5 Reasons to Drive the Foothills Parkway in the Smoky Mountains
If you’ve never gone on a scenic drive in the Smokies before, you’re missing out! You can see the beauty of the mountains in a whole new way without ever leaving your car! One of the best scenic drives is Foothills Parkway, and you may be wondering why you should explore this particular road. Here are 5 reasons why you should drive the Foothills Parkway in the Smoky Mountains:
1. Explore Both Sections
The history of Foothills Parkway is pretty unique compared to some of the other drives in the Smokies. Congress approved the construction of the road back in 1944, and the road was supposed to be completed in phases. Many phases have been completed, but the road is split into an East section and a West section until the middle sections are completed. Since the road is split, you’ll be able to explore two different areas of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and you won’t find that on any other scenic drive in the park!
2. See Breathtaking Views
Most people love driving Foothills Parkway in the Smoky Mountains because of the incredible views. There are quite a few overlooks where you can see different mountain peaks, and you can stop and get out at any of these pull offs. Each view is unique, so you may want to stop for every single one! These are great areas for photos, as well as just taking in the breathtaking views of the Smoky Mountains you won’t find anywhere else.
3. Rest and Relax
Another reason why you should go out and explore this scenic drive is it will allow you to rest and relax. Many people love getting out in nature to recharge from their daily lives back at home. And what better way to take it easy and let go of all the stress of work and home life than to take a beautiful drive through the mountains? You’ll love driving through Foothills Parkway as a way to rest and relax!
4. Can Drive Anytime
A huge perk of exploring Foothills Parkway in the Smoky Mountains is you can drive it virtually any time you want! This is one of many roads in the Smokies that doesn’t close seasonally, so you can access it almost any time, unless it is temporarily closed due to inclement weather. Are you an early riser? Head out to watch the sun come up as you drive. Prefer to pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the views? You can do that too! Or you can enjoy watching the sun go down on the horizon as you finish up driving along the Parkway. No matter when you want to explore the area, you’ll have access to the road!
5. It’s Close to Our Outpost
Foothills Parkway is the closest scenic drive in the Smoky Mountains to our white water rafting outpost. You won’t have to travel far if you decide after an exciting morning of rafting you want to head out and look at the mountains from the comfort of your vehicle! You’ll love being so close to a beautiful scenic drive!
Taking a drive is just one of the fun things you can do while you’re visiting the Smokies. Another activity you won’t want to miss out on is white water rafting. Get your heart racing as you make your way down the river in an inflatable raft with your friends and family! Look through our white water rafting trips, and reserve your spot today!
