Secret Directions

Unfortunately road construction or rock slides do happen, so before relaying on these directions verify these roads are open by calling the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at 865-436-1200 for updates.

 

In and Around Pigeon Forge:

 Teaster Lane is an Eastern bypass around the traffic in Pigeon Forge. Teaster Lane is just East of the Parkway and extends from traffic light #2 to Dollywood Lane.

 

If you’re headed south on the Parkway from Sevierville, just turn left at traffic light #2. Now follow it as far as your destination.

If you’re in the midst of a traffic jam on the parkway, you can get to Teaster lane off of Jake Thomas Road, traffic light #5.

If you’re driving south on the parkway and there is traffic ahead, the western bypass in Pigeon Forge is Florence St. Florence St. runs off of Wears Valley Road, a block west of the parkway. It runs conveniently parallel to the parkway, but take note: Florence Lane will go through a slew of name changes. For example, when it passes the Pigeon Forge Civic Center, its name changes to Rena. At the corner of the Pigeon Forge Civic Center, turn left. If you don’t, you’ll wind up lost.

 

 

Smoky Mountain Shortcuts:

Sevierville to Pigeon Forge:  If you’re leaving Sevierville and traveling South on Winfield Dunn Parkway, (HW 66) to avoid the upcoming traffic jams, your goal is to turn Left at the upcoming traffic signal.

 

The traffic signal is at Dolly Parton Parkway, US 411 / 441. The Dolly Parton Parkway is the main East – West road in Sevierville.

If your destination is Pigeon Forge, look for Veterans Boulevard.

You’ll see it about a mile from where you turned off of Highway 66. There’s a traffic light on the right to Veterans Boulevard.

You’ll drive through about 5 miles of farmland.

You’ll soon be in Pigeon Forge and you’ll see the Dollywood Parking Lot on your left.

If you stay on Veterans Boulevard, you’ll merge with Dollywood Lane near Pigeon Forge at traffic light #8.

 

Another version: The I-40 exit 407 puts you on TN 66 going South directly toward Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and the Smokies. At Sevierville, it becomes US 441. The traffic is congested through Sevierville and Pigeon Forge during the summer, and worse if any type of road work is underway. We have a few ideas to save you from this frustration.

The shortcut to the Dollywood gate is to turn left at the TN 66/US 441-411 intersection in Sevierville. Drive about 1.5 miles to Veterans Boulevard. . Turn right onto Veterans Boulevard and in 10 minutes of pleasant country driving, you’ll be at the entrance to the Dollywood parking lot. Park your car and hop on the tram to the main entrance.

If you are going to the outlet malls in Pigeon Forge AND you are coming on I-40 from the west through Knoxville, there is one shortcut that will let you avoid the TN 66/US 441 traffic through Sevierville and most of Pigeon Forge.

In Knoxville, get off I-40 at exit 388 and take US 441 (Chapman Highway) heading south.

About 9 miles past the junction of US 411 and US 441 in Seymour you turn right on White’s School Road (look for the Dynamite Gas Station) for a half mile and turn right on Goose Gap Road.

Goose Gap winds about 5 miles through the foothills to Walden’s Creek Road. Go straight across Walden’s Creek to Old Valley Road and follow it for a mile as it veers left to become Russie Gap Road. The shortcut ends on US 321 in Wears Valley.

Turn left on US 321 and you will come into Pigeon Forge at the doorsteps of the Tanger and Belz outlet malls.
Western Back Roads To the Gatlinburg Park Entrance:  If you’re coming from the west, get off Hwy 40 at Hwy 129, near the Knoxville Airport. Continue on 129 to Maryville. Then, take Hwy 321 to Townsend. From Townsend you can enter the park via Little River Road and head toward the Sugarlands Visitor Center.

 

 

Eastern Back Roads To the Gatlinburg Park Entrance:

 If you’re coming from the east, take I – 40 West to Exit 441, then head south on Hwy 321 through Cosby to Gatlinburg.
Back Roads in the Smokies: Sevierville to Gatlinburg:  If you’re leaving Sevierville and traveling south on Winfield Dunn Parkway, ( HW 66 ) to avoid the upcoming traffic jams, your goal is to turn left at the upcoming traffic signal, Dolly Parton Parkway, US 411 / 441.

 

Unlike the directions to Pigeon Forge, go straight, through the traffic light at Veterans Boulevard. You’ll pass an industrial park on the right and Sevier County High School on the left.

A mile or so later, you’ll come to Pittman Center Road. There’s a traffic light and your only choice is to turn right.

Hang a right on Pittman Center Road ( HWY 416 ) and enjoy the ride — you’ll drive through some lovely Smoky Mountain farmland.

After 5 miles, Pittman Center Road turns left, but please go straight. Now you’re on Birds Creek Road.

You’ll follow this for 4 more miles, until you come to a stop sign. You’re in the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community and very close to Gatlinburg.

Go straight at the stop sign. After a mile, you’ll approach the intersection of Glades Road, it’s a right turn only intersection.

If you’re headed toward downtown Gatlinburg, take the right turn onto Glades Road..

If your Smoky Mountain Lodging is about 5 miles east of Gatlinburg, don’t turn right at Glades Road, instead bear left.

If you’re headed toward downtown Gatlinburg, and you turned right onto Glades Road, two miles later Glades Road will end at US 321, two miles from traffic light #3 in downtown Gatlinburg.

If your Smoky Mountain lodging is about 5 miles east of Gatlinburg, don’t take the right at Glades Road. Instead, bear slightly left onto Buckhorn Road.

Buckhorn Road continues south for 2 more miles to US 321. A left turn onto the highway will take you towards Pittman Center, Cobbly Nob, Brandywine and Bent Creek.

 

 

IN AND AROUND GATLINBURG:

 If you’re driving south on the parkway towards Gatlinburg, you should take the Parkway Spur to bypass Gatlinburg and the downtown traffic jams.

 

The bypass is just past the Gatlinburg Welcome Center.

If you’re headed to the national park, this bypass is a must.

Also, the Baskins Creek and Cherokee Orchard Road are convenient anytime you want to steer clear of the traffic jams on the parkway in Gatlinburg.

If you’re headed west on US 321 toward Gatlinburg, look for the street sign — Baskins Creek Bypass.

You’ll see it on the left about halfway around a sweeping curve.

Next, Baskins Creek Bypass becomes Newton Lane, then you’ll intersect Cherokee Orchard Road.

Turn left onto Cherokee Orchard Road.

Cherokee Orchard Road climbs rapidly and curves ’round to intersect Historic Nature Trail Road.

Turn left onto Historic Nature Trail Road to head out of town and leave the Gatlinburg traffic behind.

 

Gatlinburg’s River Road Bypass: Another bypass is River Road to Ski Mountain Road, then onto the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

As you’re heading into Gatlinburg, just turn right at traffic light #5, onto River Road.

 

On Crowded Weekends, Use the Park’s Back Entrances: Want some great advice? Don’t approach the national park by way of I-40, exit 407. This will put you smack – dab in the middle of the outlet shops and the Smoky Mountain traffic jams.

A better route is to continue on Highway I – 40 and take exit 443 — then enter Gatlinburg and the park by taking highway 321.