14 Fun Things To Do In Cades Cove

Cades Cove is by far the most popular destination inside of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As one of the most visited spots within the park, you can imagine the crowds that this lush valley draws daily. The 11-mile one-way loop road circles the cove and can take between 2 to 4 hours to complete. This Ultimate Guide to Cades Cove will cover everything you need to know to make the most of your time in the cove.  

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The Basics: Cades Cove

Where Is Cades Cove?: 

Cades Cove is on the far west side of the park. It’s not close to the more popular places to stay. 

1 hour and 9 mins drive from Pigeon Forge 

1 hour and 20 mins drive from Gatlinburg

You can get a Cades Cove map when you enter the cove or check out this MAP.

Where Should I Stay?: 

These are the closest options – 

Cades Cove Campground (20 mins) –

10042 Campground Dr, Townsend, TN 37882

As of July 1, 2020, campsites can be reserved through December 31, 2020. You can find availability and book campsites here.

This campground offers standard nonelectric and tent-only sites. 

Pets are permitted but cannot be left unattended. All pets must be kept on a six-foot leash at all times. Pets are not allowed on trails. Click here for Dog-Friendly Hikes in the Smokies.

Townsend (30 mins) – 

Townsend is known as the “quiet side” of the park, and it really is when compared to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. I really enjoyed staying in Townsend on my second visit to the Smokies in June of 2020.  

I stayed in this cute, cozy cabin Airbnb and highly recommend it. 

Elkmont Campground (45 mins) – 

Elkmont Campground Rd A, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

This is the largest and busiest campground in the park, but for good reason, you can camp waterfront right on the Little River. It’s right off Little River Gorge Road and pretty centrally located. 

You can find availability and book campsites here.

Elkmont Campground has 200 tent / RV campsites with paved driveways, gravel tent pads, fire rings, and picnic tables. Nine of Elkmont’s campsites are wheelchair-accessible ADA sites.

Pets are permitted but cannot be left unattended. All pets must be kept on a six-foot leash at all times. Pets are not allowed on trails. Click here for Dog-Friendly Hikes in the Smokies.

Know Before You Go: Cades Cove Edition

• In 2021, Cades Cove will be vehicle-free each Wednesday from May 5 – Sept 1. You can rent bicycles here for $7.50 per hour per adult and $4.50 per hour per child. The last rentals go out no later than 3 pm. 
• Admission to Cades Cove is technically free, but there are several donation boxes throughout the drive. Donate if you can! 
• There is no idling policy in this part of the park, so turn off your car if you are just sitting in a pull-off area.
• Around 2 million people visit Cades Cove each year, so you can imagine how many people try to travel the loop road each day. If you are expecting serenity, you won’t find it here, at least not at the peak hours of the day.

• The max speed limit is 20 mph, but most of the time, you will be going about 10 mph.
• Give yourself between 2-4 hours to complete the 11-mile loop road. Especially at sunset when it’s incredibly busy.
• Usually, Cades Cove is open from sunrise to sunset, but this changes depending on the seasons, so check before you go.

Even More To Know Before You Go:

• This is a dog-friendly option if you are not planning to check out any trails or historic building. Trust me, Loki had THE best time riding in the bed of the truck through Cades Cove at sunset. For more dog-friendly options in the Smokies, click here.
• If riding in the bed of a truck, I highly recommend bringing lawn chairs or blankets because truck bed lining is NOT at all forgiving on the knees. 
• If you are interested in spotting bears, bring binoculars and a zoom lens for photographing them. 
• Bears are most active in spring and summer in the early morning and late evening hours. Mating usually takes place in July. Both female and male bears may have more than one mate during the summer and are more active during mating season. 

• You will not see elk in Cades Cove. To see the elk, head over to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, where they are found most often in the Cataloochee Valley. 
• Be prepared for traffic jams at the end of the loop road at sunset. After all, everyone is looking for deer and bears, and you all have to leave the same way. 

