See our recommendations for the best route, things to see, places to stay, and when to make this fantastic trip. The top stops along the way from Chicago to Gatlinburg (with short detours) are Louisville Mega Cavern, Market Square, and Keeneland Association Inc. Other popular stops include Kentucky Horse Park, Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, and Big Four Bridge. If you choose to visit during spring, the crowds will be significantly smaller and hotel prices relatively low. Started in the 1960s, this parkway is still a work in progress with only sections of the 72 miles stretch completed. Follow signs along the parkway for a picnic area, campground and Look Rock. Covering 21,000 route miles (34,000km) Amtrak operates more than 300 trains daily. In the bourbon capital of the world, enjoy a VIP experience and take the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. We dont mind passing by mountains in the view on interstate but correct we want to avoid smaller roads through mountains. Rising 73 floors above downtown Atlanta, the hotel offers world-class service and impressive amenities. 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. Road Trip from Chicago to Miami - LazyTrips 1. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-47902110', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Gatlinburg and the suggestions you have given for Berea and the Daniel Boone National Forest are really interesting for us. The quickest route from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is 580 miles and takes 8 hours and 50 minutes without accounting for any pit stops or detours you might want to make on your way. It is perfectly placed to take in the nightlife and indulge in the delicious southern cuisine. 40 Best Stops Between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Chicago From Pigeon Forge, head south on US-321 to Gatlinburg, where you can enjoy one of the many mountain trails before joining US-441 and heading towards the loop. 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. The road climbs some 3,000 feet along the edge of the mountain, and passes through a stunning number of . 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. Simply provide a contact name and email so that we can reach you. Jays Potato Chip factory. Gretto Falls 2.5 mile round-trip trek to the waterfalls. Our trip to zip line was also special, as many of us did that for the first time in life. This post has already been read 2799 times! With only 48 hours in Gatlinburg, you'll need to optimize your time to keep the fun going. At some point, you will be driving through mountains on the interstate. 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. Users of this Visit the Indianapolis Speedway Museum and take a tour of the Brickyard, host to the most exhilarating event in the motorsport calendar, the Indy 500. Bad part Every one of them was brimming with people. While in the park, see videos of different Nashville music artists talking about trees, how to take care of them and why they are important. Tripadvisor staff removed this post at the original author's request. We recommend scheduling at least two overnight stops or more depending on your desire to explore further. 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 . 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. March 5, 2020 Tori Peglar Music fans must check out the famous Grand Ole Opry House. We did not see many vegetarian options there. It was labor day weekend of 2010, when we planned this trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Misty Morning at Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountain National Park Photo: Jonathan Hill. The hotel puts you right in the heart of the action. Exceptions may apply, for full details: Centers for Disease control and prevention (CDC). Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $220-$330 and takes 46h 9m. Cabins USA Gatlinburg does not endorse any of The area is served by Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey, approximately 15mi south. 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. The views from our cottage did not disappoint. Best campsites near chicago and how to reserve them? 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. Please share your thoughts on this post or your own Smoky Mountain Trip ideas in the comments section. Luckily, we found this hidden pearl called Bigfoot Philly Cheesesteaks. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. 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. 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. The shortest route from Chicago to Gatlinburg is to take I-65 Louisville. Rich in cultural and natural history, it is well worth stopping off to explore. Save this link to stay updated on COVID-19 restrictions, If you need help, visit the national COVID-19 website or call the COVID-19 Helpline 800-232-4636. I've got some great ideas from all of the replies. Simply click the "+" sign on the lower left side of the property you are interested in. Once you find your perfect rental for the right date, simply click "book now" to begin the booking process. Road Trip from Chicago to The Great Smoky Mountains Good part Gatlinburg has a ton of restaurants. Gatlinburg sky lift, Gatlinburg scenic overlook, Gatlinburg space needle were some of teh other attractions that we covered in the Gatlinburg town. 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 was outlandish, insane and incredible trip all together. Don't know if using I 40 or I 24 but thought I would mention that. There are 138+ hotels available in Smoky Mountains. Then use your smartphone to view the Nashville artists sharing tree stories. We parked at Gatlinburg Skylift Park itself to save time (20$ a day parking) and hobbled over to the ticket counter. 