Spectacular Fall Drives in the Smokies

Here in Blount County, we like to encourage “leaf peepers” to savor the amazing local scenery. After all, you can stay right in Townsend and see some of the most beautiful autumn colors. Just choose a country road and enjoy the stunning foliage as you wind your way through woodlands and fields.
However, anyone who pays a visit to the Smokies knows that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a motor-friendly park and its roadways were designed to optimize the scenic overlooks and stunning natural views. That is what makes it such a popular and wise choice as an autumn driving destination. Below, we have listed our favorite drives and emphasized those that put the spotlight on the fall colors. Keep in mind, though, that this is just a drop in the bucket in terms of the actual numbers of drives and explorations you can enjoy in the park and surrounding areas!

Cades Cove Loop Road

You cannot pay a visit to the park without making your way through this top attraction. An 11-mile loop road, it is a wonderful spot for taking in the scenery, catching glimpses of the area’s wildlife (including bears) and visiting the many historic churches and cabins along the way. Framed as it is by the mountains, it is also a robustly colorful spot during the autumn months, and there are many hiking trails that can allow you to get out into that beautiful landscape.

Newfound Gap Road

If you want one of the original scenic drives in the Smokies, this is it. It was cut in the late 1800s and allows you to pass through the mountains without having to climb to high altitudes. It is 33 miles from beginning to end, and you’ll want to pack a picnic and bring the camera. There are lots of panoramic and scenic views and if you are hearty and fit, you can hike up to Clingmans Dome (the highest peak in Tennessee) off this road.

Blue Ridge Parkway

This amazing route lets you experience the North Carolina side of the Smokies as the road follows the mountains and winds its way from Cherokee to Afton. It runs more than 400 miles, so it is not a day trip, but rather something to experience in chunks. During the autumn months, it is a place of stunning natural color and scenery and from it, you can reach Mt. Mitchell (the highest peak in the eastern U.S.), the Linville Gorge (the deepest gorge in the eastern U.S.) and many other attractions.
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is another must and is a loop road that wanders through natural areas and historic sites.
There are so many spots to hit the roads and take in amazing views, but as we said at the beginning, the area around Townsend can also provide you with more than enough autumn color and gorgeous scenery, and the Maryville Greenway (a walking trail) is a place where the leaves surround you and where anyone can enjoy an autumn stroll.