Road trip · Tennessee & North Carolina
Smokies & Blue Ridge Loop
The loop
Great Smoky Mountains, Asheville, the Blue Ridge Parkway and Boone.
Overview line between stops, not turn-by-turn directions.
Stop by stop
- 1
Gatlinburg
Suggested: 3 days (full guide: 3–4 days)
Great Smoky Mountains Parking Tag and Activity Reservations
~4 mi straight-line from Gatlinburg
2Great Smoky Mountains
Suggested: 3 days (full guide: 3–5 days)
Parking Tag and Campground Booking Official Check
~54 mi straight-line from Great Smoky Mountains
3Asheville & Blue Ridge Parkway
Suggested: 3 days (full guide: 3–4 days)
~65 mi straight-line from Asheville & Blue Ridge Parkway
4Boone
Suggested: 2 days (full guide: 2–4 days)
Quick answers
How many days do I need for the Smokies & Blue Ridge Loop?
Plan about 11 days to give each of the 4 stops its suggested minimum time, plus extra if you add rest days.
Which order should I visit the stops in?
Gatlinburg, then Great Smoky Mountains, then Asheville & Blue Ridge Parkway, then Boone. The order keeps each leg as short as possible.
Do any stops on this loop need reservations?
Check booking rules early for Gatlinburg, Great Smoky Mountains. Each stop's guide links to the official source.