If you did this, you could do a quick stop at Mammoth Cave, and they also have the Corvette Museum near Bowling Green, KY. We had rafting reservation at Lower Pigeon River which was in jeopardy thanks to a chock-a-block jam in Gatlinburg. From Gatlinburg, take the US-441 south to Cherokee and then join the US-23 passing through Franklin and Tallulah Falls, continuing for 197 miles as you make your way into the Deep South and the city of Atlanta. Forgot to mention leaving Chicago around 4am on Saturday morning so baby can hopefully sleep for most part to Nashville Ill of course plan to stop a few times alone the way. Under the favorites tab on the search bar, you can view your selected favorites. When using our "search" feature, you can make a list of favorites. Covering 21,000 route miles (34,000km) Amtrak operates more than 300 trains daily. But you can also get away from it all at a unique lodging option with Under Canvas. Taking you from Lake Michigan to Biscayne Bay, a trip of such proportions will be one you will never forget. It takes approximately 6h 26m to get from Chicago to Smoky Mountains, including transfers. Domestic travel is not restricted, but some conditions may apply. 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. After a quick pit-stop at Louisville, KY to feed our V8 engine hauling us; we had lunch at Taco Bell in Lexington city. Don't know if using I 40 or I 24 but thought I would mention that. It's nothing but the quintessential American road trip. 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. Louisville is an ideal place to stay, located around the halfway point between Chicago and the Great Smoky Mountains on the Direct Route. View our suggested park itineraries. Misty Morning at Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountain National Park Photo: Jonathan Hill. Pass Gary then take the I-65 and head south, through endless fields of windmills, before arriving at Indianapolis. It is moments away from the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, and the Centennial Olympic Park. Key stops are Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington, Knoxville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg as well as Indianapolis Motor Speedway. But to truly experience Louisville, you need to go underground. 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. Show only these on map. The Townsend Wye popular swimming spot. With so many firsts in this trip, its always going to be special in our memories, and believe me Smoky mountains National Park islike that. There is also an abandoned Fallstaff Brewery on the east side of the City. Many of its rooms offer spectacular views over the Ohio River, and of the Big Four Bridge which is a spectacular sight at night. You can click this minus sign to "unselect" this property from your favorites list. 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. Clingmans Dom - highest point at Smoky with stunning views. Do bear in mind some attractions may be closed as they transition from winter. Add/Remove Favorites Distillery Tours On this drive, you'll pass through the heart of Kentucky Bourbon Country where several major distilleries are based. You'll find loads of iconic spotsand a fair few hidden gemsas you head southeast! 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. This includes an average layover time of around 1h 44m. There are lots of things to do in Gary IN if you take 90. But kids had the most fun as they were allowed to go on zipline. This blogging bear loves sharing the Smoky Mountains with everyone. Chicago is 587.3 miles away from the Smoky Mountains by car. A showcase of whos who in architecture, this interactive park is an adult playground. Continue onwards, passing Mingo Falls to Cherokee, with its famous Indian Museum. We did not see many vegetarian options there. Thank you so much for your time and efforts!! Just two and a half hours southwest of Louisville lies Nashville, the country western capital of the country. 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. Required fields are marked *. Alaska Airlines, Inc., Delta and United Airlines offer flights from Chicago O'Hare Airport to Sun Valley/Hailey/Ketchum Airport. The country music capital of the world, with an incredible food and drink scene, a thriving art movement, and wonderful architecture. 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. (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. 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. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. 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. However, with stops and traffic, the whole drive can take up to 11 hours. Ketchum Sun Valley Historical Society Heritage & Ski Museum is the official museum of Ketchum Sun Valley located in Ketchum, Idaho. Thursday evening before the long weekend is always very heavy on traffic and we experienced thatpain. Tip: Would highly recommend carrying picnic chairs and some water floats for kids to enjoy the stream. