Gatlinburg Driving Tour to Newfound Gap 2.5 hr - Image 1
Gatlinburg Driving Tour to Newfound Gap 2.5 hr - Image 2
Gatlinburg Driving Tour to Newfound Gap 2.5 hr - Image 3
Gatlinburg Driving Tour to Newfound Gap 2.5 hr - Image 4
Gatlinburg Driving Tour to Newfound Gap 2.5 hr - Image 5
Gatlinburg Driving Tour to Newfound Gap 2.5 hr - Image 6

Photo 1 / 6

Gatlinburg Driving Tour to Newfound Gap 2.5 hr

TourTruth score 7.0 out of 10

Average

18 reviews · Rated on 2 providers · How we score

  • Gatlinburg
  • 2 hrs 30 min
  • Updated November 2, 2026

Explore Smokies overlooks, visit Newfound Gap, and walk a stretch of the Appalachian Trail with a naturalist guide.

About this tour

Set out from Sugarlands Visitor Center on a guided drive into Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where layered ridgelines and sweeping overlooks reveal the scale of the Smokies. This Gatlinburg driving tour to Newfound Gap pairs scenic stops with stories from a professional naturalist guide.

Pause at overlooks for mountain views and photos, then visit the Rockefeller Memorial at Newfound Gap on the Tennessee and North Carolina border. Stretch your legs with a short walk along the Appalachian Trail. Depending on the day and group, your guide may also lead a gentle history walk near a clear mountain stream and offer a taste of a seasonal wild mountain treat. Snacks, an air-conditioned vehicle, and all fees and taxes are included.

The 2.5-hour Gatlinburg driving tour to Newfound Gap is suitable for all fitness levels and operates rain or shine. Meet at the Sugarlands Visitor Center flagpole, bring water, and dress for the weather. Book your place for a relaxed introduction to the park's scenery, natural history, and human stories.

Highlights

  • Admire sweeping mountain views from scenic overlooks
  • Visit the Rockefeller Memorial at Newfound Gap
  • Walk a short stretch of the Appalachian Trail
  • Hear stories about Smokies nature and history
  • Look for a seasonal wild mountain treat

What's included

Included

  • Snacks
  • All fees and taxes
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Professional naturalist guide

Not included

  • Guide gratuity
  • Drinks; bring plenty of water
  • Rain gear; emergency ponchos are available if needed
  • Private transportation

Ratings on each provider

The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.

Important information

  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated if the passenger has assistance boarding and disembarking
  • Operates in all weather; dress appropriately
Show 4 more
  • Tour requires a minimum of 2 participants
  • The itinerary may change due to road closures or events outside the operator's control
  • Meet at the flagpole at Sugarlands Visitor Center; a parking tag is required to leave a vehicle there
  • Visitor Center parking tags are available at outdoor kiosks: $5 for a day tag or $15 for a weekly tag

Frequently asked questions

Where does the tour meet?

Meet your guide at the flagpole at Sugarlands Visitor Center. The tour description also lists downtown Gatlinburg as a meeting location.

How long is the tour?

The driving tour lasts 150 minutes, or 2.5 hours.

What is the maximum group size?

A maximum of 14 people can book together.

Does the tour operate in bad weather?

Yes. The tour operates rain or shine, so dress appropriately.

Is the tour suitable for children and wheelchair users?

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated when the passenger has assistance boarding and disembarking.

How this score is calculated

This tour scores 4.76 on Viator and 5.00 on GetYourGuide. Ratings on these sites cluster near the top of the 5-star scale, so we compare each one with all other ratings on the same site before combining them.

How the score works and rating distribution in Gatlinburg
  • Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
  • Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
  • Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
  • The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 7.0.

Provider rating distribution in Gatlinburg

How many tours in Gatlinburg have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.

  • GetYourGuide
  • Viator

More Day Trips & Excursions in Gatlinburg

from $150

on Viator · GetYourGuide

Check availability