Chicago may be the best city in America to take road trips from, so there are endless possibilities for car vacations. Famous for the Kentucky Derby, and the birthplace of Muhammad Ali. ', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' The first stop was at a coffee joint at Lafayette, Indiana. Kat_Cubs_fan - We will probably go through Indianapolis, Louisville & Lexington. Check out our best short vacation ideas for Gatlinburg to get started! You'll find loads of iconic spotsand a fair few hidden gemsas you head southeast! The birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr and Coca-Cola, Atlanta also boasts a fabulous mix of natural beauty and cutting-edge architecture. The elevation of Sun Valley (at the Lodge) is 5920ft above sea level. View our suggested park itineraries. It is moments away from the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, and the Centennial Olympic Park. We then strolled in Gatlinburg downtown and visited Ripleys Believe It or Not museum before the hunger pangs kicked in. Enter the park at the Townsend entrance and follow Laurel Creek Road to Cades Cove. Take an architectural boat tour to get a strong sense of the citys past and present. While in the park, see videos of different Nashville music artists talking about trees, how to take care of them and why they are important. We reserved this cottage at Sevierville, Tennessee via VRBO. We drove initial 50 miles very slowly as we tried to cross our way through Chicago downtown and skyway. If traffic or construction along I-65 is particularly bad, you might want to consider by going through Cincinnati, though this route adds about 1 hour of driving time. Ticket fares are divided into five subclasses: Saver, Value, Flexible, Business and Premium. Heres the Google Timeline chronicling our ride back home. The direct drive from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Chicago is 600 mi (966 km), and should have a drive time of 10 hrs 27 mins in normal traffic. It's a popular time for winter sports lovers and skiing enthusiasts and the local Christmas markets make it extra special at this magical time of year. After doing an availability search for your desired vacation date, our site will produce a list of available cabins. There are a few log cabins and churches too which were constructed in the 1800s. Ketchum Sun Valley Historical Society Heritage & Ski Museum is the official museum of Ketchum Sun Valley located in Ketchum, Idaho. Get inspired with tips about where to go and what to see on your national park vacation, delivered right to your inbox. You can choose to stay in one or more of the many fascinating cities along the route or take a more secluded getaway in one of the national parks. On your return, head up 1-26 to I-40. 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. It is about 20-30 minutes from Lexington. Shells08, what route are you taking to get to P.F.? If you plan to see the annual Kentucky Derby, the hotel is close to Churchill Downs, home to the racecourse and also the Kentucky Derby Museum where you can learn all about the history of the world's most famous race. Our trip to zip line was also special, as many of us did that for the first time in life. The best way to get from Chicago to Chicago O'Hare Airport is to subway which takes 43 min and costs $1-$5. Made with polished stainless steel, the sculpture features an arch that enables you to walk under it and see your contorted reflection in the steel walls. We have family in northern TN so travel that way about every month or so. The inclusion of this information does not imply endorsement by Cabins USA Gatlinburg. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-47723701', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Chicago to Pigeon Forge. Pictures here itself tells the mood and magic of this trip in that large group. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2.5 mile round-trip trek to the waterfalls. However, with stops and traffic, the whole drive can take up to 11 hours. 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. Distance: 2,448 miles Recommended time: 7+ days Best time of year: September-Early November. To the best of our knowledge, it is correct as of the last update.Visit Rome2rio travel advice for general help. Fly Chicago O'Hare to Sun Valley/Hailey/Ketchum, Fly Chicago Midway to Sun Valley/Hailey/Ketchum, Centers for Disease control and prevention (CDC), Ketchum Sun Valley Historical Society Heritage & Ski Museum, There is a social distancing requirement of 2 metres. It isn't necessary that you wait for a search to be completed before you select or deselect different search features. Glamping, short for glamorous camping, is a luxury experience in tents equipped with the creature comforts of home. Since you have some time on your way down, you might consider taking I-65 through KY. Tip: Rather than towing a ton of groceries from home, do it near the destination. Distillery Tours On this drive, you'll pass through the heart of Kentucky Bourbon Country where several major distilleries are based. Fans of all ages can take a nostalgic journey through musical history with the hits of Stevie Wonder to the Temptations, and many more. By joining our email list, you give LazyTrips permission to use your email for sending you newsletters, emails and updates including for marketing purposes. Keep on reading to discover many amazing places to visit, the best route, where to stay, and when to go. You can easily avoid the smaller roads that go through the Smoky Mountains. Since it looks like you're a baseball fan, you might enjoy the Louisville Slugger museum and factory. The docents are super entertaining and informative. The treeless Dollar caters primarily to beginner and lower intermediate skiers; the primary mountain for advanced skiers is Bald Mountain, or "Baldy", next to the city of Ketchum. . But you can also get away from it all at a unique lodging option with Under Canvas. Expect to see lush greenery as you drive down the route and hit the mountains. . Don't know if using I 40 or I 24 but thought I would mention that. Its rated easy and offers visitors great scenery without having to exert themselves too much. A good way to break up this drive is to stop for the night at a hotel along I-75 past Lexington, KY. 