The hotel is located close to many of the unique local attractions, and a visit to the Titanic Museum will not disappoint. Do any of you have any suggestions for places to see along the way? First, 10 hours of driving takes a lot of energy and time you might rather want to use for enjoying your visit to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 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. At 160 miles, this extension to the trip should take a little under 4 hours and 30 minutes, but there will be countless opportunities to stop and admire the stunning mountain vistas and the many fantastic places you will pass along the way. Making the trip in the winter months will make for stunning viewing with the mountain peaks covered in snow. From here you are just 18 miles from Maryville in Blount County, one of the gateway counties to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A showcase of whos who in architecture, this interactive park is an adult playground. The beautiful Smoky Mountains of Tennessee are world-famous for their beautiful views, impressive forests, lovely waterfalls, amazing wildlife, and historic sights. Thank you so much for your time and efforts!! If you're having issues using the site, please enable JavaScript and refresh your browser. He knows his home well -, Planning adventures in the great outdoors? Road trips don't come more iconic than Route 66, which makes its way from Santa Monica in California to Chicago, Illinois. 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. Additionally, the best way to get around the Smoky Mountains is by car since public transportation is lacking in this part of the country. One thing you can count on is construction on almost all interstates. Simply provide a contact name and email so that we can reach you. 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-$290. Then on Day 2, you could easily include side trips to and stops at both Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and Mount Rogers National Recreation Area before finishing up in the Great Smoky Mountain are for a couple of days. Also has anyone stayed in Lexington, KY is it safe for an overnight visit Can anyone please shed light into which route can be best for us to take to avoid the smoky mountains but not added hours to our travel time.Thank you!!! Tip: Rather than towing a ton of groceries from home, do it near the destination. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-47930643', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Cars Rust Lollapalooza. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. We have stayed in Antioch, a little south of Nashville for this purpose. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, ensuring you can make an informed decision about which option will suit you best. Your email will not be provided to third parties. We parked at Gatlinburg Skylift Park itself to save time (20$ a day parking) and hobbled over to the ticket counter. If you take the fastest route, and all factors remain constant, the road trip from Chicago to Asheville will take you about 10 hours and 05 minutes. Run though the tech essentials to turbo-charge your road trips. . There is ongoing construction on I-65 N in several areas. The series is called If Trees Could Sing, and its the result of a Metro Parks and The Nature Conservancy partnership. The hotel is conveniently located in Whiskey Row close to the city's main attractions. We have two 13 year olds that will be traveling . 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. We did the following in a 4 day trip: rafting at Lower Pigeon River; hiking at Laurel Falls; visiting Cades Cove, Gatlinburg downtown including Skylift and The Little River Scenic Drive. The road climbs some 3,000 feet along the edge of the mountain, and passes through a stunning number of . Along the way, you'll visit four national parks, see some of the Midwest . There are many excellent restaurants, bars, and cafes nearby. This is about 9 hours and 17 minutes of driving non-stop. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Think Pink I've got some great ideas from all of the replies. Finally, before heading to Miami, take a trip to Tampa and witness the wonderful museums, historic Ybor City neighborhood, and the fabulous Busch Gardens. In this car lover's heaven, be sure to visit the renowned Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. questions regarding any content should be directed to the appropriate organization and not necessarily to Cabins Head east to Hilton Head. What are the travel restrictions in Smoky Mountains? The most visited National Park in the country needs no commentary from my side to extoll its virtues. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules . Add/Remove Favorites Other attractions include The Johnny Cash Museum, National Corvette Museum and the Nashville Flea Market (held the fourth weekend of every month). Pictures here itself tells the mood and magic of this trip in that large group. 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. Find all the transport options for your trip from Chicago to Great Smoky Mountains right here. 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! There is currently construction on I-65 N after you exit I-265. Furthermore, specific We did ours at the Walmart store at Knoxville which was around 30 mins away from our cottage. The route rewards drivers with mountain views that can be photographed from a number of scenic pullouts. 