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. The quickest flight from Chicago O'Hare Airport to Sun Valley/Hailey/Ketchum Airport is the direct flight which takes 4h 3m. Please share your thoughts on this post or your own Smoky Mountain Trip ideas in the comments section. Distance: 2,448 miles Recommended time: 7+ days Best time of year: September-Early November. They have a very, very small air museum that I've only driven by. 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. On the final day of this US road trip, explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park where the highlights include Laurel Falls, Cades Cove, . Indiana area. A popular area in the northern part of the forest is Red River George and Natural Bridge SP, in the southern end, Cumberland Falls SP. Tip: If you are a vegetarian, best to carry your own food or plan ahead with the restaurants where you want to eat. 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. It will allow you to relax, unwind, and be fully refreshed before continuing your drive. And history buffs will feel right at home with these historic treasures. You can also catch Oktoberfest at Ober Gatlinburg, a festival of Bavarian food, drink, and music accompanied by the fabulous Smoky Mountains Oompah band. Second, you might be able to find a direct flight from Chicago to Tyson McGee Airport near Knoxville. The birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr and Coca-Cola, Atlanta also boasts a fabulous mix of natural beauty and cutting-edge architecture. Rich in cultural and natural history, it is well worth stopping off to explore. Naperville to Eminence, MO. 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. By checking the box next to your selected rentals, you can compare up to three properties. It's also about as good as anywhere to spend the night. What makes Chicago one of the best cities to visit is that it has a cosmopolitan feel with none of the attitude of similar-sized cities on the coasts. 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. Run though the tech essentials to turbo-charge your road trips. Since you have some time on your way down, you might consider taking I-65 through KY. If you choose to visit during spring, the crowds will be significantly smaller and hotel prices relatively low. The most popular road trip route from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park goes through Louisville. 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. Streams, rivers and waterfalls appear along hiking routes that include a segment of the Appalachian Trail. The main route is red, while the alternative route is in blue. It is moments away from the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, and the Centennial Olympic Park. -, 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. A total of 2,448 miles (3,940km) weave, wind, rise and dip through . To the best of our knowledge, it is correct as of the last update.Visit Rome2rio travel advice for general help. A showcase of whos who in architecture, this interactive park is an adult playground. Walk along sloped decks, see the grand staircase, touch an iceberg and witness hundreds of original artifacts. Thank you so much for your time and efforts!! I simply put in directions to Waze but I would love a better understanding of current traveling conditions and tips from people that have taken this journey or familiar with the area. We had rafting reservation at Lower Pigeon River which was in jeopardy thanks to a chock-a-block jam in Gatlinburg. The last stop of the day was the Cades Cove. At some point, you will be driving through mountains on the interstate. Rent an RV with Outdoorsy 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. I will post pictures when I come home for you to see! long term rentals in vilcabamba, ecuador; celebrity fight night; chicago to smoky mountains road trip stops :). While this may seem like quite a long distance, the scenic landscape and attractions along the way will make . With the help of car insurance comparison and broker app with help from Jerry 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. Currently, there is no shuttle service that connects to Gatlinburg. We are travelling from Canada to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. One thing you can count on is construction on almost all interstates. Leaving Louisville, take the Interstate 64 E into the heart of Bluegrass Country, and after 80 miles, you will arrive at Lexington. Designed by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, the towers feature water flowing out of an outlet, which gives the illusion that water is pouring out of the mouths of the faces appearing on each tower. 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. ', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' Its not every day that you see horses frolicking from your front-yard. May consider driving around. You can view your selected properties by click the "favorites" tab at the top of the search bar. There are many excellent restaurants, bars, and cafes nearby. Road trips don't come more iconic than Route 66, which makes its way from Santa Monica in California to Chicago, Illinois. Famous for the Kentucky Derby, and the birthplace of Muhammad Ali. Made with polished stainless steel, the sculpture features an arch that enables you to walk under it and see your contorted reflection in the steel walls. Glamping, short for glamorous camping, is a luxury experience in tents equipped with the creature comforts of home. Founded in 1995, it has collections in skiing, mining Sun Valley, sheep, and Hemingway. Baldy has one of the higher summits of the Smoky Mountains of Idaho, that are located in the Sawtooth National Forest. 