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. The 33-mile Newfound Gap Road is one of the park's most popular routes, used to connect Cherokee, NC, and Gatlinburg, TN. Do I have to wear a face mask on public transport in Smoky Mountains? We had planned to stop in Kentucky so we continuously drove till mid night to get to the hotel. The cheapest way to get from Chicago to Great Smoky Mountains costs only $133, and the quickest way takes just 4 hours. The direct route is about 20 hours without stops. Chicago is 587.3 miles away from the Smoky Mountains by car. Take in the great outdoors and stretch your legs with a trail walk, or visit the Wild Bear Falls Water Park. Keep on reading to discover many amazing places to visit, the best route, where to stay, and when to go. Dollar Mountain (6638ft., 2023 m) is a ski hill in south central Idaho, part of the Sun Valley ski resort. Head east to Hilton Head. Simply select the 2 3 properties you wish to compare, then click "compare" to see these rentals side-by-side. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. The beautiful Smoky Mountains of Tennessee are world-famous for their beautiful views, impressive forests, lovely waterfalls, amazing wildlife, and historic sights. They have a very, very small air museum that I've only driven by. Famous for the Kentucky Derby, and the birthplace of Muhammad Ali. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. 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. For the detail oriented folks, here is the link to know all about it. Heres what we saw on the way but never stopped due to lack of time: The Sinks popular waterfall. The trip passes through nine states . It turns out you dont have to head to Athens, Greece, to see the Parthenon, which was completed in 432 B.C. Further east is Batesville, IN, and within miles a smaller city/town called Oldenburg. May consider driving around. Founded in 1995, it has collections in skiing, mining Sun Valley, sheep, and Hemingway. How to plan your road trip across the US 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. Enjoy these scenic drives and road trips to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and other spots in Tennessee and North Carolina. The 580-mile road trip from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park takes 8 hours and 50 minutes. Head south 4 hours and 45 minutes to Louisville, Ky. Long known for its legendary Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby and the longest continually running sporting event in the country. Look for the tree signs around the park with QR codes and web addresses. Chicago to Miami RV Road Trip Guide (+ RV Rental) | RVshare It is about a 20 minute drive from Gatlinburg entrance to national park. If youve ever seen a Tiffanys bean necklace, this sculpture bears a striking resemblance. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. As a result, flying can be a cheaper, time-efficient way to get from Chicago to the Smokies. Typically 84 flights run weekly, although weekend and holiday schedules can vary so check in advance. 10 hours and several stops later, we were back where we started. For travel flexibility, you can board or get off a Greyhound bus at official Greyhound stations, partner stations and curbside stops. 1. ', 'How much should I expect to pay? During the summer months, it can be hot, averaging around 90 degrees in the Deep South and Florida, so air-conditioning is a must. You'll soon arrive at Bryson City, a peaceful mountain town, where you can ride the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad or simply enjoy the local crafts and cuisine on offer in downtown Bryson. Stops and things to do on Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Key stops are Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington, Knoxville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg as well as Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Thursday evening before the long weekend is always very heavy on traffic and we experienced thatpain. Being 2 blocks south of Broadway, the Hyatt Centric is just steps away from fabulous honky-tonk bars and a vibrant local music scene. What are the travel restrictions in Smoky Mountains? The forested Smoky Mountains were named for their propensity to summer forest fires. Would highly recommend carrying picnic chairs and some water floats for kids to enjoy the stream. A good way to break up this drive is to stop for the night at a hotel along I-75 past Lexington, KY. The cheapest way to get from Chicago to Smoky Mountains is to train and bus which costs $200-$290 and takes 42h 55m. While in the Richmond KY area, check out the new Buc-ees that just opened. On third day of our trip, we started driving back towards Chicago, and this time we stayed in Indiana for the night and drove back straight to the house next morning. We have stayed in downtown Lexington and found it a safe city with some charm. 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. the products, vendors, consultants, or businesses referenced in these web pages. A third of the way into the journey, 472 miles from Chicago, Nashville is a fabulous place to visit. Nonetheless, It offers a panoramic view of the park and is less visited than other roads in the area. In fact, the nearby park entrance at Townsend is closer to Cades Cove, a preserved pioneer community, than the Gatlinburg entrance (7.3 vs. 27 miles). Want to receive up to date information on cabin specials and events in the Smokies? Hiking is popular in this park. You can easily avoid the smaller roads that go through the Smoky Mountains. We drove initial 50 miles very slowly as we tried to cross our way through Chicago downtown and skyway. From here you are just 18 miles from Maryville in Blount County, one of the gateway counties to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you are I would go north from Lexington on 75 and hit 74 in Cincinnati and not go over to Louisville. 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. We went back to our cottage to recharge the batteries and then went for Skylift again, to take advantage of the night views. It's only 1 hour away from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The incline was mostly easy but there were some tight spots as we neared the waterfall and the sign board reminded us of the lurking danger. We have two 13 year olds that will be traveling . Once you get to Indy you really have two options: I-65S through Louisville or I-74E through/around Cinci and then south. The most popular road trip route from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park goes through Louisville. 