Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Cades Cove Self-Driving Bundle Tours
Overview
Purchase only one tour per vehicle, not per person. Everyone listens together!
Get the full Smoky Mountain experience with this ultimate bundle tour! Explore these picturesque mountains, uncover the rich history of the Cherokee and early settlers, and find out why this is the most-visited national park in the entire country. You’ll discover beautiful overlooks, hiking trails, and waterfalls on one tour, then dive into the pioneer and Civil War history of Cades Cove with the next! If you don’t want to miss a thing, this is the deal for you.
After booking, you can check your email before downloading the Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. The preceding steps require good internet/wifi access. Simply follow the audio instructions and the route from there.
This is not an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
No expiration — The tour comes with lifetime validity!
Get the full Smoky Mountain experience with this ultimate bundle tour! Explore these picturesque mountains, uncover the rich history of the Cherokee and early settlers, and find out why this is the most-visited national park in the entire country. You’ll discover beautiful overlooks, hiking trails, and waterfalls on one tour, then dive into the pioneer and Civil War history of Cades Cove with the next! If you don’t want to miss a thing, this is the deal for you.
After booking, you can check your email before downloading the Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. The preceding steps require good internet/wifi access. Simply follow the audio instructions and the route from there.
This is not an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
No expiration — The tour comes with lifetime validity!
Inclusions
- App on your phone: A link to download the Tour Guide App by Action and Password for your tours.
- Flexible schedule: Use any day, any time. Travel over multiple days or on next trip. Never expires.
- Good value: Buy just one per car. Don’t pay for each person. Save money compared to a bus tour.
- Easy to use: Stories play automatically by GPS. Hands-free. Get HELP all day: Call, Chat, or Email.
- Private tour in your/rental car: No group. Take breaks for photos/ snacks/hikes. Go at your own pace
- Offline use: No cell signal or wifi required. Offline GPS Map & route. Stop-to-stop direction.
- Don’t miss a thing: Full itinerary, travel tips, professionally narrated, videos, text, hidden gems.
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Oconaluftee Visitor Center, Us-441, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN 28719-8249
Your drive through the beautiful, majestic Smoky Mountains begins at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Get ready to explore the Smokies and discover why this is the most visited National Park in the country!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Mingus Mill, 1/2 Mile North of Oconaluftee Visitor Center, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NC
As you drive, you'll have the option to take a detour to the Mingus Mill, an 1886 grist mill which, believe it or not, is still fully functional! If you're here on weekends, you can even see the mill operators grind corn just like they did back in the 1800s.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Quiet Walkways, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Your first major stop is the Beech Flats Quiet Walkway, a perfect spot for anyone who wants to soak up the natural beauty of the mountains without having to hike an arduous trail.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Rockefeller Memorial, Newfound Gap Stae Line Marker 13.75 Miles from Gatlinburg, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Up next is the Rockefeller Memorial, where you'll learn more about Rockefeller's importance to the park! This memorial was dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt himself.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Newfound Gap Road, Between Sugarlands and Oconoluftee 13.2 MIles from Sugarlands Visitor Center is the state line marker overlook, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
From there, your drive continues to Newfound Gap, a stunning mountain pass with huge historical significance. Hear the story of how trappers, farmers, and merchants used to cross the Smokies, and how this gap changed all of that.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Alum Cave Trail, Newfound Gap Road, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Next you'll pass the Alum Cave Trail, which takes hikers to the remains of an old salt mine packed with fascinating history.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Morton Overlook, Us-441, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
After that, you'll reach Morton Overlook, hugely popular for its unbelievable sunsets.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Carlos Campbell Overlook, Newfound Gap Rd A little over 2 miles from Gatlinburg on Newfound Gap Rd, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
The next overlook on your route is Carlos Campbell Overlook, which serves up panoramic views of towering mountains and lush forests.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Chimney Tops Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Your route takes you next to Chimney Tops Overlook, where you'll hear all about wildfires in the Smokies and how they cause lasting damage to mountains like this one.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: 7 miles off US-441 on the Clingmans Dome Road About 19.6 Miles from Sugarlands Visitor Center, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Next up is the most accessible trail in the park: Sugarlands Valley Trail! This scenic trail can be accessed by wheelchair or stroller, and offers a great way to venture into the wilderness.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Sugarlands Visitors Center, 2 miles south of Gatlinburg on US-441, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
