Day 1 - The Drive and the Cottage. Shells08, what route are you taking to get to P.F.? The hotel puts you right in the heart of the action. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $220-$330 and takes 46h 9m. Cades Cove is the most popular destination in the national park due to its plentiful wildlife and many historic buildings you can explore. May consider driving around. Sunrise at Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Chicago to GSMNP - Great Smoky Mountains National Park Forum 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. After a quick pit-stop at Louisville, KY to feed our V8 engine hauling us; we had lunch at Taco Bell in Lexington city. At some point, you will be driving through mountains on the interstate. Its bustling energy is countered by the friendliness of the people, which can catch you off-guard if you are not from the Midwest. 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. 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. You can also catch up on equestrian history at the the Kentucky Derby Museum. Road trips don't come more iconic than Route 66, which makes its way from Santa Monica in California to Chicago, Illinois. The resort is adjacent to the city of Ketchum and within the greater Wood River valley. We dont mind passing by mountains in the view on interstate but correct we want to avoid smaller roads through mountains. Tip: If you are a vegetarian, best to carry your own food or plan ahead with the restaurants where you want to eat. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Pass Gary then take the I-65 and head south, through endless fields of windmills, before arriving at Indianapolis. 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. In the bourbon capital of the world, enjoy a VIP experience and take the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. 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. Each state has a DOT that gives a list of current construction projects. We did ours at the Walmart store at Knoxville which was around 30 mins away from our cottage. Gretto Falls - 2.5 mile round-trip trek to the waterfalls. Key stops are Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington, Knoxville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg as well as Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 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! This is about 9 hours and 17 minutes of driving non-stop. An important thing to know is the citys name is actually pronounced Luhlville by the locals and everyone else in Kentucky. Find all the transport options for your trip from Chicago to Smoky Mountains right here. Walk along sloped decks, see the grand staircase, touch an iceberg and witness hundreds of original artifacts. Places to Visit on a Smoky Mountains Road Trip | Marriott TRAVELER It is close to all the restaurants and attractions that Pigeon Forge is known for. Rising 73 floors above downtown Atlanta, the hotel offers world-class service and impressive amenities. You are spoilt for choice when it comes to destinations to visit on a road trip from Chicago to Miami. Re: Chicago to Naples Fl drive The birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr and Coca-Cola, Atlanta also boasts a fabulous mix of natural beauty and cutting-edge architecture. Head south 4 hours and 45 minutes to Louisville, Ky. Long known for its legendary Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby and the longest continually running sporting event in the country. The Skylift ride, the glass bridge glimmering with the kaleidoscopic views of the city, everything seemed magical in the nocturnal obscurity. After an excursion in the Smoky Mountains, you can return to the heated indoor pool or hot tub, enjoy a relaxing spa treatment, and sample the delights on offer in the resort's sophisticated restaurant. Hmm, re maui#1 - going to a minor league ballpark without watching a game, an abandoned brewery with no tours or tastings, and watching potatoes get unloaded. At Louisville Mega Cavern, youll have an adventure like none other, exploring some of the 17 miles of corridors beneath the city. Ghoomaphirna is all about passion for travel and road trips. Take a walk and explore the historical Whiskey Row area with its fabulous selection of restaurants, urban distilleries, and shops. Experience the vibrant local arts scene, visit the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, or plan your trip to coincide with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Expect to see lush greenery as you drive down the route and hit the mountains. 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. 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. From here, take the I-95 S for the final stretch of the journey which will take you to Miami. Louisville has a tourist website you can check out for other ideas. Rise and shine - We left sharp at 6 AM in our Durango R/T to kick-start our first summer road trip of 2021. Indiana area. The shortest route from Chicago to Gatlinburg is to take I-65 Louisville. Yes, travel within United States is currently allowed. The roughly 420-mile route follows I-40 from the Great Smoky Mountains in the east to the mighty Mississippi River in the west. You can easily avoid the smaller roads that go through the Smoky Mountains From Nashville.head toward Chattanooga then Atlanta. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Visit the Island, a 23-acre entertainment destination with fun for all the family, and a trip to Pigeon Forge would not be complete without a visit to Dollywood, recognized as one of the world's best theme parks, with something for everyone. Music fans must check out the famous Grand Ole Opry House. Fans of all ages can take a nostalgic journey through musical history with the hits of Stevie Wonder to the Temptations, and many more. If you're ready to explore beautiful destinations like Cades Cove, Newfound Gap, and Mt. Once you arrive at Tyson McGee, we recommend that you rent a car to drive the remaining 1 hour to the Smoky Mountains. The series is called If Trees Could Sing, and its the result of a Metro Parks and The Nature Conservancy partnership. The direct drive from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Chicago is 600 mi (966 km), and should have a drive time of 10 hrs 27 mins in normal traffic. arkansas governor's distinguished scholarship 2020 recipients. 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. Ticket fares are divided into five subclasses: Saver, Value, Flexible, Business and Premium. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Discover how to get to attractions and hotels near Ketchum. There are many hotels and resorts in Louisville, but none beats the elegance and beauty of Hotel Distil, Autograph Collection. The chicken cheesesteak was really amazing. Then head to the citys celebrated Millennium Park downtown. Here is the other water drop, this needed a short climb downwards from the main fall. Driving through both just a few months ago made me think I was in Europe given some of the older buildings. web site are responsible for checking the accuracy, completeness, currency and/or suitability of all information. LeConte in the Smokies, then start planning your trip to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN today! Find all the transport options for your trip from Chicago to Smoky Mountains right here. Key stops are Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington, Knoxville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg as well as Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Misty Morning at Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountain National Park Photo: Jonathan Hill. To avoid being snickered at by locals, resist the natural impulse to pronounce the name as it appears [Loueyville]. The first stop was at a coffee joint at Lafayette, Indiana. ', 'How much should I expect to pay? Please be patient, this may take a minute. Catch a tour from Pigeon Forge. 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. 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. The ride was smooth and once at the top, plenty of panoramic views were on offer. The 580-mile road trip from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park takes 8 hours and 50 minutes. Ketchum Sun Valley Historical Society Heritage & Ski Museum is the official museum of Ketchum Sun Valley located in Ketchum, Idaho. Hotels are already set in said places as we had points. The road here takes some dramatic twists and turns and there are plenty of viewpoints to stop and savor the views. Chicago to Nashville and Great Smoky Mountains Road Trip Nashville to Knoxville to Great Smoky Mountains Road Trip Washington DC and Outer Banks to Great Smoky Mountains National Park Road Trip Get Our Newsletter Get inspired with tips about where to go and what to see on your national park vacation, delivered right to your inbox. Visitors to Sun Valley are relatively close to the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, accessed over Galena Summit on Highway 75, the Sawtooth Scenic Byway. There are many excellent restaurants, bars, and cafes nearby. Stay 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. Distillery Tours On this drive, you'll pass through the heart of Kentucky Bourbon Country where several major distilleries are based. Falls of the Ohio State Park is in Indiana, just across from Louisville, offers great photos of the downtown Louisville skyline across the river. . There is also an abandoned Fallstaff Brewery on the east side of the City. Covering 21,000 route miles (34,000km) Amtrak operates more than 300 trains daily. We had one wish still left unfulfilled, which was to see a live bear in action and based on reviews, Cades Cove had the highest probability to see it happen. Taking you from Lake Michigan to Biscayne Bay, a trip of such proportions will be one you will never forget. 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. Gatlinburg sky lift, Gatlinburg scenic overlook, Gatlinburg space needle were some of teh other attractions that we covered in the Gatlinburg town. This blogging bear loves sharing the Smoky Mountains with everyone. As far as bridges go, you will have to cross several on your route to and from Hilton Head. 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. The quickest way to get from Chicago to Smoky Mountains is to fly which costs $180-$650 and takes 6h 26m. Most of the trip will be on the Interstate-65, a perfect road for such a journey.