Exploring the Smoky Mountains With Limited Mobility: Scenic Drives & Accessible Spots
The Great Smoky Mountains offer breathtaking scenery that everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy, regardless of mobility challenges.
Fortunately, there are several stunning drives and accessible locations that allow visitors with limited mobility to experience the natural beauty and rich history of the Smokies without extensive hiking.
As locals who have explored every corner of the park, we’ve compiled our favorite scenic routes and accessible spots that showcase the best of the mountains while requiring minimal walking.
Best Scenic Drives in the Smoky Mountains
These carefully selected drives offer incredible views of mountains, valleys, rivers, historic buildings, and wildlife—all from the comfort of your vehicle.
1. Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
Distance from Gatlinburg: 3 minutes
Duration: 1 hour minimum (without traffic)
Just minutes from Gatlinburg lies one of the most beautiful scenic routes in the Great Smoky Mountains.
This 5.5-mile one-way loop provides amazing views of streams, forests, historic buildings, and wildlife without requiring you to leave your car. It’s one of our favorite scenic drives in all of the Smoky Mountains.
The narrow, winding road takes you through a lush forest environment where you’ll often spot black bears and deer. Two overlooks offer spectacular mountain views, though parking can be limited during busy periods.
If you’re able to manage a very short walk, stop at the Noah “Bud” Ogle cabin near the entrance of the loop. This historic homestead is just a brief stroll from the parking lot and offers a fascinating glimpse into mountain life in the 1800s.
Important notes:
- Roaring Fork is closed during winter months. In 2025, it’s forecast to open mid-April.
- The road is too narrow for RVs or trailers
- This is one of our top recommendations for visitors with limited mobility due to its proximity to Gatlinburg and high scenic value.
2. Newfound Gap Road to Cherokee
Distance from Gatlinburg: Starts just outside Gatlinburg, 30 minutes to Newfound Gap overlook
Duration: 2-3 hours round trip to Newfound Gap; 4+ hours if continuing to Cherokee for a round trip
Newfound Gap Road offers some of the most spectacular mountain vistas in the park. This 33-mile scenic highway takes you from Gatlinburg, Tennessee to Cherokee, North Carolina, climbing to an elevation of 5,046 feet at Newfound Gap.
The road features numerous pull-offs and overlooks with accessible viewing areas where you can safely enjoy the panoramic mountain scenery without hiking.
These overlooks typically have paved surfaces and are just steps from your parking spot.
At Newfound Gap Overlook, there’s ample parking and an accessible viewing area where you can see both Tennessee and North Carolina. This is also where the Appalachian Trail crosses the state line.
Along Newfound Gap Road, make sure to stop at Maloney Point, one of the most spectacular overlooks in the park. This easily accessible viewpoint offers breathtaking panoramic vistas of the mountains and valleys below with minimal walking required. The parking area is right next to the viewing spot, making it perfect for those with mobility limitations.
If you continue driving toward Cherokee, you’ll reach the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, which is fully accessible and offers excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing—particularly elk!
Oconaluftee Visitor Center & Oconaluftee Mountain Farm Museum
Adjacent to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center is the Mountain Farm Museum, a collection of historic buildings gathered from throughout the Smokies. This open-air museum showcases a late 19th-century farmstead with a farmhouse, barn, apple house, springhouse, and working blacksmith shop.
The main path through the farm museum is relatively flat and made of packed gravel, making it navigable for many visitors with mobility limitations.
Even if you don’t explore the entire grounds, many of the buildings are visible from the main pathway or from your vehicle. The farm is particularly beautiful in spring when the fields are dotted with wildflowers.
The fields adjacent to the visitor center are one of the best places to spot elk, especially in the morning and evening. You can often see them from your vehicle or from the accessible visitor center porch.
Note: While Clingmans Dome Road branches off from Newfound Gap Road, we recommend skipping it if you have mobility limitations, as the best views require a steep half-mile walk to the observation tower.
And while there’s some good views from the parking lot, you’ll find plenty of other views along Newfound Gap Rd.
