Directions
Blount County, which includes Townsend, Maryville, and Alcoa, is in East Tennessee at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is accessible by Interstates 40 & 75, with exits to U.S routes 321, 129, and Pellissippi Parkway (I-140).
Travel note: During the summer of 2009, construction is occuring on the highway 321 bridge over Fort Loudon Lake near Lenoir City. To avoid delays, travelers coming east on Interstate 40 can take Exit 376, Pellissippi Parkway (I-140) to Highway 129 at Alcoa, then proceed to Maryville, bearing left at the split, and following signs to Townsend and the Smoky Mountains.
Click here for a highway map: 
Route to Townsend I-140
The magnificent Smoky Mountains are on the southeastern portion of this county. Maryville and Alcoa are only 20 minutes from Knoxville and the interstates. Drive an additional 30 minutes on Hwy. 321 to Townsend and the entrance to the National Park. Townsend is located 30 minutes from Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and Dollywood.
Distance to Major Cities
- Atlanta - 250 miles
- Asheville - 104 miles
- Knoxville - 30 miles
- Memphis - 401 miles
- Chattanooga - 146 miles
- Nashville - 195 miles
Neighboring Attractions
- Only 30 minutes from: Dollywood & Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Sevierville
- Only 40 minutes from: Knoxville & Oak Ridge
- Only 60 minutes from: The Lost Sea, Museum of Appalachia, & Cherokee, NC
- Under 2 hours from several Tennessee State Parks