The tour leads next to the Sugarlands Visitor Center, a perfect rest stop and the site of a few trailheads.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Cataract Falls, Cove Mountain Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Your drive continues to Cataract Falls, a beautiful, secluded set of waterfalls tucked beneath a shaded canopy of beech trees.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Ripley's Believe It or Not! Gatlinburg, 800 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738-3247
Our next stop is perfect for anyone amused by kitschy oddities. This funky museum displays everything from shrunken human heads to rare animal skeletons. We'll get the inside scoop on how it started as a simple one-panel comic strip and grew into a national phenomenon.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Rte. 441 Enter from stoplight 8 at Airport Road, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN 37738
Continue following the road to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. This driving trail invites you to slow down and enjoy the forest and historic buildings of the area. It also features three of the park's most famous waterfalls!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Rainbow Falls Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Our route takes us next to the Rainbow Falls Trail, which leads to the park's most popular waterfall. Standing at 80 feet, Rainbow Falls is the tallest waterfall in the Smokies, but that's not all! When the sun hits it right, it glimmers like a rainbow--hence the name.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Grotto Falls Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Keep driving until you reach the Grotto Falls trail. While it's not quite as grand as Rainbow Falls, this secluded, less crowded waterfall is absolutely worth a visit. On your way, hear about a rare salamander you can only find right here!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Baskins Creek Falls, Baskins Creek Trail Trailhead Baskins Creek Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN 37738
Our drive takes us next to the Baskin Creek Falls, a sparkling waterfall where we'll hear about the amusing, and slightly misguided history behind the name of these falls.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Ephraim Bales Cabin, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USA
Up next, we'll pass the Ephraim Bales Cabin, a portal back in time to the 19th century. We'll hear all about the family that lived here, and why there's a big hole in the middle of their cabin!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Alfred Reagan Tub Mill, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Reagan Tub Mill (Historic), Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USA
The road brings us next to the Reagen Cabin, which displays a perfect example of old-timey technology in the form of the so-called "tub mill." Hear all about what that is and why it was useful here.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Ely's Mill, 393 Roaring Fork Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738-4804
Next, our drive takes us to Ely's Mill, a historic mill on the outskirts of Gatlinburg which gives us another window into the lives of the early Appalachian settlers. Here, we'll learn about Andrew Ely, the bigshot lawyer who upended his entire life after his wife died, abandoned his law practice, and moved to Gatlinburg to start over and live a simpler life.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Finally, you'll arrive in the picturesque mountian town of Gatlinburg, where your tour will conclude.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Cades Cove Methodist Church, Cades Cove Loop Rd, Townsend, TN 37882, USA
Past that is the Methodist Church, which cost only $115 to build when it was constructed in 1902!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church, Cades Cove Loop Rd, Townsend, TN 37882, USA
Then there's the Missionary Baptist Church, which split off from the Primitive Baptist Church during the early days of Cades Cove due to ideological divides.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Elijah Oliver Cabin, Wet Bottom Trail, Townsend, TN 37882, USA
Continuing on, you'll come to the Elijah Oliver Place, accessible via a half-mile trail. This secluded homestead once belonged to an abolitionist who found himself in grave danger when the Civil War broke out.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Abrams Falls Trail, Tennessee, USA
Up next is the Abrams Falls Trail, which takes hikers to a powerful waterfall hidden deep in the wilderness.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Cades Cove Historical Grist Mill, Cable Mill Rd, Townsend, TN 37882, USA
After that, you'll see the John Cable Grist Mill. This mill dates back to 1870 and you can still see it in operation today!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Tipton Road, Tipton Rd, Tennessee 37882, USA
Next on your route is Tipton Place, which was once home to a war hero of the American Revolution.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Carter Shields Cabin, Cades Cove Loop Rd, Townsend, TN 37882, USA
Finally, you'll come next to the Carter Shields Cabin, a staunchly abolitionist home that lost much during the Civil War.
