Great Smoky Mountains scenic drive: Clingmans Dome & Newfound Gap

Drive above the clouds and stand on the state line where Roosevelt dedicated the park

A three-hour scenic driving tour through Great Smoky Mountains National Park that climbs to high elevations along Newfound Gap Road, stops at overlooks above 5,000 feet, and reaches Clingmans Dome at 6,643 feet. A guide shares stories of the Cherokee, the Appalachian Trail, and how the forest reclaimed itself after logging. Weather permitting, you'll walk through the spruce-fir forest at the summit.

Step-by-step itinerary

Scenic drive and mountain views

• Drive Newfound Gap Road
• Stop at scenic overlooks
• Visit Newfound Gap state line
• Arrive at Clingmans Dome parking
• Optional walk in spruce-fir forest

The Experience

The drive starts on Newfound Gap Road, a 13-mile stretch through Sugarlands Valley that ranks among the most scenic routes in the Southeast. Your guide walks you through the people, plants, animals and history of the mountains as you stop at several overlooks to photograph the towering ridges and dark valleys below. The road climbs steadily into higher elevations, and the air cools as the forest changes.

Newfound Gap itself sits at more than 5,000 feet on the state line between Tennessee and North Carolina, with the Sugarland Valley dropping away to the north and the Oconaluftee Valley to the south. The Appalachian Trail passes through this point next to the stone stage where President Franklin Roosevelt dedicated Great Smoky Mountains National Park. From here you can see as many as seven states on a clear day.

The final destination is Clingmans Dome, the highest point in the park at 6,643 feet. If weather allows, you'll walk among the spruce and fir trees at the summit and learn about this unique high-elevation forest environment, the place the Cherokee called Kuwahi. The tour includes bottled water and snacks throughout the drive.

What’s included

• Bottled water and snacks throughout the drive.
• a live guide in English who shares Native American stories and the history of logging in the park.
• stops at scenic overlooks along Newfound Gap Road.
• access to Clingmans Dome parking area and gift shop.
• an optional walk through the spruce-fir forest at the summit if weather permits.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Smoky Mountain Guides

Is this one for you?You get a full day's worth of high-elevation views and history compressed into three hours, which is what makes it possible to see the park's highest point and learn its stories without committing to a longer outing or driving the route on your own.

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Top questions

What is Clingmans Dome and why does this tour end there?

Clingmans Dome is the highest point in Great Smoky Mountains National Park at 6,643 feet, offering sweeping views across as many as seven states on clear days. The tour ends there so you can walk among the spruce-fir forest at the summit and learn about this rare high-elevation ecosystem before returning.

Will I learn about the Appalachian Trail on this tour?

Yes. At Newfound Gap, your guide will point out where the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail passes through the park, right next to the stone stage where President Franklin Roosevelt gave the park dedication speech.

What happens if the weather is bad at Clingmans Dome?

The optional short walk through the spruce-fir forest at the summit depends on weather. If conditions don't permit, you'll still reach Clingmans Dome and its parking area and gift shop, but the forest walk may not happen.