What is the cancellation policy for this tour?

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

How long does this tour take?

Please check the tour page for the exact duration.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour

Q: Where does this tour start?

This tour starts at: Start on US-441 Parkway in Gatlinburg near 1151 Parkway, with the parking lot and gas station on your right. This is the suggested starting point. We’re not affiliated with the lot or nearby businesses. The audio starts automatically as you pass—check your email/text for setup details..

★★★★☆ 4.1

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Overview

Recommended: Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!

Explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park and discover why it’s the most visited National Park in the country! Tour these famous mountains while learning about Cherokee history and legends, Appalachian life, and much more. There’s no better way to see Clingman’s Dome, Cades Cove, or Rainbow Falls. Plus, enjoy a free bonus tour of Roaring Forks Motor Trail!

After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point.

New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

Gallery

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What's Included

✓ Included

Text transcripts of audio narration & Self-paced format (start/pause/resume anytime)
Pre-recorded audio commentary (downloadable or streamable)
This is a GPS-powered, self-guided audio tour that works through an app
Lifetime access (no expiration) with Customer support (chat/email)
Suggested walking/driving itinerary with stop-by-stop directions
This tour is NOT an entrance ticket to the park
Offline GPS-enabled route map
NO in-person guide or physical equipment (bring your own device & headphones)

✗ Not Included

Entrance fees, in-person guide, headphones, transport, parking, food,Wi-Fi or cellular data, rentals

Itinerary

Stop 1

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is all misty ridgelines, lush forests, and scenic overlooks that feel straight out of a storybook. Drive through Newfound Gap and you’ll get those classic “Smokies” views in minutes. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

Stop 2

As you drive, you'll have the option to take a detour to the Mingus Mill, an 1886 grist mill which, believe it or not, is still fully functional! If you're here on weekends, you can even see the mill operators grind corn just like they did back in the 1800s.

Stop 3

Heading toward Clingman's Dome, you'll soon see its famous observation tower. You really haven't seen the Great Smoky Mountains until you've seen them from up here!

Stop 4

Your first major stop is the Beech Flats Quiet Walkway, a perfect spot for anyone who wants to soak up the natural beauty of the mountains without having to hike an arduous trail.

Stop 5

After that, you'll reach Morton Overlook, hugely popular for its unbelievable sunsets.

Stop 6

Your drive through the beautiful, majestic Smoky Mountains begins at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Get ready to explore the Smokies and discover why this is the most visited National Park in the country!

Stop 7

Up next is the Rockefeller Memorial, where you'll learn more about Rockefeller's importance to the park! This memorial was dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt himself.

Stop 8

The next overlook on your route is Carlos Campbell Overlook, which serves up panoramic views of towering mountains and lush forests.

Stop 9

Continuing on, you'll pass through the heart of a mountain using the Morton Tunnel. Here, you'll also hear about how a politician named Ben Morton got his name all over the park.

Stop 10

Next you'll pass the Alum Cave Trail, which takes hikers to the remains of an old salt mine packed with fascinating history.

Stop 11

Your route takes you next to Chimney Tops Overlook, where you'll hear all about wildfires in the Smokies and how they cause lasting damage to mountains like this one.

Stop 12

Next up is the most accessible trail in the park! Sugarlands Valley Trail can be accessed by wheelchair or stroller, and offers a great way to venture into the scenic wilderness. We'll also turn back the clock to get an in-depth look at the complicated history of this valley and the settlers who once lived here.

Stop 13

Next up is the most accessible trail in the park: Sugarlands Valley Trail! This scenic trail can be accessed by wheelchair or stroller, and offers a great way to venture into the wilderness.

Stop 14

The tour leads next to the Sugarlands Visitor Center, a perfect rest stop and the site of a few trailheads.

Stop 15

Our route takes us next to the Rainbow Falls Trail, which leads to the park's most popular waterfall. Standing at 80 feet, Rainbow Falls is the tallest waterfall in the Smokies, but that's not all! When the sun hits it right, it glimmers like a rainbow--hence the name.

Stop 16

Your drive continues to Cataract Falls, a beautiful, secluded set of waterfalls tucked beneath a shaded canopy of beech trees.

Stop 17

From there, your drive continues to Newfound Gap, a stunning mountain pass with huge historical significance. Hear the story of how trappers, farmers, and merchants used to cross the Smokies, and how this gap changed all of that.

Stop 18

Our next stop is perfect for anyone amused by kitschy oddities. This funky museum displays everything from shrunken human heads to rare animal skeletons. We'll get the inside scoop on how it started as a simple one-panel comic strip and grew into a national phenomenon.

