Great Smoky Mountains + Blue Ridge Parkway — The 7-Day RV Trip

Typical rate: $1,800-$2,400 all-in for two people, 7 days

By Rob Boirun · Founder & Digital Strategy Lead · Updated June 7, 2026

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most-visited NP in the country, and the Blue Ridge Parkway is its companion scenic drive. The 7-day combined trip is the eastern US flagship RV experience — and the cheapest flagship NP trip in the country (GSMNP has no entrance fee).

The trip at a glance

Length: 7 days
Launch: Knoxville TN OR Asheville NC (both work; Knoxville starts on west side, Asheville on east side)
Distance: ~400 miles
Recommended class: Class C 26-30 ft (fits Smokies campgrounds, manageable on Newfound Gap)
All-in budget: $1,800-$2,400 for two people
Best months: September-October (peak foliage but expensive), April-May (spring), winter (cheaper, milder than expected)

Day-by-day itinerary (from Knoxville)

Day 1: Knoxville pickup → Smokies west side

Morning: Pick up RV from Knoxville rental (Fireside Knoxville, Outdoorsy, RVshare)
Drive: Knoxville to Cades Cove Campground — 50 miles, 1h 10min
Afternoon: Cades Cove Loop (11-mile one-way single lane; allow 2-3 hours)
Wildlife: Bears, white-tailed deer, wild turkeys common in Cades Cove
Camp: Cades Cove Campground ($25/night)

Day 2: Cades Cove full day

Morning: Abrams Falls hike (5 miles round-trip, family-friendly)
Afternoon: Sparks Lane and Hyatt Lane scenic drives
Evening: Cades Cove sunset wildlife
Camp: Cades Cove

Day 3: Cades Cove → Newfound Gap → Elkmont

Morning: Drive Cades Cove Loop one final time
Drive: Cades Cove to Newfound Gap (US 441) — 38 miles, 1h 15min
Stops: Sugarlands Visitor Center, Newfound Gap parking (5,046 ft elevation), Rockefeller Memorial
Afternoon: Continue to Elkmont Campground (or stay south to camp at Smokemont Campground if going to Cherokee NC)
Camp: Elkmont Campground ($25/night) — books 6 months ahead

Day 4: Elkmont area exploration

Morning: Little River Trail hike (Elkmont area)
Afternoon: Tremont area; Middle Prong Trail
Evening: Drive into Gatlinburg for dinner
Camp: Elkmont

Day 5: Crossing to Asheville via Blue Ridge Parkway entrance

Morning: Pack up Elkmont, drive Newfound Gap south to Cherokee, NC
Stops: Mingus Mill, Mountain Farm Museum (Smokemont Visitor Center)
Drive onto Blue Ridge Parkway: Cherokee BRP entrance to Mt. Mitchell area — 80 miles
Evening: Set up at Linville Falls Campground (mile 316 of Parkway)
Camp: Linville Falls Campground ($25/night)

Day 6: Blue Ridge Parkway north + Asheville

Morning: Linville Falls hike (1.5 miles to falls)
Drive: Parkway south toward Asheville — 80 miles
Stops: Crabtree Falls, Mt. Mitchell (highest peak east of Mississippi at 6,684 ft)
Afternoon: Arrive Asheville KOA or Mama Gertie’s Mountain Resort
Evening: Asheville dinner (River Arts District or downtown)
Camp: Asheville KOA ($55-85/night)

Day 7: Asheville area + return

Morning: Biltmore Estate or Western North Carolina Nature Center
Drive: Asheville back to Knoxville (110 miles, 2h via I-40 West)
Alternative: Drop off in Asheville if you found one-way pricing that works
Late afternoon: Empty tanks, refuel, return rental

All-in budget breakdown

For two people, 7 days, Class C 26-28 ft from Knoxville:

Line item	Amount
Class C rental: $175/night × 7 nights	$1,225
Booking fees + insurance + cleaning	$400-$550
Fuel (400 miles @ 8 mpg @ $3.40/gal — east TN/NC cheap)	$170
GSMNP parking permit ($5/day × 7 days OR $40 annual)	$35-40
Campground fees (NPS $25/night × 5 nights, Asheville KOA $75 × 2)	$275
Food, propane, activities, dining (2 people)	$400-$700
Total all-in for 7 days	$2,505-$2,960

The Smokies/Blue Ridge trip is the cheapest flagship NP trip in the US. No park entrance fee at Smokies and Blue Ridge Parkway, lower fuel costs in the Southeast, cheaper rental rates than Western markets.

Reservation timing

Critical for October: GSMNP campgrounds (Cades Cove, Elkmont) book 6 months ahead and fill within minutes for October weekends. Set Recreation.gov alarm.

Cades Cove: opens 6 months ahead at 10:00 AM Eastern via Recreation.gov
Elkmont: opens 6 months ahead at 10:00 AM Eastern via Recreation.gov
Smokemont (NC side): opens 6 months ahead via Recreation.gov
Linville Falls (BRP): opens 6 months ahead via Recreation.gov
Asheville KOA: books direct via KOA system

Fall foliage timing

Peak fall colors in the Smokies and Blue Ridge:

Late September: Higher elevations start (Roan Mountain, Mt. Mitchell)
Early-Mid October: Mid-elevation peak (Newfound Gap area)
Late October: Lower elevations (Cherokee, Gatlinburg area)
Early November: Color extends to Asheville and Knoxville valley

Plan around the elevation-driven progression. Most peak weekends sell out 8-12 weeks ahead. Off-peak (September weekdays, late November weekdays) saves 30-40% on rental rates.

What can go wrong (and what to do)

Newfound Gap closures: US-441 occasionally closes for ice (November-March) or fallen trees. Check nps.gov/grsm.
Cades Cove Loop traffic: wildlife stops can take 30+ minutes. Plan 2.5-3 hours for the 11-mile loop. Avoid Wednesday mornings (closed to motor vehicles May-September).
Smokies generator restrictions: Quiet hours 8 PM to 8 AM at NPS campgrounds.
Black bears: Common in both areas. Bear-safe food storage required.
Blue Ridge Parkway tunnel clearances: 12’7” clearance in places. Most Class C clears; verify if your specific rental is taller.

Variations

From Asheville reverse direction

Start at Asheville, drive Blue Ridge Parkway south, enter Smokies from NC side, finish at Knoxville or return to Asheville.

10-day extended version

Add 2 days at Pigeon Forge / Dollywood for family-friendly stop
Add 1 day at Roan Mountain or Mt. Mitchell extended hiking

Off-season alternative (November-March)

Lower rates (20-30% off summer)
Mild weather most years
Limited services in Cades Cove and Elkmont
Some Blue Ridge Parkway sections closed for snow/ice

Class choice math

RV Class	Smokies + BRP Fit
Class B under 22 ft	Fits everything but cramped for family of 4+
Class C 24-30 ft	Sweet spot — fits all NPS sites, handles Newfound Gap
Class C 30-35 ft	Cades Cove yes, Elkmont tight at 35 ft
Class A 30-35 ft	Cades Cove works; tight elsewhere
Class A 35+ ft	Skip; doesn’t fit Smokies campgrounds

For most renters, Class C 28 ft is ideal.

Bottom line

The 7-day Smokies + Blue Ridge Parkway is the eastern US flagship and the cheapest flagship NP RV trip. Budget $2,200-$2,800 for two people. Class C 28 ft. Book 6 months ahead for fall foliage; flexible booking for other seasons.