Sips & Eats Guide: Cades Cove

Smokin’ Joes BBQ –

• Where: 7753 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Townsend, TN 37882
• Hours: 11 am – 9 pm daily
• Phone: (865) 448-6881

I actually went to the restaurant to check out the menu. It’s posted outside at 3 or 4 different spots on the windows. You call in to order your takeout, and they come out to collect payment. It was really quick and SO delicious. Highly recommend checking out Smokin’ Joes BBQ. 

The Riverstone Restaurant – 

• Where: 8503 TN-73, Townsend, TN 37882
• Hours: 7:30 am – 10 pm 
• Phone: (865) 448-8816

Known for its down-home American grub.

Burger Master Drive-In –

• Where: 8439 TN-73, Townsend, TN 37882
• Hours: Daily 11 am – 9 pm 
• Phone: (865) 448-8408

Easygoing, fast-food option with outdoor seating offering burgers, hot dogs, fries & milkshakes.

Cades Cove is truly beautiful, and it really does provide a time-machine-like transportation to the days of old! Let’s get to 14 Fun Things To Do In Cades Cove…

14 Fun Things To Do In Cades Cove

1. Take In A Sunrise On Cades Cove Loop Road

If you are looking to spot wildlife at Cades Cove, then you can’t do much better than sunrise. Sunrise tends to be less crowded than sunset, and that means more wildlife activity. Plus, most people don’t want to set alarms on trips, so the cove tends to be quieter than it is during the day or at sunset. Take your time and pay attention, and you are sure to spot some wildlife and a gorgeous sunrise on the loop road.

2. Rent A Bike To Ride Through The Cove

Cades Cove is one of the few areas in the park that you can bike through. In fact, they close the road to motorists a few days a week for this reason, every Wednesday from May 5 to September 1.

Give yourself time; expect it to take at least an hour. For most, I suggest you plan for about 2 hours. Aim for 3- 4 hours if you want to stop and explore some of the sites on the loop (and you will want to).

You can bring your own bike or rent one from –

Cades Cove Campground Store

• 10035 Campground Dr, Townsend, TN 37882
• (865) 448-9034
• Rental bikes are available on a first-come, first-served basis at 7:30 am on Wednesdays and at 9 am other days of the week
• $7.50 Per Hour For Adults, $4.50 Per House For Kids
• Helmets Are Included With Each Rental
• Find Out More HERE

3. Check Out John Oliver Place

The John Oliver place will most likely be your first stop on the Cades Cove loop. It is basically everyone’s first stop, which means the parking situation can be a bit of a mess during peak hours.

The cabin itself was built in the 1820s and is the oldest log home in the park. Although it was gorgeous and the craftsmanship was really impressive, I think I was expecting something to be inside these structures (think Colonial Williamsburg), but they are all completely empty. This might be for better preservation, and I completely understand and support preservation efforts. 

4. Ride Through The Cove In A Truck Bed

Loki & I had the chance to do this on our last trip to the Great Smoky Mountains, and he was never happier than riding through Cades Cove in the bed of a truck. Of course, if you plan on doing this, then take the proper precautions, especially with a dog. Loki was always under my control. Trust me, you do not want your pup to jump out of bed and chase wildlife.

The speed limit on this loop is roughly 11 mph, and you rarely go that fast because of traffic.

5. Visit The Missionary Baptist Church

The Missionary Baptist Church was founded in 1839, and the church itself was built in 1915. It’s a nice stop to check out this charming church and be transported back in time. This congregation was the first of three churches established in Cades Cove. They experienced a major split due to different religious interpretations regarding temperance societies, Sunday School, and missionary work.

6. Bring The Pups

Driving the loop road is one of the few dog-friendly options within park boundaries at Great Smoky Mountains. Pets are not allowed on any hiking trails or in historic structures, but they can be in your car as you drive through the cove.

Check Out: The Best Dog-Friendly Hikes In The Smokies

7. Stop At The Cades Cove Visitor Center

This visitor center has indoor and outdoor Southern Mountain life and culture exhibits. Including a Cable Mill, a grist mill that operates spring through fall, the Becky Cable house, and other historic structures.

Be aware that the Visitor Center is insanely busy most of the day, but it didn’t help that I stopped right around lunchtime. Make sure to walk behind the visitor center to see the Cable Mill Area, but it was so packed with people that there was a line to get inside the incredibly small building. 

