Escaping the Crowds
Cades Cove attracts more than two million visitors annually.
Plan Around Escaping the Crowds
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Escaping the Crowds Details
Cades Cove attracts more than two million visitors annually, but there are a few ways to enjoy your visit in relative solitude. First, come in the offseason -- the park is busiest during the summer and in October for fall foliage viewing. If you are here in high season, try to tour Cades Cove on weekdays, which are less busy. Perhaps the best advice is to visit on Saturday or Wednesday mornings from May to September, when the Park Service closes the 11-mile Cades Cove loop road to vehicle traffic between dawn and 10 a.m. This is an ideal time to park your car and explore the valley on bike or foot and have the place more-or-less to yourself. In fact, most mornings are quieter in Cades Cove, since the crowds don't generally arrive until after 10 a.m.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
Region
Cades Cove
Nearby Parks Around Escaping the Crowds
Compare nearby parks around Escaping the Crowds when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Escaping the Crowds
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Escaping the Crowds while the map context is still fresh.
0.1 mi away
Cades Cove Area
Relatively accessible area for disabled visitors.
0.1 mi away
Cades Cove Area
Imagine a living-history museum like Colonial Williamsburg on a grand scale.
0.1 mi away
Cades Cove Road
Excellent place for wildlife viewing including white-tailed deer, black bear, coyote, and wild turkey.
0.1 mi away
Orientation Shelter
Parking and information on the valley's attractions.
