Lexington is a nice town. As you wander around, be sure to see these three architectural attractions. Next day morning we started after the breakfast and enjoyed driving on the beautiful highway that connects kentucky with Smokey Mountains, and passes through valleys and hills full of life. Road Trip Stops in the Great Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway Smoky Mountain National Park. I will be sure to stop at that abandoned brewery and also try our luck at watching the Jay's potato chip factory unload potatoes. Get a free Great Smoky Mountains National Park trip planner for inspiring itineraries and essential information. The hotel is conveniently located in Whiskey Row close to the city's main attractions. Road Trip from Chicago to Miami - LazyTrips Please be patient, this may take a minute. From here, head south and join Interstate 75 where you will arrive at Lexington, where our main route continues. 10 hours and several stops later, we were back where we started. You will cover a distance of 657 miles should you choose to drive without making a stop. Indianapolis: Some museums in the downtown area might be of interest. 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. Run though the tech essentials to turbo-charge your road trips. Rome2rio uses cookies to help personalize content and show you personalised ads. Ordinarily, flying is a more expensive way to make it to the Smoky Mountains, but if you're coming from Chicago, you might want to consider it for several reasons. I will post pictures when I come home for you to see! And history buffs will feel right at home with these historic treasures. From Bryson City, take the NC-28 N and US-129 N, stopping off at the Tail of the Dragon, a lookout area offering spectacular lake and mountain views, before continuing along Foothills Parkway. - to help you get the most out of your next trip. Unsubscribe anytime by clicking the link at the bottom of your email. Take as many days as you can allow to cover this impressive journey and look forward to a truly memorable road trip of a lifetime. Then head to the citys celebrated Millennium Park downtown. The roughly 420-mile route follows I-40 from the Great Smoky Mountains in the east to the mighty Mississippi River in the west. The cheapest way to get from Chicago to Smoky Mountains is to train and bus which costs $200-$290 and takes 42h 55m. Get inspired with tips about where to go and what to see on your national park vacation, delivered right to your inbox. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. 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. Hotels are already set in said places as we had points. 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!!! I imagine traffic in Cincinnati will be about the same as Louisvilleit all depends on when you travel. . With 4 different families, and nomads from the age of one and half years to 35 years, it was truly a friends and family road trip. Rome2rios travel guides to the US tell you the best ways to explore the country, from Amtrak to Greyhound to the New York Subway. Best campsites near chicago and how to reserve them? 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. At 160 miles, this extension to the trip should take a little under 4 hours and 30 minutes, but there will be countless opportunities to stop and admire the stunning mountain vistas and the many fantastic places you will pass along the way. If you are into historical hotels, the Boone Tavern Inn and Restaurant would be worth a stop. The trip starts in Chicago and ends in Santa Monica. You will notice that the "+" has now changed to a "-". You could allot two weeks for the trip. When you board one of Pink Adventure Tours signature pink Jeep Wranglers, youll soak up more information than you thought possible on your Smoky Mountains tour. The citys Market Square is a fantastic place to spend some time as the restaurants and shops lining the area are great. How Far is Chicago From the Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Oak Ridge was established in 1942 as a production site for the Manhattan Projectthe massive American, British, and Canadian operation that developed the atomic bomb. After a quick pit-stop at Louisville, KY to feed our V8 engine hauling us; we had lunch at Taco Bell in Lexington city. The series is called If Trees Could Sing, and its the result of a Metro Parks and The Nature Conservancy partnership. The population was 1,406 at the 2010 census, down from 1,427 in 2000. We have included a detour that goes through Cincinnati, converging with the main route in Lexington. Distance: 2,448 miles Recommended time: 7+ days Best time of year: September-Early November. We parked at Gatlinburg Skylift Park itself to save time (20$ a day parking) and hobbled over to the ticket counter. There are a few things to see in the Louisville/S. LazyTrips is a trading name of Uncle Bob Media Ltd. It isn't necessary that you wait for a search to be completed before you select or deselect different search features. 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. The shortest route from Chicago to Gatlinburg is to take I-65 Louisville. 