Turn right off hwy 441 in park on to Fighting Gap Creek Road/Little River Road. The social distance requirement in Smoky Mountains is 2 metres. Check out our best short vacation ideas for Gatlinburg to get started! Founded in 1971, it is based in Washington, D.C. and offers four classes of travel: First Class, Sleeper, Business and Coach. On your return, head up 1-26 to I-40. If youve ever seen a Tiffanys bean necklace, this sculpture bears a striking resemblance. I've got some great ideas from all of the replies. Chicago to Nashville and Great Smoky Mountains Road Trip Nashville to Knoxville to Great Smoky Mountains Road Trip Washington DC and Outer Banks to Great Smoky Mountains National Park Road Trip Get Our Newsletter Get inspired with tips about where to go and what to see on your national park vacation, delivered right to your inbox. Again, mostly a wilderness type area, which you could find in Great Smoky Mountains area. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. There are around 230 Greyhound stations across the US where you can both catch your bus and buy tickets, that are also available on the official website and via the mobile app. From Indianapolis, continue on I-65 and consider a detour to Bloomington city, where you can visit Indiana's oldest park, McCormick's Creek State Park, and marvel at the impressive limestone canyon. By joining our email list, you give LazyTrips permission to use your email for sending you newsletters, emails and updates including for marketing purposes. Making the trip in May will also appeal to sports fans, with both the Kentucky Derby and the Indy 500 usually taking place at this time. Be sure to enjoy the magnificent 23 miles of Daytona Beach and experience the thrill of the many theme parks of Orlando. And the glass bridge was totally worth the hype! customize this trip Day 1 11:00 am start in Chicago drive for about 2.5 hours 1:41 pm Crawfordsville stay for about 1 hour and leave at 2:41 pm drive for about 2.5 hours 5:00 pm Sellersburg (Indiana) Gretto Falls 2.5 mile round-trip trek to the waterfalls. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $220-$330 and takes 46h 9m. If just stopping for the night with no plans to sightsee, the same advice would apply: stay near an interchange. The one time i took 65, i left VERY early (5.30 AM) and beat the morning rush if you get out early on a saturday morn, you SHOULD be OK, but you'll still encounter a lot of trucks. IMO, the few advantages of 65 over 57 is it's about 30 or 40 miles shorter (big whip if you get stuck in traffic), it's more scenic (57 doesn't start getting interesting till southern ILL), and it allows you to circumvent downtown nashville more easily as traffic there can be just as bad as chicago at times. but since you're stopping there one of the ways, it's a moot point. second the chattanooga traffic comment we just passed thru there over t-giving and it was HORRIBLE, and there's no viable way to get around the city because it's surrounded by mountains. also, about a half hour north of chattanooga along I-24 is the monteagle pass.. it's one of the steepest stretches of interstate i've ever experienced and best done during the day.. people fly up and down that stretch, so be aware of that since there are some pretty decent turns on it as well. if it's been raining, there are some pretty cool waterfalls (albeit man-made as they tumble down the road cut) along the way, but watch your speed! Route 66 - cross-country USA road trip. The Lewis and Clark Bridge (toll) is on I-265. 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. Rome2rios travel guides to the US tell you the best ways to explore the country, from Amtrak to Greyhound to the New York Subway. We drove initial 50 miles very slowly as we tried to cross our way through Chicago downtown and skyway. 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. A springtime trip will still have glorious weather and less traffic than the summer season. Oak Ridge was established in 1942 as a production site for the Manhattan Projectthe massive American, British, and Canadian operation that developed the atomic bomb. Atlanta to Great Smoky Mountains Loop Road Trip, Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip From Shenandoah to Great Smoky, Charlotte to Asheville to Great Smoky Mountains Loop Road Trip, Chicago to Nashville and Great Smoky Mountains Road Trip, Nashville to Knoxville to Great Smoky Mountains Road Trip, Washington DC and Outer Banks to Great Smoky Mountains National Park Road Trip. Ketchum Sun Valley Historical Society Heritage & Ski Museum is the official museum of Ketchum Sun Valley located in Ketchum, Idaho. 180 miles into your journey, this vibrant city is a car enthusiast's dream. The sprawling landscape encompases lush forests and an abundance of wildflowers that bloom year-round. One could go south to Blowing Green, then take I-66E and catch I-75 south down to Pigeon Forge. Start in Chicago and head down along the historic Route 66 to reach St. Louis, the Ozarks National Scenic Riverways, and the Ozarks Mountains. A total of 2,448 miles (3,940km) weave, wind, rise and dip through . Alternatively, you can take a bus from Chicago to Smoky Mountains via St Louis, Denver, Twin Falls, and Ketchum, ID in around 46h 9m. The mountain town of Pigeon Forge in eastern Tennessee is a must for fans of Dolly Parton, as it's where her Appalachian-themed Park Dollywood is located. The state capital of Georgia also boasts awesome food, culture, and nightlife scene. The elevation of Sun Valley (at the Lodge) is 5920ft above sea level. You'll find loads of iconic spotsand a fair few hidden gemsas you head southeast! The shortest route from Chicago to Gatlinburg is to take I-65 Louisville. A road trip from Chicago to Miami is an epic north-to-south adventure. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules . Longer trips (Over 8 hours each way) While a drive of this length probably won't suit spring breakers with young families, this is a great time to take an adventure with older children or to hit the road with a group of friends. 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. A popular area in the northern part of the forest is Red River George and Natural Bridge SP, in the southern end, Cumberland Falls SP. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-47930643', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Cars Rust Lollapalooza. Chicago is 587.3 miles away from the Smoky Mountains by car. 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. Once we reached the falls, there were couple of spots to soothe the sore legs in cold water, heres the main water drop . 