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The open meadow of Cades Cove ringed by forested Smoky Mountain ridges under streaky October clouds

Great Smoky Mountains · The quiet side

Cades Cove: 11 miles, one way.

The loop through the cove is the Smokies' slow drive: one lane, one direction, two to four hours. It is also 32.3 miles from Knoxville's airport, the closest major park area to TYS.

Check my date

Photo: Missvain, CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Short answer

The Cades Cove Loop Road is an 11-mile, one-way loop, open to vehicles from sunrise to sunset. NPS says to allow two to four hours. From May through September it is closed to cars on Wednesdays: in 2026 that ran from May 6 to September 30. From Knoxville's airport it is 32.3 miles, about 1h 03m without traffic.

Checked October 19, 2026
11miles of one-way loop road (NPS).
2-4hours NPS says to allow for the loop.
22vehicle-free Wednesdays on the 2026 schedule.
32.3road miles from the TYS terminal.

Interactive

Can I drive the loop that day?

Pick a date. The checker applies the NPS vehicle-free schedule, fee-free days and the Cable Mill season, and calculates sunrise and sunset at the cove so you know the loop's open window.

Cades Cove date checkerNPS 2026 schedule

The loop can still close for weather, wildlife or incidents. Check NPS current closures on the day.

Pick a date

On the 2026 schedule, Wednesdays from May 6 to September 30 are vehicle-free. Every other day the loop is open to cars from sunrise to sunset.

    May 2026

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    June 2026

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    July 2026

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    September 2026

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    Vehicle-free Wednesday (no cars)Fee-free day (no tag needed)
    The open meadow of Cades Cove ringed by forested Smoky Mountain ridges under streaky October clouds

    Vehicle-free Wednesdays

    One day a week, the cove is quiet.

    On vehicle-free Wednesdays the whole loop is open only to people on foot and on bikes. Plan a walk or a ride, or move your drive to another day.

    Photo: Missvain, CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

    Know before you go

    The loop, in facts.

    Length11 miles, one way

    The loop circles the cove in one direction (NPS).

    HoursSunrise to sunset

    Open to vehicles daily outside vehicle-free days (NPS).

    Time2 to 4 hours

    NPS: allow at least two to four hours.

    Cable Mill9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    Open daily March 15 to November 29, 2026, near the midpoint of the loop.

    ElevationAbout 1,750 feet

    At the Cable Mill area (USGS elevation data).

    ExitsTwo seasonal gravel roads

    Rich Mountain Road: 04/10 to 11/09, 2026; Parson Branch Road: 05/01 to 11/09, 2026.

    Drive times

    Getting there from the airport

    Cades Cove is the closest major park area to TYS. The route runs through Maryville and Townsend on US-321, then Laurel Creek Road into the cove.

    TYS to Townsend21.1 mi · 35 min

    The last town before the park on this side.

    TYS to the loop32.3 mi · 1h 03m

    Free-flow time to the start of the loop road.

    Gatlinburg to the loop28 mi · 1h 11m

    Via Little River Road inside the park.

    Pigeon Forge to the loop26.7 mi · 58 min

    Free-flow OSRM estimate.

    More Smokies

    Pair it with.

    Fall color
    OctoberFall colorThe cove sits below 4,000 feet, where color peaks later.
    Parking tag
    NPS tagsParking tagNeeded to park on the loop.
    Winter roads
    WinterWinter roadsRich Mountain and Parson Branch close for the season.
    Where to stay
    Base campWhere to stayTownsend is closest to the cove.

    Plan more

    Questions

    How long is the Cades Cove loop?
    NPS describes it as an 11-mile, one-way loop road, and says to allow at least two to four hours to tour the cove.
    What days is Cades Cove closed to cars?
    Wednesdays, typically from May through September. In 2026 NPS scheduled vehicle-free Wednesdays from May 6 to September 30, when the loop is open only to walkers and cyclists.
    What time does Cades Cove open?
    NPS says the Cades Cove Loop Road is open sunrise to sunset each day. Use the date checker on this page for calculated sunrise and sunset on your date.
    How far is Cades Cove from the Knoxville airport?
    32.3 miles, about 1h 03m with no traffic, through Maryville and Townsend on US-321 (OSRM).
    Do you need a parking tag for Cades Cove?
    Yes, if you park for more than 15 minutes anywhere in the park, including along the loop. Tags cost $5 daily, $15 weekly or $40 annual.
    When is the Cable Mill area open?
    NPS lists the Cable Mill area, near the midpoint of the loop, as open daily from March 15 to November 29, 2026, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    Sources

    1. NPS: Cades Cove (updated Jan 21, 2026)
    2. NPS: Cades Cove vehicle-free days (updated Feb 9, 2026)
    3. NPS: Visitor centers (updated Jan 3, 2026)
    4. NPS: Seasonal road schedule (updated Apr 20, 2026)
    5. NPS: Current road, facility and trail closures (updated Oct 15, 2026)
    6. NPS: Fees and passes, parking tags (updated Oct 8, 2026)
    7. OSRM driving routes on OpenStreetMap data (free-flow, fetched Oct 19, 2026)
    8. USGS 3DEP 10 m elevation via OpenTopoData (point lookups, Oct 19, 2026)