RIMFOLD
7 days · from Knoxville, TN
7-day Great Smoky Mountains road trip
A 7-day Smokies itinerary from Knoxville: Gatlinburg, quiet motor roads, and a Cherokee-side day. Daily plan, overnight towns, and a map.
Open this trip with the map Plan a different park
Laurel Falls
Cades Cove
Newfound Gap
Clingmans Dome
Oconaluftee
Cataloochee
The days
-
01
Knoxville → Gatlinburg
- Leave Knoxville after breakfast
- Drive to Gatlinburg
- Check in and an easy first evening
- Sugarlands Visitor Center and Junior Ranger
Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge — many hotels
-
02
Laurel Falls
- Stay local — no long drive.
- Sugarlands Visitor Center, then Laurel Falls
- Keep the afternoon short — traffic back to town is real
- Gatlinburg donuts or a hotel splash
Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge — many hotels
-
03
Cades Cove
- Stay local — no long drive.
- Cades Cove loop at opening hour for deer, turkey, and maybe a bear
- One or two cabins — skip the full hike list
- Drive back before the afternoon crawl
Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge — many hotels
-
04
Cades Cove
- Stay local — no long drive.
- Cades Cove loop at opening hour for deer, turkey, and maybe a bear
- One or two cabins — skip the full hike list
- Drive back before the afternoon crawl
Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge — many hotels
-
05
Gatlinburg → Cherokee
- Drive Gatlinburg → Cherokee
- Drive Newfound Gap Road over the crest
- Clingmans Dome if it's clear — fog eats the view more days than not
- Check in in Cherokee
Cherokee — several hotels near the park
-
06
Oconaluftee
- Stay local — no long drive.
- Oconaluftee Visitor Center, Mountain Farm Museum, and Mingus Mill
- Deep Creek splash if it's warm, or Cataloochee elk only if you can start very early
- Don't stack a long waterfall hike after the cove loop
Cherokee — several hotels near the park
-
07
Cherokee → Knoxville
- Easy morning if checkout allows
- Drive Cherokee → Knoxville
- Unpack and save the photos
Home in Knoxville
Stays are a base, not a booking. Open the trip to download a poster, adjust days, or add a nearby park.