Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Great Smoky Mountains

Don’t miss a thing as GuideAlong’s Great Smoky Mountains Audio Driving Tour takes you on an incredible journey through the most visited US national park.

Along the way you’ll be guided to all of the park’s famous highlights as well as lessor known gems including the lowest drivable pass, historic Cades Cove buildings and the park’s highest point.

Download discover more on your Smokies road trip with fascinating behind-the-scenes stories, local tips and directions that plays automatically along the drive.

With GyPSy Guide you have the freedom to explore offline at your own pace so you can spend more time at places that interest you, bypass any that don’t.

✅ Stories, tips and directions play automatically based on your location
✅ Travel at your own pace
✅ Tours work offline using GPS, no cell service or WiFi needed
✅ Suggested itineraries & tips for half, full or multi day use
✅ No time limits or expiry, free updates
✅ Like having a tour guide along for the drive

As the audio guides play commentary based on your gps location, you can create your own itinerary along the tour route to match your interests and schedule.

Or you can use our trip planners for our suggestions on half, full or multi day itineraries.

Some of the many highlights are listed below;

The 11-mile loop drive around Cades Cove is the culmination of all the fantastic things about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and one of the Park’s must-do areas.

This fertile valley is surrounded by beautiful Smoky peaks, and its idyllic setting and conditions attracted the earliest of European settlers to the region – a place where the Cherokee enjoyed fruitful hunting and foraging.

As you tour the loop, we have the opportunity to visit historic cabins, churches, mills and barns. Always keep an eye out for black bears, deer and wild turkeys, which are frequently seen.

Driving the Roaring Fork short, one way 6-mile loop drive, is a surprisingly enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours right from Gatlinburg.

You quickly leave the bustle of town and find ourselves in the peaceful forest and streams of the Roaring Fork Drive.

Along the way you’ll see picturesque cabins and buildings from the days before the National Park.

Some of the Park’s best waterfalls are available on short hikes from the road, including Rainbow and Grotto Falls, or the Trillium Gap Trail. Or directly accessible from the car, Noah “Bud” Ogles cabin, and Place of a Thousand Drips.

Pack a lunch and enjoy at one the picnic spots along the way, there are no services along the road.

Trailers, RVs and buses are prohibited on Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.

There is a good selection of moderately distanced hikes throughout the national park, and many of them visit attractive waterfalls.

It’s difficult to declare an absolute best one to choose, but a favorite is the Grotto Falls hike which departs from the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

The 2.6 mile loop trail is not particularly difficult and most hikers will complete it in under 2 hours, with generous time for stops along the way.

The falls themselves are pretty, though not massive, but one of the fun things about this hike is that the trail actually passes behind the waterfall.

Dating back to 1886, the Mingus Mill served about 200 local families by grinding corn and grains into grits and flour.

Learn about the novel (for its time) engineering behind the powering of the mill.

Today, the restored building and the square penstocks that direct water make for great photos and you can often see the mill in action from Spring until the Fall.

Explorers are always looking for the low points in mountains for easier passable routes. And so when Swiss geographer Guyot found an improved pass, it was given the label Newfound Gap.

Because there are several different ecosystems descending through the valley, you find a unique mix of trees including hardwood, pine-oak and spruce that contribute to a stunning fall foliage.

And it’s the perfect spot to see the blue “smoke” trails that the Smokies are so famous for. The haze is actually moisture released by this vegetation absorbing the sky’s blue color.

This was the site of the dedication of the National Park, and a memorial acknowledging the vital $5M contribution the Rockefeller family made towards the creation of the Park.

Gatlinburg, TN, is the most popular base for accessing the National Park.

Located on the doorstop of the National Park, the town features just about every type of paid attraction, entertainment, dining and adventure operators.

Or try some of the local moonshine at one of the distilleries.

And there are no less than 3 chairlifts and tramways to get you to elevated views above the town.

Clingmans Dome is the tallest peak in the Park and on a perfect day, we can see 7 states from the top.

At the junction of Newfound Gap Road and the Clingmans Dome access road, we will often see the famous smoky-effect rising from below.

After reaching the car park, a paved trail climbs steadily leading to the observation tower. Although the trail is paved, it can be quite steep in places, so wheelchairs are not advised.

The trail is 1.2 miles with an elevation of 331 feet. Sitting at over 6,500 feet, you’ll see many walkers stopped along the trail trying to catch breath.

• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Minimum mobile OS version iOS 15 / Android 9 (Pie). iPad models with GPS chip.

• Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Great Smoky Mountains
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• Support: Toll free phone, chat and email
• Easy To Use: Pre-download and tour offline
• Trip Planners: In-app, web and PDF
• Location Based: Stories, tips & directions that autoplay
• GuideAlong (GyPSy Guide) Audio Tour: 180 Points
• One-Time Purchase: No time or date use limit or expiry
• Flexible Routes: Suggested itineraries or create your own

• Annual Passes Price: $40

Trending Gatlinburg Nearby Tours Likely To Sell Out

HOW TO GET YOUR GUIDEALONG AUDIO TOUR:

1. SIGN IN + REDEEM your VOUCHER CODE: https://store.guidealong.com/voucher
2. DOWNLOAD the GuideAlong App
3. SIGN IN to the GuideAlong app with the same Apple or Google account as Step 1
4. DOWNLOAD and OPEN the Audio Tour NOW

*These instructions are also sent via a separate email & text/sms: “Instructions for GuideAlong Audio Tour” or “Your Tour Operator Sent You a Message About Your (Viator) Booking”. Check your junk/spam folder.

PRE-DOWNLOAD THE APP & TOUR NOW
You must pre-download both the GuideAlong app and audio tour files to your phone (audio, maps & images) over reliable wifi or cellular service, before your drive out of signal.

There’s no date/time limit or expiry to use the audio tour, and no data connection is required while touring.

If you are able to OPEN your tour and see the START DRIVING button, you have successfully downloaded all files and are ready to tour.

CHARGING & SOUND
We do not recommend connecting your phone directly into the vehicle usb port. Instead use a usb/c car charger adapter plug into the auxiliary power outlet (cigarette car lighter). It prevents any automatic secondary pairing between your phone and the vehicle for sound and provides a stronger charging option.

HELP & SUPPORT
Have a question – we’re here to help! Lots of information is included in the app and even more is available on our website. Alternatively you can leave a message for support callback toll 18664771791, chat online or email us at info@guidealong.com.

Please be advised..

• This Tour is Provided by GuideAlong (GyPSy Guide).
• Tour Timezone & Starts at America/New_York.
• Mobile or paper ticket accepted.
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
• This Tour is Rated 5 Stars based on 72 valid reviews on VIATOR.
• Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
• Maximum 8 Travelers is accepted for booking.