Great Smoky Mountains National Park - EAST

A loop ride around the east side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Distance: 115 miles

Ride Time: 4-6 hours

---

START: Maggie Valley

• Follow US 19 - Soco Road west and climb to the Blue Ridge Parkway

---

7.4 Miles

• Get on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Soco Gap. Follow the Blue Ridge Parkway towards Cherokee for 13.5 miles.

---

20.9 Miles

• Turn right onto US 441 - Newfound Gap Road and cross Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Follow into Gatlinburg.

---

52.8 Miles

• Veer right onto US 321 - East Parkway Road. Ride along the north border of the park to US 321 at Cosby. 

---

70.9 miles

• Turn left onto US 321 - Cosby Road and ride north to the Foothills Parkway entrance.

---

72.7 Miles

• Cruise the Foothills Parkway

---

78.3 Miles

• Leave the Foothills Parkway and ride south on I-40 

---

107.6 Miles

• Exit I-40 @ Exit 20 onto US 276 and ride to US 19 - Soco Road

---

113.28 Miles

• Veer left onto US 19 - Soco road to complete the loop

---

114.2 Miles

END: Maggie Valley

---

START: Maggie Valley

Ride: Maggie Valley to Gatlinburg

• From the Haywood Visitor Center follow US 19 - Soco Road to Soco Gap and the entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Get on the parkway heading towards Cherokee. This final section of the Parkway decends to Cherokee and the south entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Soon after entering the park you pass the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, a likely place to see some of the parks resident elk herds. Begin the climb on  US 441 - Newfound Gap Road - South along the Oconalufftee River. You'll encounter numerous historic sights and viewpoints as the road winds to the summit at Newfound Gap.  From this gap, Clingman's Dome Road spurs 7 miles to the highest point in Tennessee, a nice side trip to the tower atop the mountain. US 441 - Newfound Gap Road - North continues across the park Gatlinburg passing Sugarlands Visitor Center on the ride. 

---

Ride: Gatlinburg to Maggie Valley

• Cruise east from Gatlinburg on US 321 - East Parkway Road to Cosby. Veer north on US 321 - Cosby Highway to the Tennessee Foothills Parkway - East. Ride through the Tennessee Foothills Parkway - East to Interstate Highway 40. I-40 runs south through the Tennessee River Gorge. Exit I-40 at Exit 20 onto US 276 - Jonathan Creek Road and follow to US 19 - Soco Road. US 19 leads to the Visitor Center.

---

END: Maggie Valley

---