Newfound Gap Road | Smoky Mountain Tours

Newfound Gap Road: Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Newfound Gap Road is one of the most scenic byways in America. Also known as Highway 441, the road begins at Sugarlands Visitor Center just outside of Gatlinburg TN and takes you into Cherokee, NC.

From Wears Valley, turn left onto Lyons View Road and follow it 4 miles to Metcalf Bottoms. At Metcalf Bottoms, turn left onto Little River Road and travel 9.2 miles to Sugarlands. From Sugarlands Visitor Center you will enter Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In 4.5 miles you will pass the Chimneys picnic area and travel 2.5 miles to the Chimney Tops Trailhead. This is a very scenic spot. If you walk a very short distance on the trail, you will come to a wooden bridge which crosses over the Little Pigeon River. A walk across the bridge will take you to a breathtaking view of the river and mountains. Often you will spot a deer and sometimes a bear.

Continue on Newfound Gap Road 1.7 miles to Alum Cave Bluffs Trailhead then another 3.5 miles to Newfound Gap.

View of the Smoky Mountains from Newfound Gap Road		Fall foliage as seen from Newfound Gap Road - mid-October to November 7

Bridge at Chimney Tops Trail		Roaring river at Chimney Tops Trail

The speed limit from Sugarlands to Newfound Gap is 35 mph. There are numerous pullovers to give you an opportunity to take in the scenery and to utilize your photographic skills. If you are driving a vehicle, please use the pullovers if you are driving slowly so that other vehicles can proceed.

If you sight a bear, please pull over to the side of the road to allow traffic to flow freely. By doing so, you will also avoid getting ticketed by a Park Ranger since it is illegal to stop on the roadways inside the Park.

At Newfound Gap you will find majestic mountain vistas and the Roosevelt Monument.

There are restroom facilities at the Chimneys picnic area and at Newfound Gap.

From Newfound Gap you will travel 20 miles into Cherokee, NC. Restroom facilities are available at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center located inside the National Park.

Close to the Visitor Center, you can often spot elk grazing in the fields.

Newfound Gap Road is open year 'round. The Park Service closes the road in inclement weather.