You will notice that the "+" has now changed to a "-". The cheapest way to get from Chicago to Smoky Mountains costs only $212, and the quickest way takes just 6 hours. Or check out Destination Delivery: Have an RV delivered directly to a campground or parking site to camp in style without having to get behind the wheel. Nashville has its own replica of the Parthenon at the 132-acre Centennial Park and Gardens, which is located within walking distance from Vanderbilt University. The trip passes through nine states . These medium and long distance intercity services operate at speeds of up to 240km/h, to more than 500 destinations. Lexington is a great town. The quickest flight from Chicago O'Hare Airport to Sun Valley/Hailey/Ketchum Airport is the direct flight which takes 4h 3m. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. The one time i took 65, i left VERY early (5.30 AM) and beat the morning rush if you get out early on a saturday morn, you SHOULD be OK, but you'll still encounter a lot of trucks. IMO, the few advantages of 65 over 57 is it's about 30 or 40 miles shorter (big whip if you get stuck in traffic), it's more scenic (57 doesn't start getting interesting till southern ILL), and it allows you to circumvent downtown nashville more easily as traffic there can be just as bad as chicago at times. but since you're stopping there one of the ways, it's a moot point. second the chattanooga traffic comment we just passed thru there over t-giving and it was HORRIBLE, and there's no viable way to get around the city because it's surrounded by mountains. also, about a half hour north of chattanooga along I-24 is the monteagle pass.. it's one of the steepest stretches of interstate i've ever experienced and best done during the day.. people fly up and down that stretch, so be aware of that since there are some pretty decent turns on it as well. if it's been raining, there are some pretty cool waterfalls (albeit man-made as they tumble down the road cut) along the way, but watch your speed! Nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, the countys towns of Townsend, Maryville, Alcoa, Friendsville, Louisville and Rockford offer travelers a ton of things to do from regional dance and theater performances at the Clayton Center for the Arts in Maryville to in-depth history of the Smoky Mountains at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend. 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. The population was 1,406 at the 2010 census, down from 1,427 in 2000. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/laurel-falls2. Your email address will not be published. Key stops are Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington, Knoxville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg as well as Indianapolis Motor Speedway. South of Lexington is Berea, KY. We have stayed in Antioch, a little south of Nashville for this purpose. Chicago to GSMNP - Great Smoky Mountains National Park Forum From Indianapolis, continue on I-65 and consider a detour to Bloomington city, where you can visit Indiana's oldest park, McCormick's Creek State Park, and marvel at the impressive limestone canyon. Cummins Waterfall - This one is technically outside smoky but quite adventurous Tip: Smoky has a plethora of hiking options and finding the right one could be a stretch. We did not see many vegetarian options there. A springtime trip will still have glorious weather and less traffic than the summer season. 6 Best Road Trips Chicago to Nashville and Great Smoky Mountains Road Trip Stop at a shiny bean, an underground corridor, a racetrack and a music mecca on your way to the national park. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $220-$330 and takes 46h 9m. Click here to skip back to the top. Road Trip from Chicago to Asheville - LazyTrips Enjoy classic scenic drives along Newfound Gap Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee or along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2.5 mile round-trip trek to the waterfalls. The Little River Scenic Drive was at a few minutes drive from Laurel Falls and it is best to visit them together. Lexington is a nice town. The distance between Chicago and Smoky Mountains is 2206 km. There is also an abandoned Fallstaff Brewery on the east side of the City. Naperville to Eminence, MO. All along I-75 in KY is the Daniel Boone Nat'l. The best way to get from Chicago to Smoky Mountains is to fly which takes 6h 26m and costs $180-$650. The Sherman Minton on I-64 is toll free but the bridge is currently under construction. Horses at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. The 2 bridges on I -65 are toll bridges. I've got some great ideas from all of the replies. Take in the great outdoors and stretch your legs with a trail walk, or visit the Wild Bear Falls Water Park. If you plan to check out the city, the Hyatt Centric Downtown is a fabulous place to stay. We had planned to stop in Kentucky so we continuously drove till mid night to get to the hotel. Why Smoky? Visit the Indianapolis Speedway Museum and take a tour of the Brickyard, host to the most exhilarating event in the motorsport calendar, the Indy 500. The rooms are spacious and beautifully designed, and their signature heavenly bed will ensure the perfect restorative sleep, so you are fully refreshed and ready for the day of adventure ahead. The resort is adjacent to the city of Ketchum and within the greater Wood River valley. By checking the box next to your selected rentals, you can compare up to three properties. Great Smoky Mountain Road Trip : Where Are the Smoky Mountains : Travel There are a few things to see in the Louisville/S. How to plan your road trip across the US We dont mind passing by mountains in the view on interstate but correct we want to avoid smaller roads through mountains. Longer trips (Over 8 hours each way) While a drive of this length probably won't suit spring breakers with young families, this is a great time to take an adventure with older children or to hit the road with a group of friends. chicago to smoky mountains road trip stops After a filling continental breakfast, we left for Gatlinburg to visit the Skylift, one of the most coveted places in Smoky. 