Driving from Cincinnati to Gatlinburg to enjoy the Smoky Mountains? This guide will outline the best ways to get there, whether you’re looking for the fastest trip or the most picturesque route.
There are several stops you might also consider taking to break up the driving day and add some interest to your journey. We’ll denote these under each route to give you some options.
Driving from Chicago to Gatlinburg, Tennessee takes roughly 9.5 hours. The shortest roadway distance between the two cities is approximately 582 miles. This is a perfectly doable one-day car trip. Or, you might consider stopping for the night and enjoying visits to a few famous attractions along the way.
Wears Valley offers a tranquil alternative to the Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg bustle, and many visitors to the Smoky Mountains choose this “quiet side of the Smokies” for their stay. The area offers great views of the mountains, proximity to Cades Cove, and easier access to Great Smoky Mountains National Park through Townsend than through Gatlinburg.
The town of Townsend – “on the quiet side of the Smokies” – offers its annual winter festival, Smoky Mountain Snowdown, January 26-29, 2017. The festival features live music, lots of food including a Chili Cook off, expert history of the area presented in tales and tunes, as well as arts & crafts from the local artisan community as it shows some of its best moves.
Townsend for many people is the gateway to Cades Cove, and this festival is a celebration of the heritage and natural beauty of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and especially of Cades Cove, rich in history and lore. Music and art will demonstrate East Tennessee culture, deep and old and yet completely modern and present.
Memphis to Gatlinburg is a 433-mile, fun-filled road trip through Tennessee to the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The quickest way is also the best, taking Interstate 40, the corridor connecting West and East Tennessee. Enjoy these cool discoveries along your way, most located just 1-to-2 miles off the interstate.
Tina Turner fans will enjoy cranking her greatest hits on their way to tour the Tina Turner Museum in Brownsville, TN. Wild wigs and shiny dresses are optional. Many such items are in residence, donated by the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll” herself – all housed in the country school house where she attended grade school.
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You can get to Gatlinburg, TN, in 4 hours from Atlanta, GA, on a roughly 200-mile drive through Appalachian country. And here are some nice places along the way to make a day of the trip and take in some extra sights and attractions.
Some people like to leave Atlanta on State Highway 23, citing the more scenic experience, while others head out on I-85, splitting to I-985 for a while, until Hwy 23 merges in and takes lead designation. Either way, round up the crew and get on the road to the Smokies!
Gatlinburg is an easy 222-mile drive from Nashville along I-40, and with some nice adventures along the way. Just a quick jaunt off I-40 will offer sights you never knew existed. We suggest exploring a few of the scenic byways, for very little added time to your journey.
Why not budget time for some cool mini-attractions that are beautiful, amusing and teaming with wonders to satisfy any curiosity. You can see everything from a pink elephant to a dinosaur made from car parts, to quirky boutiques to state park waterfalls. (more…)
We are the one of largest cabin rental agencies in the Smoky Mountains and have been recognized by Southern Living as the Best Family Resort in the Smokies. We manage over 340 cabins in the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville Tennessee areas. Visit us today and get over $700 of free attraction tickets with your cabin rental.