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. Nashville hotels are expensive, so if you don't need to stay in Nashville, pick an interchange on the outskirts where there are a cluster of hotels + restaurants nearby. After a quick pit-stop at Louisville, KY to feed our V8 engine hauling us; we had lunch at Taco Bell in Lexington city. The route rewards drivers with mountain views that can be photographed from a number of scenic pullouts. You could detour to visit Mammoth Cave National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park if weather permitting. You can click this minus sign to "unselect" this property from your favorites list. During the summer months, it can be hot, averaging around 90 degrees in the Deep South and Florida, so air-conditioning is a must. Key stops are Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington, Knoxville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg as well as Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Prices start at $100USD per night. A third of the way into the journey, 472 miles from Chicago, Nashville is a fabulous place to visit. An alternative to our main route, on leaving Indianapolis, take Interstate 74 passing Shelbyville and Greensburg and you'll arrive at Cincinnati, situated on the banks of the Ohio River. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket? As a result, flying can be a cheaper, time-efficient way to get from Chicago to the Smokies. 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. We have two 13 year olds that will be traveling . With only 48 hours in Gatlinburg, you'll need to optimize your time to keep the fun going. Do bear in mind some attractions may be closed as they transition from winter. From here, head south and join Interstate 75 where you will arrive at Lexington, where our main route continues. Great Smoky Mountains National Parkstraddles the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. Stretch your legs on the .5-mile observation trail that is 9.6 miles from the start of the parkway. Head east to Hilton Head. From Nashvillehead toward Chattanooga then Atlanta. Bad part Every one of them was brimming with people. It is important to allow time to enjoy the many amazing attractions and places along the way. 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. It is perfectly placed to take in the nightlife and indulge in the delicious southern cuisine. To avoid being snickered at by locals, resist the natural impulse to pronounce the name as it appears [Loueyville]. You can also catch up on equestrian history at the the Kentucky Derby Museum. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-47723701', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Chicago to Pigeon Forge. On your return, head up 1-26 to I-40. 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. Gatlinburg, Tenn, is the busiest, most touristy gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 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. Find Authentic Charm Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Sevierville, Nature and American History Collide in Greeneville, Tennessee. Distillery Tours On this drive, you'll pass through the heart of Kentucky Bourbon Country where several major distilleries are based. It's nothing but the quintessential American road trip. The national COVID-19 helpline number in Smoky Mountains is 800-232-4636. Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts. Again, mostly a wilderness type area, which you could find in Great Smoky Mountains area. Discover how to get to attractions and hotels near Ketchum. We plan to then head out on mornings around 8am, Nashville to Hilton head, Hilton head to Lexington, and Lexington to Chicago. 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. You can easily avoid the smaller roads that go through the Smoky Mountains. 10 hours and several stops later, we were back where we started. If you are in that area, do visit this museum. Do this road trip in an RV to stay close to nature. It is currently at MM 6not sure where it might be in May. When using our "search" feature, you can make a list of favorites. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. The Townsend Wye popular swimming spot. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-47930643', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Cars Rust Lollapalooza. 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 are spoilt for choice when it comes to destinations to visit on a road trip from Chicago to Miami. We have stayed in downtown Lexington and found it a safe city with some charm. Why Smoky? As a reference, you should be looking at places near Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, since most of the touristy attractions are spread across the aforementioned cities. We have family in northern TN so travel that way about every month or so. