5 days in Smoky Mountains & Cherokee Itinerary

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Make it your trip
Fly
1
Highlands
— 1 night
Drive
2
Cherokee
— 3 nights
Fly

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Highlands — 1 night

Highlands is an incorporated town in Macon County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Start off your visit on the 20th (Thu): admire the sheer force of Whitewater Falls, take in the awesome beauty at Sunset Rock and Ravenel Park, and then take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Whiteside Mountain. On your second day here, surround yourself with nature on Lake Glenville Scenic Waterfall Cruises, admire the sheer force of Bust Your Butt Falls, then admire the sheer force of Dry Falls, and finally admire the sheer force of Bridal Veil Falls.

To find ratings, photos, other places to visit, and more tourist information, go to the Highlands road trip planner.

Newark to Highlands is an approximately 4-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of bus and car. Expect little chillier evenings in Highlands when traveling from Newark in October, with lows around 44°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 21st (Fri) to allow time to drive to Cherokee.
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Parks · Nature · Wildlife · Outdoors
Side Trips

Cherokee — 3 nights

Trails of Legends and Adventures

The center of Cherokee culture in the eastern part of the country, the town named after this Native American tribe serves as a base camp for hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains.
You'll visit kid-friendly attractions like River Rafting & Tubing and Museum of the Cherokee Indian. Change things up with these side-trips from Cherokee: Wheels Through Time Transportation Museum (in Maggie Valley), Otter Creek Trout Farm (in Topton) and Nantahala River Gem Mine (in Bryson City). There's much more to do: admire the sheer force of Mingo Falls, contemplate the long history of Mingus Mill, and take in the awesome beauty at Waterrock Knob.

To find photos, maps, traveler tips, and tourist information, refer to the Cherokee trip builder.

Traveling by car from Highlands to Cherokee takes 1.5 hours. In October in Cherokee, expect temperatures between 70°F during the day and 44°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 24th (Mon) to allow time to fly back home.
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Parks · Nature · Museums · Historic Sites
Side Trips