chicago to smoky mountains road trip stops chicago to smoky mountains road trip stops

There are 138+ hotels available in Smoky Mountains. In Cincinnati, there is a riverfront with a mall on the other side of an pedestrian walk bridge (formerly used for vehicles) on the KY side of the river. If you're looking for some unique food to try along the way, Skyline Chili is a fast casual restaurant chain that's only based in the Ohio River valley. What should I do if I have COVID-19 symptoms when I arrive in Smoky Mountains? The Lincoln Bridge handles northbound traffic. But kids had the most fun as they were allowed to go on zipline. Further east is Batesville, IN, and within miles a smaller city/town called Oldenburg. Furthermore, specific Unsubscribe anytime by clicking the link at the bottom of your email. Thrill-seekers can take a ride on the rocky top alpine mountain coaster. After a quick pit-stop at Louisville, KY to feed our V8 engine hauling us; we had lunch at Taco Bell in Lexington city. The ride was smooth and once at the top, plenty of panoramic views were on offer. Traffic on I 24 near Chattanooga has been awful for past 3 or 4 months. Your email address will not be published. Cabins USA Gatlinburg respects our guest's privacy and never shares this information with third-party sites. 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. The forested Smoky Mountains were named for their propensity to summer forest fires. 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. Baldy has one of the higher summits of the Smoky Mountains of Idaho, that are located in the Sawtooth National Forest. 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 It's nothing but the quintessential American road trip. By checking the box next to your selected rentals, you can compare up to three properties. Head east to Hilton Head. 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. Click here to skip back to the top. The inclusion of this information does not imply endorsement by Cabins USA Gatlinburg. View all posts by Amit Sharma, Your email address will not be published. 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. -, Copyright 2013-2023, Cabins USA Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg, TN, Gatlinburg cabin rentals close to the Smokies, What to Pack When Going to the Smoky Mountains, 48 Hours: Short Vacation Ideas for Gatlinburg. The River Rat Water Tubing Outpost river tubing, swimming and cliff jumping, highly recommended. 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. Geez, some people are easily amused. Rome2rio uses cookies to help personalize content and show you personalised ads. Streams, rivers and waterfalls appear along hiking routes that include a segment of the Appalachian Trail. This one is technically outside smoky but quite adventurous. There are a few log cabins and churches too which were constructed in the 1800s. By proceeding, you accept the use of cookies in accordance with our, Fly from Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to Sun Valley/Hailey/Ketchum (SUN), Fly from Chicago Midway (MDW) to Sun Valley/Hailey/Ketchum (SUN), Fly from Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to Boise (BOI), Take the bus from Boise, ID - Airport to Sun Valley Lodge, Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Salt Lake City, Take the bus from Salt Lake City to Twin Falls, Take the bus from Twin Falls to Ketchum, ID, Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to St Louis Bus Station. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2.5 mile round-trip trek to the waterfalls. If you live in Chicago, IL and you want to explore some of the most gorgeous mountains in all of Appalachia, check out our guide on how to get to the Smoky Mountains from Chicago! We drove initial 50 miles very slowly as we tried to cross our way through Chicago downtown and skyway. Fans of all ages can take a nostalgic journey through musical history with the hits of Stevie Wonder to the Temptations, and many more. We saw kids as young as 4 years in the rafts. A total of 2,448 miles (3,940km) weave, wind, rise and dip through . Find all the transport options for your trip from Chicago to Smoky Mountains right here. Do any of you have any suggestions for places to see along the way? When using our "search" feature, you can make a list of favorites. For an incredible scenic drive, take the two-lane Foothills Parkway located off Hwy. We went back to our cottage to recharge the batteries and then went for Skylift again, to take advantage of the night views. Is it compulsory to practice social distancing in Smoky Mountains? They are known for their handmade crafts and artwork. Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. Gatlinburg, Tenn, is the busiest, most touristy gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The main route is red, while the alternative route is in blue. A springtime trip will still have glorious weather and less traffic than the summer season. If you choose to visit during spring, the crowds will be significantly smaller and hotel prices relatively low. The series is called If Trees Could Sing, and its the result of a Metro Parks and The Nature Conservancy partnership. 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. It is highly trafficked with narrow lanes and sometimes you could be stuck behind hoards of cars so please plan at least couple of hours for the visit. After cruising through the few miles of the road which meanders along the Little River, we parked here and spent couple of hours on the river, enjoying the stream of cool flowing water. If you're lucky you will see a truck unloading potatoes. Its Luhville to you. Thank you so much for your time and efforts!! With only 48 hours in Gatlinburg, you'll need to optimize your time to keep the fun going. 