Hello my husband and I will be traveling with our 11month old from Chicago to Hilton Head Island on Saturday, May 14th and trekking back on Saturday, May 21st. Our neighing neighbors, as seen from our countryside cottage. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/laurel-falls2. Furthermore, specific . A third of the way into the journey, 472 miles from Chicago, Nashville is a fabulous place to visit. Look for the tree signs around the park with QR codes and web addresses. The resort is adjacent to the city of Ketchum and within the greater Wood River valley. 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. Louisville has a tourist website you can check out for other ideas. The views from our cottage did not disappoint. To avoid being snickered at by locals, resist the natural impulse to pronounce the name as it appears [Loueyville]. Geez, some people are easily amused. 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. Covering 21,000 route miles (34,000km) Amtrak operates more than 300 trains daily. Do any of you have any suggestions for places to see along the way? Lexington is a great town. Leaving Louisville, take the Interstate 64 E into the heart of Bluegrass Country, and after 80 miles, you will arrive at Lexington. 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. The joy of a road trip is having the freedom to take your time and explore, so plan accordingly to take in as many of the wonderful attractions en route as your schedule will allow for. By checking the box next to your selected rentals, you can compare up to three properties. Find all the transport options for your trip from Chicago to Smoky Mountains right here. Sunrise at Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 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. It's only 1 hour away from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Just when we were returning back from the Cades Cove, all disappointed, we saw a ton of cars stopped on the side and people flocking near the woods. This is 3 miles farther but you avoid Louisville traffic and the toll bridge. Made with polished stainless steel, the sculpture features an arch that enables you to walk under it and see your contorted reflection in the steel walls. Music fans must check out the famous Grand Ole Opry House. ', 'How much should I expect to pay? Then head to the citys celebrated Millennium Park downtown. Take a tour of the Mysterious Mansion, a haunted house that delights in frightening visitors all year round. On your return, head up 1-26 to I-40. Chicago to Arches National Park, Utah | Road trip | GhoomnaPhirna, Chicago to Duluth | Road trip | Ghoomnaphirna, Gorakhpur to Lumbini, Nepal | Roadtrip | Ghoomnaphirna, Chicago to Myrtle Beach | Road trip | Ghoomnaphirna. They serve a unique Greek-style chili on spaghetti noodles and heaping portions of cheddar cheese you don't want to miss! (Photo: Alamy) Your next stop on your Smoky Mountains family vacation is Sevierville, which lays claim to Dolly Parton and her eponymous family amusement park. 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. Stay With only 48 hours in Gatlinburg, you'll need to optimize your time to keep the fun going. From Nashville, take the I-40 east to Knoxville passing through picturesque mountain scenery before reaching Kodak where you will take the TN-66 south for around 30 mins before arriving at Pigeon Forge. Your email address will not be published. We then strolled in Gatlinburg downtown and visited Ripleys Believe It or Not museum before the hunger pangs kicked in. The area is served by Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey, approximately 15mi south. long term rentals in vilcabamba, ecuador; celebrity fight night; chicago to smoky mountains road trip stops What are the travel restrictions in Smoky Mountains? Hmm, re maui#1 - going to a minor league ballpark without watching a game, an abandoned brewery with no tours or tastings, and watching potatoes get unloaded. Mileage: It's 1,379 miles between the two cities. Atlanta is a world-class city with a rich cultural history. Many of its rooms offer spectacular views over the Ohio River, and of the Big Four Bridge which is a spectacular sight at night. In the bourbon capital of the world, enjoy a VIP experience and take the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Greyhound is a leading bus company based in Dallas, Texas, serving over 3800 destinations across North America, Mexico and Canada. Day 1 - The Drive and the Cottage. Further east is Batesville, IN, and within miles a smaller city/town called Oldenburg. Other popular stops include Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, Ark Encounter, and Market Square. The best way to get from Chicago to Smoky Mountains without a car is to train and bus which takes 42h 55m and costs $200-$290. Amtrak is a rail service that connects the US and three Canadian provinces. If you are into historical hotels, the Boone Tavern Inn and Restaurant would be worth a stop. Click here to skip back to the top. 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. 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. this is the wonderful thing about Tripadvisor one can learn so much from others! Founded in 1971, it is based in Washington, D.C. and offers four classes of travel: First Class, Sleeper, Business and Coach. Most of the folks in our raft had little to no experience as well and this trip was a great way to expose them to the world of white-water rafting. Wheres the best place to start exploring this city that sits on the turquoise shores of Lake Michigan? 