SEE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SPOTS IN EASTERN TENNESSEE ON THIS SCENIC ROAD TRIP
Mountains, caves, and waterfalls—oh my!
Three grand divisions comprise Tennessee, each represented by a star on the state’s flag: West, Middle, and East. They each come with their own treasures, but East Tennessee, in particular, is known for its picturesque beauty, including waterfalls, mountains, rivers, and caves. The region’s abundance of small towns, state and national parks, and scenic byways make it ideal territory for a summer road trip.
Related: The 13 Most Beautiful Places In Tennessee, According To Locals
Tips For Planning an East Tennessee Road Trip
Below, we’ve outlined an East Tennessee loop you can drive to make the most of your summer vacation. It starts in Knoxville, as the college town has an easy airport with onsite car rentals if you’re flying into the state. However, you can also opt to fly into Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) and begin in Chattanooga, Tennessee, or the Nashville International Airport (BNA) and begin at Center Hill Lake (about an hour drive from the airport).
If you’re driving to the Volunteer State, you can also easily hop onto this route starting from border towns like Chattanooga, Bristol, Cumberland Gap, Jellico, or the North Carolina side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Road Trip Stops Near Knoxville
The McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) is about 12 miles south of Knoxville. To spend more time in the Smokies, continue south from the airport to Townsend. But with its ample restaurants and cute downtown, Knoxville is worth a day of your time.
Tennessee River
For some natural beauty, rent a stand-up paddle board or kayak from Knoxville Adventure Collective and enjoy a stretch of the Tennessee River. You’ll find ample hiking trails at the city’s Ijams Nature Center, which also has a scenic swimming hole at its Mead’s Quarry Lake. For the best 360-degree views—including a sneak peek at the Smokies on a clear day—take a ride up to the fourth level of the Sunsphere in World’s Fair Park, site of the 1982 World’s Fair.
Scenic Stops Near The Smokies
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
An East Tennessee road trip must include Great Smoky Mountains National Park. About 20 miles southeast of TYS, Townsend is a great small town to use as your basecamp. It’s situated just outside one of the main entrances to the park and known for having a more peaceful atmosphere than other park-adjacent stops. The town is also closest to the popular Cades Cove area of the park, which includes an 11-mile, one-way scenic drive around a mountain-hugged valley meadow teeming with wildlife like black bears, deer, coyotes, and turkeys.
When you’re ready to head to your next stop in Northeast Tennessee, you can take a route north through Dolly Parton’s hometown of Sevierville for some Dolly-inspired roadside stops. As you pass through Kodak, Tennessee, close to Interstate 40, take a quick detour to Seven Islands State Birding Park for easy walking trails near the French Broad River or to the Douglas Dam Overlook for panoramic lake views and exhibits on the Tennessee Valley Authority’s history.
The Blue Ridge Mountains
Next, head to Northeast Tennessee’s Tri-Cities area, which is sandwiched between North Carolina and Virginia. Along the way, stop for lunch in Bulls Gap at Yoder’s Country Market for made-to-order deli sandwiches, fresh in-house baked goods, and some of the area’s best pimento cheese. Kingsport, Bristol, Johnson City, or Jonesborough all make for great places to rest your head while exploring the region’s Blue Ridge Mountains.
Make sure to stop at Roan Mountain State Park and drive to the top of its namesake 6,285-foot peak. In June, you’ll find the world’s largest natural rhododendron garden blooming there as well. Another scenic stop is South Holston Lake, which borders the Cherokee National Forest. The tailwater side of the dam that forms the lake is a fly fishing paradise. You’ll also find a 1.8-mile wildlife loop trail on Osceola Island just below the dam.
Scenic Stops Near Cumberland Gap
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
Around 100 miles west of the Tri-Cities area, spend your next night in the quaint town of Cumberland Gap. For a treat, stay in the Olde Mill Inn Bed & Breakfast 1800s tongue-and-groove wood house. The lodging is situated next to the stunningly clear Gap Creek for relaxing porch sits and is a short walk to trailheads into the 14,000-acre Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.
From the Iron Furnace Parking Area, hike the Tennessee Road Trail to its intersection with the Wilderness Trail and then to the historic Cumberland Gap geologic formation, noted by a wooden park sign. The trek is about three-quarters of a mile. You can continue on for about another half-mile on the Tri-State Peak Trail to an overlook where you can stand in Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky at the same time. Plan to drive into the park as well to see gorgeous mountain views at Pinnacles Overlook.
