Best Dallas to Smoky Mountains Road Trip Itinerary

A few years ago, we did a Dallas to the Smoky Mountains road trip at the beginning of June. It was our first trip to the Smoky Mountains National Park, one of the most popular national parks in the United States.

If you follow our road trips around the country, you will remember that we liked to make stops along the way. Sometimes we stay for an hour or half a day, and other times we spend a night or two. So it was on our road trip from Dallas to the Smoky Mountains.

Our Dallas to the Smoky Mountains road trip lasted seven days. I knew we should go on a ten-day trip, but our son had a summer camp a week later. We wanted him to rest before another one-week summer camp with the Boy Scouts.

I added two more days to spend at the Smokies in this itinerary. Three to four days are the ideal minimum days to spend at the park and nearby Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. In my opinion.

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What to Prepare Before Dallas to Smoky Mountains Road Trip

– Get your America the Beautiful National Park Pass. While the Great Smoky Mountains National Park does not charge an entrance fee, there are places of interest on this trip where you will need the passes.

– Book hotels, campgrounds, or Airbnbs early because the Smokies is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the southern Appalachians.

– Watch for groceries discounts before your departure if you plan to cook meals during the trip. It is also perfect for buying snacks and treats. Usually, we do it in April. Look for the expiration dates.

Dallas to Smoky Mountains Road Trip Itinerary

If we google the driving directions from Dallas to the Smokeys, it will show 12 hours and 45 minutes of driving time. That’s without the stop. For road-tripper veterans like us, it is doable with leaving early in the morning, several pit-stops, and lunch on the road. But on this trip, we wanted to do other things and see new places.

When searching for things to do between Dallas and the Smokys, we found several stops we wanted to see. Vicksburg National Military Park in Mississippi, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and Chattanooga in Tennessee were some of them. So, the 12 hours and 45 minutes Dallas to the Smoky Mountains drive stretched to a few days.  

Here’s my suggested itinerary for Dallas to Smokey Mountains road trip. Of course, you can adjust it to your preference for things to do or places to see.

Day 1 – Dallas to Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Approximately non-stop driving time: 5 hr. 15 min. You will go on I-20 E through Shreveport and Monroe in Louisiana.

Once you cross the Mississippi River from  Louisiana to Mississippi, stop at the Mississippi Welcome Center on the left. It’s the best place to get information on Vicksburg tourism and other parts of Mississippi. The view of the Mississippi River and Vicksburg Bridge from here is gorgeous.

After check-in at the hotel, go to Vicksburg Military National Park. Vicksburg is one of the most pivotal grounds during the Civil War. It’s a large park, and two days’ visits are not enough. Your first stop is the Visitor Center to pay your entrance fee. Or, use your America the Beautiful National Park passes.

Watch the exhibition and the movie in the Visitor Center before leaving for a self-guided tour in your vehicle. If you travel with children, take their Junior Ranger Program book. When your dog is with you, grab the B.A.R.K. ranger program. We had these two books for our son and our dog.

You will drive and stop at monuments and memorials that attract you. The park has more than 1,400 monuments, tablets, and markers.

From the park, go to the historic district of downtown Vicksburg. Have a stroll around town before dinner at one of the restaurants here. Historic downtown Vicksburg reminded me a little of the Old Town Alexandria in Virginia.

Accommodation: hotels in the historic district (Mulberry Vicksburg) or along I-20 E.

Day 2 – Vicksburg to Huntsville, Alabama.

Approximately non-stop driving time: 5 hr. 30 min. You will continue on I-20 E through Jackson, Mississippi, to Tuscaloosa and Birmingham in Alabama, where you turn to I-65 N.         

But first, go back to the National Military Park to visit USS Cairo & Museum.

Tuscaloosa is home to the Alabama Crimson Tide. If you are a fan of theirs, you might want to make a quick detour to the University of Alabama.

You will need a different visit to explore Birmingham. Or, add one more day to this Dallas to the Smoky Mountains road trip itinerary.

Arrive at Huntsville, check in at the hotel, and find a place to eat dinner.

Accommodation: Hotels near the Space & Rocket Center.

Day 3 – Huntsville, Alabama.

Today you will visit the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. If you bring a dog like us, arrive before they open to secure a space for your dog at their kennel service. You will need more than half a day here because you want to see and do everything they offer.

If you or your children are into space science, you will love this place. Otherwise, it’s a fun experience.

Then drive to downtown Huntsville. Enjoy your late afternoon visit and have dinner at one of the restaurants there.

Day 4 – Huntsville to Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Approximately non-stop driving time: 1 hr. 50 min. It is the fastest way to get to Chattanooga in a fun driving direction. You will get to Tennessee and go to Georgia before arriving at Chattanooga in Tennessee. Your destination is in a different time zone. 

I had planned three places to visit during this trip, and they were all outdoor, nature, and history related. When we entered Tennessee for the second time, there was a Visitor Center not too far from the state line. After talking with the attendant at the Visitor Center, we flipped our itinerary in the city.

The first stop in town is Point Park Battlefield at Lookout Mountain. It is the site of a Civil War battle signified as “The Battle Above The Clouds.” You will need your America the Beautiful National Park passes here.