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. There is tourist info but also a huge shop with local arts and crafts. By joining our email list, you give LazyTrips permission to use your email for sending you newsletters, emails and updates including for marketing purposes. 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. https://www.alltrails.com/us/tennessee/gatlinburg. It is moments away from the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, and the Centennial Olympic Park. Or check out Destination Delivery: Have an RV delivered directly to a campground or parking site to camp in style without having to get behind the wheel. Nonetheless, It offers a panoramic view of the park and is less visited than other roads in the area. Chicago may be the best city in America to take road trips from, so there are endless possibilities for car vacations. 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. 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. If you're planning a fly-and-drive vacation, arrive in Knoxville . As far as bridges go, you will have to cross several on your route to and from Hilton Head. The national COVID-19 helpline number in Smoky Mountains is 800-232-4636. Take a walk and explore the historical Whiskey Row area with its fabulous selection of restaurants, urban distilleries, and shops. Road trips don't come more iconic than Route 66, which makes its way from Santa Monica in California to Chicago, Illinois. The road here takes some dramatic twists and turns and there are plenty of viewpoints to stop and savor the views. I made this trip about six years ago. Meet our new guest blogger! The social distance requirement in Smoky Mountains is 2 metres. What should I do if I have COVID-19 symptoms when I arrive in Smoky Mountains? The cheapest way to get from Chicago to Smoky Mountains costs only $212, and the quickest way takes just 6 hours. Enjoy classic scenic drives along Newfound Gap Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee or along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. The last stop of the day was the Cades Cove. 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. It is currently at MM 6not sure where it might be in May. As you wander around, be sure to see these three architectural attractions. Youll spot Cloud Gate, a kidney-bean-shaped sculpture thats 66 feet long and 33 feet high, from a distance as its metal gleams in the sunlight. Here are our recommendations. LeConte in the Smokies, then start planning your trip to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN today! This is about 9 hours and 17 minutes of driving non-stop. www.outdoorsy.com. While in the Richmond KY area, check out the new Buc-ees that just opened. Pictures here itself tells the mood and magic of this trip in that large group. Don't forget the annual Watch Grass Growing Festival and the ever popular See (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Key stops are Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington, Knoxville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg as well as Indianapolis Motor Speedway. From Nashvillehead toward Chattanooga then Atlanta. Tip: Would highly recommend carrying picnic chairs and some water floats for kids to enjoy the stream. During my years living in Illinois, I took numerous road trips from Chicago. Experience a Gatlinburg vacation packed with fun by scheduling things around these extraordinary Gatlinburg events in 2023! Shells08, what route are you taking to get to P.F.? From here you are just 18 miles from Maryville in Blount County, one of the gateway counties to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Experience the vibrant local arts scene, visit the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, or plan your trip to coincide with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Find Authentic Charm Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Sevierville, Nature and American History Collide in Greeneville, Tennessee. Find all the transport options for your trip from Chicago to Smoky Mountains right here. 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 But we had plenty of time and so we decided to take a detour and check the Oakridge city and famous American Museum of Science and EnergyAMSE. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules . Take in the great outdoors and stretch your legs with a trail walk, or visit the Wild Bear Falls Water Park. 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. It is about 20-30 minutes from Lexington. Consider Nashville Chattanooga Cloudland Canyon State Park Report inappropriate content Nancy B 10 posts 3. Visitors to Sun Valley are relatively close to the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, accessed over Galena Summit on Highway 75, the Sawtooth Scenic Byway. 