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. View all posts by Amit Sharma, Your email address will not be published. Explore these articles to learn more about fun e -, Make the most of your vacation in the Smoky Mountains with our tips and tricks! Clingmans Dom - highest point at Smoky with stunning views. Here youll find plenty of hotels, grocery stores, and gear shops. The road climbs some 3,000 feet along the edge of the mountain, and passes through a stunning number of . The Lincoln Bridge handles northbound traffic. Its bustling energy is countered by the friendliness of the people, which can catch you off-guard if you are not from the Midwest. Its the first public outdoor work of British artist Anish Kapoor to appear in the United States. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. 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. In this car lover's heaven, be sure to visit the renowned Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. arkansas governor's distinguished scholarship 2020 recipients. (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. Indiana area. We dont mind passing by mountains in the view on interstate but correct we want to avoid smaller roads through mountains. Is it compulsory to practice social distancing in Smoky Mountains? Exceptions may apply, for full details: Centers for Disease control and prevention (CDC). Jays Potato Chip factory. I would check the lodging at Exit 108 on I-75, thats Man-O-War exit. Catch a tour from Pigeon Forge. ', 'How much should I expect to pay? 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. Required fields are marked *, Chicago to Great Smoky Mountains National Park |Road trip |Ghoomnaphirna, on Chicago to Great Smoky Mountains National Park |Road trip |Ghoomnaphirna, Chicago to Yellowstone National Park | Road trip | Ghoomnaphirna, Chicago to Key West, Florida |Road trip | Ghoomnaphirna. However, (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? What are the travel restrictions in Smoky Mountains? It is about 20-30 minutes from Lexington. The treeless Dollar caters primarily to beginner and lower intermediate skiers; the primary mountain for advanced skiers is Bald Mountain, or "Baldy", next to the city of Ketchum. Atlanta is a world-class city with a rich cultural history. 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 cheapest way to get from Chicago to Great Smoky Mountains costs only $133, and the quickest way takes just 4 hours. 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. Fun Fact: Interstate 65, which takes you down to Nashville on this road trip, connects the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/laurel-falls2. We have included a detour that goes through Cincinnati, converging with the main route in Lexington. We have stayed in Antioch, a little south of Nashville for this purpose. Entertaining guides bring you deep into the cave for an up to 2.5-hour tour, explaining the geology and history of the cavern. Look for the tree signs around the park with QR codes and web addresses. Columbus, IN is known for their architecture. 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. We started on Thursday evening before the long weekend, and we had threecars carrying the group of 12. Please be patient, this may take a minute. After doing an availability search for your desired vacation date, our site will produce a list of available cabins. 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. Yes, travel within United States is currently allowed. We wrapped up the day with a sumptuous dinner hereat Curry N More. After a quick pit-stop at Louisville, KY to feed our V8 engine hauling us; we had lunch at Taco Bell in Lexington city. 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. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Tip: Rather than towing a ton of groceries from home, do it near the destination. If you are I would go north from Lexington on 75 and hit 74 in Cincinnati and not go over to Louisville. 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 . 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. 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. Other attractions include The Johnny Cash Museum, National Corvette Museum and the Nashville Flea Market (held the fourth weekend of every month). Forest. 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. It is located in downtown Louisville and not too far from. We had two full days of fun filled activities and spent the long weekend with many other tourists walking around the streets in night and gazing atthe skies. You can tour these facilities and learn about how world-famous Kentucky Bourbon is made! Show only these on map. A ride on the Rocky Top Mountain Coaster will appeal to thrill-seekers, dropping through lush forest landscape, and taking in the awesome mountain views as you hurtle down the track. 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. To get the most out of your vacation in the Smoky Mountains, be sure to check out our excellent selection of Gatlinburg cabin rentals close to the Smokies that come with hot tubs, game rooms, and decks with stunning mountain views! Services are operated by United Airlines, Delta and Alaska Airlines, Inc.. Other than that, you can hit the open road whenever you feel like it. 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. Bring a blanket to sit on and enjoy the tunes (and the excellent people watching). Geez, some people are easily amused. 