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. Your email will not be provided to third parties. The period between June and August is an excellent time to go on a road trip from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains. Since it looks like you're a baseball fan, you might enjoy the Louisville Slugger museum and factory. The distance between Chicago and Smoky Mountains is 2206 km. 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. Tripadvisor staff removed this post at the original author's request. Show only these on map. questions regarding any content should be directed to the appropriate organization and not necessarily to Cabins Many of its rooms offer spectacular views over the Ohio River, and of the Big Four Bridge which is a spectacular sight at night. 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. May consider driving around. Pictures here itself tells the mood and magic of this trip in that large group. Leaving Lexington, take the I-75 S heading through the rugged landscape of the Daniel Boone National Forest, one of the biggest rock-climbing destinations in the world, before continuing on to Knoxville. Getting there can be as fun as the park itself. Thursday evening before the long weekend is always very heavy on traffic and we experienced thatpain. First, 10 hours of driving takes a lot of energy and time you might rather want to use for enjoying your visit to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. web site are responsible for checking the accuracy, completeness, currency and/or suitability of all information. From here, take the I-95 S for the final stretch of the journey which will take you to Miami. You can tour these facilities and learn about how world-famous Kentucky Bourbon is made! Simply click the "+" sign on the lower left side of the property you are interested in. Tip: Rather than towing a ton of groceries from home, do it near the destination. Re: Chicago to Naples Fl drive Stayed in Chattanooga for two nights and saw the sights there, then ended up in Gatlinburg for two or three nights. 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. Our first adventure of the day was the hike at Laurel Waterfalls, one of the highly trafficked trails in the Smoky Mountains. Be sure to take refreshment breaks and schedule more stops accordingly. 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. 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. Along the way, you'll visit four national parks, see some of the Midwest . Unsubscribe anytime by clicking the link at the bottom of your email. You will cover a distance of 657 miles should you choose to drive without making a stop. 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. :). 321 just west of Townsend 18 miles up Chilhowee Mountain. After making the journey to reach the Smokies, which in itself is an excellent road trip, make the most of this magical mountain wonderland by taking an excursion through the park to fully explore this magnificent landscape. 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. Excellent to drive on with many options to refuel and refresh as you head on to the next item on your bucket list of things to see. Prepare yourself for the best Smokies vacation possible with your favorite people by knowing what to pack when going to the mountains! Fly Chicago O'Hare to Sun Valley/Hailey/Ketchum, Fly Chicago Midway to Sun Valley/Hailey/Ketchum, Centers for Disease control and prevention (CDC), Ketchum Sun Valley Historical Society Heritage & Ski Museum, There is a social distancing requirement of 2 metres. If just stopping for the night with no plans to sightsee, the same advice would apply: stay near an interchange. There are several bridges in the Louisville area. Rome2rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. The chicken cheesesteak was really amazing. . It turns out you dont have to head to Athens, Greece, to see the Parthenon, which was completed in 432 B.C. We are travelling from Canada to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Atlanta is a world-class city with a rich cultural history. They included short trips to nearby cities like Milwaukee and Indianapolis, and longer drives to places like South Dakota and the Smoky Mountains. We have stayed in downtown Lexington and found it a safe city with some charm. 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. Would highly recommend carrying picnic chairs and some water floats for kids to enjoy the stream. 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. From Chicago, you will drive along the shores of Lake Michigan on Interstate 90 E until you reach Exit 17 and merge onto Interstate 65 S to Indianapolis. For help planning your getaway to Gatlinburg, feel free to contact our helpful reservations office at (865) 436-5031 today! What are the travel restrictions in Smoky Mountains? 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 . Find all the transport options for your trip from Chicago to Smoky Mountains right here. Columbus, IN is known for their architecture. Prices start at $100USD per night. Rising 73 floors above downtown Atlanta, the hotel offers world-class service and impressive amenities. Get ready for an incredible journey into the Souths top attractions and best-kept secrets in this road trip that begins in Chicago and leads you to the nations most visited national park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 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.