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. Get a free Great Smoky Mountains National Park trip planner for inspiring itineraries and essential information. Rich in cultural and natural history, it is well worth stopping off to explore. Leaving Chicago, take the I-90 along the shores of Lake Michigan for just over 30 Miles. There are many hotels and resorts in Louisville, but none beats the elegance and beauty of Hotel Distil, Autograph Collection. Other attractions include The Johnny Cash Museum, National Corvette Museum and the Nashville Flea Market (held the fourth weekend of every month). They included short trips to nearby cities like Milwaukee and Indianapolis, and longer drives to places like South Dakota and the Smoky Mountains. The road trip from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has so much to offer and we advise taking at least three days to make the trip, but even then, it will still be impossible to explore everything on this route. The one time i took 65, i left VERY early (5.30 AM) and beat the morning rush if you get out early on a saturday morn, you SHOULD be OK, but you'll still encounter a lot of trucks. IMO, the few advantages of 65 over 57 is it's about 30 or 40 miles shorter (big whip if you get stuck in traffic), it's more scenic (57 doesn't start getting interesting till southern ILL), and it allows you to circumvent downtown nashville more easily as traffic there can be just as bad as chicago at times. but since you're stopping there one of the ways, it's a moot point. second the chattanooga traffic comment we just passed thru there over t-giving and it was HORRIBLE, and there's no viable way to get around the city because it's surrounded by mountains. also, about a half hour north of chattanooga along I-24 is the monteagle pass.. it's one of the steepest stretches of interstate i've ever experienced and best done during the day.. people fly up and down that stretch, so be aware of that since there are some pretty decent turns on it as well. if it's been raining, there are some pretty cool waterfalls (albeit man-made as they tumble down the road cut) along the way, but watch your speed! Knoxville This is the last large city you'll pass through on your way to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Consider Nashville Chattanooga Cloudland Canyon State Park Report inappropriate content Nancy B 10 posts 3. At some point, you will be driving through mountains on the interstate. To aid you in your planning, we have compiled our own list of some of the main places to go and the best things to see along the journey. The options are endless, so here are our recommendations. Required fields are marked *. After spending few hours in Oakridge, we continued our driving and entered into Smoky Mountain park from the Gatlinburg side and drove around Gatlinburg city for some time before going to our rental home that we had booked up in the mountains. There are certain things you must do like experience the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, if you happen to be in town April 29-May 5, 2017. Most of the folks in our raft had little to no experience as well and this trip was a great way to expose them to the world of white-water rafting. Getting there can be as fun as the park itself. 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. Longer trips (Over 8 hours each way) While a drive of this length probably won't suit spring breakers with young families, this is a great time to take an adventure with older children or to hit the road with a group of friends. Baldy has one of the higher summits of the Smoky Mountains of Idaho, that are located in the Sawtooth National Forest. Wearing a face mask on public transport in Smoky Mountains is recommended. From here you are just 18 miles from Maryville in Blount County, one of the gateway counties to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 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. You will cover a distance of 657 miles should you choose to drive without making a stop. 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. 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. Its also on the southeast side of Lexington. Rome2rio also offers online bookings for selected operators, making reservations easy and straightforward. It is located in downtown Louisville and not too far from. Rome2rios travel guides to the US tell you the best ways to explore the country, from Amtrak to Greyhound to the New York Subway. Second, you might be able to find a direct flight from Chicago to Tyson McGee Airport near Knoxville. The 580-mile road trip from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park takes 8 hours and 50 minutes. Between downtown Indy and Shelbyville, IN is a casino just off I-74. Alert: This site requires a JavaScript enabled browser. 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. We parked at Gatlinburg Skylift Park itself to save time (20$ a day parking) and hobbled over to the ticket counter. Head east to Hilton Head. If you did this, you could do a quick stop at Mammoth Cave, and they also have the Corvette Museum near Bowling Green, KY. LeConte in the Smokies, then start planning your trip to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN today! After a quick pit-stop at Louisville, KY to feed our V8 engine hauling us; we had lunch at Taco Bell in Lexington city. Summer has temperatures reaching as high as 80 degrees Fahrenheit, but in the mountainous environment of the Smokies, the uneven topography can see it drop to 20 degrees. There is currently construction on I-65 N after you exit I-265. This includes an average layover time of around 1h 44m. Want to receive up to date information on cabin specials and events in the Smokies? Newfound Gap. There is also an abandoned Fallstaff Brewery on the east side