321 just west of Townsend 18 miles up Chilhowee Mountain. . Making the trip in the winter months will make for stunning viewing with the mountain peaks covered in snow. Road trip loop from Chicago to the Carolinas - Fodor's Find all the transport options for your trip from Chicago to Smoky Mountains right here. Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the most talked about places recommended by Trippy members. If you appreciate the beauty of foliage in the fall season, making the trip in autumn is for you. 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. The best way to get from Chicago to Chicago O'Hare Airport is to subway which takes 43 min and costs $1-$5. Continuing on I-65, 300 miles into the trip, you will arrive at Louisville, home to the Kentucky Derby, one of the world's oldest and most famous horse races and an ideal place for an overnight stay. If you plan to see the annual Kentucky Derby, the hotel is close to Churchill Downs, home to the racecourse and also the Kentucky Derby Museum where you can learn all about the history of the world's most famous race. 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. You are spoilt for choice when it comes to destinations to visit on a road trip from Chicago to Miami. Clingmans Dom - highest point at Smoky with stunning views. 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. . I can't add much to above but I assume when you leave Lexington you are headed home to Chicago? Only a couple are toll free. Michael Jackson's childhood home and after that there is not much to see except ground hogs on the side of the road when you hit the Tennessee border. We did ours at the Walmart store at Knoxville which was around 30 mins away from our cottage. Consider Nashville Chattanooga Cloudland Canyon State Park Report inappropriate content Nancy B 10 posts 3. Given the distance between Chicago and Miami, the route is filled with amazing tourist destinations, and you'll be spoilt for choice when deciding where to stay on your overnight stops. Cummins Waterfall This one is technically outside smoky but quite adventurous, Tip:Smoky has a plethora of hiking options and finding the right one could be a stretch. The 33-mile Newfound Gap Road is one of the park's most popular routes, used to connect Cherokee, NC, and Gatlinburg, TN. Rome2rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. We are stopping in Nashville, TN on the way there and sleeping overnight and then stopping in Lexington Kentucky to stay overnight on the way back. . 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. - to help you get the most out of your next trip. Situated almost halfway into this fabulous road trip, 719 miles from Chicago, the place to stay is undoubtedly the Westin Peachtree Plaza. Take a walk and explore the historical Whiskey Row area with its fabulous selection of restaurants, urban distilleries, and shops. The joy of a road trip is having the freedom to take your time and explore, so plan accordingly to take in as many of the wonderful attractions en route as your schedule will allow for. You can view your selected properties by click the "favorites" tab at the top of the search bar. :). 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. Be sure to take refreshment breaks and schedule more stops accordingly. If you are in that area, do visit this museum. After spending few hours in Oakridge, we continued our driving and entered into Smoky Mountain park from the Gatlinburg side and drove around Gatlinburg city for some time before going to our rental home that we had booked up in the mountains. Neon signs on Lower Broadway Area of Nashville. If you are into historical hotels, the Boone Tavern Inn and Restaurant would be worth a stop. The top stops along the way from Chicago to Gatlinburg (with short detours) are Louisville Mega Cavern, Market Square, and Keeneland Association Inc. Other popular stops include Kentucky Horse Park, Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, and Big Four Bridge. Newfound Gap. 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. Fun Fact: Interstate 65, which takes you down to Nashville on this road trip, connects the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. The 580-mile road trip from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park takes 8 hours and 50 minutes. The shortest route from Chicago to Gatlinburg is to take I-65 Louisville. See if you can catch a show at the legendary Grand Ole Opry where pop artists and country singers perform or head to a smaller venue like The Bluebird Cafe to see incredible live music in a really intimate space. Once we reached the falls, there were couple of spots to soothe the sore legs in cold water, heres the main water drop . Find all the transport options for your trip from Chicago to Great Smoky Mountains right here. Rome2rio also offers online bookings for selected operators, making reservations easy and straightforward. Doing this will add the rental to your favorites list. The I-40 corridor between Asheville to TN is steep and in Knoxville, you get on I-75 which will also have a steep incline until you get to KY . The most visited National Park in the country needs no commentary from my side to extoll its virtues. It's only 1 hour away from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Ticket fares are divided into five subclasses: Saver, Value, Flexible, Business and Premium. customize this trip Day 1 11:00 am start in Chicago drive for about 2.5 hours 1:41 pm Crawfordsville stay for about 1 hour and leave at 2:41 pm drive for about 2.5 hours 