4 days in Knoxville, Great Smoky Mountains National Park & Pigeon Forge Itinerary

A gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Knoxville embraces music culture.

Kick off your visit on the 4th (Fri): admire the masterpieces at Knoxville Museum of Art, then identify plant and animal life at Ijams Nature Center, and then steep yourself in history at Mabry-Hazen House.

For where to stay, traveler tips, other places to visit, and tourist information, read our Knoxville trip itinerary planning tool.

Dallas to Knoxville is an approximately 5-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a bus. Traveling from Dallas to Knoxville, you'll lose 1 hour due to the time zone difference. Expect little chillier temperatures when traveling from Dallas in September; daily highs in Knoxville reach 83°F and lows reach 62°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 4th (Fri) early enough to take a bus to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park contains some of the highest mountains east of the Mississippi River, but it's the ease of access that makes this national park the United States' most visited.

On the 5th (Sat), trek along Gatlinburg Trail, admire the sheer force of Laurel Falls, stroll through Fighting Creek Trail, then steep yourself in history at Walker Sisters' Cabin, then steep yourself in history at Little Greenbrier School, and finally take in the dramatic scenery at Meigs Falls.

For photos, more things to do, other places to visit, and tourist information, read Great Smoky Mountains National Park trip itinerary planning site.

Getting from Knoxville to Great Smoky Mountains National Park by bus takes about 2 hours. Expect a daytime high around 83°F in September, and nighttime lows around 62°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 6th (Sun) early enough to travel to Pigeon Forge.

A tiny town with big tourist appeal, Pigeon Forge bills itself as the "Center of Fun in the Smokies." Just a short drive from the national park protecting the diverse plant and animal life of the Great Smoky Mountains, the town features numerous places to visit, such as bars, restaurants, cafes, theaters, and shops.

Kick off your visit on the 6th (Sun): hike along Grotto Falls Parking, admire the landmark architecture of Noah Bud Ogle Cabin, see the interesting displays at Titanic Museum Attraction, then indulge your taste buds at Old Forge Distillery, then brush up on your knowledge of spirits at Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine, and finally sample the fine beverages at Ole Smoky. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: take in the awesome beauty at Clingmans Dome and then stroll through Jump Off Trail.

To see reviews, maps, traveler tips, and more tourist information, use the Pigeon Forge trip itinerary planner.

Pigeon Forge is very close to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In September, daytime highs in Pigeon Forge are 83°F, while nighttime lows are 62°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 7th (Mon) to allow enough time to travel back home.