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! Don't know if using I 40 or I 24 but thought I would mention that. Taking you from Lake Michigan to Biscayne Bay, a trip of such proportions will be one you will never forget. Leaving Chicago, take the I-90 along the shores of Lake Michigan for just over 30 Miles. There are a few things to see in the Louisville/S. Simply provide a contact name and email so that we can reach you. Gretto Falls 2.5 mile round-trip trek to the waterfalls. Road Trip from Chicago to The Great Smoky Mountains, Snow Tubing at Blackwell Forest Preserve, Warrenville, Best Spring Break Road Trips from Chicago, Road Trip from Chicago during historic Winter Storm, Road Trip from Chicago to Pensacola and Florida panhandle, Disney World Lightning Lanes + Tips and Park Planning Strategy, https://www.alltrails.com/us/tennessee/gatlinburg, https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/laurel-falls2. It is about a 20 minute drive from Gatlinburg entrance to national park. I simply put in directions to Waze but I would love a better understanding of current traveling conditions and tips from people that have taken this journey or familiar with the area. To the best of our knowledge, it is correct as of the last update.Visit Rome2rio travel advice for general help. 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. Alert: This site requires a JavaScript enabled browser. Any mention of vendors, products, The 2 bridges on I -65 are toll bridges. Do this road trip in an RV to stay close to nature. the products, vendors, consultants, or businesses referenced in these web pages. 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. What is the national COVID-19 helpline number in Smoky Mountains? The Lewis and Clark Bridge (toll) is on I-265. The first stop was at a coffee joint at Lafayette, Indiana. 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. Tip: If you are a vegetarian, best to carry your own food or plan ahead with the restaurants where you want to eat. This one-way route takes you through three Midwestern states: Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas. The flight time between Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and Sun Valley/Hailey/Ketchum (SUN) is around 7h 6m and covers a distance of around 2154 km. Through rolling hills and glorious mountain landscapes, this road trip has something for everyone. Designed by architect Frank Gehry, this outdoor concert venue has 4,000 fixed seats and room for an additional 7,000 people on the Great Lawn. USA Gatlinburg. Since it looks like you're a baseball fan, you might enjoy the Louisville Slugger museum and factory. Summer has temperatures reaching as high as 80 degrees Fahrenheit, but in the mountainous environment of the Smokies, the uneven topography can see it drop to 20 degrees. View ListTo see all of your favorite rentals on one page, simply click "view list". The hotel is located close to many of the unique local attractions, and a visit to the Titanic Museum will not disappoint. A road trip from Chicago to Myrtle Beach covers four distinct types of landscape: bustling cities, peaceful countryside, dramatic mountains, and sandy beaches. At Louisville Mega Cavern, youll have an adventure like none other, exploring some of the 17 miles of corridors beneath the city. Want to receive up to date information on cabin specials and events in the Smokies? On the final day of this US road trip, explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park where the highlights include Laurel Falls, Cades Cove, . In this car lover's heaven, be sure to visit the renowned Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. If you want to enjoy a Smoky Mountains road trip on your drive from Chicago, be sure to check out some of the top sights along the way! This blogging bear loves sharing the Smoky Mountains with everyone. Road Trip Stops in the Great Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway Smoky Mountain National Park. We did not see many vegetarian options there. If you are I would go north from Lexington on 75 and hit 74 in Cincinnati and not go over to Louisville. Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. The most visited National Park in the country needs no commentary from my side to extoll its virtues. We are travelling from Canada to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Cades Cove is a 11 mile loop road famous for its wild life sightings and also boasts of several hiking opportunities inside the area. Getting there can be as fun as the park itself. The quickest flight from Chicago O'Hare Airport to Sun Valley/Hailey/Ketchum Airport is the direct flight which takes 4h 3m. The 580-mile road trip from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park takes 8 hours and 50 minutes. We went back to our cottage to recharge the batteries and then went for Skylift again, to take advantage of the night views. But to truly experience Louisville, you need to go underground. Covering 21,000 route miles (34,000km) Amtrak operates more than 300 trains daily. Rising 73 floors above downtown Atlanta, the hotel offers world-class service and impressive amenities. It is important to allow time to enjoy the many amazing attractions and places along the way. Jays Potato Chip factory. With 4 different families, and nomads from the age of one and half years to 35 years, it was truly a friends and family road trip. From here, take the I-95 S for the final stretch of the journey which will take you to Miami. You can choose to stay in one or more of the many fascinating cities along the route or take a more secluded getaway in one of the national parks. 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. Tripadvisor staff removed this post at the original author's request. 