Private Tour
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Recommended: Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!
Explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park and discover why it’s the most visited National Park in the country! Tour these famous mountains while learning about Cherokee history and legends, Appalachian life, and much more. There’s no better way to see Clingman’s Dome, Cades Cove, or Rainbow Falls. Plus, enjoy a free bonus tour of Roaring Forks Motor Trail!
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.
Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
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
Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
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.
For the best experience, please use an iPhone running iOS 15 or later, an Android device running version 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular connectivity, as these are recommended for navigation.
⚠️ Important Note: The U.S. Government Shutdown has ended, but some National Park services, visitor centers and facilities may reopen in phases. Please check official park updates before visiting.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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!
Park Passes
What To Expect
Gatlinburg
Finally, you'll arrive in the picturesque mountian town of Gatlinburg, where your tour will conclude.
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.
Options
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour
Reviews
290 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Missing a few details.
RMVMARTINEZ,
Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00It was a little rough getting started as I didn’t know where the starting location was and I couldn’t get the audio to work on the car. I wish they would’ve let us know if we could also use the audio from our phone. Didn’t know if it was going to work for us. Also wish we were told that there were no gas stations throughout the trip nor bathrooms except for at the very top. Enjoyed the audio stories and tips on where to turn off.
Pleasant drive!!
Debbie T,
Nov 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Loved the stories! I did wonder if there was an emergency how would ambulances get to those affected. It wasn’t very crowded so the ride was pleasant.
Great information
Anthony K,
Nov 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The experience was really good and the information was very informative. Wasn't sure if the narration was keeping with the Android auto GPS, but it was good to use the play button to keep narration. I recommend this if you're not from the area and want to be on your own. Great job 👏🏾
Love Conleys!
Moira H,
Oct 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00What a fantastic weekend! The hosts are very kind and they made sure they were as accommodating as they could be. I am looking forward to coming back!
More than worth it!
elizabethrR5783EK,
Oct 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was such a great experience compared to just randomly driving around. We flew in from Arkansas and rented a car and all I knew was I wanted to see the park and we love NOT traveling with groups of strangers so this was great for us. I think it would have been interesting for our kids if they'd been with us. Very cool! If we had more time I def would have explored the Cove area that added a few hours. One thing I would note for people out of state is that if you start in Gatlinburg and end in Cherokee, the only way BACK to where you started is back through the park with 24-35 mph speeds. So my husband was kind of annoyed there wasn't a "regular highway" around the park. We did however make pretty good time going back through since we weren't stopping at any of the spots. Still very much worth it. Side note; we came for the fall colors and the park did not disappoint! So GLAD I planned the timing out just right. The fall show was as spectacular as I had hoped!
Self guided tour
jerseygirl1961,
Oct 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Was skeptical about losing service based on other's reviews but we had absolutely no problem with the app (in a rental no less). Liked being able to go at our own pace and really enjoyed this tour. Would recommend!
The Ride
Julie S,
Oct 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Loved the stories. Travel at your place. Stop and go when you please. Indian culture stories were interesting
We love these Action Tour...
Lisa P,
Sep 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We love these Action Tour guides. This company has many of them for places all over our country. We have found them easy to download and use, including inside the National Parks where there is no cell phone coverage, they still work wonderfully. Information given is interesting and informative about local cultures and stories. This tour is excellent.
This was a convenient and inexpensive way to experience this area
VaacationSearch,
Sep 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour was fantastic. We loved being able to stop and go as we wanted. Since we had our dog with us, we were able to skip areas where dogs were not allowed, and come back when she was not with us. The tidbits of information provided by the narrator were fascinating. As some of the stories were cut off as we approached new stops, we were able to go back and listen to them later. I wish there were some information provided prior to the tour regarding amount of walking at each stop, and where dogs were, and were not allowed.
Amazing experience .....
skipk00,
Sep 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience .... well worth the $16.99 fee .... took our time and resumed when we hit a talking point of interest .... the points of interest were spectacular .....
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