5:00 pm Sellersburg (Indiana) To find out about fuel costs, use the form for calculating the cost of the Chicago IL-Smoky Mountain Ranch TX trip. There are several bridges in the Louisville area. Any mention of vendors, products, Again, mostly a wilderness type area, which you could find in Great Smoky Mountains area. Stop 1: Sevierville Distance from Knoxville: 29 miles Pay homage to the great Dolly Parton at her Dollywood theme park. Places to Visit on a Smoky Mountains Road Trip | Marriott TRAVELER My family will be leaving soon on a two week road trip to the east coast. Rome2rio uses cookies to help personalize content and show you personalised ads. Having said that, if the humidity is predicted to be really high, plan your boat trip for the morning before the sun gets too high in the sky. There are a few things to see in the Louisville/S. (Photo: Alamy) Your next stop on your Smoky Mountains family vacation is Sevierville, which lays claim to Dolly Parton and her eponymous family amusement park. The ride was smooth and once at the top, plenty of panoramic views were on offer. Continue your journey past the Gold Mine Trail, before reaching Melrose, where you will take the US-321, passing Townsend and Wears Valley before arriving back at Pigeon Forge. At some point, you will be driving through mountains on the interstate. If you want to enjoy a Smoky Mountains road trip on your drive from Chicago, be sure to check out some of the top sights along the way! Fans of all ages can take a nostalgic journey through musical history with the hits of Stevie Wonder to the Temptations, and many more. Stops and things to do on Chicago to Gatlinburg drive or road trip If you take the fastest route, and all factors remain constant, the road trip from Chicago to Asheville will take you about 10 hours and 05 minutes. Getting there can be as fun as the park itself. They are known for their handmade crafts and artwork. What are the travel restrictions in Smoky Mountains? Youll spot Cloud Gate, a kidney-bean-shaped sculpture thats 66 feet long and 33 feet high, from a distance as its metal gleams in the sunlight. The museum has many exhibits, including robots, science puzzles, timeline of atomic discoveries,a display devoted to nuclear weapons and the Y-12 Plant, and a solar energy demonstration project. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Chicago to Smoky Mountains via St Louis, Denver, Twin Falls, and Ketchum, ID in around 46h 9m. 29 AMAZING Road Trips USA: Scenic (& Underrated) Routes You'll Love Chicago to Gatlinburg drive - plan a road trip The 31 Most Awesome Road Trips From Chicago: Day Trips, Weekend See our recommendations for the best route, things to see, places to stay, and when to make this fantastic trip. The chicken cheesesteak was really amazing. What is the national COVID-19 helpline number in Smoky Mountains? This post has already been read 2799 times! This one is technically outside smoky but quite adventurous. Road Trip from Chicago to The Great Smoky Mountains Smoky Mountain Brewery Trails Gatlinburg Trail.very close to Riverhouse at the Park and Bearskin Lodge Laurel Falls.very popular.try to be at trailhead by 7 AM. Here is the other water drop, this needed a short climb downwards from the main fall. area events, and blog pages are provided as a public service. Road trip loop from Chicago to the Carolinas. In Cincinnati, there is a riverfront with a mall on the other side of an pedestrian walk bridge (formerly used for vehicles) on the KY side of the river. Stay We reserved this cottage at Sevierville, Tennessee via VRBO. For an incredible scenic drive, take the two-lane Foothills Parkway located off Hwy. Services are operated by United Airlines, Delta and Alaska Airlines, Inc.. The national COVID-19 helpline number in Smoky Mountains is 800-232-4636. This is about 9 hours and 17 minutes of driving non-stop. Additionally, it contains an archive of documents and Historical photographs. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. After a quick pit-stop at Louisville, KY to feed our V8 engine hauling us; we had lunch at Taco Bell in Lexington city. Hello my husband and I will be traveling with our 11month old from Chicago to Hilton Head Island on Saturday, May 14th and trekking back on Saturday, May 21st. From here, take the I-95 S for the final stretch of the journey which will take you to Miami. Misty Morning at Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountain National Park Photo: Jonathan Hill. During the summer months, it can be hot, averaging around 90 degrees in the Deep South and Florida, so air-conditioning is a must. Under the favorites tab on the search bar, you can view your selected favorites. The period between June and August is an excellent time to go on a road trip from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains. Pass through the Woods Ferry conservation area before heading east onto the I-10 towards Jacksonville. In the bourbon capital of the world, enjoy a VIP experience and take the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. . Head east to Hilton Head. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-47723701', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Chicago to 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. The birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr and Coca-Cola, Atlanta also boasts a fabulous mix of natural beauty and cutting-edge architecture. Exceptions may apply, for full details: Centers for Disease control and prevention (CDC). Chicago is 587.3 miles away from the Smoky Mountains by car. They have a very, very small air museum that I've only driven by. pinsent masons chambers student . Day 1 - The Drive and the Cottage. Between downtown Indy and Shelbyville, IN is a casino just off I-74. This luxury 5-star hotel has a fabulous outdoor swimming pool, an excellent restaurant, and an onsite fitness center, so there is plenty to help you relax and unwind after your drive before hitting the town. There are many hotels and resorts in Louisville, but none beats the elegance and beauty of Hotel Distil, Autograph Collection. Chicago to Miami Road Trip Itinerary. Do I have to wear a face mask on public transport in Smoky Mountains? Luckily, we found this hidden pearl called Bigfoot Philly Cheesesteaks. Prices start at $100USD per night. Other popular stops include Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, Ark Encounter, and Market Square. Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. So, there we went. Simply click the "+" sign on the lower left side of the property you are interested in. Bad part Every one of them was brimming with people. Simply provide a contact name and email so that we can reach you. Directions and distance from Chicago IL to Smoky Mountain Ranch TX I would check the lodging at Exit 108 on I-75, thats Man-O-War exit. It's nothing but the quintessential American road trip. For each of the fields, please provide the following information: After your first search, it isn't necessary to click the "search" button again as this feature will automatically filter your results for any new search features you provide, unless you change the date, the number of nights, or go to a new webpage. The first stop was at a coffee joint at Lafayette, Indiana. If you did this, you could do a quick stop at Mammoth Cave, and they also have the Corvette Museum near Bowling Green, KY. From Knoxville, head onto the US-441 S, admiring the breathtaking mountain scenery, and you'll arrive at Pigeon Forge, an excellent base from which to explore the Great Smoky Mountains. Its rated easy and offers visitors great scenery without having to exert themselves too much. If traffic or construction along I-65 is particularly bad, you might want to consider by going through Cincinnati, though this route adds about 1 hour of driving time. Sunrise at Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Want to receive up to date information on cabin specials and events in the Smokies? We went back to our cottage to recharge the batteries and then went for Skylift again, to take advantage of the night views. The road trip from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains will be memorable whichever time of year you decide to go, which is all dependent on your preferences for the weather and the season. You can also remove a property from your favorites list by clicking the minus sign to the right of the property name under the favorites tab. Shells08, what route are you taking to get to P.F.? There are around 230 Greyhound stations across the US where you can both catch your bus and buy tickets, that are also available on the official website and via the mobile app. Leaving Atlanta, take the I-85s for 161 miles to the delightful city of Montgomery. The I-40 corridor between Asheville to TN is steep and in Knoxville, you get on I-75 which will also have a steep incline until you get to KY . Music fans must check out the famous Grand Ole Opry House. It takes approximately 6h 26m to get from Chicago to Smoky Mountains, including transfers. Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts. The views from our cottage did not disappoint. Three hours east of Nashville, clocking in at 180 miles, make a pit stop in Knoxville. Mileage: It's 1,379 miles between the two cities. Chicago to Smoky Mountains - 5 ways to travel via train - Rome2rio So, it took us couple of hours to have lunch. We choose this because of the easy length (2 miles) and prospects of seeing bear (which did not happen ). Ghoomaphirna is all about passion for travel and road trips. Show only these on map Horseshoe Hammond We started on Thursday evening before the long weekend, and we had threecars carrying the group of 12. We plan to then head out on mornings around 8am, Nashville to Hilton head, Hilton head to Lexington, and Lexington to Chicago. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, ensuring you can make an informed decision about which option will suit you best. Taking you from Lake Michigan to Biscayne Bay, a trip of such proportions will be one you will never forget. Each state has a DOT that gives a list of current construction projects. Road Trip From Chicago To Mackinac Island, Road Trip From Chicago To Yellowstone National Park, none beats the elegance and beauty of Hotel Distil, Autograph Collection. :). The docents are super entertaining and informative. 12 Best Spring Break Road Trips from Chicago - LazyTrips Your email address will not be published. Gretto Falls 2.5 mile round-trip trek to the waterfalls. The mountain town of Pigeon Forge in eastern Tennessee is a must for fans of Dolly Parton, as it's where her Appalachian-themed Park Dollywood is located. We have family in northern TN so travel that way about every month or so. Tip: If you are a vegetarian, best to carry your own food or plan ahead with the restaurants where you want to eat. We will be traveling with our dog near the end of March from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Don't forget the annual Watch Grass Growing Festival and the ever popular See (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The area is served by Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey, approximately 15mi south. Bring a blanket to sit on and enjoy the tunes (and the excellent people watching). You can also catch up on equestrian history at the the Kentucky Derby Museum. 600 miles, took around 11hours with multiple breaks and a huge traffic jam at I-75. One of many Smokey overlooks with panoramic views. If you're ready to explore beautiful destinations like Cades Cove, Newfound Gap, and Mt. The Mega Cavern underneath Louisville, Ky. The bridge over the Ohio is not as high and slightly shorter by Cincinnati. Best campsites near chicago and how to reserve them?