Where to stay around Great Smokey Mountains National Park
 

Where the best place to stay around Great Smokey Mountains? How far is asheville from there, since I want to see the biltmore and some other attractions like chimney rock, grandfather mountain, and Mt. Mitchal, since it is the highest mt in the east? I have heard gatlinburg is a good place to stay. I want to make somewhere close to the park my base camp and that is not too far from I-81/I-40 which is the way I will be coming. I also am bringing dogs. I understand there are only a couple trails in the park that allow pets on them. Which ones are they? Are they any good state parks or national forest land around that have pet-friendly trails? What is the weather like in mid-august? I will be spending most of my time up in the mountains where I understand it is colder. What are the views like? Is there a lot of humidity? Does it rain a lot? The weather is my biggest concern.

Be prepared for Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge to be the most overbuilt, ticky tacky places you've ever seen. We're talking Tractor Pull Museums for MILES! They are truly my idea of hell. Cherokee, on the N.C. side, is smaller, but still very touristy--with very little charm to be found. Still, if you're looking for proximity to the park--which, by the way, is quite beautiful--these are your choices. Perhaps someone can recommend some less awful places within a short drive of the park.

Asheville is a nice city, but not very close to the park--quite a drive if I remember correctly. It would be a whole separate destination on this trip.

We stayed outside of Gatlinburg this New Year's and the area is not as bad as people say. We spent several days in the park, and there is a bypass that allows you to skip all the Gatlinburg traffic and leads you directly into the park. And while Gatlinburg is the typical tourist town that gets built up around an attraction, it does provide places to eat and other distractions.

The park is gorgeous and the views breathtaking. We didn't make it to Cades Cove for lack of time, although I understand it is the nicest loop in the park. The view at the top of Newfoundland Gap road is worth the ride, and there is a very nice picnic area called Chimney or something like that next to a river that is great for relaxing. It doesn't have bathrooms, though, at least not in December. I-40, depending on where you are coming from, can make you go through Sevierville and all of the Gatlinburg traffic in one exit, or, if you take it further east, you skip all that traffic. I would recommend, if you want to stay outside of Gatlinburg, but in the vicinity, look for something east of Gatlinburg off of I-40 so that you can take the bypass. We also loved the Foothills Parkway.

My parents went to Ashville while there and it took them about 1.5 hours to get there.

If you don't mind tourist kitsch, then Gatlinburg isn't that bad. As someone already said, it does provide places to eat, etc. What I hate worse than the tackiness is the traffic. It can take forever to move half a mile, especially in the summer. I recommend staying over in Townsend, TN. It is much quieter than the PF/Gatlinburg side of the park, plus it is just minutes away from the Cades Cove entrance to the park.

Asheville is not as close to the park as it would seem, although, you could investigate places to stay on the NC side of the GSMNP that might put you closer to Asheville and its attractions.

That said, depending on how long you will be there, you could find enough for two trips with the places you have listed. I could easily spend 3-4 days in the Asheville area, exploring and eating, and the GSMNP is just beautiful and full of lovely trails and views.
Happy planning!

I had the same question concerning dogs on trails. I don't know of any trails in the park itself that allow dogs. I think they are allowed on the most of the trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway and in other North Carolina areas. I had asked specifically about Linville Falls and got an answer that they saw dogs on the trail, but didn't know if they were really allowed there. Check out the following sites for park/hotel information.

http://www.dogfriendly.com/
http://www.petswelcome.com/
http://www.petfriendlyhotelsandtravel.com/

I would guess that mid August would be hot and dry. And very crowded -- if you can, go during the week and avoid the weekends. This is also just a guess, and not knowing how long you are planning on staying, I think you would be better off staying around the Asheville area with the dogs (especially since you want to see chimney rock etc. -- check out their individual web sites to see if dogs are allowed there) and maybe take a day trip to drive through the GSMNP. I know people have taken dogs to the Gatlinburg area, but they didn't hike.

It's been quite some time since I visited that area, but when we explored Smokey Mtn Nat'l Park we stayed for a few days on the NC side at a horseback riding ranch in Maggie Valley and a few days on the TN side in Gatlinburg. I would not recommend staying in Cherokee. We didn't care for Gatlinburg ... cute town, but too touristy. If we go back, we'd stay in Townsend on the TN side; good base and good access to the Cades Cove area.

