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Great Smoky Mountains & Cades Cove Self-Guided Driving Tours

81 Reviews |

Badge of Excellence | Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA

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4 to 6 hours (approx.)

Mobile ticket

Instant confirmation

Overview

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 to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.

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.

What's Included

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!
Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone

Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations

See 5 more See 4 more

Meeting Location

Meeting point

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Oconaluftee Visitor Center

Your 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: This 72+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Great Smoky and Cades Cove Bundle in 3-5 hours.Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Mingus Mill

As 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.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Quiet Walkways

Your 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.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Rockefeller Memorial

Up 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.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Newfound Gap Road

From 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.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Alum Cave Trail

Next you'll pass the Alum Cave Trail, which takes hikers to the remains of an old salt mine packed with fascinating history.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Morton Overlook

After that, you'll reach Morton Overlook, hugely popular for its unbelievable sunsets.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Carlos Campbell Overlook

The next overlook on your route is Carlos Campbell Overlook, which serves up panoramic views of towering mountains and lush forests.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Chimney Tops Trail

Your 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.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Kuwohi

Next 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.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Sugarlands Visitors Center

The tour leads next to the Sugarlands Visitor Center, a perfect rest stop and the site of a few trailheads.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Cataract Falls

Your drive continues to Cataract Falls, a beautiful, secluded set of waterfalls tucked beneath a shaded canopy of beech trees.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Gatlinburg

Our 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.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

Continue 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!

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Rainbow Falls Trail

Our 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.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Grotto Falls Trail

Keep 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!

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Baskins Creek Falls

Our 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.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Ephraim Bales Cabin

Up 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!

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Alfred Reagan Tub Mill

The 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.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Ely's Mill

Next, 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.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Gatlinburg

Finally, you'll arrive in the picturesque mountian town of Gatlinburg, where your tour will conclude.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Cades Cove Methodist Church

Past that is the Methodist Church, which cost only $115 to build when it was constructed in 1902!

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church

Then 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.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Elijah Oliver Cabin

Continuing 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.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Abrams Falls Trail

Up next is the Abrams Falls Trail, which takes hikers to a powerful waterfall hidden deep in the wilderness.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Cades Cove Historical Grist Mill

After that, you'll see the John Cable Grist Mill. This mill dates back to 1870 and you can still see it in operation today!

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Tipton Road

Next on your route is Tipton Place, which was once home to a war hero of the American Revolution.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Carter Shields Cabin

Finally, 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.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Show 26 more stops

Additional Info

Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
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.

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Great Smoky Mountains & Cades Cove Self-Guided Driving Tours?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EDT). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

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Activity code: C-267535P18

Traveler Photos

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Reviews

4.57

81 reviews

Average 4.57 out of 5 stars based on 81 traveler reviews collected by City Boat Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars

60

4 stars

10

3 stars

9

2 stars

1

1 star

1

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The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from City Boat Tours customers.

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Great Smoky Mountains & Cades Cove Self-Guided Driving Tours?

A:

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EDT).

Apr 2025

Q: What's included in the price?

A:

The following is included:

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!.
Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!.
Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone.

The following is NOT included:

Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations.

Apr 2025

Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?

A:

There is no minimum age for this tour, so bring your wee one along for an adventure..

Apr 2025

Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?

A:

If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

Apr 2025

Q: Is this an accessible tour?

A:

Accessibility information for the Great Smoky Mountains & Cades Cove Self-Guided Driving Tours is as follows:

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Apr 2025

Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?

A:

Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Great Smoky Mountains & Cades Cove Self-Guided Driving Tours will be included in your confirmation email from City Boat Tours. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

Mar 2024