Foothills Parkway
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
The Foothills Parkway stretches for 72 miles (115 kilometers) through Tennessee, but less than a third of it is actually open to the public—only 22.5 miles (36 kilometers) are driveable, and the rest has been under construction since 1944. As expected, the three finished segments have far fewer visitors than other roadways, making the Foothills Parkway a quieter, more relaxed route through Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The basics
There are two public routes within the Foothills Parkway: the West and the East. You’re welcome to drive either or both routes on your own. You can also learn more about the area while exploring it with a local guide. Jeep tours are a popular way to see the parkway and go offroad. Self-guided tours, hiking tours, and group driving tours of the park are also available.
Things to know before you go
Be bear aware: black bears may be present along the roadside.
Portions of this unfinished parkway may be shut down on occasion for construction.
You need to purchase a parking tag if you’re parking on the road for more than 15 minutes.
How to get there
To access the Foothills Parkway West from Gatlinburg, you can drive into Great Smoky Mountain National Park and take Little River Road to Wears Valley Road via Wear Cove Gap. You can also drive toward Pigeon Forge on US-441 N/Parkway then onto Wears Valley Road. The Foothills Parkway East is accessible from I-40 exit 443.
When to get there
Although the Foothills Parkway hasn’t met its full completion, it has one perk that some other mountain routes lack: no seasonal closures. Check the NPS road closures before driving, but feel free to explore the roadway throughout the year. The fall is a popular time to visit for the autumnal colors; expect more traffic during this season, as well as in the summer.
More scenic routes around Great Smoky Mountains National Park
There’s no conversation about scenic hiking and driving routes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park without mentioning the Newfound Gap Road. This highway is the highest route through the national park, winding from Cherkoee, North Carolina, to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Cades Cove in Tennessee is a short and sweet scenic drive surrounded by the mountains, while drives around North Carolina’s Cataloochee area might have you hitting the brakes for elk herds.
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