Great Smoky Mountains & Cades Cove Self-Guided Driving Tours

Experience the ultimate Smoky Mountains bundle tour and explore the rich history and breathtaking scenery of this iconic national park. Book now for a lifetime of adventure!

Duration: 5 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Oconaluftee Visitor Center - Your drive through the beautiful, majestic Smoky Mountains begins at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Get ready to explore the Smokies and discover why this is the most visited National Park in the country!

NOTE: This 72+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Great Smoky and Cades Cove Bundle in 3-5 hours.

  • Mingus Mill - As you drive, you’ll have the option to take a detour to the Mingus Mill, an 1886 grist mill which, believe it or not, is still fully functional! If you’re here on weekends, you can even see the mill operators grind corn just like they did back in the 1800s.
  • Quiet Walkways - Your first major stop is the Beech Flats Quiet Walkway, a perfect spot for anyone who wants to soak up the natural beauty of the mountains without having to hike an arduous trail.
  • Rockefeller Memorial - Up next is the Rockefeller Memorial, where you’ll learn more about Rockefeller’s importance to the park! This memorial was dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt himself.
  • Newfound Gap Road - From there, your drive continues to Newfound Gap, a stunning mountain pass with huge historical significance. Hear the story of how trappers, farmers, and merchants used to cross the Smokies, and how this gap changed all of that.
  • Alum Cave Trail - Next you’ll pass the Alum Cave Trail, which takes hikers to the remains of an old salt mine packed with fascinating history.
  • Morton Overlook - After that, you’ll reach Morton Overlook, hugely popular for its unbelievable sunsets.
  • Carlos Campbell Overlook - The next overlook on your route is Carlos Campbell Overlook, which serves up panoramic views of towering mountains and lush forests.
  • Chimney Tops Trail - Your route takes you next to Chimney Tops Overlook, where you’ll hear all about wildfires in the Smokies and how they cause lasting damage to mountains like this one.
  • Clingmans Dome - Next up is the most accessible trail in the park: Sugarlands Valley Trail! This scenic trail can be accessed by wheelchair or stroller, and offers a great way to venture into the wilderness.
  • Sugarlands Visitors Center - The tour leads next to the Sugarlands Visitor Center, a perfect rest stop and the site of a few trailheads.
  • Cataract Falls - Your drive continues to Cataract Falls, a beautiful, secluded set of waterfalls tucked beneath a shaded canopy of beech trees.
  • Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Gatlinburg - Our next stop is perfect for anyone amused by kitschy oddities. This funky museum displays everything from shrunken human heads to rare animal skeletons. We’ll get the inside scoop on how it started as a simple one-panel comic strip and grew into a national phenomenon.
  • Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail - Continue following the road to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. This driving trail invites you to slow down and enjoy the forest and historic buildings of the area. It also features three of the park’s most famous waterfalls!
  • Rainbow Falls Trail - Our route takes us next to the Rainbow Falls Trail, which leads to the park’s most popular waterfall. Standing at 80 feet, Rainbow Falls is the tallest waterfall in the Smokies, but that’s not all! When the sun hits it right, it glimmers like a rainbow–hence the name.
  • Grotto Falls Trail - Keep driving until you reach the Grotto Falls trail. While it’s not quite as grand as Rainbow Falls, this secluded, less crowded waterfall is absolutely worth a visit. On your way, hear about a rare salamander you can only find right here!
  • Baskins Creek Falls - Our drive takes us next to the Baskin Creek Falls, a sparkling waterfall where we’ll hear about the amusing, and slightly misguided history behind the name of these falls.
  • Ephraim Bales Cabin - Up next, we’ll pass the Ephraim Bales Cabin, a portal back in time to the 19th century. We’ll hear all about the family that lived here, and why there’s a big hole in the middle of their cabin!
  • Alfred Reagan Tub Mill - The road brings us next to the Reagen Cabin, which displays a perfect example of old-timey technology in the form of the so-called “tub mill.” Hear all about what that is and why it was useful here.
  • Ely’s Mill - Next, our drive takes us to Ely’s Mill, a historic mill on the outskirts of Gatlinburg which gives us another window into the lives of the early Appalachian settlers. Here, we’ll learn about Andrew Ely, the bigshot lawyer who upended his entire life after his wife died, abandoned his law practice, and moved to Gatlinburg to start over and live a simpler life.
  • Gatlinburg - Finally, you’ll arrive in the picturesque mountian town of Gatlinburg, where your tour will conclude.
  • Cades Cove Methodist Church - Past that is the Methodist Church, which cost only $115 to build when it was constructed in 1902!
  • Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church - Then there’s the Missionary Baptist Church, which split off from the Primitive Baptist Church during the early days of Cades Cove due to ideological divides.
  • Elijah Oliver Cabin - Continuing on, you’ll come to the Elijah Oliver Place, accessible via a half-mile trail. This secluded homestead once belonged to an abolitionist who found himself in grave danger when the Civil War broke out.
  • Abrams Falls Trail - Up next is the Abrams Falls Trail, which takes hikers to a powerful waterfall hidden deep in the wilderness.
  • Cades Cove Historical Grist Mill - After that, you’ll see the John Cable Grist Mill. This mill dates back to 1870 and you can still see it in operation today!
  • Tipton Road - Next on your route is Tipton Place, which was once home to a war hero of the American Revolution.
  • Carter Shields Cabin - Finally, you’ll come next to the Carter Shields Cabin, a staunchly abolitionist home that lost much during the Civil War.

