Take A 2-Hour Drive Through Tennessee To See This Year's Beautiful Fall Colors
By Meghan Kraft|Updated on August 02, 2023(Originally published September 24, 2019)
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Meghan Kraft
Author
Meghan Kraft loves to travel the world, but she makes her home right here in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a degree in English, and has worked in the digital marketing realm with companies such as Apartments.com, USA Today and HarperCollins Publishing.
When it comes to experiencing all the beauty of a Tennessee fall, you need to make sure you truly indulge in a leaf-peeping road trip. The state fairly explodes with stunning colors of red, orange, and brown throughout the autumn season, and there’s no better way to experience the entire scope of the state than a drive through its most-eastern part. Here, we’ve put together a quick route that will take you by some of the larger cities and grand vistas that hide in the Great Smoky Mountains. Fall in love with Fall all over again, Tennessee. You live in the greatest state for autumnal indulgence. So pack up the car, bring plenty of snacks, and get ready for one epic fall foliage drive in Tennessee.
Here’s a rough map that may help as you plan your day in the Great Smoky Mountains. Happy leaf-peeping, Tennessee!
Here's the best map available for your trip through the Great Smoky Mountains! Feel free to customize it to your liking and make this trip your very own.
The Great Smoky Mountains offer some of the most beautiful autumnal vistas in the South and one of the best places to see Tennessee in the Fall. Come here to experience the incredible beauty of the South, shared by both Tennessee and North Carolina.
Although there are many ways to experience the mountains, we highlight some of the best by way of this short and sweet road trip through the mountains. We'll hit up a few favorite spots, and you can be sure to indulge in all sorts of roadside views along the way. This route will take you to some of the most beautiful places in the smokies with one amazing scenic drive in Tennessee.
Roaring Fork Motor Trail got its name from the gorgeous mountain stream known as Roaring Fork and it boasts of a scenic road with tons of hiking trails for folks looking to indulge in a bit of beauty. If visiting to see Fall colors in Tennessee this will be one of your best options with plenty of tree covering and beautiful overlooks. Be on the lookout because there are some great hiking trails on this single-lane scenic drive and one I would highly suggest is Grotto Falls. To see this scenic road check out this Adventuring in the Moment video:
Newfound Gap, of course, is shared by both North Carolina and Tennessee. It's a mountain pass that's located a whole mile high and it remains one of the most beautiful roadways to traverse in the autumn time. There are also plenty of hiking trails and overlooks to take full advantage of while you are there. One of the more popular ones is the trail to Alum Cave.
Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains, and it boasts some of the most incredible views in the national park. At 6,643 feet high, it's hard to miss a thing from up there. Keep in mind that you'll have to park and walk roughly a half-mile to get all the way to the top! The drive up and the hike to the tower are filled with incredible views that just get better and better as you ascend. For more information about this incredible spot please watch our video on Clingmans Dome:
The stunning valley of Cades Cove is surrounded by mountains, easily visited by car and boasting some of the most incredible autumnal views in the Smokies. This is possibly the best scenic route in the park and is well worth visiting. It is a single-lane road and you have a very high chance of seeing wildlife, and if you are lucky you will spot a black bear or two. Check out this scenic drive with this Adventuring in the Moment video:
Will you be wandering the mountain passes this fall? There's really nothing more beautiful than a moment out in the grand beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains come October.
Make sure you keep this map in your back pocket, folks. It’ll help your grand adventure through the mountains on this Fall foliage drive in Tennessee! For yet another great trail to take in the Great Smoky Mountains, especially when the fall colors appear, is the Gatlinburg Trail. Check out this video from Adventuring in the Moment to get a good look at the hike.
If you’re looking for more fun in the heart of Tennessee, you should check out the most haunted campground in Tennessee. It has a crazy backstory!
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