Then drive to Oglethorpe, Georgia, to visit the Chickamauga National Military Park. Take the Car Caravan Tours to learn about the battle here. Admission to the park is free.

To end your visit to Chattanooga, go to Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge. 

With this time frame, we could drive around downtown Chattanooga and visit the Chattanooga Choo Choo. It is a historical terminal that has welcomed passengers for decades. The train cars now turned into bars, hotel rooms, and an escape experience. You might want to spend a night here.

There are so many things to do in Chattanooga that it can be a final destination for a road trip in Tennessee. You can find the famous Ruby Falls and Rock City Gardens on your way to Point Park Battlefield. But these places are always packed with tourists during the high season. That’s why we opted for Point Park Battlefield, and the views from the top of Lookout Mountain are amazing.

Accommodation: Lots of hotels to choose from that fit your budget.

Day 5 – Chattanooga to the Smokys.

Approximately non-stop driving time: 3 hr. Google Maps showed three different driving directions with six to nine minutes longer from one direction to another. You can choose the first two, but don’t choose the one through Knoxville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg. There will be traffic. We chose the first exit because we didn’t want to stick in the traffic if any. Both directions will take you through Townsend Entrance to the Smokys.

You will drive through small towns and once you get to Townsend, stop at Townsend Visitors Center for some info and a restroom break.

On the way to the park, you will start to see the smoke above the park. Fog rose from the mountains’ vegetation and made an incredible view!

Today you will explore the Cades Cove area.

It is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smokies. You will drive your vehicle, driving an 11-mile, one-way loop road that circles the cove. Expect traffic when you visit during the high season (summer and fall) and on weekends year-round.      

You will see churches, gristmills, barns, log houses, and other restored eighteen and nineteenth centuries structures. White-tailed deer, black bears, coyotes, turkeys, and other wildlife are frequent in the open field of Cades Cove. We had three black bears spotting during our visit, and it meant very long traffic. 

If able, I suggest you hike the 5-mile round-trip trail to Abram Falls.

Be aware that every Wednesday from early May to late September is a vehicle-free day in Cades Cove. It is open only to pedestrians and cyclists.

We went to Townsend for a late lunch at the Burger Master Drive-In. 

After meals, check in at your accommodation and have a rest.

Accommodation: Hotels in Townsend, Gatlinburg, or Pigeon Forge areas. I think staying in Townsend will be cheaper. You can also stay at Cades Cove campground. Wherever you will stay, you must book the accommodation early. This area is a favorite place for vacation.

Day 6 – The Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Spend all day in the Smokys. Lots of waterfalls and hiking trails for you to explore. Start early in the morning to beat the crowds at the first place you want to visit.

You may want to go to Clingmans Dome first. It is where you will see the spectacular 360 degrees views of the Smokies. If you are a morning person, go catch the sunrise here.

Then continue to Laurel Falls and Roaring Fork. If time permits, go to Deep Creek, too.

Day 7 – Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge

Enjoy tourist attractions in both cities. I heard Dolly Parton’s Dollywood is one of the best water parks.  

Day 8 – The Smokys to Oak Ridge, west of Knoxville

Approximately non-stop driving time: 1 hr. 30 min. Start your way home to Dallas. You will go through Knoxville. 

You will visit The Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, west of Knoxville. It was the first and biggest of the three Manhattan Project sites built to produce the world’s first atomic weapons. Join the 3-hour behind-the-fence guided tour by the Department of Energy starting from the American Museum of Science & Energy.

After the guided tour, drive around to visit other historical places. Historic Jackson Square, Alexander Inn/Guest House, Chapel on the Hill, and Oak Ridge History Museum are some of them.

Don’t miss the International Friendship Bell. It is an 8,000-pound bronze bell cast in Japan, a testament to the hope for everlasting peace and goodwill in the world.

Accommodation: One of the hotels that fit your budget in Oak Ridge.

Day 9 – Oak Ridge to Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Approximately non-stop driving time: 8 hr. 15 min. The destination is in a different time zone. You will go on I-40 W through Memphis in Tennessee and Little Rock in Arkansas.

We didn’t stop in Memphis or Little Rock because we’d been to these two cities before.

You can spend a night in Memphis or Little Rock on this last night of this Dallas to the Smoky Mountains road trip. Our family prefers to stay closer to home. That way, we don’t have to drive long the next day.

Accommodation: Lots of hotels in Hot Springs. Choose one that fits your budget.

Day 10 – Hot Springs to Dallas.

Approximately non-stop driving time: 4 hr. 20 min. You will drive via I-30 W to Dallas.

Spend some time around downtown Hot Springs, and don’t forget to drive to Hot Springs Mountain Tower. Then visit Anthony Chapel.

Don’t forget to fill your water jugs with the hot springs water at the Hot Springs Jug Fountain. You can find it at the Hot Springs Visitor Center parking lot. It’s better to do it early in the morning to beat the crowd.

Once in Texas, you can make a quick detour to downtown Sulphur Springs to use the see-through restroom at the square.

I hope this Dallas to the Smoky Mountains road trip travel guide will help you make your trips to the Smoky Mountains unforgettable. A road trip from Dallas to the Smoky Mountains is worth it.