Jim Plogger Loc: East Tennessee

First of all I would recommend coming in from Atlanta on the Tennessee side unless your plans dictate that you come in from the NC side. I say this because it will eliminate a lot of back-tracking since you are headed to Charleston. From ATL to Townsend will be about 4 hours. Spend your first night in Townsend where you will be about 7 miles from the entrance to Cades Cove. Cades Cove can be a full day if you explore it completely. From Cades Coves take Little River Road to Gatlinburg. Don't miss the Sugarlands Visitors Center at the end of Little River Road. I would suggest that you stay in Gatlinburg maybe a couple of nights. I personally really like The Greystone Lodge. There you can walk to dining and shopping. Yes, there are a lot of t-shirt shops, etc., but there are a lot of unusual interesting little shops as well. Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies is directly across the street from The Greystone Lodge. It is an excellent attraction and will require about 4 hours. In Gatlinburg get directions to Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail which is off of Cherokee Orchard Road. The Trail is a one-way trip that will bring you back out onto US 321 in Gatlinburg. You will find numerous photo ops there.

Upon departing Gatlinburg head south through the Park on US 441 toward Cherokee. Take in Clingman's Dome which you will reach off of Clingman's Dome Road just past the Newfound Gap parking area. It is about seven miles from 441 to the Clingman's Dome Parking area. The hike up to the observation deck is steep but worth the walk. Come back down Clingman's Dome Road and continue on toward Cherokee on 441. Just before Cherokee will be the Oconaluftee Visitors Center. You could possibly view elk in the fields behind the center. You may want to spend the night in Cherokee. The next day depart Cherokee back toward the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Just before the Center you will see the entrance to The Blue Ridge Parkway. This is the southern terminus of the Parkway. Now enjoy the beautiful Parkway all the way to just below Asheville. Exit the Parkway onto NC 191 toward Asheville right at the NC Arboretum. The Arboretum is worth taking time to visit. You could choose to stay in one of the hotels on 191 (there are several) if you wish. Continue on 191 to I-26. From there you are about 260 miles from Charleston. Of course Charleston is a whole another adventure.

Jim Plogger Loc: East Tennessee

"Learn to eat "hush-puppies" and to listen very slowly to the speech."

I assure you that there are a great variety of excellent restaurants with delectable dishes in Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. You will find very few dishes served with hush-puppies, however, properly prepared they are delicious. And the dialect will be quite different in Tennessee, different again in North Carolina, and very interesting in Charleston. Not sure why you would have to listen slowly. We do speak English.

tjjm Loc: Saint Louis, Mo.

There are many photographic opportunities along the "Roaring fork motor nature trail". It is on the out skirts of Gatlinburg and offers old homesteads, scenic overlooks, and streams. Also, don't hesitate to pull of the road and visit some of the quite walkways and scenic overlooks off Newfound Gap road.

Sburgess

Roaring Fork Motor Nature trail for beautiful streams with little waterfalls and mossy green boulders.

Sburgess

Ocaluftee overlook just south of the Clingmans dome turnoff for the iconic sunrise shot of mountain layers...you won't be alone at 5:30am! Woolyback Overlook nearby on mp 452, Blue Ridge pkwy, for sunset over mountains to the horizon

Markncorryton

I agree with the Townsend area also though there aren't many good restaurants there. If you can afford it I highly recommend blackberry farms. If your healthy enough Cades Cove closes the roads on Wednesday and Saturdays from 6 AM till 10 AM to all motorized vehicles. Bicycles can be rented at the ranger station. You can bike or walk this 11 mile loop that is mostly flat with gentle rolling hills. I can guarantee you will see wildlife this is an absolutely beautiful area with hundreds of photo ops.

Ray and JoJo Loc: Florida--Tenneessee

If interested in little known American history check out the Gullah Geechee, Black People that was on the way to America and arived as slavery was abolished.

Gullah/Geechee Nation Headquarters

Post Office Box 1109

St. Helena Island SC 29920

wrk1234 Loc: Russellville, Arkansas

One thing you need to know about Cades Cove - the Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to vehicle traffic every Wednesday and Saturday until 10 a.m. from early-May to late-September, as well as every Saturday in December until noon. During this time, you are invited to walk or bike the roadway without worrying about cars slowing you down. Every other day of the week, the gates open as dawn approaches, i.e., before actual sunrise but after it is getting light. On Wednesday and Saturday, you can walk down the road and take as many pictures as you want but will have to carry your equipment in.

RT113 Loc: Tennessee

The wildfires affected quite a few things around the Gatlinburg and the park. I would definitely contact any place you plan to stay and check their status. Also visit the following website: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm

Djack41 Loc: Tennessee

If you hear Banjo music........paddle faster!

joepeva Loc: TN

If you are interested in waterfalls the area of NC you will be traveling has several nice ones. Just search North Carolina waterfalls if you are interested. Several like Dry Falls are easily accessible

DI Seller Loc: Knoxville, TN

I live in Knoxville which is about 45 minutes north of the Smokies. At this time of year it would probably be nearly impossible to find a vacancy in Gatlinburg itself. Finding a hotel in Pigeon Forge might also prove to be as challenging. It has been mentioned Townsend is a terrific area as it is not as touristy. I would try there first. And then go to the North Carolina side. Let me caution you to be careful when going across the streams when walking across rocks. I was down and in the area called The Sinks. I slipped on a slick rock and went sliding down the hill on my way down with my camera on a tripod I yelled for my wife to grab the camera and not to worry about me. Have a great trip there is so much there to photograph you might not want to leave

SteveR Loc: Michigan

I'm not sure what's remaining after the fire, but a number of years ago we rented an A frame in the hills outside Gatlinburg. I'd google rentals near Gatlinburg. It was nice, affordable, had a jacuzzi, and even admission to a club and swimming pool while we were there.

christinortham

I agree with everyone above. We found a beautiful cabin thru VRBO in Sevierville. Bears in the yard every morning 😀. Stay aeay from the Ramada in Gatlinburg

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

We were there this time last year. We flew into Charleston and spent 4 nights at Two Meeting Street Inn, one of the nicest B&Bs we've ever stayed in. Definitely a splurge, but a wonderful place. We loved Charleston and definitely will be going back. The only issue we had (besides the heat and humidity) was that my wife found out she had allergies (never before had them) and felt miserable while we were there. We're either going to go at a different time of the year or get some allergy medicine for my wife before we go next time. We went to Manteo NC from there and had reservations to go back to Charleston for two nights after four nights on the Outer Banks to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary. But due to my wife's allergies, we changed our plans and spent two nights in Charlottesville and went to Monticello. We also discovered the Trump Winery nearby and had a nice lunch and wine tasting; it's a beautiful place. We spent the next two nights at a great B&B in Asheville, The Black Walnut. We then drove part of the Blue Ridge Parkway and through Great Smoky Mountain NP to an overnight in Paducah KY. We ended up in Davenport IA to visit family and flew home from Chicago. Great trip. BTW, when we decided we couldn't go back to Charleston, we seriously considered going to Iowa via Maine and Niagara Falls, but we're going to the northeast in the future and it would have added several more hours of driving.