Cades Cove Scenic Loop — Attraction in Maryville

I am a local and this is one of my favorite scenic drives in the great Smoky Mountain national Park. I would consider it a "not to miss" item if you are visiting GSMNP.

To truly enjoy this area, I would recommend allowing 4 to 6 hours or all day even though it is just an 11 mile one-way loop. Whether you come from Townsend or Gatlinburg, the drive up into Cades Cove is also beautiful and runs along the Little River. When the rains are recent and the river is full, this view is even prettier. During the hotter dryer times of the year, the water may be lower. Take some time to pull off as you make your way to Cades Cove at pretty spots and sit on the bank and soak in the beauty. The Sinks are another nice stop-off and pretty to view (and safe if you heed the warnings)-stupid people die here regularly-don't be one of them. This is a place to enjoy the view not to play in the rapids.

Once you do arrive at Cades Cove, realize that this was a settled area and full of rich history as there are a multitude of cabins and churches and cemeteries that you can visit. If you enjoy parking and walking to all of these items, it's very easy to spend 4 to 6 hours here.

Around halfway through the loop there is a visitor center where you can get national Park memorabilia such as T-shirts, stuffed toys, calendars, jams, and so on. You can also get your book stamped, restrooms, and a really cool grist mill , and settlement area with additional cabins, spring houses, barns, and sheds. Most NP visitor centers are open weekdays from 9 to 4 PM or so.

Here are a few tips to consider:

inside Cades Cove Loop, there are not many picnic tables, but if you have a blanket, there are plenty of places you can find a spread out and enjoy a picnic if you want a nice place to picnic and barbecue in the mountains, consider Metcalf Bottoms picnic area, a large number of these picnic tables are right along a river as well.

if you want to see wildlife, go at dusk when the animals come out to feed-do remember they are wild animals. Do not feed them as they end up getting comfortable with humans and we have to euthanize them. You can expect to see horses from the stable, wild turkey, Deer, black bears, and the occasional fox.

remember that black bears are not typically interested in humans but Bears can outrun humans. Read on Google how to manage your Black bar encounters. Stay calm, make lots of noise when hiking, don't carry any food that they can smell, and if you do encounter bear slowly back away, never turn and run, act big and be noisy if you must.

On the loop when you see a bear, Stay in or very near your car and use your zoom lens. This is not a zoo. It is a national forest. It is frustrating to watch ignorant visitors, whose behavior ends up with killing the animals when they become a custom to human food and get too aggressive.

do not leave any human food or trash anywhere. Please dispose of it properly or take it home with you, for everyone's safety.

Part of this history and creating the national park and the Landgrant was that there was never to be an entry fee so There is no entry fee to the great smoky Mountain national Park so there is no use for your America the beautiful pass. This park has relied exclusively on donations from visitors until recently. Unfortunately, due to low donations they have had to institute parking fees. You can drive through for free, but if you pull over and park more than 15 minutes, they're asking that you buy a five dollar day pass. there are machines all through the park to buy parking passes. It's still cheaper than typical $35 NP fees!

During summer months or in leaf peeping season.....remember, this is a one-way loop with no passing-you are fully committed once you enter! Plan 3-4 hours minimum to do the 11 mile loop due to the traffic at peak season. cut left on Hyatt or Sparks Lane and skip the top half of the loop and visitor center to shorten the drive (not recommended!)

Open to bicycles only at certain days/times...check NPS website for this and ranger...

Cades Cove – Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Full Experience Review

Cades Cove is one of those places that truly leaves an impression. Nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it’s a beautiful, peaceful valley surrounded by mountain views and filled with history, wildlife, and stunning natural scenery. We visited on a Sunday and, while it was definitely busy with a lot of cars along the loop, it was still absolutely worth it.

We took our time driving the 11-mile scenic loop, and it ended up taking us a couple of hours. Traffic was slow-moving—partly due to the crowds, but also because everyone was pausing to take in the views and snap photos. And trust me, there’s plenty to look at. The scenery is breathtaking from start to finish. Rolling meadows, tree-lined roads, and views of the mountains in every direction make the entire loop feel like something out of a painting.

Wildlife is one of the biggest draws, and we were lucky enough to see six black bears during our drive! Some were off in the distance, while others were fairly close, safely viewed from the car. We also saw several white-tailed deer, calmly grazing in the fields. The wildlife sightings alone made the visit unforgettable.

One of the most memorable stops for us was a 200-year-old Baptist church located inside the cove. It was simple, quiet, and filled with character. Behind it, we explored the historic cemetery, where we saw gravestones dating back to the 1700s—a powerful reminder of the area’s deep history. It was moving to walk through and read the names, many of whom lived and died right in this valley generations ago.

And the best part? It’s completely free to drive through and enjoy. Whether you’re a nature lover, a history buff, or just someone looking to escape into beauty for a few hours, Cades Cove delivers. I highly recommend going early in the morning or on a weekday if possible, as weekends (especially Sundays) tend to get crowded.

Final Thoughts: Cades Cove is more than just a scenic drive—it’s an immersive experience into the natural beauty and cultural history of East Tennessee. With stunning views, peaceful wildlife encounters, and a sense of stepping back in time, it’s an absolute must-see.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (A beautiful, free, and unforgettable adventure through...

We visited very early on a Tuesday morning in early November 2024. We arrived to the beginning of the loop around 8AM and there were 2 cars in front of us. There are spurts of cars and then no one. We took our time knowing that the visitor center did not open until 9AM. We stopped on the side in designated spots for photos. The sunrise into the valley of the drive was amazing!

We stopped at John Oliver's Cabin. There was no one else stopped there. We saw a few folks pass by us on the loop as we were getting ready for the short hike. I think maybe because it involved a short hike many folks decided to just keep going as other stops were right off the road. We also stopped at a couple of the churched on the way to visitor center. We still arrived about 20 mins before they opened but we used the bathroom and explored around the visitor center area. There are a number of old structures and cool things to see.

Once the visitor center opened we went in to stamp our National Passport books and purchase some merch. Most the NPS visitor centers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park tend to have similar items but not always the same. Do not wait to purchase stuff later, if you see it, get it.

This was also our last visitor center for the park so we turned in our Junior Ranger booklet here. For those of you wondering, yes there is a fee for the books but you can use 1 book for up to 5 people. So we made all the kids share.

We never really ran into completely stopped traffic. There was a little slow down for a group of turkeys (at least a dozen) where were crossing the road. We spent maybe a total of 90-120mins in the loops including the visitor center and...