Ideas for Great Smokey Mountains Trip.

[CharlesinGA]

Pavement wise, the worst part of the Blue Ridge Parkway is the southmost section from US 19 to the end at US 441. Lots of bad spots and repairs.

I highly recommend that you do not travel US 19 from Cherokee north bound with any kind of RV. It is narrow, has guard rails right on the edge of the pavement, or no guard rails at all but should have, no shoulder in many places and is fairly twisty and winding. Its just not worth it. If you want to go north from Cherokee take the BRP but be aware that the lowest tunnels are on the south end. There are five between US 441 and US 19. On US 19 once you leave tribal land, the road improves alot.

Almost all of the tunnels are in curves and generally you cannot see from one end to the other. Also turn your headlights on before entering. All are round topped and thus the white edge line clearance is the lowest. You are interested in the tunnels at the south end of the parkway, as MP 469 at US 441 in Cherokee is the southern terminus, while MP zero is where the parkway connects to the Skyline Parkway.

If you want to drive the BRP I suggest you visit

https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/index.htm
Blueridgeparkway.org
Virtualblueridge.com.

There is also an app you can install with the parkway broken up into sections and stored in memory (for where there is not cell connections).

List of Blue Ridge Parkway Tunnel Heights
Milepost Name Length Min. Height Max. Height
53.1 Bluff Mountain Tunnel 630' 13' 7" 19' 1"
333.1 Little Switzerland Tunnel 630' 13' 7" 19' 1"
336.8 Wildacres Tunnel 330' 13' 1" 19' 10"
344.5 Twin Tunnel (North) 300' 16' 21'
344.7 Twin Tunnel (South) 401' 14' 7" 19' 7"
349 Rough Ridge Tunnel 150' 13' 9" 21' 6"
364.4 Craggy Pinnacle Tunnel 245' 14' 1" 19' 9"
365.5 Craggy Flats Tunnel 400' 14' 4" 19' 5"
374.4 Tanbark Ridge Tunnel 780' 14' 1" 19' 5"
397.1 Grassy Knob Tunnel 770' 13' 7" 19' 2"
399.1 Pine Mountain Tunnel 1434' 14' 2" 19' 3"
400.9 Ferrin Knob #1 Tunnel 561' 14' 2" 19' 6"
401.3 Ferrin Knob #2 Tunnel 421' 14' 19' 2"
401.5 Ferrin Knob #3 Tunnel 375' 13' 9" 19' 5"
403 Young Pisgah Ridge Tunnel 412' 14' 6" 19' 8"
404 Fork Mountain Tunnel 389' 14' 19' 2"
406.9 Little Pisgah Tunnel 576' 13' 10" 19' 5"
407.3 Buck Springs Tunnel 462' 13' 8" 19' 2"
410.1 Frying Pan Tunnel 577' 13' 8" 19' 9"
422.1 Devil’s Courthouse Tunnel 665' 14' 2" 19'
439.7 Pinnacle Ridge Tunnel 813' 13' 10" 19' 1"
458.8 Lickstone Ridge Tunnel 402' 11' 1" 13' 1"
459.3 Bunches Bald Tunnel 255' 10' 6" 13' 4"
461.2 Big Witch Tunnel 348' 11' 3" 18' 1"
465.6 Rattlesnake Mountain Tunnel 395' 14' 5" 19' 6"
466.2 Sherrill Cove Tunnel 550' 14' 4" 19' 7"

The overlook at MP 431 is the highest point on the parkway, so you only have to drive 68 scenic miles to reach it from Cherokee.

Milepost guide for the entire parkway. https://www.virtualblueridge.com/parkway-milepost-guide/

Charles

[hamm2018]

Originally Posted by WorldCat25

Here's the front end.

Attachment 304859

Looks different from the other end!!!!

[armullis]

Originally Posted by Lynchville

My wife and I are going on a week long trip to the Smokey Mountains with her parents October 17.
We will be staying at the Little River Campground near Townsend. My wife and I have never been there before.

We have a few things in our heads that we’d like to do but I wanted to ask the forum if there are some things that I have to see or do while I’m there. I know everyone has their preferred activities when they camping so any suggestions will help.

Thanks

Cades Cove, Tremont Road, Greenbriar, Clingman's Dome at sunset....all good spots for photography. Just driving around the area is also fun to do. Tons of restaurants and shopping in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge. I hear Dollywood is good for families and children.

We will be there Oct 26 - Nov 2, staying in Pigeon Forge at Creekside RV Resort. Have Fun!