There are many stories that you'll hear along the way, including
• A Cherokee Homeland
• White Settlers Arrive in Cades Cove
• Smokies Wildlife
• The Cussing Cover
• Last Family who lived in Cades Cove
• Ancestral Cherokee Land
• Tsali and the Trail of Tears
• Revolt Against the Ani'kutani
• Sequoyah's New Storytelling System
• The Milky Way
• Selu's Sacrifice
• Great Smoky Geology
• Webb View
• Appalachia's Settlers
• Appalachian Trail
• Ghost Firs of Clingman's Dome
• Funding the Smokies
• Appalachian Balds
• Balsam Point Quiet Walkway and more.
Duration: 10 minutes
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Oconaluftee Visitor Center, Us-441, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN 28719-8249
Your drive through the beautiful, majestic Smoky Mountains begins at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Get ready to explore the Smokies and discover why this is the most visited National Park in the country!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Mingus Mill, 1/2 Mile North of Oconaluftee Visitor Center, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NC
As you drive, you'll have the option to take a detour to the Mingus Mill, an 1886 grist mill which, believe it or not, is still fully functional! If you're here on weekends, you can even see the mill operators grind corn just like they did back in the 1800s.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Quiet Walkways, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Your first major stop is the Beech Flats Quiet Walkway, a perfect spot for anyone who wants to soak up the natural beauty of the mountains without having to hike an arduous trail.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Rockefeller Memorial, Newfound Gap Stae Line Marker 13.75 Miles from Gatlinburg, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Up next is the Rockefeller Memorial, where you'll learn more about Rockefeller's importance to the park! This memorial was dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt himself.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Newfound Gap Road, Between Sugarlands and Oconoluftee 13.2 MIles from Sugarlands Visitor Center is the state line marker overlook, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
From there, your drive continues to Newfound Gap, a stunning mountain pass with huge historical significance. Hear the story of how trappers, farmers, and merchants used to cross the Smokies, and how this gap changed all of that.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Alum Cave Trail, Newfound Gap Road, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Next you'll pass the Alum Cave Trail, which takes hikers to the remains of an old salt mine packed with fascinating history.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Morton Overlook, Us-441, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
After that, you'll reach Morton Overlook, hugely popular for its unbelievable sunsets.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Carlos Campbell Overlook, Newfound Gap Rd A little over 2 miles from Gatlinburg on Newfound Gap Rd, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
The next overlook on your route is Carlos Campbell Overlook, which serves up panoramic views of towering mountains and lush forests.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Chimney Tops Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Your route takes you next to Chimney Tops Overlook, where you'll hear all about wildfires in the Smokies and how they cause lasting damage to mountains like this one.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: 7 miles off US-441 on the Clingmans Dome Road About 19.6 Miles from Sugarlands Visitor Center, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Next up is the most accessible trail in the park: Sugarlands Valley Trail! This scenic trail can be accessed by wheelchair or stroller, and offers a great way to venture into the wilderness.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Sugarlands Visitors Center, 2 miles south of Gatlinburg on US-441, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
The tour leads next to the Sugarlands Visitor Center, a perfect rest stop and the site of a few trailheads.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Cataract Falls, Cove Mountain Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Your drive continues to Cataract Falls, a beautiful, secluded set of waterfalls tucked beneath a shaded canopy of beech trees.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Ripley's Believe It or Not! Gatlinburg, 800 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738-3247
Our next stop is perfect for anyone amused by kitschy oddities. This funky museum displays everything from shrunken human heads to rare animal skeletons. We'll get the inside scoop on how it started as a simple one-panel comic strip and grew into a national phenomenon.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Rte. 441 Enter from stoplight 8 at Airport Road, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN 37738
