Famous for the Kentucky Derby, and the birthplace of Muhammad Ali. 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. Tip: If you are a vegetarian, best to carry your own food or plan ahead with the restaurants where you want to eat. Next 2 days that we spent in Smoky mountains were all fun, as went on doing lot of outdoor activities like zip line, horse riding, helicopter trip etc. Pass Gary then take the I-65 and head south, through endless fields of windmills, before arriving at Indianapolis. Finally, before heading to Miami, take a trip to Tampa and witness the wonderful museums, historic Ybor City neighborhood, and the fabulous Busch Gardens. On your return, head up 1-26 to I-40. Find all the transport options for your trip from Chicago to Smoky Mountains right here. Additionally, you clear your favorites list by clicking "remove all" on the favorites bar. Do any of you have any suggestions for places to see along the way? LeConte in the Smokies, then start planning your trip to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN today! Chicago to Arches National Park, Utah | Road trip | GhoomnaPhirna, Chicago to Duluth | Road trip | Ghoomnaphirna, Gorakhpur to Lumbini, Nepal | Roadtrip | Ghoomnaphirna, Chicago to Myrtle Beach | Road trip | Ghoomnaphirna. This post has already been read 2799 times! Do bear in mind some attractions may be closed as they transition from winter. The first stop was at a coffee joint at Lafayette, Indiana. Users of this Other than that, you can hit the open road whenever you feel like it. Road trip loop from Chicago to the Carolinas. From here you are just 18 miles from Maryville in Blount County, one of the gateway counties to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Road Trip Stops in the Great Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway chicago to smoky mountains road trip stops Rise and shine - We left sharp at 6 AM in our Durango R/T to kick-start our first summer road trip of 2021. After all, the city boasts free music all the time.. 29 AMAZING Road Trips USA: Scenic (& Underrated) Routes You'll Love Chock-full of souvenir shops, craft stores, restaurants, and kitschy attractions (think Ripleys Believe it or Not! It was outlandish, insane and incredible trip all together. You can tour these facilities and learn about how world-famous Kentucky Bourbon is made! . The 580-mile road trip from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park takes 8 hours and 50 minutes. Don't forget the annual Watch Grass Growing Festival and the ever popular See (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? ', 'How much should I expect to pay? Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Keep on reading to discover many amazing places to visit, the best route, where to stay, and when to go. Think Pink With only 48 hours in Gatlinburg, you'll need to optimize your time to keep the fun going. It will allow you to relax, unwind, and be fully refreshed before continuing your drive. Heading onwards, take the I-85 east to Albany then join the US-82 heading south towards Florida. Here youll find plenty of hotels, grocery stores, and gear shops. Advance booking of Smoky Mountain cabin rentalswas the best decision in this trip, as we got a beautiful rental property on the hill overlooking mountains and the valleys. Nonetheless, It offers a panoramic view of the park and is less visited than other roads in the area. The shortest route from Chicago to Gatlinburg is to take I-65 Louisville. https://www.alltrails.com/us/tennessee/gatlinburg. View all posts by Amit Sharma, Your email address will not be published. The population was 1,406 at the 2010 census, down from 1,427 in 2000. If you live in Chicago, IL and you want to explore some of the most gorgeous mountains in all of Appalachia, check out our guide on how to get to the Smoky Mountains from Chicago! Unsubscribe anytime by clicking the link at the bottom of your email. The fastest route between Chicago and Miami covers a distance of around 1,385 miles, but we recommend extending the journey to include trips to Pigeon Forge and Montgomery which will add a further 450 miles to the trip. A third of the way into the journey, 472 miles from Chicago, Nashville is a fabulous place to visit. The ride was smooth and once at the top, plenty of panoramic views were on offer. We had rafting reservation at Lower Pigeon River which was in jeopardy thanks to a chock-a-block jam in Gatlinburg. Stop at a visitor center in Cades Cove or at the Mountain Farm Museum to find . Both with directions , distance calculation and estimated travel time, all described in the route planner. We will be traveling with our dog near the end of March from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? We're working around the clock to bring you the latest COVID-19 travel updates.This information is compiled