Plenty of scenic drives near Bryson City fit any schedule, whether you have a couple of hours or a full day. The Road to Nowhere, also called Lakeview Drive, keeps you close to town. With more time, you can head toward Nantahala Gorge, Fontana Lake, Newfound Gap, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Cherohala Skyway, or the Tail of the Dragon.
On our October visit, we rented a Slingshot from Appalachian Adventure Rentals and drove around to take in as much seasonal color as possible.
The vehicle had preplanned routes available, but we already knew where we wanted to go and used our own GPS.
Between the route suggestions, maps, and conversations during our trip, we came home with more ideas than we could fit into one weekend. Sound familiar?
This guide brings those ideas together, using Bryson City as a home base.
Compare the scenic drives near Bryson City
The outing times below are our suggested planning allowances from Bryson City and back, including some time for stops. They are not measured driving times or live navigation estimates. Mileage describes the named scenic section, where specified, rather than the entire trip from town.
| Road to Nowhere | About 6 miles each way on Lakeview Drive inside the park, plus the approach from town | 1–2 hours; longer with a hike | A shorter drive, tunnel walk, and history |
| Nantahala Gorge | US 19/74 west toward the Nantahala Outdoor Center; turn around wherever suits your day | 2–4 hours | River scenery and a riverside stop |
| Fontana Lake and Hellbender 28 | US 74 west, NC 28 north, then the signed access to Fontana Dam; return the same way | 3–5 hours | Lake views and a dam visit |
| Newfound Gap Road | US 441 through Cherokee; the full park crossing is about 33 miles one way between its entrances | 4–6 hours for an overlook outing; longer for Gatlinburg | Mountain overlooks and national park scenery |
| Blue Ridge Parkway to Waterrock Knob | Enter near Cherokee at milepost 469.1; Waterrock Knob access is at milepost 451.2, about 18 Parkway miles away | 3–5 hours | Overlooks and a flexible turnaround |
| Cherohala Skyway | NC 143/TN 165 between the Robbinsville area and Tellico Plains; the designated byway is about 43 miles one way | A full day for the complete out-and-back | A longer mountain drive |
| Tail of the Dragon | Reach Deals Gap via US 74 west and NC 28 north; the famous US 129 section is 11 miles one way | 4–6 hours | Drivers who enjoy tight, continuous curves |
These seven drives stick to paved roads. If you add a waterfall stop or take a backroad, check whether it involves gravel, especially if you’re renting a Slingshot. Before heading out, check for closures and look over your GPS directions. A shortcut through the mountains can turn into more of an adventure than you planned.
Gravel roads and our Slingshot rental
Tell the rental company where you want to go, including any waterfalls or hiking stops. We had a few places picked out, but the guy at Appalachian Adventure Rentals told us those roads were gravel, and we’d need something else. Ask before you leave so you can save those stops for a day when you have the right vehicle.
1. Road to Nowhere: our Slingshot drive from Bryson City
The Road to Nowhere has a name that practically writes its own travel caption. Fortunately, the scenery gives you a reason to go beyond the joke.
From Bryson City, follow Everett Street north toward Lakeview Drive and the national park. The road ends near a tunnel, so this is an out-and-back drive rather than a route through to Fontana Dam.
We drove here in our Slingshot, walked through the tunnel, and continued onto a wooded trail. The fall color made the drive-and-walk combination one of our favorite parts of the weekend.
You can keep your outing shorter by enjoying the drive and tunnel area. Bring a flashlight if you plan to walk through the tunnel, and choose any longer hike separately using a proper trail map.
The unfinished road also has a history tied to the creation of Fontana Lake and the communities it affected. It’s worth learning about before your visit.
Find the Road to Nowhere tunnel on Google Maps.
2. Nantahala Gorge: a drive along the river
For a drive with a river stop built in, head west from Bryson City on US 74 and follow US 19/74 through the Nantahala Gorge.
The Nantahala Outdoor Center makes a useful destination or turnaround point. You can spend time by the river and check the current dining options before heading back. Our earlier stay at the Hemlocks at Nantahala gives you another way to make this area part of a longer trip.
Explore Bryson City describes a longer scenic byway continuing toward Marble. You don’t have to drive that entire route to enjoy a gorge outing. Choose your endpoint before leaving so your lunch stop doesn’t quietly turn into a much longer day.
