drivingtoday - Legendary Drives
Tennessee #1
Posted: Jun 8, 2009 8:31 PM
Updated: Jun 8, 2009 8:31 PM
Driving Today: Legendary Drives
Tennessee #1
Newfound Gap Road
Tennessee's Newfound Gap Road is a 40-mile trip from Sugarlands Visitor Center to Oconaluftee Visitor Center in North Carolina. The two-hour trek through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was constructed in the 1930s.
Your drive starts by heading east out from the Sugarlands Visitor Center through a gorge shaped by the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River. Several quiet walkways can be accessed from the road. Stop at the Campbell Overlook for a view of Mount LeConte, the highest peak east of the Mississippi. The Chimney Tops become visible two miles down the road. Further on, the road passes the 2-1/2 mile Alum Bluffs trail, which leads to the summit of Mount LeConte. Continuing up the road, you pass the Anakeesta Ridge.
At the Morton Overlook, you can view the Sugarlands Valley or look upon Newfound Gap, where Tennessee and North Carolina meet. The road peaks at the Newfound Gap Overlook. Departing the main road is a seven-mile side road to the highest peak in the park, the 6,643-foot Clingmans Dome. If you opt not to visit Clingmans Dome, you can catch a glimpse of it at Webb Overlook. Descending Newfound Gap Road, stop at the Ocolonee Valley Overlook on top of the Thomas Divide. Driving along the Oconaluftee River, visit the Mingus Mill, one of two working mills in the park. The trip ends as you enter the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.
Starting Point:
Sugarlands Visitor Center, TN
Distance of Drive:
40 miles
Must Eat:
Little Princess Restaurant
Aqouni Road, Cherokee, NC 28719
Phone: 828-497-6624
Call ahead to confirm hours of operation.
Best Time of Year for Drive:
Year round
Points of Interest on Drive:
Newfound Gap
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Cherokee Indian Reservation
See also: Tennessee #2, Charlie Daniels to Jack Daniel's: Nashville to Lynchburg
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