redtooth

Be sure and stop at Sugarlands visitor center for maps and suggestions . Don't speed in the park . Winding roads . Get up early----- stay late .

ERoutten Loc: Raleigh, NC

I'll highly recommend breakfast at The Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant.

https://www.applewoodfarmhouserestaurant.com/

After a morning of "golden hour" photography, of course! ;-)

Bobby123

cameraf4 had it right- pack your patience! I highly recommend staying far from Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg because of the crowds. I was there in March and the traffic was bumper to bumper and hardly moving. The Jersey shore in mid-summer. I couldn't wait to leave. Townsend should be much better. Be sure to eat at The Riverstone between Townsend and the park- great food at great prices served by great people.
Go to Cades Cove and wait at the gate for them to open (people line up early!). Drive up the Little River early and stop to shoot often. Clingmans Dome was closed when I was there because it was too early in the season.
Visit the Cataloochee Valley and consider taking a guided tour there. I did, and it was very informative, easy-going, and comfortable. I see that the company I went with (Cataloochee Valley Tours) is closed at the moment but keeping checking them. Finding the road into the Cataloochee Valley can be tricky but after you come over the top past the park sign and head into the valley you will make a left turn to get to the tourist part with old buildings, elk, a church, etc. If you make a right at that intersection you will immediately be on a gravel road that curls around the northern part of the park for maybe 25 miles. It is all heavily wooded with hills, streams, and an old iron truss bridge. Absolutely beautiful and perhaps not too crowded even when you'll be there. Highly recommended. Zoom in on the Cataloochee Valley on Google maps and you'll see it squiggling around the edge of the park. I recommend taking it around right to Cosby and figuring out how to avoid the crowded towns on your way back to the hotel. Plan on spending at least a morning if you take this road and get out of the car whenever you see something you like.
Have a great time!

nj53 Loc: Canon City, Colorado

i thank you for the suggestions. should be a hoot!

johnsonsjourneys

Just an FYI, you can’t get in the park without a ticket, which you can get online. I believe it’s for limiting the amount of people in the park. Sit took ya 2 weeks to get one, they go fast. It’s free, you just need that and your park pass or entry fee. We were there last week, because of the fires, a couple of the main roads were closed. Just check before you go. 😊

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

Why do you want to mimic another's work. Be original. Go and see with your own vision!

DonB Loc: Port Royal , Tn

Take a look at the Roaring Fork Motor Trail. The times I have been there it has not been busy.

Ditto!! And take your time on this road.

PhotoKurtz Loc: Carterville, IL

Wheels through time... Great suggestion! Maggie Valley restaurants are unbeatable.

PhotoKurtz Loc: Carterville, IL

There's a waterfall route on their tourism website. Get a map and follow the squiggly roads. Plenty of opportunities.

philhoey

As long as you dont run into clously conditions, fog and low overcast, you will find some WOW opportunities.

PhotoKurtz Loc: Carterville, IL

The Blue Ridge Parkway is relaxing, but I feel it has gotten a bit overgrown.

neillaubenthal

Cade’s Cove...go early. The whole park is great but that’s probably the best bang for the buck.

nj53 Loc: Canon City, Colorado

just collecting info; i shoot what i want, and it's good to me to know good places especially in a large NP.

"iconic" shots are that for a good reason. i can get the icon and move onward.

OleMe Loc: Montgomery Co., MD

I second Cades Cove. See if the evening hayride is happening. It's nice and, last time I was there, it was run by original residents. Daytime, stop at the grave yard: the tomb stones are revealing.

Cherokee - in the evening they do a re-enactment of the trail ofvtears in an outdoor theater.

If you venture beyond the park on the south side, a most impressive motocycle museum is in the Maggue Valley area.

All recomendatios subject to possible pandemic related restrictions.

Enjoy. It's a great park.

/Roger

OleMe Loc: Montgomery Co., MD

P.S. "Tail of the Dragon" highway. More turns per mile than virtually any other road.

https://roadtrippers.com/tail-of-the-dragon/

/Roger