After spending nearly eight weeks exploring North Carolina, we finally crossed the state line into Tennessee.
The Great Smoky Mountains had been calling our names for weeks, and we couldn’t wait to begin exploring some of the most famous destinations in East Tennessee.
What followed was a wonderful mix of mountain history, scenic drives, bustling tourist towns, peaceful hiking trails, and one important RV lesson we’ll never forget.
RV Travel Tip: Don’t Always Trust Your GPS
Before we dive into the adventure, here’s one lesson we learned the hard way.
If you’re traveling through the Smoky Mountains with an RV or travel trailer, don’t automatically trust your GPS.
One route in particular—Little Cove Road—looked perfectly reasonable on the navigation screen.
In reality, it included extremely tight switchbacks, steep grades, and sections that simply weren’t enjoyable while towing a travel trailer.
Whenever you’re traveling in mountainous areas, it’s worth taking a few minutes to review your route on a map or satellite view before heading out.
That little bit of planning can save a lot of stress.
Our First Stop: Cades Cove
One of the places we’d been looking forward to visiting the most was Cades Cove.
This beautiful valley inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park preserves one of the best collections of early Appalachian buildings anywhere in the country.
Driving the scenic loop feels like traveling back in time.
Our first stop was the historic John Oliver Cabin, built around 1820.
Standing inside the cabin, it’s amazing to imagine what life must have been like for the families who first settled these mountains.
Throughout the loop, we explored:
- Historic log cabins
- Churches
- Corn cribs
- Springhouses
- Cantilever barns
- Family homesteads dating back nearly two centuries
Every stop tells another piece of the Smokies’ history.
Historic Homes and Mountain Life
Several homes particularly stood out during our visit.
The Dan Lawson House, built in 1856, still features bricks that were made right on the property.
The Tipton House, dating to the 1870s, offered a fascinating look at how larger mountain families lived.
Nearby outbuildings—including smokehouses, corn cribs, barns, and springhouses—help tell the complete story of daily life before electricity and modern conveniences arrived.
History comes alive when you can actually walk through the buildings.
Smoky Mountain Heritage Center
Another highlight of our visit was the Smoky Mountain Heritage Center in Townsend.
The museum contains an excellent collection of preserved Appalachian buildings relocated from throughout the region.
Among the exhibits were:
- Historic homes
- A stagecoach inn
- Boarding house
- Church
- Wheelwright shop
- Blacksmith shop
- Print shop
- Sawmill
One of the things we enjoyed most was seeing how quickly architecture and technology changed as the late 1800s transitioned into the early 1900s.
Driving the Foothills Parkway
The Foothills Parkway is often described as Tennessee’s answer to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
After driving it ourselves, it’s easy to understand why.
The overlooks provide spectacular mountain views without quite the traffic found elsewhere in the national park.
If you enjoy scenic drives, this one deserves a place on your itinerary.
Pigeon Forge: Something for Everyone
If peaceful mountain scenery defines Cades Cove, then Pigeon Forge is all about excitement.
The main road through town is lined with attractions, restaurants, dinner theaters, museums, shopping, and entertainment in every direction.
No matter your interests, it’s almost impossible to run out of things to do.
Whether you’re traveling with children, planning a family vacation, or simply looking for a fun afternoon, Pigeon Forge offers enough attractions to keep visitors busy for days.
Walking the Gatlinburg Trail
One afternoon we decided to slow things down a bit.
The Gatlinburg Trail begins near downtown Gatlinburg and follows a beautiful mountain stream toward Sugarlands Visitor Center.
General immediately approved.
He found plenty of opportunities to splash through the creek and cool off before the trail began climbing into the hills.
It’s one of the few pet-friendly trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, making it a wonderful choice for travelers bringing their dogs along.
Exploring Downtown Gatlinburg
Downtown Gatlinburg has a personality all its own.
We spent the day wandering through the shops, watching candy being made, browsing local stores, and simply enjoying the lively atmosphere.
One of our favorite discoveries was The Village Shops.
Designed to resemble a small European village, the area is filled with charming boutiques, restaurants, fountains, and flower-filled walkways.
It quickly became one of our favorite places to stroll.
Sevierville and Dolly Parton
While exploring nearby Sevierville, we found another pleasant surprise.
Standing proudly outside the county courthouse is a statue honoring hometown legend Dolly Parton.
Given everything she’s done for the community, it feels like a fitting tribute.
We also discovered another beautiful greenway where General enjoyed another relaxing walk along the river.
A Lesson in Being Prepared
Like many travelers, we’ve occasionally headed out thinking we’d only be taking a short walk.
That turned into longer hikes, muddy trails, creek crossings, and plenty of mosquitoes.
Flip-flops suddenly didn’t seem like the best footwear choice.
From then on, we tried to do a better job keeping hiking shoes, water, and daypacks ready to go whenever adventure presented itself.
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
One of the most scenic drives near Gatlinburg is the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
This narrow one-way road winds through dense forest, historic cabins, old mills, and countless streams and waterfalls.
Every curve seems to reveal another beautiful photograph waiting to happen.
If you’re looking for a quieter alternative to some of the park’s busier roads, Roaring Fork is well worth your time.
Our Home Base
During our stay, we camped at Honeysuckle Meadows RV Park in Wears Valley.
Its location made it easy to explore Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Townsend, Cades Cove, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park while still enjoying a peaceful campground at the end of each day.
It turned out to be an excellent base for exploring East Tennessee.
Why We Loved This Part of Tennessee
Our first visit to East Tennessee exceeded every expectation.
Historic cabins.
Mountain scenery.
Scenic drives.
Wildlife.
Friendly towns.
Wonderful hiking trails.
And plenty of opportunities to simply slow down and enjoy the Smokies.
It’s easy to understand why so many families return to Gatlinburg and the surrounding mountains year after year.
We certainly hope to be among them.
Continue the Journey
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