Plan your trip

Maps 2.0

Know the loop before you enter it

Two maps built for the questions that matter on the road: what comes next around the one-way loop, and which mountain road actually leads into the cove. Every route and marker is positioned from National Park Service and USGS geographic data.

11-mile loopSee every major stop in driving order Plan 2–4 hoursChoose a realistic itinerary for your day Save it offlineDownload the printable Loop Road map Check conditionsConfirm current road status before leaving (opens in a new tab)

Map 1

Cades Cove Loop Road visitor map

The numbered sites follow the road in driving order. Green lettered markers identify facilities and trailheads, while dashed lines show crossovers and seasonal side roads.

Print the Loop Road mapSave a high-resolution image
Map of the Cades Cove Loop Road showing twelve major stops in driving order, crossover lanes, seasonal roads, trailheads and visitor facilities.
Use the map to understand the loop; use current NPS conditions for closures and emergency guidance.
Do not rely on ordinary GPS alone. Mountain navigation apps can send drivers toward one-way roads, seasonal closures or remote dead ends. Download the map before leaving reliable service and check the park’s current road status.

Major stops in driving order

  1. Entrance & orientation shelterMake the last useful decisions before the road becomes one-way.Open guide →Open guide for Entrance & orientation shelter
  2. John Oliver CabinOne of the cove’s earliest surviving homesites; reached by a short walk.Open guide →Open guide for John Oliver Cabin
  3. Primitive Baptist ChurchHistoric church and cemetery above the Loop Road.Open guide →Open guide for Primitive Baptist Church
  4. Methodist ChurchA frame church with two front doors and a hillside cemetery.Open guide →Open guide for Methodist Church
  5. Missionary Baptist ChurchA 1915 church whose congregation began after an 1839 split.Open guide →Open guide for Missionary Baptist Church
  6. Elijah Oliver PlaceA longer walk to a cabin set near the cove’s wooded edge.Open guide →Open guide for Elijah Oliver Place
  7. Abrams Falls trailheadThe starting point for the five-mile round-trip waterfall hike.Open guide →Open guide for Abrams Falls trailhead
  8. Cable Mill & visitor centerThe original mill, historic farm buildings, restrooms and information.Open guide →Open guide for Cable Mill & visitor center
  9. Henry Whitehead PlaceTwo connected cabins that preserve two log-building traditions.Open guide →Open guide for Henry Whitehead Place
  10. Dan Lawson PlaceA substantial homestead with a brick chimney and broad mountain views.Open guide →Open guide for Dan Lawson Place
  11. Tipton PlaceA homestead cluster near the southern side of the loop.Open guide →Open guide for Tipton Place
  12. Carter Shields CabinA small cabin framed by one of the cove’s most memorable settings.Open guide →Open guide for Carter Shields Cabin

Map 2

Getting to Cades Cove

This regional map keeps the park boundary and the major approach roads in view. Townsend is the closest gateway; Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Maryville and Cherokee each approach from a different direction.

Print the directions map
Regional map of roads to Cades Cove from Townsend, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Maryville and Cherokee.
This is a regional planning map, not turn-by-turn navigation. Verify the route against current NPS closures before departure.

From Townsend

The closest and simplest gateway. Follow the signed park approach toward Laurel Creek Road.

Compare Townsend lodging

From Gatlinburg

Travel west through the park on Little River Road, then continue toward Laurel Creek Road.

Compare Gatlinburg stays

From Cherokee

This is a long cross-park drive over mountain roads. Treat it as a scenic journey, not a quick transfer.

Check park conditions

Official backups

Download the National Park Service maps too

Our maps make Cades Cove easier to read. The official park files remain the final authority for park-wide navigation, trails and current operational guidance.

Official park mapMajor park roads, facilities and campgrounds Official trail mapPrimary trails, distances and backcountry features Official area mapThe national park in relation to surrounding communities Current conditionsSame-day road, weather and facility information