Discovering the Hidden Entrance to Gatlinburg: The Secret Way In

Gatlinburg’s downtown is famous for family-friendly attractions and great restaurants. The down side? Traffic, especially along the bustling main street, the Parkway. How can you get all the fun without all the hassles? Use these alternative routes to get into and around Gatlinburg.

River Road

River Road lies just west of, and parallel to, the Parkway. Walking to any Parkway attraction from here takes mere minutes. This quieter road boasts a true rarity in Gatlinburg: Free parking. A one-mile stretch offers curbside, parallel parking spaces, and they won’t cost you a dime. Be sure to arrive early in the day to snag one of these highly coveted spaces.

River Road runs from stoplight No. 5 on the Parkway, all the way into Great Smoky Mountains National Park south of town. You can bail out onto Ski Mountain Road to head toward Ober Mountain ski resort, or you can continue on River Road into the park. The road goes past the entrance for the easy, level Gatlinburg Trail. Why not stop and take a relaxing stroll along the riverbank? 

Baskins Creek Bypass

Baskins Creek Bypass helps you skirt traffic easily. Pick up the bypass on East Parkway, just north of downtown. The bypass becomes Newton Road briefly. At the end of Newton, turn left and head into Great Smoky Mountains National Park via either Baskins Creek Road or Cherokee Orchard Road. Cherokee Orchard leads you to the beautiful Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, a serene one-way scenic road.

Want to head into town instead? Just turn right and take Cherokee Orchard Road to its intersection with the Parkway at River Road.

Gatlinburg Bypass

This 3.6-mile-long bypass road isn’t exactly a hidden entrance to town. It’s the ultimate route for avoiding downtown Gatlinburg completely. Also known as the Parkway Bypass and the Route 441 Bypass, this road delivers great views, particularly from the Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook. 

Gatlinburg Bypass starts north of Gatlinburg, at US 321/US 441, and ends on US 441 south of Gatlinburg and inside the national park. The southern end of the bypass is close to the National Park Service’s Sugarlands Visitor Center, where you can get park maps and information.

Stay in a Gatlinburg cabin rental, and you’re close to all these convenient, hidden entrances to town! Book your Gatlinburg vacation now.