Scenic Stops Near Rugby
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
Next, drive to the small town of Rugby, about 80 miles west of Cumberland Gap. Founded in 1880 by English author Thomas Hughes, this Appalachian town comes with unexpected British Isle charm. Tour the several remaining Victorian-style buildings as you learn about the town’s quirky history. A stay in Rugby also puts you at the front door of Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. This 125,000-acre park is filled with impressive sandstone cliffs and arches, waterfalls, caves, and babbling rivers. Gentleman’s Swimming Hole and the Meeting of the Waters are two scenic river spots in the park that are easily accessible from Rugby.
About 15 minutes west of Rugby, make sure to stop at Northrup Falls in the 165-acre Colditz Cove natural area. The Tennessee waterfall plunges more than 60 feet from a picturesque rock shelf. You can access it via a 1.5-mile loop trail.
State Parks Along Center Hill Lake
Another 80 miles southwest from Rugby, stop at Center Hill Lake, just outside of Cookeville, Tennessee. The Tennessee lake is formed off the Caney Fork River and fills 18,220 acres. Along its shoreline, you’ll find three Tennessee state parks: Edgar Evins, Burgess Falls, and Rock Island. There are several campgrounds throughout the area, so plan for an evening of s’mores and campfire tales. The Edgar Evins State Park campground has 60 tent and trailer campsites, many with beautiful views of the lake.
Burgess Falls in particular is worth a visit during this road trip stop. The 130-foot waterfall plummets into a deep gorge. You can access the falls via a 1.5-mile loop hike on the River Trail, or book a kayak guide service with Kayaking Adventures of Tennessee to paddle up to its base.
Fall Creek Falls State Park
About a 60-mile drive southeast of Center Hill Lake, make your next stop at Fall Creek Falls State Park. While it’s most well-known for its namesake Fall Creek Falls, which cascades 256 feet and is one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern United States, the park has abundant natural beauty. Hike through its 29,800 acres of virgin hardwood forests and Cumberland Plateau gorges. You can also glimpse some of its other impressive waterfalls, including Hemlock Falls, Piney Falls, Cane Creek Falls, and Cane Creek Cascades.
If you’d like to stay the night, the park has 30 cabins, 222 campsites, and an 85-room lodge. You’ll also find a nature center and a golf course.
Road Trip Stops Near Chattanooga
Savage Gulf State Park
Savage Gulf State Park is just a 30-minute drive south of Fall Creek Falls State Park and offers East Tennessee scenery worth soaking up. Make sure to check out Greeter Falls, accessible via a one-mile round trip out-and-back hike.
Stone Door is another scenic spot in the park. The formation is a 10-foot wide, 100-foot deep crack through a sandstone escarpment into a gorge. You can reach it via an out-and-back hike that’s about two miles and also passes the Laurel Gulf Overlook.
From Savage Gulf State Park, Chattanooga is about an hour drive south and an outdoor-centric town worth stopping in for the night. On your way there, make a pit stop just north of town at Snoopers Rock in Prentice Cooper State Forest. There’s a parking area for an overlook of the Tennessee River Gorge just off Game Reserve Road.
Ruby Falls
Once in Chattanooga, enjoy its riverside walkways and parks, as well as other scenic road trip stops. Plan to visit Lookout Mountain and its mystical Ruby Falls. Enjoy breathtaking views from the Lookout Mountain Tower and Blue Heron Overlook before descending into the caverns of Lookout Mountain via a 260-foot glass-front elevator. Once underground, you’ll glimpse Ruby Falls, which is the tallest cave waterfall open to the public in the United States.
Conasauga Falls
From Chattanooga, you’ll begin to make your way back to Knoxville, but there are still several scenic stops you can make along the way depending on your timeline. About 80 miles northeast of Chattanooga, add Conasauga Falls to your waterfall bucket list. This three-tiered cascade is located in Cherokee National Forest via a 1.5-mile hike out and back.
The Lost Sea
From there, it’s a 30-minute drive to The Lost Sea Adventure, an impressive East Tennessee cave system that you can take a boat ride through on its underground lake. You can also take a walking tour through the caverns or follow the self-guided Nature Trail.
If you’re looking for a small town to stay in for the night, Sweetwater, Tennessee, is just 10 minutes from the cave and boasts an adorable historic main street. From Sweetwater, the Knoxville airport is only a 45-minute drive. You can plan to wrap up your road trip there, or spend a day or two exploring the city.
Altogether, this route starts and ends in Knoxville, making for a delightful and convenient trip to see all of East Tennessee's greatest sights.
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