There are many stories that you’ll hear along the way, including
• A Cherokee Homeland
• White Settlers Arrive in Cades Cove
• Smokies Wildlife
• The Cussing Cover
• Last Family who lived in Cades Cove
• Ancestral Cherokee Land
• Tsali and the Trail of Tears
• Revolt Against the Ani’kutani
• Sequoyah’s New Storytelling System
• The Milky Way
• Selu’s Sacrifice
• Great Smoky Geology
• Webb View
• Appalachia’s Settlers
• Appalachian Trail
• Ghost Firs of Clingman’s Dome
• Funding the Smokies
• Appalachian Balds
• Balsam Point Quiet Walkway and more.

What's Included
  • Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
  • Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
  • Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
  • Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
  • Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
  • Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
  • Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
  • Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
What's Not Included
  • Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
Additional Information

Purchase only one tour per vehicle, not per person. Everyone listens together!

Get the full Smoky Mountain experience with this ultimate bundle tour! Explore these picturesque mountains, uncover the rich history of the Cherokee and early settlers, and find out why this is the most-visited national park in the entire country. You’ll discover beautiful overlooks, hiking trails, and waterfalls on one tour, then dive into the pioneer and Civil War history of Cades Cove with the next! If you don’t want to miss a thing, this is the deal for you.

After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.

New, extra validity — now yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!

This isn’t an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

  • How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email with instructions. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the separate app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular.
  • How to start the tour: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
  • Amazing Savings: why pay for an expensive, crowded, and limited bus tour — priced per person! — when you can have ONE amazing audio guide on your OWN phone for your WHOLE group?
  • Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It’s perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. • Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
  • Comprehensive Tour Experience: •The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
  • Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
  • Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
  • Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
  • Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app’s features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.
Location
Oconaluftee Visitor Center
Newfound Gap Road
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.4
(73 Ratings)
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1 star
O6494jdronaldk
Aug 10, 2024
Great smokie mountains - Great experience! Fun time exceptional guide with great knowledge of the park and its history! Wes took us to place i have not been to even after 50 years of visiting park! Thanks
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Yodit_s
Aug 6, 2024
Trust me get it! - Get this, trust me! I spent 5 days on the Smokeys wandering aimlessly & decided to get this on my last day & so didn't finish... but thats because I took my time & it was worth it! Wish I had purchased it sooner, it works offline once you download it, had great sights/audio stories & even hike routes. Got to see two bears also! Overall great.
Review provided by Viator
Brenda_e
Jul 27, 2024
Great Smokey Mountains at our pace - The self guided tour allows you to know where you wish to stop before your come upon it. This is very helpful and keeps you from back tracking or missing something. The scenery in the Smokey Mountains is incredible and you don’t want to miss any part of it. The tour also gives you history of the area and suggestions that make your a wiser tourist. This is the second time we have used self-guided tours and could not be more pleased with setting our own pace.
Review provided by Viator
Johnny_k
Jul 23, 2024
Smoky Mountain and Cades Cove - We have made the trip across the mountains from Gatlinburg to Cherokee many times. The guide provided a lot of details and history that we were not aware of.
Review provided by Viator
Kelly_n
Jul 22, 2024
Go at your own pace - This was the best budget friendly thing we did all week! The audio was clear and accurate, even when we lost cell signal.
Review provided by Viator
Z1518fosharonw
Jul 19, 2024
Cades Cove 24 - We had a wonderful time. The narrator told us great stories and facts that were interesting. Thanks for a good time! Smoky Mountains are beautiful
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mary_p
Jul 16, 2024
Great stories - The tape makes the trip more interesting and has some great stories that make you almost see the characters.
Review provided by Viator
Cg834
Jul 16, 2024
Frequent Trips to the Smokies Just Got SO MUCH Better - So that you, too, have an excellent experience with this amazing app--DOWNLOAD the tours you want PRIOR to entering the National Park, get your phone set up on Bluetooth in your vehicle, and STAY BELOW 30 miles an hour when driving. This will give the tour narrator plenty of time to finish each segment before starting the next, and keep you from having one segment cut out before it's done. *the tour is triggered by you passing certain GPS waypoints to know what segment to play for you I bought this app three years ago, and since then I've used it on multiple trips to the Smokies with different groups of people traveling with me. If you follow my tips in the first paragraph you, too, can enjoy informative and entertaining narration that turns driving through the Park into an even more enjoyable experience. Don't only learn which peaks are Chimney Tops, for example, but learn WHY they're called that. This is a godsend for mobility-challenged or older adults who aren't up to hiking but also would like to enjoy the parks and have value added to their (primarily) driving visit. The tour content that shared information about the Cherokee is very, very welcome, including the native music that plays as you leave Clingman's Dome and later on as well. The main tour is able to be started from either Cherokee or Gatlinburg. Zero negatives for this app; once you buy the tours they're yours to use forever (screenshot the text they send you w/ the passcode for future logins). Our only wish is that we could get a similar narrated tour of I-75 and the other highways on the 5-hour trip from our home to the Smokies!! Absolutely a value at this price.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Daniel_m
Jul 8, 2024
Great Smokies Tour - Once we figured out how to use it, it was great. Very informative. Been to the Smokies a few times and wanted to explore a little this time. The guide was great. Tours took longer than what was suggested, but we were going at own pace. Would definitely buy one again if we were somewhere that offered one.
Review provided by Viator
Kenneth_b
Jul 2, 2024
Great trip - The narrator was excellent in explaining where we were and what we were viewing. We also encountered 2 black bear.
Review provided by Viator
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September 2024
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