Private Tour
Great Smoky Mountains & Cades Cove Self-Guided Driving Tours
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Purchase only one tour per vehicle, not per person. Everyone listens together!
Get the full Smoky Mountain experience with this ultimate bundle tour! Explore these picturesque mountains, uncover the rich history of the Cherokee and early settlers, and find out why this is the most-visited national park in the entire country. You’ll discover beautiful overlooks, hiking trails, and waterfalls on one tour, then dive into the pioneer and Civil War history of Cades Cove with the next! If you don’t want to miss a thing, this is the deal for you.
After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point.
New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
Audio Setup: Connect your phone to your car's stereo system using Bluetooth, USB, or AUX. For the best experience, consider using headphones for walking tours. Audio playback is compatible with Apple CarPlay, with navigation features coming soon. Support for Android Auto is also on the way.
The tour requires a supported mobile device for navigation. Please use an iPhone with iOS 15 or later, an Android device with Android 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular service.
Please note that starting January 5, 2026, road work and hazard tree removal may cause lane closures and delays in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including the Sugarlands area, US-441/Newfound Gap Road, Cades Cove Loop, and other park roads.
Some roads in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are currently closed due to seasonal closures. These closures are part of the park’s regular winter operations and affect our route.
Valid parking tags are required for each vehicle parked anywhere within the boundaries of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Parking tags are available for purchase online.
Seasonal road closures (reopening in 2026): Kuwohi Road (formerly Clingmans Dome Road) and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Closed/inaccessible sites: Laurel Falls Trail (including related sections of the Sugarlands Mountain Trail), Carlos Campbell Overlook, and Mingus Mill (preservation/rehab work). Open (weather permitting): Newfound Gap Road (US 441), Little River Road, and Cades Cove Loop Road (may close temporarily due to weather or maintenance). These roads are generally open year-round but may close temporarily due to weather or maintenance.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Oconaluftee Visitor Center
Your drive through the beautiful, majestic Smoky Mountains begins at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Get ready to explore the Smokies and discover why this is the most visited National Park in the country! NOTE: The tour is over 25+ miles long per tour, with more than 30+ audio stories per tour, and takes about 2-3 hours per tour to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
Mingus Mill
As you drive, you'll have the option to take a detour to the Mingus Mill, an 1886 grist mill which, believe it or not, is still fully functional! If you're here on weekends, you can even see the mill operators grind corn just like they did back in the 1800s.
What‘s Included
Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
Options
Great Smoky Mountains & Cades Cove Self-Guided Driving Tours
Reviews
100 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Make sure your car and phone are compatible
Brent B,Mar 26, 2026
- Review from Viator
2.00Could have been worthwhile, but smartphone and car had a conflict so no sound was played while IN the car. So essentially worthless.
Check was great. The...
Stephanie S,Mar 19, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Check was great. The staff was very helpful! The room was clean. Check ice maker and soap dispensers upon arrival.
Very specific and the...
Adrian S,Mar 11, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Very specific and the experience is almost the same as with a guide tour, I liked it and you can save it for later
Driving through the Smokies!
cynthiaR1302,Mar 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great information provided in this tour. We enjoyed the historical components and learning about the Cherokee Indians and the history of the park.
Drive through the Smoky Mountains
kprice123,Jan 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a great way to gain so much information while driving through the Smoky mountains! We loved that it described so many hikes you could stop and take and what you would see along the way. I highly recommend this tour!
Didn’t get to see anything.
Christine G,Jan 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00After stop #5 the trail was closed. Therefore we were unable to continue on with the tour. Due to the signal in the mountains we were not able to reach out to the seller to get a refund and by the time we got to the city it was late. Reached out anyways to see if they could still refund the tour. Definitely go with something else or be sure to check the road closures prior to paying for a self guided tour.
Cades Cove Self‑Guided Tour Experience
Jonathan P,Nov 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Cades Cove offers a rare blend of Appalachian history and natural beauty, where visitors can drive or cycle through an 11‑mile loop surrounded by mountains, historic cabins, and abundant wildlife. A self‑guided tour allows you to pause at your own pace—whether to photograph deer grazing in open fields, step inside preserved churches, or reflect on the quiet resilience of early settlers. The experience is both educational and restorative, giving you freedom to connect with the land without rushing.
Great audio tour
Lynn B,Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We love all of the information provided in these tours. We look for them every time we travel. It works great offline, which is super important because a lot of the park is without cell service.
Good overview of the park...
Cathy N,Oct 21, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00Good overview of the park with some interesting anecdotes. Worked well even during the Gov’t shutdown.
Great self guided driving tour!
308sankarr,Oct 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a great experience- The app works great- gives direction to the starting point and then starts automatically and continues without a glitch along the route. Very easy to use, informative. It works thro CarPlay so everyone can listen. We also did the bonus Roaring Fork mountain trail which was fantastic.
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