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. During my years living in Illinois, I took numerous road trips from Chicago. Chicago to Great Smoky Mountains National Park |Road trip The state capital of Georgia also boasts awesome food, culture, and nightlife scene. The ride was smooth and once at the top, plenty of panoramic views were on offer. Nashville has its own replica of the Parthenon at the 132-acre Centennial Park and Gardens, which is located within walking distance from Vanderbilt University. If you plan to check out the city, the Hyatt Centric Downtown is a fabulous place to stay. Catch a tour from Pigeon Forge. 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! this is the wonderful thing about Tripadvisor one can learn so much from others! Trip Length: It's a 20-hour drive, but this is without making stops along the way. Also it helped us to party hard every night when we came back tired from the sight seeing and outdoor activities. 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. Through rolling hills and glorious mountain landscapes, this road trip has something for everyone. Any mention of vendors, products, Rome2rio makes travelling from Chicago to Smoky Mountains easy. (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. Road Trip Stops in the Great Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway Stop at a visitor center in Cades Cove or at the Mountain Farm Museum to find . Here are five reasons why you should. Leaving Atlanta, take the I-85s for 161 miles to the delightful city of Montgomery. By checking the box next to your selected rentals, you can compare up to three properties. So, there we went. However, with stops and traffic, the whole drive can take up to 11 hours. Chicago to Gatlinburg drive - plan a road trip These medium and long distance intercity services operate at speeds of up to 240km/h, to more than 500 destinations. There were less people in the bottom fall, which was a relief. 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. The direct Interstate-65 route will introduce you to some truly memorable scenery. The elevation of Sun Valley (at the Lodge) is 5920ft above sea level. Find all the transport options for your trip from Chicago to Smoky Mountains right here. Show only these on map Horseshoe Hammond to honor the goddess of Athena. 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. The hotel is conveniently located in Whiskey Row close to the city's main attractions. A showcase of whos who in architecture, this interactive park is an adult playground. businesses, or services on the Cabins USA Gatlinburg web site is for informational purposes only. Hotels are already set in said places as we had points. 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. Thanks Ravekid, for all your recommendations. 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. We then strolled in Gatlinburg downtown and visited Ripleys Believe It or Not museum before the hunger pangs kicked in. To make it easier for your plan, we have compiled this list of our favorite attractions along the way: The beauty of a road trip from Chicago to Miami is that you can do it at any time of the year. 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. Chicago to Smoky Mountains - 5 ways to travel via train - Rome2rio 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. Neon signs on Lower Broadway Area of Nashville. Amtrak is a rail service that connects the US and three Canadian provinces. We treat any information that you share as confidential. The citys Market Square is a fantastic place to spend some time as the restaurants and shops lining the area are great. Amit is a financial engineer by profession, road trip addict, wannabe tennis player and has a gregarious personality. One of many Smokey overlooks with panoramic views. Since it looks like you're a baseball fan, you might enjoy the Louisville Slugger museum and factory. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps . It is moments away from the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, and the Centennial Olympic Park. I made this trip about six years ago. Other popular stops include Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, Ark Encounter, and Market Square. -, 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. May be Tripadvisorcan be a good and reliable source for planning what all attractions you want to cover in Smoky Mountains National Park. Louisville is an ideal place to stay, located around the halfway point between Chicago and the Great Smoky Mountains on the Direct Route. We are stopping in Nashville, TN on the way there and sleeping overnight and then stopping in Lexington Kentucky to stay overnight on the way back. 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. Lots of lodging and restaurants. Google Maps gives current drive conditions as you enter destinations. Chicago to the Smoky Mountains sites to see - RoadTrip America 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. The Lincoln Bridge handles northbound traffic. One could go south to Blowing Green, then take I-66E and catch I-75 south down to Pigeon Forge. 180 miles into your journey, this vibrant city is a car enthusiast's dream. Road Trip from Chicago to Asheville - LazyTrips Three hours east of Nashville, clocking in at 180 miles, make a pit stop in Knoxville. area events, and blog pages are provided as a public service. Chooseyouractivities and places to visit. All along I-75 in KY is the Daniel Boone Nat'l. Distance: 2,448 miles Recommended time: 7+ days Best time of year: September-Early November. 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. The bridge over the Ohio is not as high and slightly shorter by Cincinnati. There is construction in area and is sometimes down to a crawl.