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. the products, vendors, consultants, or businesses referenced in these web pages. Three hours east of Nashville, clocking in at 180 miles, make a pit stop in Knoxville. . Do any of you have any suggestions for places to see along the way? Continuing on I-65, 300 miles into the trip, you will arrive at Louisville, home to the Kentucky Derby, one of the world's oldest and most famous horse races and an ideal place for an overnight stay. Bring a blanket to sit on and enjoy the tunes (and the excellent people watching). Kat_Cubs_fan - We will probably go through Indianapolis, Louisville & Lexington. Rent an RV with Outdoorsy Tip: Rather than towing a ton of groceries from home, do it near the destination. 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. :). With only 48 hours in Gatlinburg, you'll need to optimize your time to keep the fun going. By checking the box next to your selected rentals, you can compare up to three properties. Expect to see lush greenery as you drive down the route and hit the mountains. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2.5 mile round-trip trek to the waterfalls. The inclusion of this information does not imply endorsement by Cabins USA Gatlinburg. The most visited National Park in the country needs no commentary from my side to extoll its virtues. Day 1 - The Drive and the Cottage. This is about 9 hours and 17 minutes of driving non-stop. 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. 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. Thanks Ravekid, for all your recommendations. The 33-mile Newfound Gap Road is one of the park's most popular routes, used to connect Cherokee, NC, and Gatlinburg, TN. Indianapolis: Some museums in the downtown area might be of interest. 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!!! Unsubscribe anytime by clicking the link at the bottom of your email. The most popular road trip route from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park goes through Louisville. The 580-mile road trip from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park takes 8 hours and 50 minutes. The views from our cottage did not disappoint. We have stayed in downtown Lexington and found it a safe city with some charm. There are a few war museums, a western/American Indian museum, and a general state museum. The quickest way to get from Chicago to Smoky Mountains is to fly which costs $180-$650 and takes 6h 26m. Donna Sapolin January 30, 2021 Take the scenic route from Gatlinburg, Tennessee to Asheville, North Carolina and soak up the majestic beauty of mountains dressed in winter white. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules . The series is called If Trees Could Sing, and its the result of a Metro Parks and The Nature Conservancy partnership. The hotel puts you right in the heart of the action. Exceptions may apply, for full details: Centers for Disease control and prevention (CDC). Streams, rivers and waterfalls appear along hiking routes that include a segment of the Appalachian Trail. Then, stretch your legs, head to the Music City Walk of Fame on Nashvilles Music Mile to see the names of accomplished artists with a Nashville connection of all musical genres. Think Pink 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. LazyTrips is a trading name of Uncle Bob Media Ltd. We wrapped up the day with a sumptuous dinner hereat Curry N More. questions regarding any content should be directed to the appropriate organization and not necessarily to Cabins However, (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Thanks to SMO rafting team who did us a solid by pushing our reservation otherwise we would have kissed our rafting money good-bye. River Tubing at The River Rat Main Outpost. We went back to our cottage to recharge the batteries and then went for Skylift again, to take advantage of the night views. We will be traveling with our dog near the end of March from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? :). 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. As a result, flying can be a cheaper, time-efficient way to get from Chicago to the Smokies. If you're having issues using the site, please enable JavaScript and refresh your browser. 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. Find Authentic Charm Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Sevierville, Nature and American History Collide in Greeneville, Tennessee. The first stop was at a coffee joint at Lafayette, Indiana. READ MORE - Road Trip from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. After a filling continental breakfast, we left for Gatlinburg to visit the Skylift, one of the most coveted places in Smoky. Michael Jackson's childhood home and after that there is not much to see except ground hogs on the side of the road when you hit the Tennessee border. Your email address will not be published. The distance between Chicago and Smoky Mountains is 2206 km. Forest. chicago to smoky mountains road trip stops. 