17 days in Great Smoky Mountains National Park & Memphis Itinerary

Great Smoky Mountains National Park contains some of the highest mountains east of the Mississippi River, but it's the ease of access that makes this national park the United States' most visited.

Start off your visit on the 1st (Thu): look for all kinds of wild species at Quiet Walkways, then admire the sheer force of Baskins Creek Falls, then contemplate the waterfront views at Place of A Thousand Drips, and finally appreciate the history behind Rockefeller Memorial. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 2nd (Fri): walk around Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area, hike along Metcalf Bottoms Trail, and then steep yourself in history at Little Greenbrier School.

To see where to stay, other places to visit, traveler tips, and more tourist information, use the Great Smoky Mountains National Park trip itinerary planning tool.

If you are flying in from Spain, the closest major aiports are McGhee Tyson Airport, Asheville Regional Airport and Tri-Cities Regional TN/VA Airport. June in Great Smoky Mountains National Park sees daily highs of 35°C and lows of 22°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 3rd (Sat) to allow enough time to fly to Memphis.

The largest city on the Mississippi River, Memphis bills itself as both the "Birthplace of Rock" and "Home of the Blues." With such a rich musical heritage, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Elvis Presley chose to live in Memphis during his later years.

You'll discover tucked-away gems like Elvis Presley Birthplace & Museum and Belz Museum of Asian & Judaic Art. Get in touch with nature at Natchez Trace Parkway and Mississippi River State Park. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Memphis: Corinth (Corinth Coke Museum, Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center, &more), Tupelo Automobile Museum (in Tupelo) and Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park (in Millington). And it doesn't end there: explore the galleries of Stax Museum of American Soul Music, contemplate the long history of Slave Haven / Burkle Estate Museum, walk around Shelby Farms Park, and stroll the grounds of Elmwood Cemetery.

To find maps, ratings, photos, and other tourist information, go to the Memphis sightseeing planner.

You can fly from Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Memphis in 5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and subway; or take a bus. Traveling from Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Memphis, you'll gain 1 hour due to the time zone difference. In June in Memphis, expect temperatures between 37°C during the day and 25°C at night.