Continue following the road to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. This driving trail invites you to slow down and enjoy the forest and historic buildings of the area. It also features three of the park's most famous waterfalls!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Rainbow Falls Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Our route takes us next to the Rainbow Falls Trail, which leads to the park's most popular waterfall. Standing at 80 feet, Rainbow Falls is the tallest waterfall in the Smokies, but that's not all! When the sun hits it right, it glimmers like a rainbow--hence the name.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Grotto Falls Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Keep driving until you reach the Grotto Falls trail. While it's not quite as grand as Rainbow Falls, this secluded, less crowded waterfall is absolutely worth a visit. On your way, hear about a rare salamander you can only find right here!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Baskins Creek Falls, Baskins Creek Trail Trailhead Baskins Creek Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN 37738
Our drive takes us next to the Baskin Creek Falls, a sparkling waterfall where we'll hear about the amusing, and slightly misguided history behind the name of these falls.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Ephraim Bales Cabin, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USA
Up next, we'll pass the Ephraim Bales Cabin, a portal back in time to the 19th century. We'll hear all about the family that lived here, and why there's a big hole in the middle of their cabin!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Alfred Reagan Tub Mill, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Reagan Tub Mill (Historic), Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USA
The road brings us next to the Reagen Cabin, which displays a perfect example of old-timey technology in the form of the so-called "tub mill." Hear all about what that is and why it was useful here.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Ely's Mill, 393 Roaring Fork Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738-4804
Next, our drive takes us to Ely's Mill, a historic mill on the outskirts of Gatlinburg which gives us another window into the lives of the early Appalachian settlers. Here, we'll learn about Andrew Ely, the bigshot lawyer who upended his entire life after his wife died, abandoned his law practice, and moved to Gatlinburg to start over and live a simpler life.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Finally, you'll arrive in the picturesque mountian town of Gatlinburg, where your tour will conclude.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Cades Cove Methodist Church, Cades Cove Loop Rd, Townsend, TN 37882, USA
Past that is the Methodist Church, which cost only $115 to build when it was constructed in 1902!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church, Cades Cove Loop Rd, Townsend, TN 37882, USA
Then there's the Missionary Baptist Church, which split off from the Primitive Baptist Church during the early days of Cades Cove due to ideological divides.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Elijah Oliver Cabin, Wet Bottom Trail, Townsend, TN 37882, USA
Continuing on, you'll come to the Elijah Oliver Place, accessible via a half-mile trail. This secluded homestead once belonged to an abolitionist who found himself in grave danger when the Civil War broke out.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Abrams Falls Trail, Tennessee, USA
Up next is the Abrams Falls Trail, which takes hikers to a powerful waterfall hidden deep in the wilderness.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Cades Cove Historical Grist Mill, Cable Mill Rd, Townsend, TN 37882, USA
After that, you'll see the John Cable Grist Mill. This mill dates back to 1870 and you can still see it in operation today!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Tipton Road, Tipton Rd, Tennessee 37882, USA
Next on your route is Tipton Place, which was once home to a war hero of the American Revolution.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Carter Shields Cabin, Cades Cove Loop Rd, Townsend, TN 37882, USA
Finally, you'll come next to the Carter Shields Cabin, a staunchly abolitionist home that lost much during the Civil War.
There are many stories that you'll hear along the way, including
• A Cherokee Homeland
• White Settlers Arrive in Cades Cove
• Smokies Wildlife
• The Cussing Cover
• Last Family who lived in Cades Cove
• Ancestral Cherokee Land
• Tsali and the Trail of Tears
• Revolt Against the Ani'kutani
• Sequoyah's New Storytelling System
• The Milky Way
• Selu's Sacrifice
• Great Smoky Geology
• Webb View
• Appalachia's Settlers
• Appalachian Trail
• Ghost Firs of Clingman's Dome
• Funding the Smokies
• Appalachian Balds
• Balsam Point Quiet Walkway and more.
Duration: 10 minutes
Additional information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- How it works: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a text/email with instructions. Download the app (while in good wifi/signal) and use your unique password to access your tours. To begin touring, go to the Starting Point and launch the app. The audio starts automatically. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience. Please note that no one will meet you at the starting point.
- Good value(Driving): Purchase only one tour for the entire vehicle instead of taking the bus and paying for each person. You will see a significant saving. Connect your phone to car speakers by a wire or bluetooth. Enjoy the tour by listening together as you drive.
