Jan 15, 2016


blog-scenic-driver-header

Whether you want to take a quick break from the city or you’d rather plan a long weekend getaway, there’s no shortage of natural beauty in the Knoxville area. Hit the open road in your new Toyota and get some fresh air with one of these four scenic drives in the Knoxville area.

Rocky Top Trail

blog-rockytop

The Great Smoky Mountains are the ultimate Knoxville area getaway, and the Rocky Top Trail offers one of the most scenic ways to see them. Start by driving about 35 miles southeast to Gatlinburg, where you’ll find the welcome center for the state park. Hop out and take a ride on the aerial tramway, catch a show at the Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre, or sip some legally produced moonshine at the Ole Smoky Distillery.


For even more stunning scenery, follow U.S. Highway 441 through the Great Smoky Mountains and enter the Blue Ridge Parkway. Known as America’s Favorite Drive, this is one of the best scenic drives you’ll find anywhere in the nation.

Knoxville Civil War Trail

History buffs will love the Knoxville Civil War Trail, which routes drivers through some of the most notable scenes in the Knoxville area. The driving tour starts on Chapman Highway at Fort Dickerson, a site of conflict between the Union and Confederate armies. The tour also takes visitors to Fort Sanders, a Union outpost, as well as the Old Gray Cemetery, where countless veterans from both sides of the war still rest. Bleak House, a luxurious mansion that briefly served as a Confederate headquarters, is another highlight of the tour, as is Campbell’s Station, where the Battle of Knoxville raged.

Dogwood Arts Trail and Gardens

blog-dogtrail

When you don’t want to venture far, but you still want to soak in some of Knoxville’s natural beauty, turn your attention to the Dogwood Arts Trails and Gardens. This network of trails and byways covers over 60 miles of private gardens, and each is maintained and made available to the public by its owner. You’ll find spectacular landscapes, gorgeous flowers, and fragrant trees, right in your own backyard.

Take your pick from about a dozen walking and driving trails along this route. The Chapman Highway driving route leads you through the Colonial Village and Lake Forest neighborhoods, where you’ll spot a historic cemetery and nearly 5 miles of walkable trails.

Top Secret Trail

blog-topscrt-trail

With its mountain summits and lush forests, East Tennessee is a major draw for many Knoxvillians. The Top Secret Trail starts right in town and then heads east through the Upper Cumberland Plateau and through the Appalachian foothills. Learn about the mysterious city of Oak Ridge, the Appalachian crafts around every corner, and the area’s long history of coal mining. If you complete the trail from beginning to end, you’ll traverse nine state parks, plenty of hiking trails, and even some off-road trails for your ATV. Bring your fishing poles or a boat, and enjoy some of Tennessee’s most scenic lakes.

Whether you’d rather explore Knoxville or discover the great outdoors, adventure awaits. Take one of these top scenic drives to learn more about the Knoxville area.