9 days in Gatlinburg & Asheville Itinerary

Nestled in the lush, wooded forests of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg is Tennessee’s premier mountain resort destination.

Get in touch with nature at Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Roaring Fork. Change things up with these side-trips from Gatlinburg: Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Clingmans Dome, &more). Next up on the itinerary: brush up on your knowledge of spirits at Sugarlands Distilling Company, trek along Middle Prong Trail, tour the pleasant surroundings at Alum Cave Trail, and whizz through the canopy at some of the top local zipline courses and adventure parks.

For photos, other places to visit, traveler tips, and other tourist information, read Gatlinburg trip itinerary builder app.

Tampa to Gatlinburg is an approximately 7.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of bus and car. Traveling from Tampa in October, things will get a bit cooler in Gatlinburg: highs are around 74°F and lows about 51°F. You will leave for Asheville on the 15th (Thu).

Asheville nestles between two major mountain ranges in the scenic western section of North Carolina.

Step out of the city life by going to Blue Ridge Pkwy and Dry Falls. There's much more to do: surround yourself with nature on Tumblestone Tours and Transportation, take in the exciting artwork at St.Claire Art, admire the natural beauty at The North Carolina Arboretum, and sample some tasty brews at BREW-ed.

For other places to visit, photos, and more tourist information, read Asheville trip planner.

You can drive from Gatlinburg to Asheville in 2 hours. In October, plan for daily highs up to 70°F, and evening lows to 47°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 18th (Sun) to allow enough time to travel back home.