1. 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. Heres the Google Timeline chronicling our ride back home. The hotel puts you right in the heart of the action. By proceeding, you accept the use of cookies in accordance with our, Fly from Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to Sun Valley/Hailey/Ketchum (SUN), Fly from Chicago Midway (MDW) to Sun Valley/Hailey/Ketchum (SUN), Fly from Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to Boise (BOI), Take the bus from Boise, ID - Airport to Sun Valley Lodge, Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Salt Lake City, Take the bus from Salt Lake City to Twin Falls, Take the bus from Twin Falls to Ketchum, ID, Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to St Louis Bus Station. Nonstop chatter, loud music, late night dance and songs, and variety of food, at the rental home that we bookedin Smoky Mountains National Park. chicago to smoky mountains road trip stops. Follow signs along the parkway for a picnic area, campground and Look Rock. For travel flexibility, you can board or get off a Greyhound bus at official Greyhound stations, partner stations and curbside stops. Don't know if using I 40 or I 24 but thought I would mention that. 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. May be Tripadvisorcan be a good and reliable source for planning what all attractions you want to cover in Smoky Mountains National Park. There are a few things to see in the Louisville/S. Once you arrive at Tyson McGee, we recommend that you rent a car to drive the remaining 1 hour to the Smoky Mountains. Connecting Midwesterners to a world full of road-trips, hikes, nature and adventure. Simply select the 2 3 properties you wish to compare, then click "compare" to see these rentals side-by-side. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-47804918', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Gatlinburg has a similar area so not sure if you want to check that out or not. Your email will not be provided to third parties. 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. Be sure to check out the upscale restaurants in Market Square or enjoy a stroll along Gay Street. Add/Remove Favorites For help planning your getaway to Gatlinburg, feel free to contact our helpful reservations office at (865) 436-5031 today! I-65S from Indy: Columbus, IN is known for their architecture. 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. We will be traveling with our dog near the end of March from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? And you can now go glamping near Gatlinburg, Tenn. 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. https://www.alltrails.com/us/tennessee/gatlinburg. Berea KY us at exit 76 on I'75 and has several nice craft shops. 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. 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. 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. There are lots of things to do in Gary IN if you take 90. Heres what we saw on the way but never stopped due to lack of time: The Sinks popular waterfall. If you saw the 1975 movie Nashville, youll recognize this iconic structure. Thanks to SMO rafting team who did us a solid by pushing our reservation otherwise we would have kissed our rafting money good-bye. Knoxville This is the last large city you'll pass through on your way to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Road Trip From Chicago To Mackinac Island, Road Trip From Chicago To Yellowstone National Park, none beats the elegance and beauty of Hotel Distil, Autograph Collection. Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. Hiking is popular in this park. ', 'Should I book online before I travel? A trip to Nashville is not complete without immersing yourself in its vibrant music scene. The views from our cottage did not disappoint. Its rated easy and offers visitors great scenery without having to exert themselves too much. 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. This post has already been read 2799 times! We went to AMSE, and spent few hours there. Chicago may be the best city in America to take road trips from, so there are endless possibilities for car vacations. Take a walk and explore the historical Whiskey Row area with its fabulous selection of restaurants, urban distilleries, and shops. Don't forget the annual Watch Grass Growing Festival and the ever popular See (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? There are many hotels and resorts in Louisville, but none beats the elegance and beauty of Hotel Distil, Autograph Collection. Smoky Mountains is 1h behind Chicago. The area is served by Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey, approximately 15mi south. I imagine traffic in Cincinnati will be about the same as Louisvilleit all depends on when you travel. Ketchum Sun Valley Historical Society Heritage & Ski Museum is the official museum of Ketchum Sun Valley located in Ketchum, Idaho. READ MORE - Road Trip from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Domestic travel is not restricted, but some conditions may apply. Furthermore, specific Required fields are marked *. Hotels are already set in said places as we had points. LeConte in the Smokies, then start planning your trip to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN today!