8. Hike To A Waterfall In Cades Cove

There are so many great hikes that are along Cades Cove Loop Road. Check out some of these…

Abrams Falls

• Distance: 5.5 miles
• Rating: Moderate
• Elevation Gain: 629 ft

Laurel Falls

• Distance: 2.4-miles
• Rating: Easy
• Elevation Gain: 396 ft
• This is one of the most popular hikes in the park. It’s a great idea to get here as early as possible

Check Out: Don’t Miss This Secluded Waterfall In The Smokies

9. Check Out The Dan Lawson Place

The Dan Lawson Place was built in 1856 and is probably my favorite historical building in Cades Cove. Interestingly, the original house of hewn logs was built before the cove had a sawmill. It’s incredibly impressive. Over the years, Lawson expanded both his land holdings and his residence. The cabin had been expanded to have a large porch and an additional second story. Lawson’s land eventually stretched from ridge to ridge!

10. Don’t Skip Tipton Place

Tipton Place, the home was built in the 1820s and settled by Revolutionary War Veteran William “Fighting Billy” Tipton. He built the large cabin in the early 1870s. The homestead was impressive with its two-story cabin, double-pen corn crib, old-fashioned bee gums, blacksmith shop, and cantilever barn. Fighting Billy was actually the dominant land speculator in Cades Cove.

Check Out: The Historic Ghost Town In The Smokies

11. Camp In Cades Cove

One of the best ways to experience Cades Cove is by camping! As you can see, there is plenty to do in the cove, and staying in this campground will allow you to do all of it.

Cades Cove Campground

• 10042 Campground Dr, Townsend, TN 37882
• You can find availability and book campsites HERE
• This campground offers standard nonelectric, and tent-only sites
• Pets are permitted but cannot be left unattended. All pets must be kept on a six-foot leash at all times. Pets are not allowed on trails in Cades Cove

12. View All The Wildlife

What can you see in Cades Cove?

• Black Bear
• Whitetail Deer
• Fox
• Bobcat (unlikely)
• Turkey
• Coyotes

The best time to visit the cove for wildlife viewing is sunrise or sunset, when the animals are most active. I’ve been to Cades Cove about 5 times now – I’ve seen a lot of deer, turkey, and possibly black bears. It was one of those “Is that just a big rock or a black bear?” situations.

The Cherokee hunted deer, bison, elk, and bears in the cove. Thanks to the protection offered by the National Park Service the deer population is very healthy in Cades Cove. I saw at least 10 to 12 deer on each of my sunsets drives through the cove. 

Of course, the black bear is the main draw, the enormous animal that everyone wants to see when visiting the Smokies. There are about 1500 black bears in the park, which makes it seem like the odds are in your favor. However, I saw exactly 0 bears in Cades Cove during my daytime and sunset visits in 2018.

Keep in mind that if you are lucky enough to spot a bear, you don’t want to approach it. They are very powerful and dangerous animals, and it is illegal to approach them within 50 yards (or 150 feet). Also, do not allow bears to approach you; never try to feed wild animals. For more bear safety tips, click here.

13. See Cades Cove From Horseback

When you first arrive In Cades Cove, you will notice all of the gorgeous horses grazing off to the left. These beauties belong to the Cades Cove Riding Stables.

Cades Cove Riding Stables

• 10018 Campground Dr, Townsend, TN 37882
• (865) 448-9009
• 9 a.m to 4:30 p.m (March 14 – November 30)
• At Cades Cove Riding Stables, you can choose whether to go on a trail ride, carriage ride, or hayride
• $30 per hour trail ride, $12 per half-hour carriage ride, $12 per one-and-a-half-hour hayride, $14 per two hours hayride led by a park ranger
• Reservations are only necessary for group carriage rides

14. Don’t Skip Sunset In Cades Cove –

Sunset is pretty special in Cades Cove. I got a completely different vibe from Cades Cove at Sunset. Although it was no less packed with people and vehicles than it was earlier in the day, my sunset drive through the cove felt more relaxed and peaceful. 