I am planning on spending a week. I am coming from Maryland which is getting on southbound I-81 through Virginia. Then, when that links up with I-40, I don't know wheather to go east or west on I-40. I am talking about getting to gatlinburg If I go west, I would take route 66 off I-40 through Sevierville, hooking up with 441 and going through Pigeon Forge and into Gatlinburg. This is the way I went before and was congested. I remember traffic and people bungee jumping. I have been there before but barely remember it, it has been so long ago. But, I think there is another way if you go east on I-40, and get off on some road and head west. I have not been that way, but would it be less congested, since that is not the main approch toward Gatlinburg? I don't like tourist traps, but I do like a big town with a lot of restaurants to choose from. I think there are cabin rentals, so you are not staying right in town, but only 5 minutes from Gatlinburg. I would like to find a place like that, that is in the woods and is quiet, but I would like to be within 5 minutes drive of Gatlinburg and the park. Gatlinburg is the only big town around except for Asheville, which is a city. I would like to be close to Newfound Gap Road also. Would you think I would fine if I stayed outside of town at a cabin rental, but come into town to eat? I don't plan on staying in town. Are the views in the mountains real hazy in august? Is it dry in august? What are the waterfalls in the park like that time of year? Are they dry or is there a lot water going over them? If asheville is only a half hour that isn't that bad. Do you take I-40 to get there? I don't know if i'll get to see grandfather mountain or chimney rock, but I do want to get to asheville and see the biltmore.

It is very feasible to stay close to Gatlinburg, in the mountains, feeling away from it all, but within 10 minutes of the Gatlinburg action. Getting off at I-40 Exit 443, going through the Foothills Parkway and joining up with 321 avoids all the Gatlinburg traffic. We know because we first exited at the Sevierville exit, and u-turned out of there after sitting without moving for 20 minutes in traffic. Our cabin was east of Gatlinburg. The by-pass, accessible from the east, leads you directly into Newfoundland Gap Road without having to sit in any of the Gatlinburg traffic. Plus, there are side roads on this same side of Gatlinburg that deposit you in the middle of Gatlinburg at a parking garage so you barely sit in traffic. If you do stay in the area, it is very important to get a good local map showing all the alternate routes you can take to get places quicker and easier.

I have seen traffic backed up from I-40 to Sevierville, then it really gets bad as you get closer to the Park. G'Berg and P'Forge on the TN side of the park are a Zoo. I would suggest the NC side not as bad from that stand point. The Cherokee and the Maggie Valley area is much nicer. It is also closer to Asheville since that is one of your destinations. We came across the GSMNP just before Christmas, snow on top. Traffic backed for a mile or more going into G'berg from the Park.... I cannot help you with the dogs, they will however hamper your movement and the options for lodging.

In August, the weather will mostly likely be quite warm (mid-upper 80's) in the Gatlinberg area and cooler in the higher elevations. August is usually relatively dry, in terms of rainfall, but it will also be fairly humid, which may cause the mountains to be hazy. Also, I think you are looking at more than a half hour to Asheville from the Gatlinberg area.

Last Oct. we stayed at the Folkestone Inn in Bryson City, NC. It was a wonderful place to stay with delicious breakfast. Bryson City has some good places to eat and is close enough to Ashville for day trips. Check it out at www.folkestoneinn.com
Gatlinburg is an awful tourist trap, so, unless you like that kind of place, avoid it.

The fullness of the waterfalls depends on the weather (as elsewhere). Although I wouldn't say it is as drastic a change as at, for example, Yosemite, we did hike to Rainbow Falls in October one year and the waterfall was virtually non existant. I would think most of the larger ones, such as Abrams Falls would still have a pretty good flow year round. Although I love the Smokey Mountains, we have never been there when it hasn't been hazy. It has gotten worse over the years (I think they say it is due to pollution).

I really want to stay around Gatlinburg. amcc, that is a good suggestion to use the side roads, that is what i'll do and use the bypass to get into the park. How much longer in distance is the way off I-40 by taking exit 443, than taking the way through sevierville? I don't want to take it if it ends up taking a lot longer than siting in the traffic. But, it looks like a more scenic way too, following the edge of the mountains. Is there a lot of traffic once you get in the park or is the all the traffic just to get to gatlinburg? I could imagine that traffic wouldn't be as bad in the middle of a week or late at night or early in the morning. Asheville is an hour and a half not an half hour. Is gatlinburg as humid that time of year as like a place like florida? I could imagine it is not too humid since it is the mountains and is pretty far inland from the ocean. Are there afternoon thunderstorms? Maybe they clear out the humidity and heat. But it is pretty dry this time of year? Are the trails muddy? GSMNP is my main destination, asheville would only be a day trip.

http://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm

This should answer a good number of your questions about the park.

If you are set with G'burg as a base then by all means take US-321 off I-40. The TN side of the Park can be hotter and more humid than the NC side.