from official sources. We have stayed in downtown Lexington and found it a safe city with some charm. Tip: Rather than towing a ton of groceries from home, do it near the destination. We are travelling from Canada to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? We dont mind passing by mountains in the view on interstate but correct we want to avoid smaller roads through mountains. After doing this, you will have to perform a new availability search.The number next to the favorites tab is the number of properties you have selected. Compare Favorites If you are a music lover, head to a show at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. There are 138+ hotels available in Smoky Mountains. ), the bustling towns can be a sensory overload or a rollicking good time, depending on your perspective. You can click this minus sign to "unselect" this property from your favorites list. Also has anyone stayed in Lexington, KY is it safe for an overnight visit Can anyone please shed light into which route can be best for us to take to avoid the smoky mountains but not added hours to our travel time.Thank you!!! Help with route Chicago to Smoky Mountains - Road Trips - Tripadvisor 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. You'll find loads of iconic spotsand a fair few hidden gemsas you head southeast! They included short trips to nearby cities like Milwaukee and Indianapolis, and longer drives to places like South Dakota and the Smoky Mountains. There are many places to stop between Chicago and the Great Smoky Mountains and you'll pass many cities and be spoilt for choice with accommodation options. Why Smoky? this is the wonderful thing about Tripadvisor one can learn so much from others! Your email address will not be published. Please be patient, this may take a minute. Continue onwards, passing Mingo Falls to Cherokee, with its famous Indian Museum. There are a few log cabins and churches too which were constructed in the 1800s. 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. Newfound Gap. By checking the box next to your selected rentals, you can compare up to three properties. Best Road Trip Itineraries - Great Smoky National Park Trips long term rentals in vilcabamba, ecuador; celebrity fight night; chicago to smoky mountains road trip stops 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. We treat any information that you share as confidential. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $220-$330 and takes 46h 9m. Chicago to Smoky Mountains - 5 ways to travel via train - Rome2rio more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. From Nashville, take the I-40 east to Knoxville passing through picturesque mountain scenery before reaching Kodak where you will take the TN-66 south for around 30 mins before arriving at Pigeon Forge. 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. Hiking is popular in this park. Pass through the Woods Ferry conservation area before heading east onto the I-10 towards Jacksonville. Elk on Route 441 in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park A Stop For Elk On a Smoky Mountains road trip you can see many things right from your car. See the Gary Railcats stadium. If you are into historical hotels, the Boone Tavern Inn and Restaurant would be worth a stop. Shells08, what route are you taking to get to P.F.? 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. Thanks to SMO rafting team who did us a solid by pushing our reservation otherwise we would have kissed our rafting money good-bye. The River Rat Water Tubing Outpost river tubing, swimming and cliff jumping, highly recommended. May consider driving around. Heres the Google Timeline chronicling our ride back home. They have a very, very small air museum that I've only driven by. The series is called If Trees Could Sing, and its the result of a Metro Parks and The Nature Conservancy partnership. After cruising through the few miles of the road which meanders along the Little River, we parked here and spent couple of hours on the river, enjoying the stream of cool flowing water. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. What should I do if I have COVID-19 symptoms when I arrive in Smoky Mountains? The 33-mile Newfound Gap Road is one of the park's most popular routes, used to connect Cherokee, NC, and Gatlinburg, TN. 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. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps . March 5, 2020 Tori Peglar Forest. The Skylift ride, the glass bridge glimmering with the kaleidoscopic views of the city, everything seemed magical in the nocturnal obscurity. -, 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. Streams, rivers and waterfalls appear along hiking routes that include a segment of the Appalachian Trail. Additionally, it contains an archive of documents and Historical photographs.