The "Classic" National Park Tour

Overview

Available languages

English

3 hours

Mobile ticket

This trip begins as we pickup at our location in Gatlinburg, TN. We travel in comfortable and eco-friendly vans to our first stop at the remains of a long-gone resort town dating back more than 100 years. We'll learn about the history of logging in the Smokies, the lives of the early Appalachian pioneers, and the founding of the national park. From here we'll travel up the mountains on one of the most scenic roads in the southeast. Along the way we'll stop at scenic overlooks for pictures, questions, and interpretation of the area. Finally we arrive at Newfound Gap and the 5,000 foot-high boarder between Tennessee and North Carolina. Here we will learn about the 2,200 mile-long Appalachian Trail and the the site where President Franklin Roosevelt gave the park dedication in 1940.

Additional Info

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Bottled water

Snacks

What To Expect

Elkmont Ghost Town

We'll hike along one of the mightiest rivers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park as we learn about the history of the founding of the park and how the lives of loggers, CCC workers, pioneer farmers, and the earliest mountain recreational visitors intersected.

45 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Newfound Gap Road

Newfound Gap Road is one of the most scenic drives in the southeast. We'll make the 13-mile long drive out of the Sugarlands Valley while we learn about the people, plants, animals, and history of the Great Smoky Mountains. Along the way we'll stop at several scenic overlooks for photos of the towering mountains and dark, shaded valleys.

1 hour 55 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Options

The "Classic" National Park Tour

Reviews

4.94

252 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

245

VIP treatment.!
fimogirl,
Nov 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had so much fun with our driver Wes . He was so informative about the park and its history. We were able to do some hiking and enjoy the views. I would definitely recommend this tour company and it’s excellent customer service..
Best tour and tour guide ever!
ROBYN P,
Nov 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Wes was out your guide and he was fantastic! Hi is extremely knowledgeable and knows the history of the mountains thoroughly. We learned so much from him. An added bonus...Wes made us feel comfortable and he is humorous. He makes his riders feel included. Best tour ever!
Great way to see the park stress-free.
Diane V,
Nov 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We really enjoyed this tour. The guide was so knowledgeable and friendly. He took us to all the best spots, but unfortunately one of the roads had washed out the day before so we couldn’t go as high as we would have liked.
Lovely trip
Lynne M,
Oct 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
The scenery was amazing, though we were extremely lucky to have come at a good time when the leaves were very colorful. (Ene of October, but it evidently varies by the year) Our guide was very knowledgeable and helpful.
Smokey Mountain s are the best!
Mark B,
Oct 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Great experience to tour the highlights of Smokey Mountains National Park Definitely take the morning am tour to avoid afternoon traffic. Hannah, our tour guide, amazingly adept at managing the group, providing very detailed history and local lore!
Fantastic Smoky Mountain Tour!
kmnbooks,
Oct 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Philip was an amazing guide — friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about the Smokies. He customized the tour to our interests, shared great stories, and took us to beautiful spots we’d never find on our own. Highly recommend!
Good tour!
Stephanie H,
Oct 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Very good! Phillip was wonderful and knew a lot about the history of the area! There was a lot of time in the car, but beautiful views and educational!
So fun, so good
Rebecca H,
Oct 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Well worth the money. I'm slightly disabled and Hannah, our guide, never made me feel disabled. In addition to very good history information about the park, Hannah's stories and facts about the park made the trip enjoyable.
Exceptional Tour!
L3541KIlorib,
Oct 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Wes was our tour guide. He was fun and very informative. The tour was exceptional. We went mid-October, one of the busiest weekends of the year. We had originally scheduled an afternoon tour, but the tour operator contacted us to advise we would be stuck in traffic and offered to reschedule the following morning. We were very appreciative as we had similar experience (stuck in traffic) the day prior. We loved being able to stop and take pictures. Definitely recommend this tour!
Smoky Mountain Experiencw
lindabY4805WP,
Oct 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Enjoyed our tour of the Smoky Mountains NP. Wes was a fabulous guide. He cared about our experience, shared his knowledge, and was pleasant and respectful. Would recommend.