Use designated parking and pull-offs when you stop. Waterfall walks and trails are separate excursions with their own access considerations.
Find Nantahala Outdoor Center on Google Maps.
3. Fontana Lake and Hellbender 28: curves with a lake stop
From Bryson City, take US 74 west to NC 28 north, then follow the signed access toward Fontana Dam. Return the same way for a straightforward outing.
The Fontana-area stretch of Highway 28 is commonly promoted as Hellbender 28. Expect a winding mountain road, with opportunities to stop at designated viewpoints near the lake.
Make Fontana Dam your main destination, and check visitor-facility access before setting out. Give yourself a few hours for this drive so you have time to stop at the lake and dam.
Is Hellbender 28 the same as Moonshiner 28?
The names overlap, but they don’t describe the same amount of driving. The broader Moonshiner 28 route runs approximately 103 miles from Deals Gap through Franklin and Highlands toward Walhalla, South Carolina. A Fontana outing covers only part of that larger route, plus the dam access road.
Find Fontana Dam on Google Maps.
4. Newfound Gap Road: choose your own turnaround
Travel through Cherokee to US 441/Newfound Gap Road and continue into Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Oconaluftee Visitor Center is a useful place to get oriented before the climb.
You can drive to Newfound Gap and return to Bryson City, or continue across the park toward Gatlinburg. Those are different-sized outings, so decide which one fits your day before setting out.
Check current national park conditions before departure.
Optional side trip: Kuwohi, formerly Clingmans Dome
Older maps may use Clingmans Dome. The current NPS name is Kuwohi. Its approximately seven-mile access road branches from Newfound Gap Road and is seasonally closed.
The observation tower requires a steep, paved walk of about one mile round trip from the parking area. Driving to the parking lot and visiting the tower are separate parts of the outing. Check the current seasonal schedule and weather-related closures before adding this side trip.
Find Newfound Gap on Google Maps.
5. Blue Ridge Parkway: Cherokee to Waterrock Knob
For a manageable Parkway outing, reach the southern entrance near Cherokee and travel north toward Waterrock Knob. The Parkway mileposts decrease as you head north from Cherokee.
Waterrock Knob’s access road is at milepost 451.2, approximately 18 miles from the southern terminus at 469.1. That mileage covers the Parkway portion only; add the drive between Bryson City and Cherokee and the short access road.
Use the parking-area views as your main destination, or plan a hike separately. The summit is reached on foot. Check visitor-center hours independently of road access, since an open roadway doesn’t mean every facility is operating.
Before choosing this drive, check the Blue Ridge Parkway road-status page for every section you intend to use.
Find Waterrock Knob on Google Maps.
6. Cherohala Skyway: give this one a full day
The Cherohala Skyway connects the Robbinsville area in North Carolina with Tellico Plains, Tennessee, via NC 143 and TN 165 through the Nantahala and Cherokee National Forests.
From Bryson City, take US 74 west to NC 28 north, then follow NC 143 toward Robbinsville. You can return the same way, so you don’t need to figure out a different route home.
The designated scenic byway is about 43 miles one way. Your total trip is considerably longer once you add the approach from Bryson City and the return journey. Allow a full day if you want to travel to Tellico Plains and stop along the way.
Fuel up before the scenic section, bring water and food, and check the weather at elevation. Optional forest and waterfall detours need their own access checks.
Check North Carolina and Tennessee transportation alerts before departure.
Find Tellico Plains on Google Maps. Set intermediate destinations through Robbinsville and the Skyway; a town-only directions search may choose a different road.
7. Tail of the Dragon: know what kind of drive you’re choosing
The Tail of the Dragon is the famous 11-mile stretch of US 129 at Deals Gap, promoted for its 318 curves. From Bryson City, approach via US 74 west and NC 28 north.
That 11-mile figure describes the Dragon itself. It doesn’t include the drive from Bryson City or the return trip.
If you love driving winding roads, this one may be for you. For a slower day with plenty of sightseeing stops, we’d pick another drive. Take your time through the curves, follow the speed limit, and use designated parking areas when you stop.
On a slower trip, we’d give the Dragon and the Cherohala Skyway separate days. Combining famous road names on a map is easy. Enjoying the day takes a little more space.
