Great Smoky Mountains & Cades Cove Self-Guided Driving Tours
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Great Smoky Mountains & Cades Cove Self-Guided Driving Tours
Next available dates
Today
9 Dec
Wed
10 Dec
Thu
11 Dec
Bestseller
Great Smoky Mountains & Cades Cove Self-Guided Driving Tours
Instant confirmation
Free cancellation
From
NZD 46
Highlights
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/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point.
Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
Itinerary
Gatlinburg
2 hoursAdmission Ticket FreeFinally, you'll arrive in the picturesque mountian town of Gatlinburg, where your tour will conclude.Mingus Mill(Pass by)
Admission Ticket FreeAs 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(Pass by)
Admission Ticket FreeYour 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(Pass by)
Admission Ticket FreeUp 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(Pass by)
Admission Ticket FreeFrom 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(Pass by)
Admission Ticket FreeNext you'll pass the Alum Cave Trail, which takes hikers to the remains of an old salt mine packed with fascinating history.Morton Overlook(Pass by)
Admission Ticket FreeAfter that, you'll reach Morton Overlook, hugely popular for its unbelievable sunsets.Carlos Campbell Overlook(Pass by)
Admission Ticket FreeThe next overlook on your route is Carlos Campbell Overlook, which serves up panoramic views of towering mountains and lush forests.Chimney Tops Trail(Pass by)
Admission Ticket FreeYour 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.Kuwohi(Pass by)
Admission Ticket FreeNext 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(Pass by)
Admission Ticket FreeThe tour leads next to the Sugarlands Visitor Center, a perfect rest stop and the site of a few trailheads.Cataract Falls(Pass by)
Admission Ticket FreeYour 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(Pass by)
Admission Ticket FreeOur 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(Pass by)
Admission Ticket FreeContinue 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(Pass by)
Admission Ticket FreeOur 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(Pass by)
Admission Ticket FreeKeep 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(Pass by)
Admission Ticket FreeOur 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(Pass by)
Admission Ticket FreeUp 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(Pass by)
Admission Ticket FreeThe 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(Pass by)
Admission Ticket FreeNext, 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.Oconaluftee Visitor Center(Pass by)
Admission Ticket FreeYour 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: The tour is over 25+ miles long per tour, with more than 30+ audio stories per tour, and takes about 2-3 hours per tour to complete. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.Cades Cove Methodist Church(Pass by)
Admission Ticket FreePast that is the Methodist Church, which cost only $115 to build when it was constructed in 1902!Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church(Pass by)
Admission Ticket FreeThen 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(Pass by)
Admission Ticket FreeContinuing 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
1 hoursAdmission Ticket FreeUp next is the Abrams Falls Trail, which takes hikers to a powerful waterfall hidden deep in the wilderness.Cades Cove Historical Grist Mill(Pass by)
Admission Ticket FreeAfter 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
2 hoursAdmission Ticket FreeNext on your route is Tipton Place, which was once home to a war hero of the American Revolution.Carter Shields Cabin(Pass by)
Admission Ticket FreeFinally, 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
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!
NOT INCLUDED
Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
Customer reviews
Additional information
Must Know
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Good To Know
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
How to start touring: 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 No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
Audio Setup: Connect your phone to your car's stereo system using Bluetooth, USB, or AUX. For the best experience, consider using headphones for walking tours. Audio playback is compatible with Apple CarPlay, with navigation features coming soon. Support for Android Auto is also on the way.
For the best experience, please use an iPhone running iOS 15 or later, an Android device running version 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular connectivity, as these are recommended for navigation.
⚠️ Important Note: The U.S. Government Shutdown has ended, but some National Park services, visitor centers and facilities may reopen in phases. Please check official park updates before visiting.
Location
Address
Us-441, Tennessee, United States 28719-8249
Provider
Travel with Action
Best price guaranteed
From
NZD 46
or use 3,376 KrisFlyer miles
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