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. Knoxville This is the last large city you'll pass through on your way to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. . LazyTrips is a trading name of Uncle Bob Media Ltd. We went back to our cottage to recharge the batteries and then went for Skylift again, to take advantage of the night views. Forest. We treat any information that you share as confidential. The direct route is about 20 hours without stops. This part of the route is a hidden gem, as Foothills Parkway is a section of the national park that has become almost forgotten, and it's easy to see why the locals want to keep it a secret. Unsubscribe anytime by clicking the link at the bottom of your email. Typically 84 flights run weekly, although weekend and holiday schedules can vary so check in advance. You can also catch up on equestrian history at the the Kentucky Derby Museum. Since you have some time on your way down, you might consider taking I-65 through KY. this is the wonderful thing about Tripadvisor one can learn so much from others! Getting there can be as fun as the park itself. There is tourist info but also a huge shop with local arts and crafts. Your road trip will start by the shores of the calming turquoise blue waters of Lake Michigan, and then on to Indianapolis where you can then take our recommended route to Lexington or a detour to Cincinnati, which will add 20 miles and about an hour to your trip. 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. 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. They have a very, very small air museum that I've only driven by. Road Trip Stops in the Great Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway Smoky Mountain National Park. After spending few hours in Oakridge, we continued our driving and entered into Smoky Mountain park from the Gatlinburg side and drove around Gatlinburg city for some time before going to our rental home that we had booked up in the mountains. If you're lucky you will see a truck unloading potatoes. Simply select the 2 3 properties you wish to compare, then click "compare" to see these rentals side-by-side. To avoid being snickered at by locals, resist the natural impulse to pronounce the name as it appears [Loueyville]. The country music capital of the world, with an incredible food and drink scene, a thriving art movement, and wonderful architecture. My family will be leaving soon on a two week road trip to the east coast. Its rated easy and offers visitors great scenery without having to exert themselves too much. If you're ready to explore beautiful destinations like Cades Cove, Newfound Gap, and Mt. Further east is Batesville, IN, and within miles a smaller city/town called Oldenburg. Columbus, IN is known for their architecture. If you plan to check out the city, the Hyatt Centric Downtown is a fabulous place to stay. It was almost 10:30 PM by the time we got off the Skylift and finding food was a huge pain at that time in Gatlinburg. Prepare yourself for the best Smokies vacation possible with your favorite people by knowing what to pack when going to the mountains! There are a few things to see in the Louisville/S. I imagine traffic in Cincinnati will be about the same as Louisvilleit all depends on when you travel. From here, head south and join Interstate 75 where you will arrive at Lexington, where our main route continues. Get a free Great Smoky Mountains National Park trip planner for inspiring itineraries and essential information. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-47723701', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Chicago to Pigeon Forge. Here is the other water drop, this needed a short climb downwards from the main fall. Only a couple are toll free. A Smoky Mountain road trip is the perfect summer family vacation getaway in America's Appalachian Mountains. We recommend scheduling at least two overnight stops or more depending on your desire to explore further. The road trip from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has so much to offer and we advise taking at least three days to make the trip, but even then, it will still be impossible to explore everything on this route. Foraccommodation, I would highly recommend going for one of the innumerous cottages and cabins on offer at Airbnb/VRBO. United Airlines, Delta and Alaska Airlines, Inc. fly from Chicago to Smoky Mountains every 2 hours. Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. The shortest route from Chicago to Gatlinburg is to take I-65 Louisville. Get a free Great Smoky Mountains National Park trip planner for inspiring itineraries and essential information. River Tubing at The River Rat Main Outpost. This one is technically outside smoky but quite adventurous. Services are operated by United Airlines, Delta and Alaska Airlines, Inc.. We saw kids as young as 4 years in the rafts. 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. 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. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $220-$330 and takes 46h 9m. See if you can catch a show at the legendary Grand Ole Opry where pop artists and country singers perform or head to a smaller venue like The Bluebird Cafe to see incredible live music in a really intimate space. Three hours east of Nashville, clocking in at 180 miles, make a pit stop in Knoxville. If you are looking for a place to relax and enjoy unwind after a truly memorable road trip, the RiverStone Resort & Spa will definitely deliver, located in Pigeon Forge at the base of the Smoky Mountains. 