If you are lucky enough to be visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park this summer, you can take advantage of the Vehicle-Free Wednesdays on Cades Cove Loop Road! This is a special opportunity for pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy the beauty of Cades Cove without motor vehicles, and the event takes place every Wednesday from early May to late September! Here are the top 4 reasons to experience vehicle-free Wednesdays on Cades Cove Loop Road:
1. Pleasant Walking and Cycling Conditions
One of the top reasons to experience vehicle-free Wednesdays on Cades Cove Loop Road is to take advantage of the pleasant walking and cycling conditions! Since you won’t have to share the road with any motor vehicles, you’ll feel more safe exploring all of the sights in the Cove! The 11 mile loop road offers a full day’s itinerary of sightseeing, ranging from stunning natural beauty to some of the most fascinating historical structures in Great Smoky Mountains National Park! Be sure to bring your camera along to capture some of the best photos of your vacation!
2. Excellent Wildlife Viewing Opportunities
The Cades Cove Loop Road offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities as it travels through a broad valley surrounded by mountains. There is a good chance you’ll see some white-tailed deer, and sightings of black bear, coyote, raccoon, skunk and other animals are also possible! Keep your eyes peeled as you never know what you might find along your journey! As a safety precaution, remember to keep a considerable distance between any wildlife that you might see along the loop!
3. All-Day Access to Vehicle-Free Wednesdays
If you experienced vehicle-free Wednesdays on Cades Cove Loop Road prior to 2020, you might remember that the road was only closed to vehicles on Wednesday and Saturday mornings until 10 AM from May to September. The park managers found that the traffic leading to the Cades Cove area was often gridlocked by a line of motorists waiting for the Loop Road to open to motor vehicles at 10 AM. Now you can enjoy all-day access to vehicle-free Wednesdays and don’t have to be an early riser! In fact, there seems to be a rush for parking spaces in the morning so you are better off arriving later in the day!
4. A Walk Through History
While walking along Cades Cove Loop Road, you’ll enjoy a virtual walk through history as you discover the widest variety of historic buildings of any area in the national park! Some of the structures that you’ll find scattered throughout the loop include several churches, a working grist mill, barns, log houses, and many other 18th and 19th century structures that have been faithfully restored! Be sure to pick up the self-guided tour booklet available at the entrance to the loop for information about the buildings you’ll see in the cove and the people who lived here!
Where to Stay
Need a place to stay for your visit to Cades Cove? Check out all of our cabins in the Smokies today to stay close to Cades Cove Loop Road and all of the other exciting destinations throughout Great Smoky Mountains National Park! We look forward to seeing you soon!
