Here is a basic run down of some of the scenic routes we will be driving on during the meet! These are just guidelines, no one says you have to follow these routes or that you have to go at all, but these were recommended to me by a long time Knoxville resident. He said all of the routes are absolutely beautiful and have plenty of scenic overlook pull-offs and picnic areas.

The red spiral in the upper left corner of the map indicates the location of the hotel we are booking at.

Here are all the roads recommended:

US 129 is the road with the Tail of the Dragon. The Cade's Cove loop (337) is an incredibly beautiful road through the Smoky Mountains, and the loop really is a loop - it's one way through the loop, but on the way in and out, it's both directions. The Foothills Parkway runs along the top of a mountain ridge. The Cherohala Skyway is an exciting road to drive on, almost as good as the Tail of the Dragon.
 

This is the Dragon/Cherohala loop. We would start out gping southwest from Maryville on 411/129 going, then split off on 129 south. Following 129 through the Tail of the Dragon and into North Carolina, we would turn on the Cherohala Skyway at Robbinsville, NC. The Cherohala Skyway then ends into 68. We can either take 68 (a fairly well-travelled road) or just a mile or so before 68, take the more scenic 360 north. On 360 just south of where it meets 411 again, there is a nice swimming area called Tellico Beach that is very family-friendly. The Cherohala/Dragon loop takes approximately 3 hours to drive.

This route avoids the more dangerous Tail of the Dragon and Cherohala Skyway, and takes you through the heart of the Smoky Mountains. Start out south on 411/129 and split off on to 129 south. Just before the Tail of the Dragon, head northeast on the Foothills Parkway. It will take you to 337, and into Cade's Cove, where you can do a loop inside of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. You can then either return to the Foothills Parkway and backtrack, or continue northeast into Gatlinburg, catch 441 north through Pigeon Forge, and return to Knoxville. This trip will take approximately 2 hours.

There will be a caravan that you can join if you wish, that will travel through the Tail of the Dragon and Cherohala Skyway, and then complete the Smoky Mountain loop, stopping for a picnic lunch on a scenic overlook somewhere along the way.

Sunday the 10th will be a day full of beautiful driving!