stop. Rome2rio also offers online bookings for selected operators, making reservations easy and straightforward. We parked at Gatlinburg Skylift Park itself to save time (20$ a day parking) and hobbled over to the ticket counter. to honor the goddess of Athena. Want to receive up to date information on cabin specials and events in the Smokies? Tip: Would highly recommend carrying picnic chairs and some water floats for kids to enjoy the stream. The I-40 corridor between Asheville to TN is steep and in Knoxville, you get on I-75 which will also have a steep incline until you get to KY . We saw kids as young as 4 years in the rafts. Consider Nashville Chattanooga Cloudland Canyon State Park Report inappropriate content Nancy B 10 posts 3. Both known for German heritage. If you saw the 1975 movie Nashville, youll recognize this iconic structure. Do I have to wear a face mask on public transport in Smoky Mountains? Re: Chicago to Naples Fl drive From Chicago, you will drive along the shores of Lake Michigan on Interstate 90 E until you reach Exit 17 and merge onto Interstate 65 S to Indianapolis. Tripadvisor staff removed this post at the original author's request. . United Airlines, Delta and Alaska Airlines, Inc. fly from Chicago to Smoky Mountains every 2 hours. . Experience a Gatlinburg vacation packed with fun by scheduling things around these extraordinary Gatlinburg events in 2023! If you plan to see the annual Kentucky Derby, the hotel is close to Churchill Downs, home to the racecourse and also the Kentucky Derby Museum where you can learn all about the history of the world's most famous race. I will be sure to stop at that abandoned brewery and also try our luck at watching the Jay's potato chip factory unload potatoes. After a filling continental breakfast, we left for Gatlinburg to visit the Skylift, one of the most coveted places in Smoky. The direct Interstate-65 route will introduce you to some truly memorable scenery. Walking the numerous trails, however, even for a short distance, provides a much richer experience. Situated right in the heart of downtown, you'll be within walking distance to the Bridgestone Arena, Ryman Auditorium, and much more. Entertaining guides bring you deep into the cave for an up to 2.5-hour tour, explaining the geology and history of the cavern. - to help you get the most out of your next trip. I use AllTrails.com as my trail guide and have found their trail inventories well-equipped, here is the link to other hiking options at Smoky There are lots of things to do in Gary IN if you take 90. On the final day of this US road trip, explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park where the highlights include Laurel Falls, Cades Cove, . We dont mind passing by mountains in the view on interstate but correct we want to avoid smaller roads through mountains. Stop 1: Sevierville Distance from Knoxville: 29 miles Pay homage to the great Dolly Parton at her Dollywood theme park. the products, vendors, consultants, or businesses referenced in these web pages. Chicago to Nashville and Great Smoky Mountains Road Trip As a result, flying can be a cheaper, time-efficient way to get from Chicago to the Smokies. Key stops are Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington, Knoxville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg as well as Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Stop at a visitor center in Cades Cove or at the Mountain Farm Museum to find . From Indianapolis, continue on I-65 and consider a detour to Bloomington city, where you can visit Indiana's oldest park, McCormick's Creek State Park, and marvel at the impressive limestone canyon. There are many hotels and resorts in Louisville, but none beats the elegance and beauty of Hotel Distil, Autograph Collection. Find all the transport options for your trip from Chicago to Smoky Mountains right here. Compare Favorites Or check out Destination Delivery: Have an RV delivered directly to a campground or parking site to camp in style without having to get behind the wheel. It was supposed to be 3 and half hours of drive, but as we were nearing mountains, we noticed huge traffic again and it took us almost 5 hours to cover the 190 miles drive from our hotel to Smokey Mountains park. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, ensuring you can make an informed decision about which option will suit you best. A good way to break up this drive is to stop for the night at a hotel along I-75 past Lexington, KY. The mountain town of Pigeon Forge in eastern Tennessee is a must for fans of Dolly Parton, as it's where her Appalachian-themed Park Dollywood is located. Conversely, over the winter months, you might find that snow makes some of the areas around the national parks very difficult, and possibly cause road closures in the mountainous areas. As you wander around, be sure to see these three architectural attractions. Lexington is a great town. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket? We have stayed in Antioch, a little south of Nashville for this purpose. . Required fields are marked *. First, 10 hours of driving takes a lot of energy and time you might rather want to use for enjoying your visit to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you choose to visit during spring, the crowds will be significantly smaller and hotel prices relatively low. What is the national COVID-19 helpline number in Smoky Mountains? Distillery Tours On this drive, you'll pass through the heart of Kentucky Bourbon Country where several major distilleries are based. See our recommendations for the best route, things to see, places to stay, and when to make this fantastic trip. Keep on reading to discover many amazing places to visit, the best route, where to stay, and when to go. A ride on the Rocky Top Mountain Coaster will appeal to thrill-seekers, dropping through lush forest landscape, and taking in the awesome mountain views as you hurtle down the track. Do any of you have any suggestions for places to see along the way? Take an architectural boat tour to get a strong sense of the citys past and present. Berea KY us at exit 76 on I'75 and has several nice craft shops. Made with polished stainless steel, the sculpture features an arch that enables you to walk under it and see your contorted reflection in the steel walls. There are a few things to see in the Louisville/S. We recommend scheduling at least two overnight stops or more depending on your desire to explore further. The hotel is conveniently located in Whiskey Row close to the city's main attractions. Cabins USA Gatlinburg respects our guest's privacy and never shares this information with third-party sites. I will post pictures when I come home for you to see! www.outdoorsy.com. Greyhound carries around 18 million passengers a year who travel 5.4 billion miles (8.6 billion km) a year on their fleet of around 1700 vehicles. On your return, head up 1-26 to I-40. The chicken cheesesteak was really amazing. It comes in very handy. While in the Richmond KY area, check out the new Buc-ees that just opened. Get inspired with tips about where to go and what to see on your national park vacation, delivered right to your inbox. There were less people in the bottom fall, which was a relief. Hotels are already set in said places as we had points. The most visited National Park in the country needs no commentary from my side to extoll its virtues. Domestic travel is not restricted, but some conditions may apply. Rome2rio uses cookies to help personalize content and show you personalised ads. There are around 230 Greyhound stations across the US where you can both catch your bus and buy tickets, that are also available on the official website and via the mobile app. I-65S from Indy: Columbus, IN is known for their architecture. Walk along sloped decks, see the grand staircase, touch an iceberg and witness hundreds of original artifacts. Lexington is a nice town. Next, stop by the mesmerizing Crown Fountain, which features the faces of 1,000 Chicago residents on two 250-foot glass towers, each one at the opposite end of a shallow reflecting pool. Add/Remove Favorites Head south 4 hours and 45 minutes to Louisville, Ky. Long known for its legendary Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby and the longest continually running sporting event in the country. The direct drive from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Chicago is 600 mi (966 km), and should have a drive time of 10 hrs 27 mins in normal traffic.