We had one wish still left unfulfilled, which was to see a live bear in action and based on reviews, Cades Cove had the highest probability to see it happen. Naperville to Eminence, MO. Your email will not be provided to third parties. Once you arrive at Tyson McGee, we recommend that you rent a car to drive the remaining 1 hour to the Smoky Mountains. 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. Compare Favorites If you saw the 1975 movie Nashville, youll recognize this iconic structure. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules . Find Authentic Charm Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Sevierville, Nature and American History Collide in Greeneville, Tennessee. On your return, head up 1-26 to I-40. And the glass bridge was totally worth the hype! The road trip from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains will be memorable whichever time of year you decide to go, which is all dependent on your preferences for the weather and the season. READ MORE - Road Trip from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. And history buffs will feel right at home with these historic treasures. Lexington is a nice town. Cummins Waterfall This one is technically outside smoky but quite adventurous, Tip:Smoky has a plethora of hiking options and finding the right one could be a stretch. Given the distance between Chicago and Miami, the route is filled with amazing tourist destinations, and you'll be spoilt for choice when deciding where to stay on your overnight stops. Neon signs on Lower Broadway Area of Nashville. The quickest flight from Chicago O'Hare Airport to Sun Valley/Hailey/Ketchum Airport is the direct flight which takes 4h 3m. The hotel puts you right in the heart of the action. An important thing to know is the citys name is actually pronounced Luhlville by the locals and everyone else in Kentucky. A road trip from Chicago to Miami is an epic north-to-south adventure. When you board one of Pink Adventure Tours signature pink Jeep Wranglers, youll soak up more information than you thought possible on your Smoky Mountains tour. You can click this minus sign to "unselect" this property from your favorites list. Here are five reasons why you should. 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. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The route takes you through rolling valleys and stunning mountain landscapes and there will be many options to detour into the stunning national parks and forests along the way. March 5, 2020 Tori Peglar Its rated easy and offers visitors great scenery without having to exert themselves too much. 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. The citys Market Square is a fantastic place to spend some time as the restaurants and shops lining the area are great. For help planning your getaway to Gatlinburg, feel free to contact our helpful reservations office at (865) 436-5031 today! A showcase of whos who in architecture, this interactive park is an adult playground. From Bryson City, take the NC-28 N and US-129 N, stopping off at the Tail of the Dragon, a lookout area offering spectacular lake and mountain views, before continuing along Foothills Parkway. Tip: If you are a vegetarian, best to carry your own food or plan ahead with the restaurants where you want to eat. Music lovers can experience the Motown sound at the Sounds of Soul in the Smokies Festival at the end of July. Take a tour of the Mysterious Mansion, a haunted house that delights in frightening visitors all year round. 6 Best Road Trips Chicago to Nashville and Great Smoky Mountains Road Trip Stop at a shiny bean, an underground corridor, a racetrack and a music mecca on your way to the national park. Sun Valley is a resort city in Blaine County in central Idaho, in the western United States. Here are our recommendations. to honor the goddess of Athena. pinsent masons chambers student . While in the park, see videos of different Nashville music artists talking about trees, how to take care of them and why they are important. As a result, flying can be a cheaper, time-efficient way to get from Chicago to the Smokies. Knoxville This is the last large city you'll pass through on your way to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Along the way, you'll visit four national parks, see some of the Midwest . Meet our new guest blogger! . Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. 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 . I would check the lodging at Exit 108 on I-75, thats Man-O-War exit. The sprawling landscape encompases lush forests and an abundance of wildflowers that bloom year-round. South of Lexington is Berea, KY. You can easily avoid the smaller roads that go through the Smoky Mountains From Nashville.head toward Chattanooga then Atlanta. This one is technically outside smoky but quite adventurous. Traffic on I 24 near Chattanooga has been awful for past 3 or 4 months. Very safe. Cades Cove is the most popular destination in the national park due to its plentiful wildlife and many historic buildings you can explore. Find all the transport options for your trip from Chicago to Great Smoky Mountains right here. Also it helped us to party hard every night when we came back tired from the sight seeing and outdoor activities. 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. Cades Cove is a 11 mile loop road famous for its wild life sightings and also boasts of several hiking opportunities inside the area. Don't forget the annual Watch Grass Growing Festival and the ever popular See (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? . Taking you from Lake Michigan to Biscayne Bay, a trip of such proportions will be one you will never forget. We are stopping in Nashville, TN on the way there and sleeping overnight and then. From Nashvillehead toward Chattanooga then Atlanta. You'll find loads of iconic spotsand a fair few hidden gemsas you head southeast! Head east to Hilton Head. Its Luhville to you. Simply select the 2 3 properties you wish to compare, then click "compare" to see these rentals side-by-side. My main concerns are construction/traffic as well as we have a major concern of wanting to avoid windy, bridges/single roads in the Smoky Mountains as we both are anxious of heights/bridges. Further east is Batesville, IN, and within miles a smaller city/town called Oldenburg. But kids had the most fun as they were allowed to go on zipline. I've got some great ideas from all of the replies. They have a very, very small air museum that I've only driven by. There are 138+ hotels available in Smoky Mountains. . Theres few better ways to enjoy a hot summer day than to be on the water. Head east to Hilton Head. 