Foothills Parkway
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The Foothills Parkway skims along the northern border of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the country. Calls for a route through the park resulted in legislation in 1944, creating the Foothills Parkway. Today, the road remains incomplete, and the only highway in the national park still unfinished. For nearly 80 years, the road has provided challenging terrain and a look at unique mineral deposits that make up the Great Smoky Mountains. Drivers of the existing road sections get amazing views of the Tennessee Valley to the north of the highway and the Great Smoky Mountains to the south. With the predominant use of Knoxville, TN to enter the western part of the parkway, that section is often designated as the Knoxville Parkway by locals while the easternmost section is known as The Parkway by locals in Cosby, TN; people at both ends call the 33 miles of unfinished road the "missing link."
Things To Do Near Foothills Parkway
Most visitors come to the Foothills Parkway for the incredible views that the highway offers. However, the views are merely the starting point when exploring enjoyable activities along this roadway track. Alongside the Foothills Parkway, visitors find trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The area also has a complex system of streams that run in every direction, lakes, mountains to climb, and whitewater rapids to raft. The region outside the park's borders and along the parkway are often used for geocaching adventures, and the night sky is famous for its stargazing quality.
Hiking Trails
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Look Rock Tower Trail
The hike is an in-and-out paved pathway that begins at a trail marker on the Foothills Parkway and runs to the Look Rock Tower. There are steep slopes to climb along the route, some as steep as a 12% grade. Look Rock Tower is a concrete observation post that provides excellent views of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Location
Look Rock tower parking area
Length
0.8 miles
Intensity
Intermediate
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Abrams Falls Trail
Though the hike to Abrams Falls undulates across ridges that repeatedly climb up and down as much as 629 feet, the trail is a popular visit for locals and visitors from afar. The marked trailhead, just off the main road near Townsend, includes a wide parking area. At the end of the trail is a 25-foot waterfall with a vast, picturesque pool.
Location
Far western end of Cades Cove
Length
5.2 miles
Intensity
Intermediate
Sightseeing
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Tuckaleechee Caverns
Visitors to Tuckaleechee Caverns discover an immense cavern every bit as beautiful as the Great Smoky Mountains under which it sits. The "big room" is as large as a football field and features 24-foot-tall stalagmites and flow-stone formations that run for hundreds of feet. Silver Falls, a 210-foot two-tiered waterfall, runs along one side of the cavern.
Location
825 Cavern Road, Townsend, TN 37882
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Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies is a sight to see. The aquarium displays over 10,000 sea creatures representing over 350 different species. The aquarium hosts several educational events throughout the year.
Location
88 River Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Museums
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Titanic Museum
The Titanic Museum is a reconstructed model of the Titanic, which was sunk on its maiden voyage after striking an iceberg. Constructed as a two-story building, the museum hosts experts who tell the survivors' individual stories. The museum holds many events throughout the year to celebrate the people who built the Titanic and those who died on its first and only voyage.
Location
2134 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
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The Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum
The Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum is a quaint location where visitors can learn of the railroad's importance in rural areas like the several towns in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors can view films of the early times and see artifacts dating back over 10,000 years. The museum is a testament to the persistence of humans who occupied this mountainous environment.
Location
7747 East Lama Alexander Parkway, Townsend, TN 37882
Nearby Shops and Restaurants
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Pigeon Forge Traders Gift Shop
Stop at the Pigeon Forge Treaders Gift Shop to find unique items that you always wanted to send to family and friends. The gift shop handles various pieces created by local artists. You will be amazed at the variety of available gifts, including jewelry, silk-screened T-shirts, crystal, floral displays, and other souvenirs representing the Great Smoky Mountains.
Location
3637 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
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The Village
Just one of the several shopping malls that dot the Foothills Parkway is The Village. This mall hosts 26 shops, most of which are locally owned. Visitors will find unique country shops here, such as The Honey Pot and Pepper Palace.
Location
634 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
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The Old Mill Restaurant
The Old Mill Restaurant is the place to go when you are looking for authentic Southern food. Try the fried chicken or the fried liver for a real taste of the south.
Location
164 Old Mill Avenue, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
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Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro
One of the unique places to eat along the Foothills Parkway is the Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro. Try special items from the menu, such as the trout fillet or the two-bone elk chop rack.
Location
7140 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend, TN 37882
How To Get To Foothills Parkway
Most visitors traveling from the east to the Foothills Parkway drive through Asheville, NC. To begin the trip from Asheville, NC, get onto Interstate 26 East and drive for 0.5 miles. Take the ramp to the right towards Interstate 240 West, and then go for 3.2 miles. Take the right ramp to get onto Interstate 40 West and drive for 54.2 miles. Take another ramp to the right to get on the Foothills Parkway.
These roads are open year-round except for rare occasions when snow and ice close them to all traffic in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With several observation pull-outs offering great views of the mountains and their forests, these roads beckon to visitors from every state.
Address
US-321 / E. Lamar Alexander Parkway in Walland, TN 37882
Fee: Entry fee $0
It is almost as if the construction of Foothills Parkway was implemented with RV travel in mind. The road winds through deep valleys and across ridge tops, and it's graced with several lookouts along the way. Each section of this parkway runs through terrain once considered impassable because wagons and oxen could not navigate through a complex maze of undulating hills. In an RV, you now have the opportunity to stop, camp, and pick up stakes to move to the next incredible sight while experiencing the comfort provided by your mobile home.