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. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket? From here, head south and join Interstate 75 where you will arrive at Lexington, where our main route continues. On your return, head up 1-26 to I-40. 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. May be Tripadvisorcan be a good and reliable source for planning what all attractions you want to cover in Smoky Mountains National Park. Indianapolis: Some museums in the downtown area might be of interest. The road trip from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has so much to offer and we advise taking at least three days to make the trip, but even then, it will still be impossible to explore everything on this route. However, with stops and traffic, the whole drive can take up to 11 hours. You can also remove a property from your favorites list by clicking the minus sign to the right of the property name under the favorites tab. We had rafting reservation at Lower Pigeon River which was in jeopardy thanks to a chock-a-block jam in Gatlinburg. May consider driving around. There is ongoing construction on I-65 N in several areas. After enjoying all that Louisville has to offer, re-join the I-65 passing Bowling Green, and after 175 miles, you will find yourself in the home of country music, Nashville. One thing you can count on is construction on almost all interstates. Knoxville This is the last large city you'll pass through on your way to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Also has anyone stayed in Lexington, KY is it safe for an overnight visit Can anyone please shed light into which route can be best for us to take to avoid the smoky mountains but not added hours to our travel time.Thank you!!! Indiana area. We have stayed in Antioch, a little south of Nashville for this purpose. For the detail oriented folks, here is the link to know all about it. Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the most talked about places recommended by Trippy members. We reserved this cottage at Sevierville, Tennessee via VRBO. The population was 1,406 at the 2010 census, down from 1,427 in 2000. We plan to then head out on mornings around 8am, Nashville to Hilton head, Hilton head to Lexington, and Lexington to Chicago. While in the Richmond KY area, check out the new Buc-ees that just opened. The sprawling landscape encompases lush forests and an abundance of wildflowers that bloom year-round. Rome2rio also offers online bookings for selected operators, making reservations easy and straightforward. Its not every day that you see horses frolicking from your front-yard. Last updated: 1 Mar 2023 It's nothing but the quintessential American road trip. If you take the fastest route, and all factors remain constant, the road trip from Chicago to Asheville will take you about 10 hours and 05 minutes. 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. Cabins USA Gatlinburg does not endorse any of 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. They have a very, very small air museum that I've only driven by. The best way to get from Chicago to Smoky Mountains is to fly which takes 6h 26m and costs $180-$650. At 160 miles, this extension to the trip should take a little under 4 hours and 30 minutes, but there will be countless opportunities to stop and admire the stunning mountain vistas and the many fantastic places you will pass along the way. If you're planning a fly-and-drive vacation, arrive in Knoxville . Continue onwards, passing Mingo Falls to Cherokee, with its famous Indian Museum. Get a free Great Smoky Mountains National Park trip planner for inspiring itineraries and essential information. The hotel is located close to many of the unique local attractions, and a visit to the Titanic Museum will not disappoint. Cades Cove is a 11 mile loop road famous for its wild life sightings and also boasts of several hiking opportunities inside the area. . As a reference, you should be looking at places near Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, since most of the touristy attractions are spread across the aforementioned cities. While this may seem like quite a long distance, the scenic landscape and attractions along the way will make . If you're having issues using the site, please enable JavaScript and refresh your browser. Key stops are Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington, Knoxville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg as well as Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Once you find your perfect rental for the right date, simply click "book now" to begin the booking process. Then on Day 2, you could easily include side trips to and stops at both Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and Mount Rogers National Recreation Area before finishing up in the Great Smoky Mountain are for a couple of days. We are travelling from Canada to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Situated almost halfway into this fabulous road trip, 719 miles from Chicago, the place to stay is undoubtedly the Westin Peachtree Plaza. 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. . 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 bustling towns can be a sensory overload or a rollicking good time, depending on your perspective. Follow signs along the parkway for a picnic area, campground and Look Rock. Bring a blanket to sit on and enjoy the tunes (and the excellent people watching). The birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr and Coca-Cola, (be sure to check out the museums dedicated to both), this lively city also features the fantastic Georgia Aquarium, some fabulous restaurants, and terrific nightlife. Rise and shine We left sharp at 6 AM in our Durango R/T to kick-start our first summer road trip of 2021. ', 'How much should I expect to pay? We dont mind passing by mountains in the view on interstate but correct we want to avoid smaller roads through mountains. You will cover a distance of 657 miles should you choose to drive without making a stop. You will notice that the "+" has now changed to a "-". There are lots of things to do in Gary IN if you take 90. Chicago is 587.3 miles away from the Smoky Mountains by car. Here are five reasons why you should. Wheres the best place to start exploring this city that sits on the turquoise shores of Lake Michigan? In this car lover's heaven, be sure to visit the renowned Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. area events, and blog pages are provided as a public service. 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.