There are three exits off interstate 40 that look good. There is exit 435 (Route 32) that goes south and hooks up with 321, Exit 440 (Route 73) which also hooks up with 321 and Exit 443 which is 339 (The Foothills Parkway) that hooks with 321. Which one is the fastest? Does this way add on a lot more miles than going through Sevierville? Is it scenic? Do you end up saving a lot of time going that way? And there is no traffic that way? Also, to get to I-40 east, should I just take I-81 south to the interchange and east on I-40 or should I take Route 25E to I-40 and then getting off at one of those exits? Route 25E cuts off a corner, but you probably have stoplights on it and the interstate is faster and is non-stop.
Thanks-

Take it easy, you are going on vacation. If you want the easest driving take I-40 and work your way to US-321/Sr-73 your choice as to what exit, but I would suggest 440. That close to your destination its time slow down and start to enjoy yourselves... This approach to G'burg is easier on the driver, its 2 lane road skirting the mtns. This way is a lot less of a hassle than taking I-40 and then 66 to S'vile. US-321 will bring you into the town.

Gatlinburg is about 8-8 1/2 hours from my house in maryland by interstate. I might drive it all in one day. About 520 miles. Is taking Route 321 a lot longer way or is it just a little bit longer than the way though sevierville. Anotherwards, even if there wasn't traffic in sevierville, is it that much longer of a way? I just don't want to arrive there when it is dark, I'd rather arrive in the afternoon. Will taking 321 shread off some time than sitting in the traffic? After I get there, I am there a week to relax with maybe a day trip to Asheville.

Please, check your maps as to the number of miles difference. No one can forsee the future as far as traffic and the WX, first where will you be staying. Even something as simple as that can make a difference in the time it takes to get to a destination. Your destination will be the hotel/motel/or wherever you will be staying, your other activies will come a little later. If you are worried about arriving in the dark and driving all day, either leave very early or plan on a stop somewhere south and west of Roanoke, get up the next morning and arrive refreshed. You sound like you do need a vacation. Maryland is not all that far, I lived there for many years, in the Baltimore area and in Frederick and drove to the Bristol TN area many many times. Where you are headed is just down the road.

Okay,so you do know the baltimore area. I live between Baltimore and Washington DC. If I get directions though Mapquest or my map software it routes me down I-95 to I-495 West, to I-66 West, and then I-81 South. But, I like to avoid the Washington Beltway and I-66 (very congested). I will probably go I-70 out to frederick, then Route 340 west though Harpers Ferry and Charlestown,WV, to Route 7 West in Berryville,Va, then I-81 south. Would Natural Bridge be a good stop? It is not south of Roanoke, but I have always wanted to see it. What is I-81 like as far as scenery and traffic? One map program routed me down I-95 to Richmond,VA, to I-85 south, then I-40 west. But, I doubt this is the best way. I don't know what any of those interstates is like, but I know the drive from my house to richmond is horrible and congested. So, I will probably stick to I-81. As far as where I will be staying, it will be somewhere around gatlinburg. When, you went the 321 way, did it seem much longer than though Sevierville or much shorter? Is route 321 a pretty fast road (55 mph)? Does it go through the mountains or along the base?

I lived in Baltimore . Dundalk/Holibird AV area, also in Severn, drove the BWP for years into the DC area. This was a while ago.

Going 70/340/7 to 81 would keep you out of the heavy trafffic somewhat, I like to travel the older US-highways, get to see something besides the backsides of 18-wheelers. Just remember all I-Highways will be busy this time of year. Sometimes I would just take old US-11 to break up the trip and give it a rest.....

Any stop you would like to make is "your" stop, and you will need to stop if you are traveling with dogs, slow down and enjoy yourself. US-321 is a two lane road, its been several years ago and I do not remember the speed limit but it is a nice easy drive. It beats the long strip of motels and other tourist crap along the other way. I would suggest investing in a good map or two and planning your trip that way, it is much more fun than some of the on line or computer driven routing services....and in many cases more accurate.

What would be a good map to buy? I have a Rand Mcnally U.S. atlas and two aaa maps (north carolina and tennesee). The tennessee map is as detailed of a map that I have. I am sure I-81 is better than I-95 since it dosen't really go by any big cities. But, if it was a choice between I-95 and I-81, would you choose I-81. Route 11 is nice if you have the time. Is route 321 the foothills parkway? It is not a too teribly long detour from the Sevierville, is it? I like taking a slower,scenic detour if it dosen't delay me a lot. Will this way probably end up saving me time? I might have to make the pilgramige in one day.

Get AAA maps/Tour Books for all the states you plan on going thru, the Rand McNally-2006 from Walmart for $4.97 cannot be beat. If you go east on I-40 towards Asheville and US-321, the Foothills Parkway, you are really going south. Same as going I-40 x-407 and then going south on TN-66 to Sevierville/Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg.