- Flexible Schedule: Once the app/tour is on your phone, you can use it any day and at any time. You can use it over multiple days. And, also use it on your next trip here. This tour never expires.
- Preview the tour: You can use it before the trip at home (highly recommended), use it during the trip, and use it after you come back.
- Don't miss a thing: You will get everything with the app - a complete itinerary, travel tips, professionally narrated audio stories, story script, images, videos, deep dives, hidden gems, exciting locations, recommendations for hikes, adventure, activities, treks, and stop-by-stop direction.
- Private tour: You can use it in your car or rental car. No worries about groups or crowds. Start the tour app on your phone. And it will direct you step by step. You can stop for as many breaks as you like. Take a break for Instagram photos, and take a break for lunch/snacks. Go on a hike. The tour will wait for you and start when you start again. You can even do the tour over multiple days. Go at your own pace.
- Easy to use: The stories play themselves as soon as the GPS is activated. It requires no use of your hands at all. You can get HELP by calling, chatting, or emailing any time of the day.
- Offline: There is no need for a cell signal or Wi-Fi while touring. App’s GPS map works offline.
- Expiration/go again: The tour will last for the rest of your life on your phone. It is available for use on any day of your next trip.
- Use pictures for a photo book: Create a photo book using clean (no crowd) app images of each spot to make a memorable trip. All the photos and the correct sequence is ready in the app for you to use.
- Social media: Share clean (no crowd) images with friends/family.
- This 72+mile-long tour covers the essentials of Great Smoky and Cades Cove Bundle in 2-4 hours.
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
Aaron S
April 2023
Getting setup in the app was pretty easy. Once we got to the destination point, things started to automatically play when we got to each section. We had 3 teens and 2 adults and it gave us good stories and fun places to explore.
Getting setup in the app was pretty easy. Once we got to the destination point, things started to automatically play when we got to each section. We had 3 teens and 2 adults and it gave us good stories and fun places to explore.Kelly_H
April 2023
I loved seeing all of the old structures and hearing the history behind them! The views were beautiful, and a great way to explore the area!
I loved seeing all of the old structures and hearing the history behind them! The views were beautiful, and a great way to explore the area!MinaCR
April 2023
We downloaded the app before taking the tour as was suggested and we had no trouble. The tour was educational, informative and enjoyable. It made it easy for both my husband and I to enjoy the information and music between segments was nice too. We split the tour over two days. A very economica...
We downloaded the app before taking the tour as was suggested and we had no trouble. The tour was educational, informative and enjoyable. It made it easy for both my husband and I to enjoy the information and music between segments was nice too. We split the tour over two days. A very economical way to have a private tour!Discover19826992385
April 2023
The views were awesome. Well worth the trip. Ideal for family with teens and great hiking experiences
The views were awesome. Well worth the trip. Ideal for family with teens and great hiking experiencesSandy-Mc52
May 2022
This is a must do. The narration was interesting and informative. We did the package over two days and went back a third day to do day hikes in areas recommended. It's a wonderful way to familiarize yourself with the park. It includes some history of the area and how the park was developed. I...
This is a must do. The narration was interesting and informative. We did the package over two days and went back a third day to do day hikes in areas recommended. It's a wonderful way to familiarize yourself with the park. It includes some history of the area and how the park was developed. It also identified hiking trails, including those that are paved for strollers and wheelchairs. It points out high points in the park and places you should visit and/or hike to. Without it we would have been wandering aimlessly. We did pull over often to hear the entire narratives periodically before entering some parts and that made it more meaningful. Most narratives run 2 - 3 minutes but if you drive too fast they will overlap and you could miss something, so pull over and listen. There's plenty of pull off spots throughout the park.Sightseer56175992879
May 2022
Scenery fantastic, go at your speed, pull off take in the air and the stunning views. Explore hidden water falls, see the bears and other wildlife in their own habitate.
Scenery fantastic, go at your speed, pull off take in the air and the stunning views. Explore hidden water falls, see the bears and other wildlife in their own habitate.