Getting Here

Parking

There is parking at Cades Cove to leave your vehicle while you go for a bike ride. However, parking is somewhat limited and vehicle congestion in the Park is often severe. If you are meeting others, please do so outside the Park and bring in as few vehicles as possible. Then, ask about our ride-sharing discount.

Directions

Great Smoky Mountains National Park has three entrances. The entrance from Townsend, Tennessee, is closest to Cades Cove.

From Townsend, TN: Take TN-73 E into the park. Then head southwest on Laurel Creek Road to Cades Cove.

From Gatlinburg, TN: Enter the park on TN-441 south through Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge to Sugarlands Visitor Center. Then head west on Little River Road; continue on Laurel Creek Road to Cades Cove.

From Cherokee, NC: Enter the park on TN-441 north. Follow Newfound Gap Road northwest toward the Sugarlands Visitor Center. From there, follow the Gatlinburg directions.

For further directions or a map of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, go to the NPS site. 

Carpooling

To encourage environmental stewardship, we offer everyone who carpools with 3 or more people a 10% discount on bike rentals. Simply tell us you’ve carpooled and mention this special discount when you pay for your rental.

Bus

The local non-profit, Cades Cove Heritage Tours, offers a bus tour of the Cove that begins in Townsend, TN. For more information and to buy tickets visit the Cades Cove Heritage Tours website.

Horseback

Cades Cove Riding Stables offers horseback rides and hayrides through Cades Cove. For more information navigate to the button below.

Public Transportation

There is currently no public transportation to Cades Cove.

Vehicle Navigation System/GPS

Vehicle Navigation Systems and GPS units may provide inaccurate information in the mountains—sending drivers the wrong way on one-way roads or leading them to dead ends in remote areas. Free park road maps are available in park visitor centers.