The quiet side of the Smokies: Foothills Parkway and Cades Cove
Look Rock tower, the log cabins and wildlife of Cades Cove, Little River Road and the narrow Roaring Fork loop above Gatlinburg.
- Distance
- approx. 119 km (74 mi)
- Driving
- 1 h 19 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 6
- States
- TN
- Best time to go
- May–June and September–October
- Tolls and vignettes
- None expected
- Updated
- July 1, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 119 km (74 mi) with 6 stops, from Knoxville to Gatlinburg. About 1 h 19 min of driving in total. Best time to go: May–June and September–October. No toll roads expected for a car.
More road trips in Tennessee · More road trips from Gatlinburg
Photos along the route
Route description
From Knoxville take US-129 south past the airport and US-321 to Walland, where the Foothills Parkway West begins. The parkway climbs along a ridge with overlooks of the Smokies on one side and the Tennessee Valley on the other. Stop at Look Rock for the short walk to the observation tower. The newer section toward Wears Valley has its own views.
Townsend calls itself the peaceful side of the Smokies and is a good base, with campgrounds, cabins and a small visitor center. Enter the park on Laurel Creek Road to Cades Cove, a valley with log cabins, churches and a working grist mill. The loop road is one-way and gets very slow in summer and on autumn weekends; arrive early for the best chance to see bears.
Little River Road links Townsend and Gatlinburg through the park, following the river past swimming spots and short trails. The popular Laurel Falls Trail on this road is closed for rebuilding until 2027. All vehicles parked in the park for more than 15 minutes need a parking tag, which you can buy online or at visitor centers. The Sugarlands Visitor Center at the Gatlinburg end has exhibits and maps.
In Gatlinburg, follow Cherokee Orchard Road into the park to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. This narrow one-way road passes waterfalls, old-growth forest and historic cabins, and it is closed to RVs, trailers and buses, as well as in winter. Gatlinburg itself is a busy resort town with a lot of traffic; leave your RV at a campground and use the town trolley.
Which stops are on The quiet side of the Smokies?
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Knoxville
TN - 244 km
Look Rock, Foothills Parkway
ViewsWalland, TNA 800 m paved path climbs from the Foothills Parkway to an observation tower with a 360° view of the Smokies. The parkway has no commercial traffic and several overlooks; free.
- 321 km
Townsend
TN - 413 km
Cades Cove
NatureTownsend, TNA mountain valley with log cabins, churches and a mill, circled by an 18 km one-way loop road where deer, turkeys and black bears are common. Closed to cars on Wednesdays from May to September; go early.
- 537 km
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
ViewsGatlinburg, TNA narrow one-way 9 km road past old-growth forest, cascading streams and historic cabins, starting from Cherokee Orchard Road. No buses, trailers or RVs; closed in winter.
- 64 km
Gatlinburg
TN
How do you drive The quiet side of the Smokies in 3 days?
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Knoxville → Look Rock, Foothills Parkway · 27 mi · 0 h 29 minOvernight nearby, for example: Look Rock Campground (< 1 km); Citico Site 1 (11 mi).
- Day 2: Look Rock, Foothills Parkway → Cades Cove · 21 mi · 0 h 23 minOn the way: Townsend.Overnight nearby, for example: Citico Site 1 (16 mi); Look Rock Campground (7 mi).
- Day 3: Cades Cove → Gatlinburg · 25 mi · 0 h 27 minOn the way: Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.Overnight nearby, for example: Cherokee / Great Smokies KOA Holiday (18 mi); River Valley Campground (19 mi).
When is the best time for The quiet side of the Smokies?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and July–August. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
More routes for the best months
Practical guides for this route
Photo by Malivez on UnsplashDriving in the US: The Rules European Visitors Most Often Get Wrong at the Wheel
Photo by Aleksandr Dalakian on UnsplashFuel, Tolls and Distances: Practical US Driving Math for Motorhome and Camper Travelers
Photo by Tracy Zhang on UnsplashUS national parks: entry fees, passes and reservations in plain terms
Themes
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FAQs
How long is The quiet side of the Smokies: Foothills Parkway and Cades Cove?
3-day road trip of about 119 km (74 mi) with 6 stops, from Knoxville to Gatlinburg. About 1 h 19 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for The quiet side of the Smokies: Foothills Parkway and Cades Cove?
We suggest 3 days: about 1 h 19 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does The quiet side of the Smokies: Foothills Parkway and Cades Cove start and end?
It starts in Knoxville and ends in Gatlinburg.
Which states does The quiet side of the Smokies: Foothills Parkway and Cades Cove pass through?
Tennessee.
Where can you camp along The quiet side of the Smokies: Foothills Parkway and Cades Cove?
OpenStreetMap lists 112 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Citico Site 1, Cherokee / Great Smokies KOA Holiday and River Valley Campground.
