Gatlinburg & the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Day One - 1 May 2019 - The Drive

The journey started in Nashville, heading east on I-40 towards Knoxville. Along the way, a stop at the Caney Fork rest stop offered a chance to appreciate the Marking Time art sculpture. After a quick break, the drive continued with a lunch stop in Cookeville at Chick-fil-A.

After the meal, the journey resumed on the highway, turning onto I-140 towards Maryville. A quick stop in Maryville to fill up the Honda Fit with gasoline was all that was needed—luckily, the car has decent highway mileage and only required a half-tank top-up.

From there, it was on to Walland, TN, traveling along the Foothills Parkway to the Wears Valley Road Terminus. Continuing on Wears Valley Road, I stopped at Publix in Pigeon Forge to buy food for that evening. Finally, the day ended with checking into the hotel in Gatlinburg.

Day Two - 2 May - Little River Trail, Husky branch falls, Newfound Gap, and Clingman’s dome

An early wake-up call started the day, followed by a free continental breakfast at the hotel. After grabbing my daypack from the room, it was off to the Elkmont Trailhead to hike the Little River Trail. The hike followed the trail to Huskey Branch Falls, then continued a little ways up the Cucumber Gap trail—for a total of 5 ½ miles.

After the hike, exhaustion had set in a bit. A drive back to the Sugarlands Visitor Center and Gift Shop was in order, where I picked up a small black bear plush toy, a T-shirt, and a hat. Then it was up Newfound Gap Road (Highway 441) to Newfound Gap.

At Newfound Gap, the vistas called for many pictures. From there, the drive continued up to Clingmans Dome for even more photos. Then it was back down Newfound Gap Road to Gatlinburg and the hotel. That evening, dinner was at No Way Jose’s Cantina off the Gatlinburg Parkway. I had forgotten how much of a pain it is to drive around Gatlinburg. The food at the restaurant was excellent.

Day Three - 3 May - Andrews Bald and the Oconaluftee Visitor Center

The adventure began with the 1.8 mile Forney Ridge trail, winding through evergreen forests to reach Andrews Bald. The first stretch from the Clingmans Dome parking lot had a steep drop in elevation and numerous stairs, but eventually evened out and became a pleasant ridge walk to Andrews Bald. The hike back up to the parking lot was challenging, but spirits stayed high despite the fog and light rain that fell.

Next came the drive down from the Clingmans Dome Parking Lot to Newfound Gap Road and on to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. After exploring the Visitor Center and Gift Shop, lunch beckoned in Cherokee, NC. After the meal, the drive back over Newfound Gap revealed some elk grazing in the meadows around Oconaluftee. To conclude the day, I stopped at Publix in Pigeon Forge to pick up some supplies and dinner before driving back to the hotel in Gatlinburg.

It was an exhilarating day filled with hiking, exploring, and encountering wildlife. Let me know if you have additional questions or want more ideas for your next trip.

Day Four - 4 May - Laurel Falls and Cades cove

To avoid the crowds, an early start was essential, with a venture to Laurel Falls around dawn. On the drive to the falls, a coyote appeared on Little River Road. Upon arrival at the falls, the area was completely empty, allowing for a chance to fully appreciate the majesty of the waterfall. On the way out, the number of people walking towards the falls had risen to 67. Therefore, it's best to get to the trailhead very early if you want to avoid the crowds.

After Laurel Falls, it was on to Cades Cove for an eleven-mile scenic loop around the cove. Halfway through the loop, a turkey guided the way, and later on, a bear caused a commotion as people were too close to it. The drive also revealed several fantastic scenic overlooks that offered ideal photo opportunities.

As the day continued, a summer thunderstorm rolled in. In the summer months, the Smoky Mountains are well-known for having sunny days that often give way to afternoon rains and thunderstorms due to increased humidity. However, the storms quickly move on and the clear skies return.

In the late afternoon, an early dinner at Five Guys on the Gatlinburg Parkway hit the spot.

It was an eventful day filled with wildlife sightings, scenic views, and delicious food. Let me know if you have additional questions or want more recommendations for activities in the area.

Day Five - 5 May - leaving Gatlinburg and driving back home

In the morning, after packing up and having a complimentary hotel (❤️ Hampton Inn) breakfast, checkout came early. Unfortunately, it was raining on the way back. The route went through the park on Little River Road back through Townsend, TN, then followed the circuitous directions on Google Maps through Maryville before getting back on I-140 and I-40 for the drive home.

Fortunately, the drive back was peaceful as it was Sunday morning and there was minimal traffic on the interstate at that time. After stopping at the Caney Fork rest area, I finally made it back to Nashville in around 4 hours or so.

Although the weather could have been better, it was still an enjoyable and memorable trip.

Using points from my Capital One Venture card, I managed to offset some travel-related expenses, which significantly reduced the overall cost of the trip.