The Great Smoky Mountains are one of America's most popular destinations for so many reasons.
The national park is a stunning natural wonder. The surrounding towns of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Townsend have so many things to do for all ages. And it's easy to get there from many of the biggest cities in the Midwest and Southeast.
There are some population centers where it's easy to take a road trip to the Smokies, and the highways are a breeze to drive (OK, one exception is that wild mountainous stretch between North Carolina and Tennessee).
Here's how long it will take you get from where you live to the heart of the Smokies. We picked Dollywood as our map point for mileage because, well, it's one of the reasons why lots of travelers head to Pigeon Forge throughout the year.
Here are the directions and travel times from big cities to the Smokies.
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Atlanta, Georgia
- Distance: 247 miles
- Time: Almost 4 hours
This is an easy drive once you're out of the city traffic in Atlanta, but be prepared for periodic slowdowns on I-75 in Chattanooga and Knoxville. If you can avoid rush hours in these two cities, you'll be way better off.
Asheville, North Carolina
- Distance: 95 miles
- Time: Just short of 2 hours
Locals know this drive can be a bit scary for newcomers, even if it's on an interstate. Be prepared to take the winding drive west on I-40 more slowly than you'd drive on a normal highway.
Birmingham, Alabama
- Distance: 290 miles
- Time: 4 hours, 30 minutes
You'll go northeast on I-59 up through the northeast corner of Alabama to Chattanooga (which can have traffic issues), then continue northeast on I-75 up to Knoxville. From there it's a short trip east on I-40 to your destination.
Charlotte, North Carolina
- Distance: 207 miles
- Time: 3 hours, 45 minutes
The last leg of this trip on I-40 is through the Pigeon River Gorge, a very windy and steep stretch with lots of trucks. Make sure you're fresh and alert for this mountain pass.
Chicago, Illinois
- Distance: 573 miles
- Time: 8 hours, 45 minutes
You have to be ambitious and ready for a full day of driving to pull this off, but the payoff is a landscape that's nothing like home. Take I-65 south to Indianapolis, and then check your directions because it might be quicker to head through Cincinnati or Louisville, depending on the day. Either way, you'll end up in Lexington, and it's a straight shot south on I-75 to the national park with a short ride on I-40 at the very end.
Cincinnati, Ohio
- Distance: 284 miles
- Time: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Straight shot down I-75 through Lexington, Kentucky, to Knoxville, where you'll meet up with I-40 for just a short time before the famous Exit 407 near Pigeon Forge.
Columbus, Ohio
- Distance: 390 miles
- Time: 6 hours
Get yourself down to Cincinnati on I-71, then it's pretty much a straight shot south in I-75. Cincinnati is the biggest city to worry about in terms of traffic.
Indianapolis, Indiana
- Distance: 393 miles
- Time: About 6 hours
It's a bit of a longer haul, but still totally do-able! You'll cut down to Cincinnati and then it's essentially a straight shot down I-75. Once you're out of Cincy, heading through the other cities like Lexington shouldn't be too bad unless you're hitting them right at rush hour.
Jacksonville, Florida
- Distance: 526 miles
- Time: 8 hours, 15 minutes
It's ambitious but worth it if you're spending more than a weekend in the Great Smoky Mountains. This journey will take you north in I-95 up through Savannah, near Charleston and west across all of South Carolina. The last bit of the drive can feel twisty-turny to those used to the flatlands of Florida.
Knoxville, Tennessee
- Distance: 35 miles
- Time: 45 minutes
This trip is a breeze. The time on I-40 will likely be shorter than your time on the main drags of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.
Lexington, Kentucky
- Distance: 204 miles
- Time: 3 hours, 20 minutes
This is an easy drive down I-75 into Knoxville, then east on I-40 to Exit 407.
Louisville, Kentucky
- Distance: 279 miles
- Time: 4 hours, 30 minutes
For this trip, you'll head east on I-64 to Lexington, head south on I-75 to Knoxville and a short jaunt over on I-40 to your destination.
Nashville, Tennessee
- Distance: 214 miles
- Time: 3 hours, 30 minutes
You'll head across half of Tennessee on I-40 for this trip. Be careful and alert driving over the Cumberland Plateau. Traffic can get a little sticky in Knoxville on this stretch, but it's an easy drive overall.
Memphis, Tennessee
- Distance: 424 miles
- Time: 6 hours, 30 minutes
You'll get to see how long the state of Tennessee is on this drive! Take I-40 all the way east, through Nashville (avoid rush hour!) and Knoxville to the famous Exit 307. Use caution on the Cumberland Plateau, where it can be foggy.
St. Louis, Missouri
- Distance: 520 miles
- Time: Just shy of 8 hours
When the mountains are calling, head east on I-64, then turn south on I-57 until Paducah, Kentucky. From there you'll take I-24 to Nashville (which can be a traffic landmine) and straight east across the rest of Tennessee to your destination.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Distance: 536 miles
- Time: Over 8 hours
This drive takes you west on I-64 around Richmond (watch for traffic jams) and over to I-81 for a looooong time. Right at the end of the trip you'll connect with I-40 and you're basically there.
Washington, D.C.
- Distance: 482 miles
- Time: 7 hours, 30 minutes
This is a very pretty drive (OK, it can get a little long) in the Shenandoah Valley. Get yourself out of D.C. and travel southwest on I-81 along the length of Virginia, passing lots of small towns and historic sites. The last short leg is in Tennessee.
