8 days in Smoky Mountains & Cherokee Itinerary

Highlands is an incorporated town in Macon County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Get out of town with these interesting Highlands side-trips: Franklin (Ruby City Gems & Minerals & Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum). There's lots more to do: admire the sheer force of Dry Falls, take in the awesome beauty at Sunset Rock and Ravenel Park, tour the pleasant surroundings at Highlands Biological Station, Nature Center and Botanical Gardens, and take in the exciting artwork at The Bascom.

To find more things to do, photos, where to stay, and other tourist information, read Highlands itinerary builder site.

Durham to Highlands is an approximately 4.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of bus and car. Expect little chillier temperatures when traveling from Durham in June; daily highs in Highlands reach 81°F and lows reach 59°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 5th (Sun) so you can go by car to Cherokee.

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.

Explore Cherokee's surroundings by going to Bryson City (Nantahala on the Fly & River Rafting & Tubing) and Wheels Through Time Transportation Museum (in Maggie Valley). There's lots more to do: try your luck at Casino at Harrah’s Cherokee, see the interesting displays at Museum of the Cherokee Indian, get engrossed in the history at Mountain Farm Museum, and take in the awesome beauty at Waterrock Knob.

For maps, reviews, more things to do, and tourist information, you can read our Cherokee day trip site.

Getting from Highlands to Cherokee by car takes about 1.5 hours. Expect a daytime high around 81°F in June, and nighttime lows around 59°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 9th (Thu) to allow time to drive back home.