As the sun sets, the cove gets an otherworldly vibe to it. It’s truly lovely, and honestly, after the sunset drive, I can see why everyone suggests that Cades Cove is THE place to visit while in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

History Nugget: 

Historically speaking, the cove itself has a long and rich history. According to the National Park Service, Cades Cove, while used as hunting grounds for the Cherokee, was never actually settled by them.

That’s right, the Cherokee never lived in the cove and referred to it as the river otter place. It remains unclear why the Cherokee never settled here, but the first European settlers ended up here sometime in the early 1800s. Within the first 10 years of settlement, the population in Cades Cove swelled.

Living In The Cove

Cades Cove has always been a great place to visit, but for over 100 years, it was also a fantastic place to live. Joshua Jobe and his family were one of the first to settle in Cades Cove in 1821.

Most of the settlers moving to this area came from nearby Virginia and North Carolina. Other early families included the Tiptons, Olivers, Cables, and Gregory.  At this time, the land in Cades Cove was rich and fertile, which made it perfect for producing crops.  Corn was the major crop of the Cove. 

The Cove was a farming community, first and foremost. The settlers learned quickly that Cades Cove made great grazing land for cattle. You see, they figured out that if they took their cattle to the balds high in the mountains, they gained weight very quickly. 

Settlements

In order to build their settlement, the people of Cades Cove had to clear the land to build their log homes, barns, smokehouses, and corncribs. Since corn was the number 1 crop of the cove, mills were necessary from the very beginning.

What started as tiny “tub” mills that were only able to crack corn turned into stone mills that were able to grind corn into a fine powder. It took until about 1831 for the Cove to build a more sophisticated stone mill. Gristmills were, in fact, the cove’s first industry. 

The plentiful and verdant valley began to have a reputation as a paradise, and the population boomed. Starting with just a handful of settlers in 1821, by 1850, its population swelled to 685, that’s 132 different families. Keep in mind that at this time, it wasn’t uncommon for a couple to have 10 to 12 children, can you imagine? 

Becoming A National Park

In 1934 the National Park Service banned grazing on the balds, and this was also the year that the land was established as a National Park.  The states of Tennessee and North Carolina bought most of the land that is now considered the park and gave it to the federal government.

Interestingly, while most previously established National Parks were founded on lands that were already owned by the federal government, that was not the case with Great Smoky Mountains. All of Great Smokie’s lands were privately owned before it was bought specifically to establish a National Park. 

Most of the farmers in the Cove didn’t resist the states selling the land to the government. But there are always a few. For instance, John W. Oliver fought the state in court for more than 6 years. His family was one of the first settlers in the cove, and he felt the land was not the state to sell. His case made it as high as the Tennessee Supreme Court 3 different times, but eventually, he lost. However, it wasn’t an all-or-nothing scenario for the property owners in Cades Cove. 

Living Out Their Days

Those who were willing to accept less money for their lands were welcomed to stay and live out the rest of their days in the cove.  With the understanding that their descendants would not be permitted to live in Cades Cove after their death. Many did end up staying in the cove, but even those who decided to stay eventually left before their death. So many left that the last school in Cades Cove closed in 1944, and the post office closed in 1947. 

In fact, 18 lumber companies owned more than 85% of what is now the park. They had logged 2/3 to ¾ of the area. Sadly, deforestation and hunting led to a decline in the deer population, and only about 30 deer remained when the park was established. Most of the deer that remained were in Cades Cove, but it was a far cry from the plentiful deer population when the cove was first settled. 

Enjoying History

Visitors today can enjoy the historical buildings, and it is one of the best places for wildlife viewing in the park. It is truly a place that can transport you back in time. Historical buildings include John Oliver Place, Primitive Baptist Church, Methodist Church, Elijah Oliver Place, Cable Mill Area (and Visitor Center), Dan Lawson Place, and Tipton Place.

It’s easy to see why Cades Cove is such a popular destination inside the park. It has a time machine effect, especially if you ride through on a bike. It’s a great place (arguably the best place) to see wildlife in the park. And it’s dog friendly; what’s not to love? Do yourself a favor and check it out! You won’t regret spending some time here, I promise! 

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