of the City. We have stayed in Antioch, a little south of Nashville for this purpose. There is construction in area and is sometimes down to a crawl. You can also catch Oktoberfest at Ober Gatlinburg, a festival of Bavarian food, drink, and music accompanied by the fabulous Smoky Mountains Oompah band. Enjoy these scenic drives and road trips to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and other spots in Tennessee and North Carolina. The cheapest way to get from Chicago to Great Smoky Mountains costs only $133, and the quickest way takes just 4 hours. Taking you from Lake Michigan to Biscayne Bay, a trip of such proportions will be one you will never forget. We choose this because of the easy length (2 miles) and prospects of seeing bear (which did not happen ). Follow signs along the parkway for a picnic area, campground and Look Rock. The state capital of Georgia also boasts awesome food, culture, and nightlife scene. 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. Streams, rivers and waterfalls appear along hiking routes that include a segment of the Appalachian Trail. We wrapped up the day with a sumptuous dinner hereat Curry N More. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/laurel-falls2. May be Tripadvisorcan be a good and reliable source for planning what all attractions you want to cover in Smoky Mountains National Park. United Airlines, Delta and Alaska Airlines, Inc. fly from Chicago to Smoky Mountains every 2 hours. After enjoying all that Louisville has to offer, re-join the I-65 passing Bowling Green, and after 175 miles, you will find yourself in the home of country music, Nashville. Nonetheless, It offers a panoramic view of the park and is less visited than other roads in the area. Rent an RV with Outdoorsy Jays Potato Chip factory. As you wander around, be sure to see these three architectural attractions. Under the favorites tab on the search bar, you can view your selected favorites. If you want to enjoy a Smoky Mountains road trip on your drive from Chicago, be sure to check out some of the top sights along the way! 1. Really. This luxury 5-star hotel has a fabulous outdoor swimming pool, an excellent restaurant, and an onsite fitness center, so there is plenty to help you relax and unwind after your drive before hitting the town. Advance booking of Smoky Mountain cabin rentalswas the best decision in this trip, as we got a beautiful rental property on the hill overlooking mountains and the valleys. It turns out you dont have to head to Athens, Greece, to see the Parthenon, which was completed in 432 B.C. customize this trip Day 1 11:00 am start in Chicago drive for about 2.5 hours 1:41 pm Crawfordsville stay for about 1 hour and leave at 2:41 pm drive for about 2.5 hours 5:00 pm Sellersburg (Indiana) The 1,385-mile journey from Chicago to Miami takes 21 hours and 10 minutes of pure driving, passing Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, Gatlinburg, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Montgomery, Orlando, Tampa, and the natural beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains. So, there we went. Take in the great outdoors and stretch your legs with a trail walk, or visit the Wild Bear Falls Water Park. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, ensuring you can make an informed decision about which option will suit you best. Additionally, you clear your favorites list by clicking "remove all" on the favorites bar. They are known for their handmade crafts and artwork. View all posts by Amit Sharma, Your email address will not be published. The route rewards drivers with mountain views that can be photographed from a number of scenic pullouts. You can easily avoid the smaller roads that go through the Smoky Mountains From Nashville.head toward Chattanooga then Atlanta. So, it took us couple of hours to have lunch. The main route is red, while the alternative route is in blue. Our first adventure of the day was the hike at Laurel Waterfalls, one of the highly trafficked trails in the Smoky Mountains. It is currently 23:08 in Chicago and 22:08 in Smoky Mountains. The top stops along the way from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (with short detours) are Horseshoe Hammond, Louisville Mega Cavern, and The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Road trips don't come more iconic than Route 66, which makes its way from Santa Monica in California to Chicago, Illinois. Stay This luxury resort offers incredible views of the Smoky Mountains making it the ideal place to stay during your time exploring this beautiful destination. Given the distance between Chicago and Miami, the route is filled with amazing tourist destinations, and you'll be spoilt for choice when deciding where to stay on your overnight stops. In fact, the nearby park entrance at Townsend is closer to Cades Cove, a preserved pioneer community, than the Gatlinburg entrance (7.3 vs. 27 miles). Your email address will not be published. The ride was smooth and once at the top, plenty of panoramic views were on offer. Forgot to mention leaving Chicago around 4am on Saturday morning so baby can hopefully sleep for most part to Nashville Ill of course plan to stop a few times alone the way. Be sure to check out the upscale restaurants in Market Square or enjoy a stroll along Gay Street. Gretto Falls - 2.5 mile round-trip trek to the waterfalls. When browsing results, you can add them to your "favorites" by clicking the red plus mark on the bottom left of your desired property. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps . From Gatlinburg, take the US-441 south to Cherokee and then join the US-23 passing through Franklin and Tallulah Falls, continuing for 197 miles as you make your way into the Deep South and the city of Atlanta. Is it compulsory to practice social distancing in Smoky Mountains? The rafting trip itself was impeccable gentle 1.5 hour ride with Class 1/2 rapids. Start in Chicago and head down along the historic Route 66 to reach St. Louis, the Ozarks National Scenic Riverways, and the Ozarks Mountains.