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. Greyhound carries around 18 million passengers a year who travel 5.4 billion miles (8.6 billion km) a year on their fleet of around 1700 vehicles. Sign up for our newsletter! The roughly 420-mile route follows I-40 from the Great Smoky Mountains in the east to the mighty Mississippi River in the west. Alternatively, you may use, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Travel Forum, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Tourism, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Hotels, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Vacation Rentals, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Vacation Packages, Flights to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Restaurants near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Things to Do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Photos, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Travel Guide. To the best of our knowledge, it is correct as of the last update.Visit Rome2rio travel advice for general help. When you board one of Pink Adventure Tours signature pink Jeep Wranglers, youll soak up more information than you thought possible on your Smoky Mountains tour. So, there we went. Take in the great outdoors and stretch your legs with a trail walk, or visit the Wild Bear Falls Water Park. We have stayed in Antioch, a little south of Nashville for this purpose. Get a free Great Smoky Mountains National Park trip planner for inspiring itineraries and essential information. I will post pictures when I come home for you to see! Since it looks like you're a baseball fan, you might enjoy the Louisville Slugger museum and factory. Once you arrive at Tyson McGee, we recommend that you rent a car to drive the remaining 1 hour to the Smoky Mountains. If you're ready to explore beautiful destinations like Cades Cove, Newfound Gap, and Mt. The route rewards drivers with mountain views that can be photographed from a number of scenic pullouts. You can view your selected properties by click the "favorites" tab at the top of the search bar. We plan to then head out on mornings around 8am, Nashville to Hilton head, Hilton head to Lexington, and Lexington to Chicago. 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. 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. Head east to Hilton Head. Another Tip: The Little River Scenic Drive is full of tiny little splash pods. If you're planning a fly-and-drive vacation, arrive in Knoxville . . The trip passes through nine states . It will allow you to relax, unwind, and be fully refreshed before continuing your drive. Here are our recommendations. 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. Catch a tour from Pigeon Forge. Then head to the citys celebrated Millennium Park downtown. The period between June and August is an excellent time to go on a road trip from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains. Leaving Chicago, take the I-90 along the shores of Lake Michigan for just over 30 Miles. Leaving Atlanta, take the I-85s for 161 miles to the delightful city of Montgomery. 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. The elevation of Sun Valley (at the Lodge) is 5920ft above sea level. 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. Enter the park at the Townsend entrance and follow Laurel Creek Road to Cades Cove. 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. Additionally, it contains an archive of documents and Historical photographs. 600 miles, took around 11hours with multiple breaks and a huge traffic jam at I-75. 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. 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. 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. Having said that, if the humidity is predicted to be really high, plan your boat trip for the morning before the sun gets too high in the sky. Louisville - Louisville, KY is a beautiful city on the Ohio River with several notable sights including the Mohamed Ali Museum, The Louisville Sluggers Museum, and the Churchill Downs Race Tracks. Get a free Great Smoky Mountains National Park trip planner for inspiring itineraries and essential information. Jays Potato Chip factory. Check out our best short vacation ideas for Gatlinburg to get started! May be Tripadvisorcan be a good and reliable source for planning what all attractions you want to cover in Smoky Mountains National Park. From here, take the I-95 S for the final stretch of the journey which will take you to Miami. Each state has a DOT that gives a list of current construction projects. You can tour these facilities and learn about how world-famous Kentucky Bourbon is made! 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. These medium and long distance intercity services operate at speeds of up to 240km/h, to more than 500 destinations. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. View ListTo see all of your favorite rentals on one page, simply click "view list". Additionally, you clear your favorites list by clicking "remove all" on the favorites bar. It is currently 23:08 in Chicago and 22:08 in Smoky Mountains. Distance: 2,448 miles Recommended time: 7+ days Best time of year: September-Early November. It is perfectly placed to take in the nightlife and indulge in the delicious southern cuisine. Our trip to zip line was also special, as many of us did that for the first time in life. View all posts by Amit Sharma, Your email address will not be published. The resort is adjacent to the city of Ketchum and within the greater Wood River valley. You can easily avoid the smaller roads that go through the Smoky Mountains From Nashville.head toward Chattanooga then Atlanta. Visitors to Sun Valley are relatively close to the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, accessed over Galena Summit on Highway 75, the Sawtooth Scenic Byway. It was labor day weekend of 2010, when we planned this trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. They are known for their handmade crafts and artwork. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket? Google Maps gives current drive conditions as you enter destinations. Find all the transport options for your trip from Chicago to Smoky Mountains right here. Keep on reading to discover many amazing places to visit, the best route, where to stay, and when to go. It comes in very handy. There are 138+ hotels available in Smoky Mountains. 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 . After doing an availability search for your desired vacation date, our site will produce a list of available cabins. Turn right off hwy 441 in park on to Fighting Gap Creek Road/Little River Road. Theres few better ways to enjoy a hot summer day than to be on the water. 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. 321 just west of Townsend 18 miles up Chilhowee Mountain. Driving through both just a few months ago made me think I was in Europe given some of the older buildings. Road trips don't come more iconic than Route 66, which makes its way from Santa Monica in California to Chicago, Illinois. 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. It is about 20-30 minutes from Lexington. See our recommendations for the best route, things to see, places to stay, and when to make this fantastic trip. To aid you in your planning, we have compiled our own list of some of the main places to go and the best things to see along the journey. So, it took us couple of hours to have lunch. 180 miles into your journey, this vibrant city is a car enthusiast's dream. Chicago to Miami Road Trip Itinerary. The Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington is great! Rise and shine We left sharp at 6 AM in our Durango R/T to kick-start our first summer road trip of 2021. Other attractions include The Johnny Cash Museum, National Corvette Museum and the Nashville Flea Market (held the fourth weekend of every month). The 2 bridges on I -65 are toll bridges. The cheapest way to get from Chicago to Smoky Mountains is to train and bus which costs $200-$290 and takes 42h 55m. Sun Valley is a resort city in Blaine County in central Idaho, in the western United States. 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. We have two 13 year olds that will be traveling . To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Please be patient, this may take a minute. Any mention of vendors, products, They have a very, very small air museum that I've only driven by. While this may seem like quite a long distance, the scenic landscape and attractions along the way will make . Best campsites near chicago and how to reserve them? Really. Rise and shine - We left sharp at 6 AM in our Durango R/T to kick-start our first summer road trip of 2021. The River Rat Water Tubing Outpost river tubing, swimming and cliff jumping, highly recommended. A road trip from Chicago to Myrtle Beach covers four distinct types of landscape: bustling cities, peaceful countryside, dramatic mountains, and sandy beaches. 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. You can also catch Oktoberfest at Ober Gatlinburg, a festival of Bavarian food, drink, and music accompanied by the fabulous Smoky Mountains Oompah band. While in the Richmond KY area, check out the new Buc-ees that just opened. By joining our email list, you give LazyTrips permission to use your email for sending you newsletters, emails and updates including for marketing purposes. We are travelling from Canada to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? One could go south to Blowing Green, then take I-66E and catch I-75 south down to Pigeon Forge. Road trip loop from Chicago to the Carolinas. Mileage: It's 1,379 miles between the two cities. Pass through the Woods Ferry conservation area before heading east onto the I-10 towards Jacksonville. You could allot two weeks for the trip. It is about a 20 minute drive from Gatlinburg entrance to national park. We choose this because of the easy length (2 miles) and prospects of seeing bear (which did not happen ). 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. Further east is Batesville, IN, and within miles a smaller city/town called Oldenburg. . Be sure to enjoy the magnificent 23 miles of Daytona Beach and experience the thrill of the many theme parks of Orlando. LeConte in the Smokies, then start planning your trip to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN today! Simply click the "+" sign on the lower left side of the property you are interested in. Additionally, the best way to get around the Smoky Mountains is by car since public transportation is lacking in this part of the country. Route 66 - cross-country USA road trip. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-47723701', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Chicago to Pigeon Forge. 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. A third of the way into the journey, 472 miles from Chicago, Nashville is a fabulous place to visit. Chooseyouractivities and places to visit. The hotel is conveniently located in Whiskey Row close to the city's main attractions.
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