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. Our first adventure of the day was the hike at Laurel Waterfalls, one of the highly trafficked trails in the Smoky Mountains. The quickest flight from Chicago O'Hare Airport to Sun Valley/Hailey/Ketchum Airport is the direct flight which takes 4h 3m. Cabins USA Gatlinburg does not endorse any of From Nashvillehead toward Chattanooga then Atlanta. Walking the numerous trails, however, even for a short distance, provides a much richer experience. They serve a unique Greek-style chili on spaghetti noodles and heaping portions of cheddar cheese you don't want to miss! Sign up for our newsletter! customize this trip Day 1 11:00 am start in Chicago drive for about 2.5 hours 1:41 pm Crawfordsville stay for about 1 hour and leave at 2:41 pm drive for about 2.5 hours 5:00 pm Sellersburg (Indiana) Greyhound is a leading bus company based in Dallas, Texas, serving over 3800 destinations across North America, Mexico and Canada. There is also an abandoned Fallstaff Brewery on the east side of the City. To cover all the attractions in Smoky mountains 2 days are not enough, and needs lot of planning if we you want to cover all the natural sceneries and attractions. Get inspired with tips about where to go and what to see on your national park vacation, delivered right to your inbox. So, it took us couple of hours to have lunch. Get inspired with tips about where to go and what to see on your national park vacation, delivered right to your inbox. One could go south to Blowing Green, then take I-66E and catch I-75 south down to Pigeon Forge. Stayed in Chattanooga for two nights and saw the sights there, then ended up in Gatlinburg for two or three nights. The sprawling landscape encompases lush forests and an abundance of wildflowers that bloom year-round. After coming up for air, hit the road and point your wheels toward Nashville. Heres the Google Timeline chronicling our ride back home. When browsing results, you can add them to your "favorites" by clicking the red plus mark on the bottom left of your desired property. As far as bridges go, you will have to cross several on your route to and from Hilton Head. Wheres the best place to start exploring this city that sits on the turquoise shores of Lake Michigan? Your email will not be provided to third parties. Once we reached the falls, there were couple of spots to soothe the sore legs in cold water, heres the main water drop . Day 1 - The Drive and the Cottage. Covering 21,000 route miles (34,000km) Amtrak operates more than 300 trains daily. 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. Rising 73 floors above downtown Atlanta, the hotel offers world-class service and impressive amenities. Nonetheless, It offers a panoramic view of the park and is less visited than other roads in the area. It turns out you dont have to head to Athens, Greece, to see the Parthenon, which was completed in 432 B.C. ', 'Should I book online before I travel? 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. The population was 1,406 at the 2010 census, down from 1,427 in 2000. The Lewis and Clark Bridge (toll) is on I-265. 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. 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. Turn right off hwy 441 in park on to Fighting Gap Creek Road/Little River Road. 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. You are spoilt for choice when it comes to destinations to visit on a road trip from Chicago to Miami. 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. An important thing to know is the citys name is actually pronounced Luhlville by the locals and everyone else in Kentucky. Being 2 blocks south of Broadway, the Hyatt Centric is just steps away from fabulous honky-tonk bars and a vibrant local music scene. Do this road trip in an RV to stay close to nature. Thanks Ravekid, for all your recommendations. If you are a music lover, head to a show at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Walk along sloped decks, see the grand staircase, touch an iceberg and witness hundreds of original artifacts. Key stops are Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington, Knoxville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg as well as Indianapolis Motor Speedway. LazyTrips is a trading name of Uncle Bob Media Ltd. to honor the goddess of Athena. Horses at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. This one-way route takes you through three Midwestern states: Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas. 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. The 580-mile road trip from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park takes 8 hours and 50 minutes. Once you find your perfect rental for the right date, simply click "book now" to begin the booking process. It's nothing but the quintessential American road trip. 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 Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is also a must-see, along with the venerated Ryman Auditorium, particularly if there is a show on. Its also on the southeast side of Lexington. Traffic on I 24 near Chattanooga has been awful for past 3 or 4 months. A third of the way into the journey, 472 miles from Chicago, Nashville is a fabulous place to visit. Stay ), the bustling towns can be a sensory overload or a rollicking good time, depending on your perspective. 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. If you appreciate the beauty of foliage in the fall season, making the trip in autumn is for you. For each of the fields, please provide the following information: After your first search, it isn't necessary to click the "search" button again as this feature will automatically filter your results for any new search features you provide, unless you change the date, the number of nights, or go to a new webpage.