Road Trip: The Smoky Mountains
Family travel does not have to be a luxury! Some of our most memorable family vacations were road trips exploring the US, including the Smoky Mountains.
If the Smoky Mountains are on your bucket list and you want to visit more national parks, read below for a journey spanning five states and covering 1600 miles. But first let me set the stage — we’re a family of five from New Jersey with three young girls who can’t endure more than a few hours in the car without needing a pit stop. So, this itinerary includes stops every three hours, with an overnight stay around the sixth hour.
Let’s hit the road!
Day 1: New Jersey - Hershey, PA - Shenandoah National Park, VA (370 miles, 6.5 hours)
From the NYC area, Hershey, PA is a roughly 3-hour drive and offers a great opportunity for the kids to burn off some energy. Visit the Hershey Story Museum for a fun, interactive history lesson while doing chocolate shots, then stop at Troegs Brewery for lunch. (Detour: if you have more time, spend the day at Hersheypark, check-in to the Hershey Lodge, and order a Reese’s Martini. Because there’s so much to do, we went to Hersheypark on a separate trip.)
Once you’re back on the road, continue for another 3.5-hours to Shenandoah National Park and squeeze in an easy hike off Skyline Drive to explore the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia before unpacking for the night.
Day 2: Virginia - Gatlinburg, TN (400 miles, 6.5 hours)
Continue south another 3-hours and stop for lunch at the High Plains Barbecue for some classic, slow smoked barbecue before your final 3-hour leg to the Smoky Mountains in Gatlinburg, TN. As for lodging, we had a great experience at the Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa. The rooms are spacious enough for a party of five and you can’t beat the location – it’s near the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the bustling town of Gatlinburg, and offers an indoor waterpark which is a great incentive after dragging the kiddos on morning hikes.
Day 3: Great Smoky Mountains National Park & Anakeesta Mountain, Gatlinburg, TN
After two days of driving, it’s time to explore the Smokies. We hiked Laurel and Cataract Falls, both moderate hikes for kids ages four and up.
Afterwards, ride the Chondola to the summit of Anakeesta Mountain and experience the Anakeesta Adventure Park where you can enjoy the scenery at 600ft and ride a mountain coaster, zipline, or discover the treetop skywalk.
Day 4: Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, TN
By now the kids have experienced enough nature, so indulge them at Dolly’s famous amusement park, roughly 20-minutes from Gatlinburg. Dollywood’s Dreammore Resort is a great lodging option, offering a full menu of kids activities, onsite pools and restaurants, and trolleys to the park.
Day 5: Jayell Ranch, Pigeon Forge, TN
Adjacent to Dollywood is the Jayell Ranch Adventure Park where you can spend the day horseback riding through the Smokies, ziplining, ATV riding, or listening to local bands.
Day 6: Pigeon Forge, TN - Roanoke, WV (360 miles, 6 hours)
For our final overnight pit stop on our way back north, we stayed at the Stonewall Resort State Park . This lakeside retreat is nestled in 1900 acres and my only regret was not staying another night.
Day 7: Roanoke, WV - Hancock, MD - New Jersey (447 miles, 6.5 hours)
On the way home, drag the kids on one last hike at the New River Gorge National Park, then stop in Maryland at Buddy Lou’s Eats Drinks and Antiques for a truly memorable dinner along the Potomac, then visit the vibrant antique shop upstairs for a unique collectible.
