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Road trip to Gatlinburg this summer
Posted on 2/23/19 at 7:22 am
Posted on 2/23/19 at 7:22 am
Headed to Gatlinburg this summer for the first time and wanted some help on route options. We are considering just going up 59 through Birmingham, Chattanooga, then to Knoxville as this is the shortest route. Lately though I have been kicking around the idea of going up 55 to Memphis and spending the night, then taking I-40 through Nashville and spend a few hours. This would increase our trip by at least a couple hours of drive time. Any reason to take this route and is Memphis & Nashville worth the extra time and mileage? TIA
11
Posted on 2/23/19 at 8:35 am to cassopher
chattanooga is a great place to stop, plus if you dont you will miss ruby falls and rock city. you could always go one way there and the other way home
Posted on 2/23/19 at 10:43 am to cgrand
I love Chattanooga and still remember going on family trips and stopping there as a kid. Highly recommend
Posted on 2/23/19 at 12:59 pm to cassopher
Memphis and Nashville are each worth going to visit. But unless you have something specific you want to see or there is a place where you want to eat I don’t know that adding 2 hours is worth it. Won’t you just be driving through them on the interstate?
Personally I would rather get off the interstate and take a more scenic route if I didn’t care about the time. That’s assuming you have nothing specific to do in one of those cities.
Seems like the drive from Memphis to Nashville is boring but I’ve only driven it ~ 3 times w/ the last one about 10 years ago.
Personally I would rather get off the interstate and take a more scenic route if I didn’t care about the time. That’s assuming you have nothing specific to do in one of those cities.
Seems like the drive from Memphis to Nashville is boring but I’ve only driven it ~ 3 times w/ the last one about 10 years ago.
Posted on 2/24/19 at 1:09 am to cassopher
Go through Rome and then Blue Hill, make sure to take the cutoff from 411 to Elijay or go through Cleveland and through the Ocoee, both nice drives with very nice views.
Posted on 2/24/19 at 7:49 am to cassopher
Personally? I wouldn't go to Memphis at all. Live in Nashville and you can't just see the place it a couple of hours. You'd want to spend at least a weekend here. So much to do!
I'd just drive straight up and straight back. Have family in Chattanooga and it's certainly worth a couple of days in the area. Ruby Falls. The Aquarium. Chickamauga Battlefield. Lookout Mountain. Not too far away (45m and on your way up), you could stay in Cloudland State Park in North GA. Stay in a yurt! The canyon there kind looks like a smaller Grand Canyon actually and has some great hiking.
The Google Maps route up through GA would take more time, but as noted, winding your way through North GA to see the Blue Ridge area (one of our favorites), and winding your way through the little towns in and around the Nantahala National Forest, would be amazing. But that route would take you a couple of days off course probably as you wouldn't want to just blow through there. Spend a night or two in a couple of spots.
I'd just drive to Gatlinburg and make a night of Chattanooga. So much to see around Gatlinburg.
I'd just drive straight up and straight back. Have family in Chattanooga and it's certainly worth a couple of days in the area. Ruby Falls. The Aquarium. Chickamauga Battlefield. Lookout Mountain. Not too far away (45m and on your way up), you could stay in Cloudland State Park in North GA. Stay in a yurt! The canyon there kind looks like a smaller Grand Canyon actually and has some great hiking.
The Google Maps route up through GA would take more time, but as noted, winding your way through North GA to see the Blue Ridge area (one of our favorites), and winding your way through the little towns in and around the Nantahala National Forest, would be amazing. But that route would take you a couple of days off course probably as you wouldn't want to just blow through there. Spend a night or two in a couple of spots.
I'd just drive to Gatlinburg and make a night of Chattanooga. So much to see around Gatlinburg.
This post was edited on 2/24/19 at 7:53 am
Posted on 2/24/19 at 3:17 pm to cassopher
Chattanooga is worth a night.
Posted on 2/25/19 at 9:17 pm to cassopher
quote:
We are considering just going up 59 through Birmingham
59 is going to be closed through Birmingham for 14 months. Nashville is a cool town but not so much if you are only stopping for 30 minutes.
Posted on 2/27/19 at 5:08 am to highcotton2
I-59 closing in Birmingham will not matter because you will take the 459 bypass regardless on your way toward Chattanooga.
Definitely do Chattanooga and not Memphis, Chattanooga is a much better stop for a day with Ruby Falls, rock city, and a cool little downtown near the river to stay at. Great places for kids.
Definitely do Chattanooga and not Memphis, Chattanooga is a much better stop for a day with Ruby Falls, rock city, and a cool little downtown near the river to stay at. Great places for kids.
Posted on 2/27/19 at 12:31 pm to cassopher
I’d do Birmingham to Chattanooga. We go a few times a year and that’s the best route. After Chattanooga you have a few options to get there. I enjoy going through Maryville and stopping there for lunch. The new foothills parkway opened and is an amazing view.
Posted on 2/28/19 at 6:52 am to Clark W Griswold
We need to build a wall to keep out the Louisianians
Posted on 3/4/19 at 1:54 pm to cassopher
quote:
Headed to Gatlinburg this summer for the first time and wanted some help on route options. We are considering just going up 59 through Birmingham, Chattanooga, then to Knoxville as this is the shortest route.
Personally, I would recommend going through Chattanooga and spending some time there. Ruby Falls, Lookout Mountain, Rock City...all are pretty great family stops. Also, the Aquarium in Chattanooga is awesome. Downtown area is fun for a short hangout.
Beyond that, there isn't much between Chattanooga and Knoxville on 75...I would recommend taking State Route 27. The scenery is much better, and it is an easy drive. From there, you will hit 40 just West of Knoxville.
Posted on 3/4/19 at 2:45 pm to cassopher
Must do Rock City and possibly Cloudland Canyon State park. Both in Chattanooga area.
Posted on 3/5/19 at 12:26 pm to cassopher
Thanks for the thread. I was thinking about making a trip his Spring but we've got a 3 year old. Should we wait a while until he's older?
Posted on 3/5/19 at 1:44 pm to Nature Boy
Life is too short to wait for special family trips like this. Three years old is not too bad just make sure you have stops frequently and try to keep him entertained. Not sure if you have a DVD player or something that might work in the car while you're riding.
Posted on 3/5/19 at 5:47 pm to cassopher
I make this trip every year, go through Chattanooga but get off the interstate at the Fort Loudon exit and go the back way through Maryville to Townsend and either go through Wears Valley into Pigeon Forge of keep going straight till you get go that T in the national park and take that left that brings you info G’burg, its a beautiful drive that way.
Posted on 3/5/19 at 5:53 pm to Deadeyedick
quote:
go through Chattanooga but get off the interstate at the Fort Loudon exit and go the back way through Maryville to Townsend and either go through Wears Valley into Pigeon Forge of keep going straight till you get go that T in the national park and take that left that brings you info G’burg, its a beautiful drive that way.
x's 2
We stay in Townsend sometimes
Posted on 3/6/19 at 10:14 am to lsusteve1
We have stayed in Wears Valley every year but once, I love that area and you can be in the park in no time if you know that back secret entrance down Line Springs Rd, it drops you off right by Metcalf bottoms
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