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. If you're having issues using the site, please enable JavaScript and refresh your browser. Both known for German heritage. Advance booking of Smoky Mountain cabin rentalswas the best decision in this trip, as we got a beautiful rental property on the hill overlooking mountains and the valleys. Typically 84 flights run weekly, although weekend and holiday schedules can vary so check in advance. Leaving Pigeon Forge, take the US-321 south and enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Great Smoky Mountains as you make the short 8-mile journey to Gatlinburg. I will be sure to stop at that abandoned brewery and also try our luck at watching the Jay's potato chip factory unload potatoes. You can easily avoid the smaller roads that go through the Smoky Mountains From Nashville.head toward Chattanooga then Atlanta. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-47930643', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Cars Rust Lollapalooza. There is also an abandoned Fallstaff Brewery on the east side of the City. The ride was smooth and once at the top, plenty of panoramic views were on offer. If youve ever seen a Tiffanys bean necklace, this sculpture bears a striking resemblance. A road trip from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will take you to one of the most beautiful places you will ever visit, through some of the most majestic mountain scenery, taking in many interesting attractions along the way. 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 . Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket? Elk on Route 441 in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park A Stop For Elk On a Smoky Mountains road trip you can see many things right from your car. Here is the other water drop, this needed a short climb downwards from the main fall. 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. Theres few better ways to enjoy a hot summer day than to be on the water. Bad part Every one of them was brimming with people. Do I have to wear a face mask on public transport in Smoky Mountains? Chicago - the starting point of Route 66. What makes Chicago one of the best cities to visit is that it has a cosmopolitan feel with none of the attitude of similar-sized cities on the coasts. Bald Mountain (9150 feet, 2789 m) is a mountain in south central Idaho, adjacent to the city of Ketchum in Blaine County. 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. Unsubscribe anytime by clicking the link at the bottom of your email. 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. It was labor day weekend of 2010, when we planned this trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The inclusion of this information does not imply endorsement by Cabins USA Gatlinburg. 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. Make yourself known to an official member of staff and/or call the national coronavirus helpline number on 800-232-4636. They included short trips to nearby cities like Milwaukee and Indianapolis, and longer drives to places like South Dakota and the Smoky Mountains. Head east to Hilton Head. 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 . 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 . The route rewards drivers with mountain views that can be photographed from a number of scenic pullouts. May consider driving around. He knows his home well -, Planning adventures in the great outdoors? Naperville to Eminence, MO. Its bustling energy is countered by the friendliness of the people, which can catch you off-guard if you are not from the Midwest. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-47723701', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Chicago to Pigeon Forge. Simply click the "+" sign on the lower left side of the property you are interested in. 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. Driving through both just a few months ago made me think I was in Europe given some of the older buildings. Once we reached the falls, there were couple of spots to soothe the sore legs in cold water, heres the main water drop . Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. 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! We parked at Gatlinburg Skylift Park itself to save time (20$ a day parking) and hobbled over to the ticket counter. Indianapolis: Some museums in the downtown area might be of interest. Louisville is an ideal place to stay, located around the halfway point between Chicago and the Great Smoky Mountains on the Direct Route. 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. 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. Chicago is 587.3 miles away from the Smoky Mountains by car. 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. One of many Smokey overlooks with panoramic views. They have a very, very small air museum that I've only driven by. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. Find all the transport options for your trip from Chicago to Smoky Mountains right here. After doing this, you will have to perform a new availability search.The number next to the favorites tab is the number of properties you have selected. Stayed in Chattanooga for two nights and saw the sights there, then ended up in Gatlinburg for two or three nights. If traffic or construction along I-65 is particularly bad, you might want to consider by going through Cincinnati, though this route adds about 1 hour of driving time.