Four Scenic Byways to Traverse in Tennessee

The double-arched Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge – Photo Credit: Franklin, Tennessee.
  • Natchez Trace Parkway – 444-mile stretch winds up from MS, through AL and ends right in Davidson Co., just west of Nashville TN. (The TN portion from state line to Nashville is about 1-1/2 hours.) There are more than a dozen campgrounds and opportunities for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Hike at Fall Hollow Waterfall (Milepost 391.9) or the Devil’s Backbone State Natural Area (Milepost 394). The quaint town of Leiper’s Fork (Milepost 428) has artisans with galleries like David Arms and Leiper’s Creek Gallery, boutiques and antique shops such as Serenite Maison. Leiper’s Fork is also home to the original Puckett’ Grocery, a restaurant, market and live music venue that first opened in the 1950s. Stop for lunch at 1892 or relax in the outdoor Lawnchair Theatre. Eat a hearty breakfast and stop by the general store at Loveless Café (Milepost 444).
  • Cades Cove – in Townsend, TN. Great Smoky Mountains (11-mile loop) within a quick driving distance to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville. Breathtakingly beautiful and surrounded by mountains, Cades Cove is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smokies. A wide array of historic buildings dating to the late 19th and early 20th centuries is scattered throughout the cove. These include a gristmill, a variety of barns, three churches and a marvelous collection of log homes and outbuildings. An 11-mile, one-way loop road takes  visitors around the cove. Numerous trails originate in the cove, including the five-mile roundtrip trail to Abrams Falls and the short Cades Cove Nature Trail. Longer hikes to Thunderhead Mountain and Rocky Top (made famous by the popular song) also begin in the cove. Several designated backcountry campsites (camping by permit only) are located along trails.
  • Cherohala Skyway Byway – Cruise the Cherohala Skyway, a National Scenic Byway, and treat yourself to sprawling views of the Great Smoky Mountains to the northeast and the Tennessee River Valley to the west. The Cherohala Skyway crosses through the Cherokee National Forest and offers a glimpse into the unspoiled forest environment where Cherokee tribes and early pioneers traveled and settled in the Appalachian Mountains. This byway is about 43 miles long. (1 hr 45 minutes from Knoxville, 1 hour from Great Smoky Mountains National Park.)
  • Discover Tennessee Trails & Byways -Stumble upon hidden gems while you take the scenic route. These 16 self-guided driving routes connect Tennessee’s 95 counties so you can discover places you never knew you’ve always wanted to visit. Trails feature attractions, restaurants and unexpected stops as you walk in the footsteps of legends and discover Tennessee.

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