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. Required fields are marked *, Chicago to Great Smoky Mountains National Park |Road trip |Ghoomnaphirna, on Chicago to Great Smoky Mountains National Park |Road trip |Ghoomnaphirna, Chicago to Yellowstone National Park | Road trip | Ghoomnaphirna, Chicago to Key West, Florida |Road trip | Ghoomnaphirna. The route rewards drivers with mountain views that can be photographed from a number of scenic pullouts. There are a few war museums, a western/American Indian museum, and a general state museum. Smoky Mountains is 1h behind Chicago. There are several bridges in the Louisville area. Then use your smartphone to view the Nashville artists sharing tree stories. And you can now go glamping near Gatlinburg, Tenn. Mileage: It's 1,379 miles between the two cities. From Knoxville, head onto the US-441 S, admiring the breathtaking mountain scenery, and you'll arrive at Pigeon Forge, an excellent base from which to explore the Great Smoky Mountains. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Chicago to Smoky Mountains via St Louis, Denver, Twin Falls, and Ketchum, ID in around 46h 9m. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. This blogging bear loves sharing the Smoky Mountains with everyone. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Good part Gatlinburg has a ton of restaurants. The sprawling landscape encompases lush forests and an abundance of wildflowers that bloom year-round. 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. What should I do if I have COVID-19 symptoms when I arrive in Smoky Mountains? Rome2rio makes travelling from Chicago to Smoky Mountains easy. We treat any information that you share as confidential. We wrapped up the day with a sumptuous dinner hereat Curry N More. Cummins Waterfall - This one is technically outside smoky but quite adventurous Tip: Smoky has a plethora of hiking options and finding the right one could be a stretch. Explore these articles to learn more about fun e -, Make the most of your vacation in the Smoky Mountains with our tips and tricks! The most popular road trip route from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park goes through Louisville. Covering 21,000 route miles (34,000km) Amtrak operates more than 300 trains daily. The River Rat Water Tubing Outpost river tubing, swimming and cliff jumping, highly recommended. It's only 1 hour away from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. However, with stops and traffic, the whole drive can take up to 11 hours. Nashville hotels are expensive, so if you don't need to stay in Nashville, pick an interchange on the outskirts where there are a cluster of hotels + restaurants nearby. With only 48 hours in Gatlinburg, you'll need to optimize your time to keep the fun going. 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. Driving through both just a few months ago made me think I was in Europe given some of the older buildings. What are the travel restrictions in Smoky Mountains? I can't add much to above but I assume when you leave Lexington you are headed home to Chicago? Between downtown Indy and Shelbyville, IN is a casino just off I-74. Rise and shine - We left sharp at 6 AM in our Durango R/T to kick-start our first summer road trip of 2021. Pass Gary then take the I-65 and head south, through endless fields of windmills, before arriving at Indianapolis. 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. The inclusion of this information does not imply endorsement by Cabins USA Gatlinburg. Be sure to check out the upscale restaurants in Market Square or enjoy a stroll along Gay Street. In fact, the nearby park entrance at Townsend is closer to Cades Cove, a preserved pioneer community, than the Gatlinburg entrance (7.3 vs. 27 miles). See our recommendations for the best route, things to see, places to stay, and when to make this fantastic trip. United Airlines, Delta and Alaska Airlines, Inc. fly from Chicago to Smoky Mountains every 2 hours. Visitors to Sun Valley are relatively close to the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, accessed over Galena Summit on Highway 75, the Sawtooth Scenic Byway. Stop 1: Sevierville Distance from Knoxville: 29 miles Pay homage to the great Dolly Parton at her Dollywood theme park. The road climbs some 3,000 feet along the edge of the mountain, and passes through a stunning number of . Yes, travel within United States is currently allowed. ', 'How much should I expect to pay? Its the first public outdoor work of British artist Anish Kapoor to appear in the United States. Don't know if using I 40 or I 24 but thought I would mention that. Is it compulsory to practice social distancing in Smoky Mountains? 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. Want to receive up to date information on cabin specials and events in the Smokies? Forgot to mention leaving Chicago around 4am on Saturday morning so baby can hopefully sleep for most part to Nashville Ill of course plan to stop a few times alone the way. What is the national COVID-19 helpline number in Smoky Mountains? Our neighing neighbors, as seen from our countryside cottage. The birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr and Coca-Cola, Atlanta also boasts a fabulous mix of natural beauty and cutting-edge architecture. Route 66 - cross-country USA road trip. