Scenic roadways are a wonderful way to see the beauty of our area without ever needing to leave the comfort of your vehicle. These roadways are all within a two-hour drive of Knoxville – great for a day trip or for adding some extra scenery on your next visit to Atlanta or Western North Carolina. Research your route online for additional stops at local diners, museums, and attractions to round out your excursion.
Some of these roadways are regionally or nationally “designated,” meaning they have archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic intrinsic qualities. The byways and parkways exist to enhance, preserve, and raise the recognition of the mountain and rural beauty while generating pride among the communities they meander through. They are often the road less traveled, giving us more opportunities to get off the main road and enjoy a slower, more scenic pace.
For more information on these and other scenic roadways, visit TennesseeRiverValleyGeoTourism.org, Fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov, TNTrailsandByWays.com, and many others. Be sure to check NPS.gov for weather updates and road closures. Let the journey begin!
A. Foothills Parkway about 45 minutes from Knoxville
33 miles long from Pigeon Forge to near Townsend
The Foothills Parkway has been in the works for some 75 years, with the southern most 17 miles completed in 1966 and the next 16 miles didn’t open until December of 2018. There is a short northern section that opened in 1968, but the two do not connect due to lack of funding.
The southern section of the parkway offers spectacular views of the Great Smoky Mountains on one side and the Tennessee Valley on the other. On clear days, the Cumberland Mountains 50 miles to the west can be seen. It is also a wonderful spot for stargazing, as the overlooks face away from the larger cities.
B. Smoky Mountain Scenic Byway about an hour from Knoxville
16.5 miles from Sugarlands Visitor Center outside of Gatlinburg to the Oconoluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee through Newfound Gap
At the highest point on the Smoky Mountain Scenic Byway, Newfound Gap is a forest that straddles the Tennessee-North Carolina border. It is also the site where President Franklin D. Roosevelt officially dedicated Smoky Mountain National Park in 1940. Overall, the byway ascends about 3,000 feet and ends near the Qualla Boundary of the eastern band of the Cherokee Reservation.
Highlights include numerous pullovers with breathtaking skies and mountain views, including Clingman’s Dome (recently renamed Kuwohi). While you can take in the views from your car, you can also park and walk a short, quiet walkways to stretch your legs.
C. Blue Ridge Parkway around 2 hours from Knoxville
469 miles from Cherokee, NC, to Staunton/Charlottesville, VA, area
Don’t forget about our end of the Blue Ridge Parkway! Accessible from Cherokee, Maggie Valley, or Waynesville, NC – all around 2 hours away. The Parkway then loops back up to Asheville on its way up through the Pisgah National Forest and on to mid-state Virginia.
An experience unlike any other: a slow-paced and relaxing drive revealing stunning long-range vistas and close-up views of the rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes of the Appalachian Highlands. The Parkway actually protects a diversity of plants and animals and provides opportunities for enjoying all that makes this region of the country so special, so even a short stint on this route is worth the drive.
D. Cherohala Skyway about an hour from Knoxville
42 miles from Tellico Plains, TN, to Robbinsville, NC
Cruise this National Scenic Byway that gains over 4,000 feet in elevation, and treat yourself to sprawling views of the Great Smoky Mountains to the northeast and the Tennessee River Valley to the west. Named for the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests (Chero and Hala equal Cherohala), the path follows the original routes along the Tellico River used by settlers throughout history.
The Skyway, completed in 1990, links the Cherokee National Forest to the Nantahala National Forest with a stretch of winding roads and abundant scenic overlooks and vistas offering a glimpse into the unspoiled forest environment where Cherokee tribes and early pioneers traveled and settled in the Appalachian Mountains.
E. Ocoee Scenic Byway about 1 1/2 hours from Knoxville
26 miles from Benton, TN, to the GA border near Ducktown
This first-ever U.S. Forest Service scenic byway was designated in the Cherokee National Forest in Polk County. It passes through the Ocoee River Gorge as it winds its way up to the crest of Chilhowee Mountain. It features the Ocoee Whitewater Center (from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics) and dramatic scenic bluffs along the Ocoee River and Gorge.
This byway is a gateway to one of the prettiest, scenic drives in the Eastern United States with views of Big Frog and the Chilhowee mountains and wilderness areas. There is a magnificent overlook of the TVA dam that creates Lake Ocoee with Sugarloaf Mountain’s sharp peak in the background, a prominent landmark readily visible for many miles from nearly every direction.
F. Georgia Mountain Parkway slightly over 2 hours from Knoxville
76 miles long between Blairsville and Jasper, GA
The closest entrance to this “low on traffic and high on breathtaking scenery” route is in Blue Ridge, GA, but starting in Blairsville adds less than 10 minutes drive. This quick and easy drive leads you through the famed backcountry of northern Georgia through the towns of Ellijay, Blue Ridge, Blairsville, and Hiawassee. You will enjoy the fantastic mountain and forest scenery, as well as several quaint towns and villages – all dotted with lakes, wildlife, and historical landmarks.
G. Lookout Mountain Parkway a little less than 2 hours from Knoxville
93 miles between Chattanooga, TN, and Gadsden, AL
Named as one of the most scenic drives in America by Reader’s Digest, Lookout Mountain is beautiful year-round. The parkway spans three states as it stretches across Lookout Mountain with its waterfalls, canyons, scenic vistas, unique towns and villages, state and national parks, and preserves. Access nearby Little River Canyon National Preserve with one of the deepest gorges east of the Mississippi River – often described as the “Grand Canyon of the East” – and be sure to add Cloudland Canyon State Park to your list of stops.
It is also home to the The World’s Longest Yard Sale that takes place in the month of August where ,more than 5,000 yard sale vendors line the parkway and the US 127 corridor for some 650 miles of bargains.
H. Scenic Route 111 about 1 1/2 hours from Knoxville
74 miles from Cookeville to above Chattanooga
While not a “nationally registered” parkway or byway, State Road 111, the unofficial “Cumberland Plateau Scenic Route,” is a lovely drive. It ascends the east edge of the plateau, crosses the Falling Water River, then meanders its way through the Sequatchie River Valley. Experience tranquility and awe, the plateau holds dense woodlands of oak, pine, and hickory intermingled with grassy flatlands, state parks, and small towns – scenery you don’t want to miss!