VACATION IN THE SMOKIES

Bryson City’s Central Location Makes It The Ideal Home Base For A Smoky Mountains Vacation

The Mountains of Western North Carolina are an easy getaway from many Southern cities —

• Asheville - 1 hour

• Atlanta — 3 hours

• Charlotte — 3 hours

• Chattanooga — 2-1/2 hours

• Greenville & Spartanburg — 2-1/2 hours

• Knoxville — 2 to 3 hours, depending on the route

Close enough for a quick weekend getaway; and far enough for a satisfying escape.

ASHEVILLE, NC – approximately one hour.

Take I-40 west to Exit 27 (the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway). Continue West on US 74 past Waynesville, Sylva and Dillsboro to Bryson City. Exit 67 is Veterans Boulevard (Downtown Bryson City).

ATLANTA – approximately three hours.

From West Atlanta, take I-75 north to I-575 north, which becomes Georgia route 5. At Blue Ridge, GA, turn left (west) on to Route 60 and travel 1.5 miles to Mineral Bluff, GA. Turn right on to Route "60 Spur" and travel approximately 12 miles to the junction with US 19/74. Turn right (east) and proceed on US 19/74 through Murphy, NC, Andrews, NC and the Nantahala Gorge to Bryson City. The drive from Murphy to Bryson City is approximately one hour.

From East Atlanta, take I-85 north to I-985, which becomes US 23, which becomes US 23/441.You'll pass through Clayton, GA, Franklin, NC and Dillsboro, NC. Just past Dillsboro, take US 74 (the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway) west to Bryson City.

CHARLOTTE – approximately three hours.

Take I-85 west to US 74. Continue west on US 74 to I-26. Go north on I-26 to I-40. Take I-40 west to Exit 27 (US 74, the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway). Continue West on US 74 past Waynesville, Sylva and Dillsboro to Bryson City. Exit 67 is Veterans Boulevard (Downtown Bryson City).

CHATTANOOGA – approximately 2-1/2 hours.

THIS ROUTE IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED DUE TO THE NOVEMBER 10 ROCK SLIDE ON US 64 IN THE OCOEE GORGE. You may wish to consider the Cherohala Skyway or a Knoxville route. Take I-75 north to US 64 (near Cleveland, TN). Drive east on US 64 (which becomes US 64/74) through Ducktown, TN and the Ocoee River Gorge into North Carolina. At Murphy, NC take US 19/74 east through Andrews, NC and the Nantahala Gorge to Bryson City.

GREENVILLE & SPARTANBURG – approximately two to 2-1/2 hours.

From Spartanburg, take I-26 north to I-40. Take I-40 west to Exit 27 (US 74, the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway). Continue West on US 74 past Waynesville, Sylva and Dillsboro to Bryson City. Exit 67 is Veterans Boulevard (Downtown Bryson City). The drive from Spartanburg to Bryson City is approximately two hours, or 2-1/2 hours from Greenville.

KNOXVILLE

You have a choice of four routes. Driving time depends on route and traffic.

1. Via Interstate 40 - THIS ROUTE IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED DUE TO THE OCTOBER 25 ROCK SLIDE ON I-40. Take I-40 east into North Carolina to exit 27 (US 74, the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway). Continue West on US 74 past Waynesville, Sylva and Dillsboro to Bryson City. Exit 67 is Veterans Boulevard (Downtown Bryson City). The drive from Knoxville to Bryson City is approximately two hours.

2. Via US 129 - Take US 129 south through Alcoa and Maryville. After crossing into North Carolina, take US 28 south to US 74 (the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway). Continue east on US 74 approximately 10 miles to Bryson City. Note: the section of US 129 known as "Deal1s Gap" and "The Tail of The Dragon" is extremely curvy (318 curves in 11 miles). The drive from Knoxville to Bryson City is approximately 2-1/2 to three hours

3. Via Pigeon Forge and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Take I-40 east to exit 407 and proceed south. At Sevierville, TN, take US 441 south through Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Cherokee, NC. At Cherokee, take US 19 south to Bryson City. Depending on traffic, the drive from Knoxville to Bryson City can be from 2-1/2 to four hours.

4. Via Townsend and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Take US 129 south through Alcoa to Maryville. In Maryville, take US 321 east to Townsend, TN. From Townsend, take Little River Road east through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to US 441 (at the Park Visitors Center). Take US 441 south through the park to Cherokee, NC. At Cherokee, take US 19 south to Bryson City. Depending on traffic, the drive from Knoxville to Bryson City is approximately three hours.