# Cumberland Gap and the moonbow at Cumberland Falls

> 3-day road trip of about 230 km (143 mi) with 7 stops, from Knoxville to Somerset. About 2 h 33 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b19-cumberland-gap/

**At a glance:** 3-day road trip of about 230 km (143 mi) with 7 stops, from Knoxville to Somerset. About 2 h 33 min of driving in total. Follow Daniel Boone’s Wilderness Road through Cumberland Gap and across the Kentucky coalfields to the great falls of the Cumberland River.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 230 km (143 mi) |
| Driving | 2 h 33 min |
| Suggested days | 3 |
| Stops | 7 |
| Route | Knoxville → Somerset |
| States | TN, KY |
| Updated | May 5, 2026 |

## Route description

From Knoxville take TN-33 north through Maynardville and US-25E to the small town of Cumberland Gap, about 1 hour 30 minutes. The town sits at the foot of the gap, with a historic main street and the start of trails to the Iron Furnace. US-25E then passes through the twin Cumberland Gap Tunnels, which opened in 1996, into Kentucky.

The Cumberland Gap National Historical Park visitor center lies just north of the tunnels. From there a narrow and winding road climbs to the Pinnacle Overlook, with a view of Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia; vehicles longer than 20 feet (6 m) and trailers are not allowed. The park has a campground at Wilderness Road, and in summer rangers lead tours of the Hensley Settlement, a remote mountain farm.

Middlesboro was built inside a meteorite crater, one of the few towns in the world where this is true. From Middlesboro take US-25E north through Pineville to Corbin, about 1 hour. Pine Mountain State Resort Park, near Pineville, was Kentucky’s first state park.

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park is about 30 km south-west of Corbin on KY-90. The falls are best after rain, and on clear nights around the full moon you may see a moonbow. The park has a lodge, cabins and a campground, and rafting trips run on the river below the falls in summer. Continue west on KY-90 and US-27 to Somerset on Lake Cumberland.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Knoxville** (TN)
2. **Cumberland Gap** (TN)
3. **Cumberland Gap National Historical Park** (Middlesboro, KY): The mountain pass used by Daniel Boone’s Wilderness Road, where Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia meet. From the visitor center a winding road climbs to the Pinnacle Overlook; vehicles over 20 feet (6 m) are not allowed on it.
4. **Middlesboro** (KY)
5. **Corbin** (KY)
6. **Cumberland Falls State Resort Park** (Corbin, KY): A 38 m wide curtain of water on the Cumberland River, one of the few places in the world to see a moonbow on clear nights around the full moon. Free parking by the falls.
7. **Somerset** (KY)

## FAQs

**How long is Cumberland Gap and the moonbow at Cumberland Falls?**
3-day road trip of about 230 km (143 mi) with 7 stops, from Knoxville to Somerset. About 2 h 33 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Cumberland Gap and the moonbow at Cumberland Falls?**
We suggest 3 days: about 2 h 33 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Cumberland Gap and the moonbow at Cumberland Falls start and end?**
It starts in Knoxville and ends in Somerset.

**Which states does Cumberland Gap and the moonbow at Cumberland Falls pass through?**
Tennessee and Kentucky.