A slow day on Newfound Gap Road

Give the road some of your day

We like a mountain drive that leaves us time to get out and explore. Newfound Gap Road connects Gatlinburg, Tennessee, with Cherokee, North Carolina, through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Give the crossing a day with room for a view across the mountains and a little time on foot before continuing.

The Appalachian Trail crosses the highway at Newfound Gap, making the pass a natural place to pause. Use marked pullouts and allow for slow traffic. Weather at the pass can differ from either town: fog and rain reduce visibility, and winter conditions can close the road. We’d check the park’s live notices before deciding how much of the crossing to plan.

Choose stops that leave you time to look around

Our suggestion is to begin with a few stops: Newfound Gap, a signed overlook and a short visit to Oconaluftee Mountain Farm Museum near Cherokee. That leaves room to spend longer at the place that interests you most. Kuwohi needs a separate drive up its seasonal road from the turnoff north of the gap, so allow for that if the tower is your main reason for coming.

Start with your departure point and the daylight available, then work out the stops. Save a map before leaving town, since mobile service is limited in parts of the park. Having directions ready makes it easier to give your attention to the road and enjoy the places where you can safely pull over.

• Save an offline map before entering the park.
• Check road and weather notices, then choose stops that fit your daylight.
• Use signed parking areas and keep the travel lane clear.
• Allow extra time for slow traffic through the park.