Cades Cove | Great Smoky Mountains National Park

A popular destination in the Great Smoky Mountains, Cades Cove is a valley rich in history. Evidence of Cherokees hunting (though not settling) the land has been found, and European settlers made the valley their home beginning in the early 19th century. A number of those older buildings remain–more than in any other location within the national park–and they can be visited on a drive through the Cades Cove Scenic Loop. If you are lucky, you will also see wild animals ranging from deer to bears.

I visited Cades Cove on a wet, rainy weekend. While it would certainly have been nice to see the valley in the sunlight, there was something to be said for seeing the mountains earn their nickname right before my eyes.

Because of the weather, I didn’t venture out of the car and into many of the historical buildings that line the trail. After I saw the first two or three in person, I kept to the warmth and viewed the structures from my car. Especially if you have never visited these types of houses, I recommend taking your time and stopping by each one. 

With these infrequent stops in mind, the entire loop took somewhere in the vicinity of two hours to drive through. Naturally, that will change depending on crowd sizes, weather, and your decision to visit more or fewer buildings. I did not see any bears on this trip, but if they had crossed the road, that would, of course, have added more time to the trip as we would have had to sit and wait for them to meander on their merry way.

I paired this trip with a morning at Lynn Camp Prong Cascades. However, I was not wise enough to pack food to munch on in the car, so I was hungry by the time my day finished around two or three in the afternoon. The wait to eat was worth it, though, and if you are in Knoxville or especially if you are in Gatlinburg, which is closer, spare a few hours and enjoy a drive through Cades Cove.

 

What to Know Before You Go

Cades Cove is less than 30 miles from Gatlinburg, Tennessee and is an easy half-day trip from Knoxville.  From Knoxville, drive as though going to Gatlinburg. When you reach a Y-intersection, follow the road to the right. That takes you straight to Cades Cove. (If you want, take the first road on the left for a stopover at the cascades mentioned earlier.) You can find further details, including a park trail map, at this site.

If you need a restroom or to eat, stop at the area just before the scenic loop begins. Otherwise, the visitor’s center at the opposite end of the loop, halfway through the route. If souvenirs are in your plans, you can pick some up while you’re there, too.

Parking for some (if not all) of the buildings may be limited, so be prepared for that, especially if you go during a busy season.

The loop is one-directional with an average speed limit of 20 miles per hour. It twists and turns over hills, so if motion sickness is an issue for you, go ahead and take medicine in advance. I didn’t have much of an issue, but I was driving, so if you think you need it, better safe than sorry.

You might see wildlife, including bears. Naturally, don’t interact with any of the creatures. Just wait them out before continuing on your way.

The area–both immediate and more broadly–has many other sights and activities to enjoy. You can read about Cades Cove-specific ones as well as other Great Smoky Mountain National Park options at this website. If Cades Cove is anything to go by, the whole national park is gorgeous and worth your attention.