I have all those tourbooks. I might even do a printed aaa triptik since it is free. To get it to go the way I want, I have to enter stops. I guess Berryville, Va and Cosby,TN would get it to go the way I want? Is the 2006 rand Mcnally road atlas at walmart, the one with the travel guide to each state. If so, I have that to. So, taking Route 321 isn't that much longer than Route 66? Does it make much difference in time if you take exit 443 instead of exit 440? I think taking exit 443 is more scenic?

The GSMNP is the most visited National Park in the US, it will not be hard to find. If you would like a AAA triptik by all means get one, I would not consider it necessary since there are few road changes, that is just my openion. Drive safely on US-321. Enjoy your trip.

There are 2 cabins called Stonecreek Cabins that are very secluded and private. They are off the beaten bath but yet close to the Park. One of the Cabins is Pet Friendly. It is small and would not work if you are taking a family. Check out their website.

Are they close to gatlinburg? I want to stay close to gatlinburg for the restaurants. Does anybody know about the chairlift from gatlinburg? I think there are two. Which one is cheaper? Which one is better? Is it worth doing?

Also, redrock, I am using the triptik for times and distances not direction. Is there much difference in distance or scenry between taking exit 440 and 443? I have a map, but I don't know the scale on it. How does GSMNP compare to some places out west? Aren't the smokies the steepest mountains and tallest (not the highest) in the
eastern us? Is there a lot of traffic usally once you get into the park? Are the wild flowers still in bloom in the higher elevations this time of year (mid august)? Does it get cool at night? How long is the hike to the summit of mount leconte? What are some of the best waterfalls?

It will not matter which exit you take, they are only about 3 miles apart. For the map scale check the margin of your AAA maps, I am sure its there somewhere.

Every place has its own unique beauty, from the low points of the Everglades NP in South Florida to the Rocky Mountains of the Western part of the USofA and Canada, sometimes you have to look down to see the beauty and other times you must look up. Take the time and go to these sites for additional information on this great country, www.nps.gov and www.recreation.gov. They will answer a lot of questions you may have and they are loaded with some great information and ideas for traveling the country.

Which exit did you take? Which exit has more scenery?

I took TN-32 out of Newport, I was never on the Interstate to start with.

How do the smokey mountains compare to acadia national park or the white mountains in NH? Does route 321 follow the base of the smokies? Is it a good vantage point to get pictures looking up at the smokies? I am looking for a vantage point that has a good view of the smokies from the bottom. I heard the tennessee is the side where the smokies drop straight down into a valley and on the NC side they just blend in with the other mountains.

No one can confirm your expections you will have to wait until you arive on site and see for yourself. "nuf said!

What are some good vantage points looking up at the mountains? Does route 321 have vantage points of the mountains from the bottom? Isn't it the foothills parkway? Does it have pull-outs?

Are the smokies very hazy in august? Is there at least 20 mile visability most of the time?

LoL. My, asdaven, you do want to know EXACTLY what you are getting, don't you? Well, we visit there at least once a year, and it's never the same. I don't think anyone can answer your questions about visibilitiy. It changes minute to minute, not to mention day to day. Suffice it to say that it is a beautiful area. We approach that area from the south, and we see the foothills that begin in Alabama.

Why don't you go to your local library or bookstore and check out some of the areas you are trying to compare? I'm not wild about comparisons, having learned many years ago that most places on earth have their own unique charm and that is also why most of us try to travel to many different areas of the world. I have heard some say that Alaska compares to New Zealand, and while I saw some similarities, I think they are very different but I love both places.

We did the Gaitlinburg side when our kids were younger and before it was such a tourist trap. However, we all loved Dollywood. But now we pretty much avoid it at all costs.

We love Chattanooga and make a point to stay at the Stone Fort Inn downtown. Then we'll take either hwys 64/74 or 68/143 (both very scenic routes) to the Bryson City area, on the east side of the Smokies, where we stay in a cabin or a B & B. On special occasions, we have splurged and stayed at the Swag in Waynesville, NC, but it's gotten too expensive for us these last few of years.

I hope you will spend some time reading about the whole area, because there are MANY absolutely gorgeous drives that few people seem to take advantage of. Also, the Blue Ridge Parkway is certainly worth some time.

I hope you enjoy the Smokies!

Asdaven, if you want to see beautiful scenery, stay off the interstates and find a map that has scenic roads marked (most do.) Good luck!

Thanks- Which of the three summer months (June,July,August) is usally the driest?

This goes on forever.

RedRock, love your posts! ;-)