Cumberland Gap Tunnel — Local services in Harrogate

Title: My GPS said "Head West," but the Tunnel said "Nope." Well, my dreams of standing with one foot in three states at once were tragically crushed. I drove all the way to Cumberland Gap, full of pioneer spirit and ready for a historical adventure, only to be met by the most unyielding force in the universe: a closed tunnel. I get it, tunnels need maintenance. But did they have to do it on the one day I decided to become a geographic legend? I was so close I could practically taste the tri-state-ness. My GPS, bless its optimistic heart, kept telling me to "turn left onto TN-VA-KY Tri-State Point," but the tunnel had a different plan. It was like a bouncer at a very exclusive club, and my car, apparently, wasn't on the list. So instead of a triumphant photo of me straddling three states, I have a photo of a very large, very boring "TUNNEL CLOSED" sign. I tried to see if there was a secret handshake or a backroad, but alas, the Cumberland Gap has a zero-tolerance policy for people who aren't ready to face the music (or, in this case, the construction). My advice to fellow adventurers: call ahead. Or better yet, just bring a lawn chair and a good book, because the tunnel is not messing around. I'll be back one day, tunnel. One day. And when I do, those three states...

I love tunnels and this is a pretty awesome one. Because it is not a "down" tunnel, it does not seem to have a prohibition against propane tanks which is good for the RV's (my Sprinter does not have propane but my old motorhome did). This is actually two parallel tunnels that carry four lanes of US-25E under the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and join Cumberland Gap, Tennessee with Middlesboro, Kentucky. The tunnel opened to traffic in 1996.

Interesting fact - this is one of only two mountain vehicular tunnels in the United States that cross a state line, the other being the East River Mountain Tunnel on Interstate 77 and U.S. Route 52 between Virginia and West Virginia. Each of the tunnels is 4600 feet long and 32 feet wide. There are cross-passages every 300 feet.

There is no toll to use the tunnel in either...

Beautiful structure that blends in with the surrounding area. We as a community are fortunate to have the tunnel to travel back and forth between Tennessee and Kentucky. The beautiful historic town of Cumberland Gap is nestled next to the tunnel and is a must see for anyone who loves quaint and...