One of the first things to do when planning your trip to Cades Cove is booking a place to stay! Since Great Smoky Mountains National Park is such a popular destination, you’ll find lots of hotel options in nearby towns ranging from your favorite national brands to family owned inns! There are also many great places to shop and dine in these towns, as well as some world class attractions! Here are 4 Smoky Mountain towns where you can find lodging near Cades Cove:
1. Sevierville
Known as the “gateway to the Smoky Mountains”, Sevierville is often the first major town that folks encounter when making their way from Interstate 40 towards the National Park. In reality, Sevierville is much more than that as it offers plenty of interesting sights including a charming downtown area! Sevierville is also known as the hometown of internationally known singer, songwriter and entertainer Dolly Parton, and you’ll find a life-size bronze statue of Dolly on the lawn of the Sevier County Courthouse! Most of the lodging in Sevierville is conveniently situated close to the Parkway, and the entrance to Cades Cove Loop Road is about an hour drive away.
2. Pigeon Forge
Another one of the Smoky Mountain towns where you can find lodging near Cades Cove is Pigeon Forge, which is just south of Sevierville. If staying in Pigeon Forge, you’ll have a shorter drive to the Loop Road via Wears Valley (about 45 minutes) and have access to dozens of shops, restaurants and attractions! The town’s most famous attraction is Dollywood, but you’ll also enjoy other fun destinations such as The Island in Pigeon Forge, WonderWorks, Titanic Museum, Hollywood Wax Museum and the Alcatraz East Crime Museum!
3. Gatlinburg
Gatlinburg is the next town from Pigeon Forge and it sits right at an entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, naturally making it a very popular destination for folks visiting the park! You can choose lodging options that are situated near the Parkway or nestled in the heart of the mountains. The route from Gatlinburg to Cades Cove Loop Road takes about an hour, as you’ll primarily be driving through the park on roads with low speed limits. However, these are scenic roads where you’ll discover several waterfalls and other beautiful sights during your journey — half the fun is getting there!
4. Townsend
Townsend is the closest town to Cades Cove, and it only takes about 20 minutes to access the Loop Road! You’ll find that Townsend is situated on the quieter side of the Smokies and doesn’t have all the go kart tracks, arcades and amusement parks that line the Parkway from Sevierville down to Gatlinburg. However, there are several lodging options near town for those who want to be as close to Cades Cove as possible!
Now that you know where to find lodging near Cades Cove, you’re all set for a visit to this spectacular area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park! Take a look at some of the best lodging options near Cades Cove for help planning your visit.
