05/08/2026
Absolutely take the Maryville route and take Foothills Parkway to get to the cabin and bypass the Pigeon Forge traffic. An absolutely stunning drive !
The Foothills Parkway in Tennessee is often called the "Drive of the Smokies" because it offers some of the most stunning mountain views in the country. It has a unique and long history, as it is the oldest unfinished highway project in the state. Authorized by Congress back in 1944, the road was meant to be a 72-mile scenic route along the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but challenging terrain and funding issues kept it in pieces for decades.
The most famous part of its history is the "Missing Link". For over 50 years, a 1.6-mile section between Walland and Wears Valley sat empty because the mountains were too steep to build a traditional road. Engineers finally solved this in 2018 by building a series of nine massive bridges that "float" along the edge of the ridge. Now, you can drive a continuous 33-mile stretch that feels like you are soaring above the clouds.
If you want to stretch your legs, the best place to stop is Look Rock. A short, half-mile paved path leads you from the parking area to an observation tower. From the top, you get a 360-degree view where you can see the highest peaks of the Smokies in one direction and the flat Tennessee Valley in the other. On a clear day, you can see for 50 miles out over the beautiful Smoky Mountains!