Cades Cove is on the Tennessee side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, southwest of Townsend. The usual public drive reaches the cove by Laurel Creek Road. The 11-mile Loop Road is one way; once you enter it, you cannot treat it as a quick out-and-back.
From Townsend
Follow US 321/TN 73 toward the national park and continue to the Townsend Wye. Take Laurel Creek Road toward Cades Cove and follow the signs to the campground and Loop Road entrance. Townsend is the closest gateway town for a Cades Cove-focused stay.
From Gatlinburg
Drive through the park on Little River Road toward the Townsend Wye, then take Laurel Creek Road to Cades Cove. Allow more time than a navigation app’s distance estimate suggests: winding roads, seasonal traffic and stops can slow the trip. Check road conditions before departure.
From Pigeon Forge
Follow the route toward Wears Valley and Townsend, then continue into the park to Laurel Creek Road. Depending on your starting point and conditions, a navigation app may offer another approach through the park. Verify that it uses open public roads before committing to the drive.
Arrive ready for the one-way road
There is no gas station inside the national park, and mobile service can fail. Fill the tank, download the regional approach map and Loop Road map, bring water and confirm current NPS road conditions. On seasonal vehicle-free Wednesdays, motor vehicles cannot enter the Loop Road; check the current program dates before making the drive.
Parking in the park for more than 15 minutes requires a parking tag. The tag is not a reserved space. For stop order and realistic time budgets, continue to the Loop Road guide.