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Day 1 - The Drive and the Cottage. The top stops along the way from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (with short detours) are Horseshoe Hammond, Louisville Mega Cavern, and The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. I've never really stopped anywhere along the way, though I've done some research on the areas and might visit them in the future. We went to AMSE, and spent few hours there. There are a few log cabins and churches too which were constructed in the 1800s. The first stop was at a coffee joint at Lafayette, Indiana. Be sure to enjoy the magnificent 23 miles of Daytona Beach and experience the thrill of the many theme parks of Orlando. One of many Smokey overlooks with panoramic views. 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. The docents are super entertaining and informative. It is currently at MM 6not sure where it might be in May. 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. We have two 13 year olds that will be traveling . Discover how to get to attractions and hotels near Ketchum. Luckily, we found this hidden pearl called Bigfoot Philly Cheesesteaks. 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. Please be patient, this may take a minute. One could go south to Blowing Green, then take I-66E and catch I-75 south down to Pigeon Forge. Then head to the citys celebrated Millennium Park downtown. If you're going on a road trip from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Chicago, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way with Pigeon Forge . Google Maps gives current drive conditions as you enter destinations. The area is served by Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey, approximately 15mi south. Next 2 days that we spent in Smoky mountains were all fun, as went on doing lot of outdoor activities like zip line, horse riding, helicopter trip etc. The national COVID-19 helpline number in Smoky Mountains is 800-232-4636. Distillery Tours On this drive, you'll pass through the heart of Kentucky Bourbon Country where several major distilleries are based. Pass through the Woods Ferry conservation area before heading east onto the I-10 towards Jacksonville. You could allot two weeks for the trip. We have stayed in Antioch, a little south of Nashville for this purpose. Its not every day that you see horses frolicking from your front-yard. If you're having issues using the site, please enable JavaScript and refresh your browser. This part of the route is a hidden gem, as Foothills Parkway is a section of the national park that has become almost forgotten, and it's easy to see why the locals want to keep it a secret. Once we reached the falls, there were couple of spots to soothe the sore legs in cold water, heres the main water drop . Users of this Nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, the countys towns of Townsend, Maryville, Alcoa, Friendsville, Louisville and Rockford offer travelers a ton of things to do from regional dance and theater performances at the Clayton Center for the Arts in Maryville to in-depth history of the Smoky Mountains at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend. Horses at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. With so many firsts in this trip, its always going to be special in our memories, and believe me Smoky mountains National Park islike that. Tip: Would highly recommend carrying picnic chairs and some water floats for kids to enjoy the stream. Clingmans Dom highest point at Smoky with stunning views. 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 The chicken cheesesteak was really amazing. Enter the park at the Townsend entrance and follow Laurel Creek Road to Cades Cove. 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. If you are looking for a place to relax and enjoy unwind after a truly memorable road trip, the RiverStone Resort & Spa will definitely deliver, located in Pigeon Forge at the base of the Smoky Mountains. There were less people in the bottom fall, which was a relief. Next day morning we started after the breakfast and enjoyed driving on the beautiful highway that connects kentucky with Smokey Mountains, and passes through valleys and hills full of life. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. Both with directions , distance calculation and estimated travel time, all described in the route planner. Since you have some time on your way down, you might consider taking I-65 through KY. He knows his home well -, Planning adventures in the great outdoors? 600 miles, took around 11hours with multiple breaks and a huge traffic jam at I-75. Geez, some people are easily amused. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps . 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 did the following in a 4 day trip: rafting at Lower Pigeon River; hiking at Laurel Falls; visiting Cades Cove, Gatlinburg downtown including Skylift and The Little River Scenic Drive. 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. The Mega Cavern underneath Louisville, Ky. When using our "search" feature, you can make a list of favorites. 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. Our hiking blog has tips and tricks for vacationers in Gatlinburg who want -, Any time of year is a great time to visit Gatlinburg and the Smokies! We have included a detour that goes through Cincinnati, converging with the main route in Lexington. The treeless Dollar caters primarily to beginner and lower intermediate skiers; the primary mountain for advanced skiers is Bald Mountain, or "Baldy", next to the city of Ketchum. We had two full days of fun filled activities and spent the long weekend with many other tourists walking around the streets in night and gazing atthe skies. Turn right off hwy 441 in park on to Fighting Gap Creek Road/Little River Road. This includes an average layover time of around 1h 44m. I imagine traffic in Cincinnati will be about the same as Louisvilleit all depends on when you travel. If you're planning a fly-and-drive vacation, arrive in Knoxville .