3. Cades Cove Loop Road
Distance from Gatlinburg: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Duration: 2-3 hours once you arrive (depending on traffic and wildlife spotting)
Cades Cove is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park—and for good reason.
This 11-mile, one-way loop road winds through a broad, verdant valley surrounded by mountains, offering a perfect combination of natural beauty, wildlife viewing, and historical sites.
The valley is home to numerous historic buildings, including churches, cabins, and a working grist mill. Many of these structures have parking areas nearby, allowing visitors with limited mobility to view them from a short distance.
Wildlife viewing is exceptional in Cades Cove. The open meadows make it easy to spot white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and black bears from your vehicle. We’ve seen deer on every visit, and bears are common in late afternoon and evening.
Tips for visiting Cades Cove:
- The loop can get very congested, especially during summer and fall weekends
- Early morning and late afternoon are the best times for wildlife viewing and avoiding crowds
- Bring binoculars to enhance wildlife viewing from your vehicle
- Pack a picnic to enjoy at one of the designated picnic areas with accessible tables
Routes to Cades Cove: Two Scenic Options
There are two beautiful routes you can take to reach Cades Cove from Gatlinburg, allowing you to see different scenery on your way there and back.
Option 1: Little River Road
Little River Road follows the rushing waters of Little River, offering a peaceful drive with numerous pull-offs where you can enjoy river views. This winding road features rocky overlooks, small waterfalls, and lush forests.
One easily accessible highlight is “The Sinks” waterfall, which has a large parking area and is visible just steps from your car.
The Sinks is one of the most wheelchair-friendly waterfall viewing spots in the entire park. This powerful cascade was created when loggers dynamited a natural logjam in the early 1900s, creating a unique swirling waterfall. The paved viewpoint is right off the parking area, requiring almost no walking, and the sound of rushing water makes this a refreshing stop along your drive.
Option 2: Foothills Parkway
For your return journey, consider taking Foothills Parkway, a newer, wider road with spectacular panoramic views.
This newer route takes you high above the valleys, with well-designed overlooks that are perfect for those with limited mobility.
The overlooks along Foothills Parkway have ample parking and paved viewing areas, making them accessible for most visitors. The sweeping vistas of the Smoky Mountains are breathtaking, especially at sunset.
Historic Sites Accessible by Car
Elkmont’s Daisy Town (Elkmont Ghost Town)
Elkmont was once a thriving logging camp and resort community that has been partially preserved as a historic district.
You can drive through this small “ghost town” and see many of the restored vacation homes from the early 1900s.
While some buildings require short walks to view up close, many can be seen from the road or parking areas. The Daisy Town section is the most accessible, with some buildings open for viewing.
The entire drive through Elkmont is relatively short but offers a fascinating glimpse into the area’s past.
Planning Your Visit
Best Time to Visit
- Spring (April-May): Beautiful wildflowers, moderate temperatures, and fewer crowds
- Fall (October-early November): Spectacular fall foliage, cooler temperatures
- Early morning or late afternoon: Best for wildlife viewing and avoiding peak crowds
Tips for Visitors with Limited Mobility
- Park Accessibility Guide: Check the National Park Service website for their accessibility guide before your visit
- Visitor Centers: All park visitor centers are wheelchair accessible and offer exhibits and information
- Cell service: Be aware that cell service is limited or non-existent in many parts of the park
- Weather considerations: Mountain weather can change quickly; check forecasts before heading out
- Traffic awareness: Allow extra time for traffic on popular routes like Cades Cove, where traffic moves at a crawl.
Conclusion
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has opportunities for everyone to experience its natural beauty and rich history, regardless of mobility challenges.
These scenic drives and accessible sites allow you to immerse yourself in the park’s diverse landscapes and wildlife from the comfort of your vehicle.
If you don’t have time to do everything during your visit, we recommend prioritizing Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail and Cades Cove for the best combination of scenery, wildlife, and historical sites.
The drive to Cherokee along Newfound Gap Road is also exceptional if you have an extra day.