Find Deals Gap on Google Maps.
Bonus backroad outing: Tellico Gap, Wesser Bald, and Needmore Road
Long View recommended this loop when we were looking for places to explore around Bryson City. It combines a drive through Nantahala Gorge, a stop at Tellico Gap for the hike to Wesser Bald Fire Tower, and a return along Needmore Road.
Parts of the drive are gravel, including much of the Needmore Road stretch. We saved this one for another visit after learning we couldn’t take our rented Slingshot on gravel roads.
Where the loop goes
Head past Nantahala Outdoor Center on US 19/74, then take Wayah Road to Otter Creek Road and the Tellico Gap trailhead. From there, the suggested loop follows Tellico Road to Needmore Road, which brings you back to US 19/74 toward Bryson City.
You’ll need to park at the trailhead and hike to Wesser Bald Fire Tower, so leave extra time if that’s part of your plan.
We haven’t driven this loop ourselves yet. Before going, check that the roads and trail are open and ask about road conditions to make sure your vehicle can handle the gravel sections.
An alternative return via Winding Stairs Road
For a longer backroad outing, another option connects the Needmore Road Suspension Bridge and Tellico Gap area with Queens Creek Access Area, then returns toward Bryson City via Winding Stairs Road/National Forest Road and US 19/74.
You’ll be taking forest roads on this route, so check for closures and ask about road conditions before heading out. Save this one for a day when you have something other than the Slingshot, and give yourself extra time if you want to hike to Wesser Bald or stop along the way.
Waterfall ideas to pair with a future drive
Waterfalls to consider along these drives include Mingo Falls, Soco Falls, Yellow Creek Falls, Silver Run Falls, Bust Your Butt Falls, Sliding Rock, Sunburst Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Dry Falls. Other options include French Broad Falls, Cathedral Falls, the top of Toxaway Falls, and Cullasaja Falls.
These waterfalls are spread out, so we’d pick one or two near the drive you’re taking. Check where to park, how far you’ll need to walk, and whether the trail is open before you go. If you’re hoping to swim, check whether it’s allowed and what the water conditions are like, too.
Before you head out
Give yourself time to stop
We’d pick one drive for the day and leave room for lunch or a walk. You’ll probably spot somewhere you want to pull over, and it’s nice to have time to do that without worrying about your next reservation.
Download your maps in town
Save your stops and download the map while you have service. The Google Maps links above will help you find each place, but check the directions before you go. Your GPS may choose different roads from the ones we’ve described, and you’ll still need to check for closures.
Check road access that morning
Use the Smokies conditions page and Parkway road-status page, as appropriate. Weather and construction can change your plans even when a road is normally open that season.
Plan for parking in the national park
If you’re stopping for more than 15 minutes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you’ll usually need a parking tag, even if you have a national park pass. That includes time spent walking through the tunnel or heading out on a hike. Check the NPS parking-tag details and exemptions before you go.
Renting a Slingshot?
Our rental with Appalachian Adventure Rentals made our drive a memorable part of our October trip. Ask the operator which paved routes suit your rental, the forecast, and your return deadline. Confirm current equipment, driver requirements, and permitted roads when booking.
Make Bryson City your home base
We like having time in town on either side of an outing. Breakfast before the drive, dinner afterward, and a place we’re happy to return to make the whole trip feel better.
For lodging and more ways to plan your visit, start with our Bryson City couples getaway and things to do in Bryson City. Our October visit added Long View, a Slingshot outing, and plenty of reasons to return.
Choose a road. Leave room for a stop. Dinner will still be there when you get back, as long as you didn’t book it too early.
FAQs | Frequently asked questions
Lakeview Drive, or the Road to Nowhere, is a practical choice close to town. Allow extra time if you plan to walk through the tunnel or continue onto a hiking trail.
No. Park in the designated area and walk to the tunnel. The road doesn’t continue through to Fontana Dam.
No. The seven main drives follow paved roads and don’t require a Slingshot. The bonus backroad routes include gravel, so check conditions and vehicle suitability before choosing those.
Our rental company wouldn’t allow us to take the Slingshot on gravel roads. Ask your rental company about your planned route before heading out.
No. Eleven miles is the length of the famous curving section of US 129. The approach from Bryson City and your return add substantially to the outing.
