The Best Scenic Drives With Idyllic Nature Views In Great Smoky Mountains National Park

When it comes to unforgettable road trips, the United States is hard to beat, offering an incredible variety of landscapes to admire along the way. From sweeping mountain vistas and lush, dense forests to winding highways stretching endlessly into the distant horizon, the open road provides countless opportunities to truly see the country's natural beauty. The Great Smoky Mountains, or "The Smokies," is a prime example, with its national park having some of the best scenic drives with idyllic nature views. With so many stunning roads around every bend, it's easy to see why Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a favorite destination for road trippers.

With scenery this inspiring, it's no wonder generations of songwriters, from the Osborne Brothers to Dolly Parton, have crooned about the beauty of the Smokies. Whether you're following a winding mountain road or stopping to look out over a sweeping vista, a road trip through the Smokies offers a memorable way to experience the landscape that has inspired travelers and musicians alike.

With over 800 square miles of pristine wilderness stretching between North Carolina and Tennessee, it may be hard to narrow down which road to take. Without a doubt, no matter which route you decide to venture down, the views are equally — if not more — stunning than the next. During your road trip, 384 miles of scenic roads await you. Since most of these roads never exceed 35 miles per hour, you can slow down and take in the landscapes as you cruise along.

Rich Mountain Road is an underrated, scenic road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park that most tourists miss, providing auto-tour enthusiasts a more quiet ambiance during its 7-mile one-way journey. Driving up the steep gravel road, you'll pass streams and waterfalls while surrounded by forest. To reach this scenic drive, turn off of the Cades Cove Loop Road, where you'll eventually be rewarded with an inspiring view overlooking Cades Cove and the Primitive Baptist Church, which is especially beautiful during the autumn months. Keep in mind that Rich Mountain Road is only open seasonally from April through mid-November, and vehicles spanning longer than 25 feet and towing trailers aren't allowed.

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is one of the most scenic drives within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, offering a one-way journey through natural beauty and history. The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail can be found just outside of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, near the Rainbow Falls trailhead. This 5.5-mile-long drive combines stunning mountain views and the flowing water of the Roaring Fork stream. Said to be one of the best places to spot wildlife in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including black bears, you'll also find historic log cabins and a picturesque waterfall called the Place of a Thousand Drips.

Covered in hardwood forests that transition into dense pine-oaks before ascending into spruce-fir trees, Newfound Gap Road offers road trippers wooded views that stretch to the horizon. Sitting at 5,046 feet, the high-elevation Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) stretches 33 miles one way along a paved route, offering sprawling mountain views at every turn. With plenty of lookout points to admire the surrounding landscapes, the drive connects Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Cherokee, North Carolina. Stop at the lookout point via Kuwohi Road (formerly Clingmans Dome Road) to take in the highest panoramic views in Tennessee, overlooking the Smokies at 6,643 feet.

The 11-mile, one-way Cades Cove Loop Road is one of the park's most popular road trips. The drive takes auto-tourers through rolling green valleys dotted with historic cabins, wildflowers, churches spanning back to the Civil War, and cemeteries that make you feel as though you're driving along the pages of a history book. To avoid the crowds, be sure to set your alarm and head out early, since the road is open from sunrise. You may even spot elk, black bears, and coyotes. Keep in mind that the road is closed to motor vehicles every Wednesday, allowing pedestrians and cyclists only.

If all roads lead to Rome, perhaps Lakeview Drive, otherwise known as the Road to Nowhere, wasn't considered. The 8-mile Lakeview Drive makes its way from Bryson City, North Carolina, and winds its way through stunning scenery before coming to an abrupt end at the tunnel along the route. What was intended to be a continuing road never came to fruition, despite an unfulfilled promise from the federal government. Broken promises aside, the Road to Nowhere offers road trippers expansive views from the overlooks along the route. From high above, sprawling vistas of the Appalachian Mountains, verdant forests, and Fontana Lake unfold in every direction.

Despite its diminutive name, Little River Gorge Road delivers scenery on a grand scale. Following the twists and turns of the Little River, this 18-mile paved route boasts a peaceful, picturesque drive filled with serene river views, cascading waterfalls, and lush forest scenery. Although it's a short drive from the visitor center and Gatlinburg, Tennessee, the route tends to be much quieter, offering a calming and idyllic way to experience the beauty of the Smokies. And if you're lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of black bears stopping along the banks of the river for a sip of water. 

Located in the northern section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the 26-mile roundtrip Cataloochee Valley scenic drive is accessed from two different points: Cove Creek Road and the Cataloochee Entrance Road. The remote and scenic gravel road drive provides road trippers with views of historic homes dating back to the early 20th century. You'll also come across a church and schoolhouse, as well as the opportunity to view grazing elk alongside the road. There is also a spectacular viewpoint along the Cataloochee Entrance Road that has epic sprawling views of the Cataloochee Valley and the surrounding nature.

The 1-mile-long Little Greenbrier Road is a narrow gravel road 20 minutes from Gatlinburg. The drive may be short, but the scenic nature is endless. Surrounded by towering trees, this road is often overlooked by auto-tourers within the national park's borders for its more popular routes. The area is known for its pretty wildflowers in an array of colors, as well as historic buildings. You'll also be able to hike to the Little Brier Gap and Laurel Falls from the Little Greenbrier Trail. Keep in mind that this route prohibits vehicles over 25 feet in length and vehicles towing trailers.

This one's for the 4x4 enthusiasts looking to tackle the "spookiest road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park" per a YouTube video due to its eerie silence. The 8-mile, one-way Parson Branch Road can be accessed just off of Cades Cove Loop Road. The gravel road was closed for a number of years due to extensive tree fall but is now reopened for adventure seekers. High-clearance vehicles are recommended for this scenic drive, as drivers will be crossing rivers and steep terrain with twists and turns.