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. 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. Rome2rio makes travelling from Chicago to Smoky Mountains easy. I've got some great ideas from all of the replies. The hotel is located close to many of the unique local attractions, and a visit to the Titanic Museum will not disappoint. Horses at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Theres few better ways to enjoy a hot summer day than to be on the water. The last stop of the day was the Cades Cove. 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 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. Good part Gatlinburg has a ton of restaurants. After making the journey to reach the Smokies, which in itself is an excellent road trip, make the most of this magical mountain wonderland by taking an excursion through the park to fully explore this magnificent landscape. Thank you so much for your time and efforts!! ', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' The 580-mile road trip from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park takes 8 hours and 50 minutes. 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. Very safe. 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. Make yourself known to an official member of staff and/or call the national coronavirus helpline number on 800-232-4636. Its bustling energy is countered by the friendliness of the people, which can catch you off-guard if you are not from the Midwest. Road trip loop from Chicago to the Carolinas. We did the following in a 4 day trip: rafting at Lower Pigeon River; hiking at Laurel Falls; visiting Cades Cove, Gatlinburg downtown including Skylift and The Little River Scenic Drive. The shortest route from Chicago to Gatlinburg is to take I-65 Louisville. To cover all the attractions in Smoky mountains 2 days are not enough, and needs lot of planning if we you want to cover all the natural sceneries and attractions. Domestic travel is not restricted, but some conditions may apply. Gretto Falls - 2.5 mile round-trip trek to the waterfalls. The Ultimate Tennessee Road Trip - National Geographic It's only 1 hour away from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Road Trip from Chicago to The Great Smoky Mountains, Snow Tubing at Blackwell Forest Preserve, Warrenville, Best Spring Break Road Trips from Chicago, Road Trip from Chicago during historic Winter Storm, Road Trip from Chicago to Pensacola and Florida panhandle, Disney World Lightning Lanes + Tips and Park Planning Strategy, https://www.alltrails.com/us/tennessee/gatlinburg, https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/laurel-falls2. From here you are just 18 miles from Maryville in Blount County, one of the gateway counties to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This part of the route is a hidden gem, as Foothills Parkway is a section of the national park that has become almost forgotten, and it's easy to see why the locals want to keep it a secret. Chooseyouractivities and places to visit. The birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr and Coca-Cola, (be sure to check out the museums dedicated to both), this lively city also features the fantastic Georgia Aquarium, some fabulous restaurants, and terrific nightlife. . United Airlines, Delta and Alaska Airlines, Inc. fly from Chicago to Smoky Mountains every 2 hours. 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. We drove initial 50 miles very slowly as we tried to cross our way through Chicago downtown and skyway. We reserved this cottage at Sevierville, Tennessee via VRBO. From Pigeon Forge, head south on US-321 to Gatlinburg, where you can enjoy one of the many mountain trails before joining US-441 and heading towards the loop. It was labor day weekend of 2010, when we planned this trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There were less people in the bottom fall, which was a relief. A road trip from Chicago to Myrtle Beach covers four distinct types of landscape: bustling cities, peaceful countryside, dramatic mountains, and sandy beaches. Your road trip will start by the shores of the calming turquoise blue waters of Lake Michigan, and then on to Indianapolis where you can then take our recommended route to Lexington or a detour to Cincinnati, which will add 20 miles and about an hour to your trip. From here, take the I-95 S for the final stretch of the journey which will take you to Miami. The Lewis and Clark Bridge (toll) is on I-265. Nashville hotels are expensive, so if you don't need to stay in Nashville, pick an interchange on the outskirts where there are a cluster of hotels + restaurants nearby. Best Road Trip Itineraries - Great Smoky National Park Trips If you are I would go north from Lexington on 75 and hit 74 in Cincinnati and not go over to Louisville. For the detail oriented folks, here is the link to know all about it. 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. Do any of you have any suggestions for places to see along the way? After coming up for air, hit the road and point your wheels toward Nashville. Please Note: Cabins USA Gatlinburg's area information, 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.