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Great Smoky Mountains Directions
This page simplifies deciding which Great Smoky Mountains directions will work best for your trip to the Smokies. Important variables to consider include: Are you taking a quick day trip where every second counts, or a week-long vacation?
Do you like lots of shopping and entertainment, or quiet country drives?
Do you want very simple directions, or are you comfortable with taking an extra turn or two?Regardless of your answers to the above questions, this Great Smoky Mountains directions page will give you tips and advice for the three best routes, and it discusses the benefits that each choice offers.
Great Smoky Mountains Directions:
I-40 Exit 407
The easiest (and the most congested) route to the Smokies is off I-40 exit 407 through Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. There are a lot of reasons why most visitors elect to take this route.It’s very easy. You take exit 407, get on Highway 66 South, and go straight through Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg to the National Park.
The Tennessee Smokies baseball stadium is just off exit 407, and is a beautiful new facility for watching America’s game.
Restaurants galore! From the time you turn off exit 407 until just before you enter the Park, you’ll see restaurants on nearly every block.
Shop ‘till you drop. There are even more places to shop along this route than restaurants!
Entertainment is also everywhere, from the many country music theatres to Ripley’s Aquarium to Dollywood and the many attractions of downtown Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.Sounds great, right? It is! Just be prepared to sit in heavy traffic, because lots of other people are attracted for the same reasons. DETOUR If you like the sound of these Great Smoky Mountains directions but would be happy to skip some of the traffic, and you’re comfortable with an extra turn or two, you’ll appreciate this less-used detour. After driving through Pigeon Forge you’ll be on a wooded two-lane road. Be on the lookout for the Gatlinburg Bypass. It avoids some of the slowest traffic to the Park, and you can always go back through Gatlinburg on your way out of the park.
Great Smoky Mountains Directions:
From Knoxville Airport
There are two different sets of directions to the Smokies from Knoxville’s McGee-Tyson Airport.I. The most common, but by far the longest route, would be to take Alcoa Highway (Hwy 129) towards Knoxville, get on I-40 East and take exit 407. This way is longer, but you’ll get all the benefits above as well. II. My personal favorite route is through Maryville and Townsend, and across Wares Valley Road to Pigeon Forge. The directions may seem a little more complex, but there are only two real turns, and the scenery is well worth the effort. - From the airport, take the ramp to Maryville.
- Bear left when the 4-lane splits.
- At the 7th traffic light, go straight (actually a little to the left) onto US 321.
- NOTE: Maryville College, one of the top Colleges in the South, is on your right at this light. The campus is beautiful. If you have extra time, take a slow spin around its Loop Road. To see Maryville, turn right at light 7, then immediately left. The Loop Road will bring you back to the entrance, and to your trip to the Smokies.
- From light 7 you’ll stay on 321 through the rest of Maryville, Walland and Townsend – about 16 miles. There are many beautiful places to eat, bed down, shop, be entertained, or just enjoy nature along the way.
- Turn left on Wares Valley Road. It’s a beautiful drive to Pigeon Forge on Wares Valley – about 16 more miles – then you’ll turn right on Highway 129, and follow it to the Smoky Mountains.
Great Smoky Mountains Directions:
From Downtown Knoxville
Once again, if you’re staying in Downtown Knoxville, there are multiple routes from Downtown to the Smokies. You can take I-40 E to exit 407, or…You can save time, see more beautiful countryside (and less interstate) and also still see all the good stuff on Highway 129! Taking this route is very easy. Henley Street crosses the Tennessee River out of Downtown and becomes Chapman Highway. Chapman Highway runs all the way through South Knoxville, Seymour, and intersects with Highway 129 South. It’s about 20 miles, 30 minutes, to Highway 129, and there are some very interesting restaurants along the way. At the end of Chapman Highway, turn right on 129 South, and enjoy!
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