Foothills Parkway Jeep Tour: Small-Group Smoky Mountains Drive

Drive the Foothills Parkway with a guide at the wheel, stopping to learn the Smokies' history while you watch the ridgelines.

A small-group jeep tour of Foothills Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park lasting three hours, with a professional guide driving while you take in the views from the lower regions often called "the prettiest drive in America." The tour includes stops in Wears Valley and Townsend to learn about the park's history, time to browse local shops, and a final rough-terrain ride across private land in an open jeep. All fees, taxes and the guide are included; children from age 2 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Jeep tour through Smoky Mountains

• Meet at designated meeting point
• Board jeep for Foothills Parkway tour
• Drive through Wears Valley and Townsend
• Stop to learn about Smoky Mountains history
• Shop for trinkets
• Enjoy rough terrain ride on private land

The Experience

Three hours is enough to cover Foothills Parkway's lower regions without rushing. You board the jeep at the meeting point and head straight for Wears Valley and Townsend, the route climbing through the foothills with the guide narrating the Great Smoky Mountains' history as you go. The jeep stops several times along the drive so you can step out, take in the ridgelines, and ask questions about what you're seeing—the guide handles all the navigation and the road, which means you're free to focus on the view instead of the curves.

The stops include time to browse local shops in Wears Valley and Townsend, so if something catches your eye there's room in the itinerary. The tour closes with a shift to rougher terrain: the jeep leaves the main parkway and heads onto private land where the road gets more rugged and the ride more active. It's the kind of finish that makes the day feel complete—you've had the scenic drive, the history, and then the off-road moment that reminds you why a jeep is built the way it is.

What’s included

• Professional guide and driver for the full three hours.
• all fees and taxes.
• stops in Wears Valley and Townsend with time to shop.
• the rough-terrain ride on private land at the end of the tour.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Smoky Mountains Jeep Tours

Is this one for you?You're in a shared jeep with a small group, so the pace and stops are set by the itinerary rather than your own timing. Choose this if you want the Foothills Parkway views and the Smoky Mountains history without driving the route yourself, and if you're comfortable with a group experience where the guide controls where you stop and when you move on.

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Top questions

What is the Foothills Parkway and why is it called the prettiest drive in America?

Foothills Parkway is a scenic route through the lower regions of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, known for its views of the park's elevated ridgelines and mountain vistas. The operator describes it as "the prettiest drive in America" because of the continuous views and the way the landscape unfolds as you climb through the foothills.

Do I need any driving experience or special skills for this jeep tour?

No. The professional guide drives the jeep the entire time, so you don't need to operate the vehicle or navigate. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and children from age 2 can join.

What happens during the rough-terrain ride at the end of the tour?

After the parkway drive and the stops in Wears Valley and Townsend, the jeep leaves the main road and heads onto private land with rougher terrain. The ride becomes more active and off-road in character, giving you the feel of the jeep's capabilities before the tour ends.

Can I bring my young child on this tour?

Children from age 2 are welcome. If your child is under 5 years old, you will need to bring your own car seat for the ride.