Stop 19

Continue following the road to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. This driving trail invites you to slow down and enjoy the forest and historic buildings of the area. It also features three of the park's most famous waterfalls!

Stop 20

The road brings us next to the Reagen Cabin, which displays a perfect example of old-timey technology in the form of the so-called "tub mill." Hear all about what that is and why it was useful here.

Stop 21

Keep driving until you reach the Grotto Falls trail. While it's not quite as grand as Rainbow Falls, this secluded, less crowded waterfall is absolutely worth a visit. On your way, hear about a rare salamander you can only find right here!

Stop 22

Why settle for one waterfall when you can have several? Our next stop is the Place of a Thousand Drips, where numerous narrow falls come together to form a stunning torrent.

Stop 23

Our drive takes us next to the Baskin Creek Falls, a sparkling waterfall where we'll hear about the amusing, and slightly misguided history behind the name of these falls.

Stop 24

Finally, you'll arrive in the picturesque mountian town of Gatlinburg, where your tour will conclude. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. The tour is over 45+ miles long, with more than 40+ audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete.

Meeting & End Point

📍

Meeting Point

Start on US-441 Parkway in Gatlinburg near 1151 Parkway, with the parking lot and gas station on your right. This is the suggested starting point. We’re not affiliated with the lot or nearby businesses. The audio starts automatically as you pass—check your email/text for setup details.

🏁

End Point

Find Hotels in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Good to Know

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
Audio Setup: Connect your phone to your car's stereo system using Bluetooth, USB, or AUX. For the best experience, consider using headphones for walking tours. Audio playback is compatible with Apple CarPlay, with navigation features coming soon. Support for Android Auto is also on the way.
The tour requires a supported mobile device for navigation. Please use an iPhone with iOS 15 or later, an Android device with Android 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular service.
Seasonal road closures (reopening in 2026): Kuwohi Road (formerly Clingmans Dome Road) and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Closed/inaccessible sites: Laurel Falls Trail (including related sections of the Sugarlands Mountain Trail), Carlos Campbell Overlook, and Mingus Mill (preservation/rehab work). Open (weather permitting): Newfound Gap Road (US 441), Little River Road, and Cades Cove Loop Road (may close temporarily due to weather or maintenance). These roads are generally open year-round but may close temporarily due to weather or maintenance.
Valid parking tags are required for each vehicle parked anywhere within the boundaries of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Parking tags are available for purchase online on nps.gov and onsite.

Known For:

Private Sightseeing Tours in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Adventure Tours in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Bus Tours in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Audio Guides in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Private and Luxury in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Car Tours in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Special Instructions

1. Find The Setup Instructions NOW:
• Download the App: actiontourguide.com/app
• Find Your Password: Search your email or text messages for "Action Tour Guide"
• Enter Password: Open the app and enter your 8-digit password
• Download the Tour NOW while you have WiFi or cell service
• Offline Ready: Once downloaded, the tour works without internet
• Need Help? Visit: actiontourguide.com/redeem

2. Download The Tour NOW:
• Download NOW over WiFi or cellular data ahead of your trip.
• Don't wait until travel day - your tour is VALID FOREVER from purchase.
• Your password redemption is limited to the number of travelers booked. Please enter the same password on each device.

3. Audio Tour Tips:
• This is a self-guided audio tour; admission tickets aren’t included.
• Curious how it works? Watch a quick video here: actiontourguide.com/tutorial
• For the best audio experience, connect to the car stereo via Bluetooth, USB, or AUX, or listen through your phone's speaker.
• CarPlay and Android Auto aren't supported yet.
• New, Lifetime access, no expiry.

4. Help & Support:
• Visit our FAQs: actiontourguide.com/faq
• Chat online: actiontourguide.com
• Call: 1-435-288-0560
• Email: support@actiontourguide.com

NOTE:
• Seasonal road closures (reopening in 2026): Kuwohi Road (formerly Clingmans Dome Road) and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
• Closed/inaccessible sites: Laurel Falls Trail (including related sections of the Sugarlands Mountain Trail), Carlos Campbell Overlook, and Mingus Mill (preservation/rehab work).
• Open (weather permitting): Newfound Gap Road (US 441), Little River Road, and Cades Cove Loop Road (may close temporarily due to weather or maintenance).
Note: These roads are generally open year-round but may close temporarily due to weather or maintenance.
• Valid parking tags are required for each vehicle parked anywhere within the boundaries of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Parking tags are available for purchase online on nps.gov and onsite.