How To Enjoy Biking Through Cades Cove Loop Road

Put a new spin on the scenery of the Smokies and bike through the gorgeous valley of Cades Cove. Bring your gear or rent some while you’re here. Book your summer stay at a cabin in Wears Valley with Heartland Rentals now!

Book a Wears Valley cabin rental with Heartland Cabin Rentals and immerse yourself in the deep-rooted history of the Smokies. Our cabin rentals in Wears Valley get you closer to the history of our hills.

Bike Operation in Cades Cove

If you’re looking for a unique way to experience Cades Cove, we suggest cycling through versus driving through. Every year between early May and late September, Cades Cove opens its Loop Road to cyclists from sun up until 10:00 am daily as well as vehicle-free Wednesdays. Being able to ride through on a bike allows you to take things in a little differently. Plan to bring your own bike gear, or easily rent a bike from the Cove instead.

Rent A Bicycle

The Cades Cove Campground Store has a bicycle rental program. Each individual bike rental typically comes with a helmet and pricing is quite reasonable. If you have any questions about bike rentals, feel free to contact the Cades Cove Campground Store at 865-448-9034. By all means, bring your own bike if you can!

Cades Cove Loop

Cades Cove Loop Road is 11 miles long. There are rolling hills, wide open fields, breezes, wildlife, creeks, and historic structures along the Loop. 11 miles is a lengthy journey for anyone who isn’t a routine biker. Bikers are welcome to take a shortcut through Sparks Lane and Hyatt Lane to shorten the length of their journey. We recommend starting at daybreak so that you can take breaks along the way. Bikes are only to be used on paved areas along the tour.

What to Bring

Come prepared with snacks and plenty of drinking water by way of a camelback or by keeping a few bottles in a daypack. If you happen to run low or out of drinking water, you can find restrooms and drinking stations at the Cades Cove Campground Store and the Cable Mill area (which are both on opposite ends of the park). Please hold onto all trash until you find the proper receptacle to discard it.

Lodging Options & Directions

Depending on what you have planned for the rest of your summer stay in the Smokies, we highly recommend booking a Wears Valley cabin as it dramatically reduces your driving time to and from Cades Cove. Being so close to Cades Cove also allows you to explore Tremont, visit Cades Cove multiple times during your stay, and experience the old logging town of Townsend. Wears Valley is the most underdeveloped residential area in the Smokies (one of our favorite attributes about it!). Wears Valley brings a slowed-down peace of mind.

From Pigeon Forge:

From downtown Pigeon Forge, you will want to locate traffic light #3, Wears Valley Road. Take Wears Valley Road (US-321 S/Wears Valley Road) to E Lamar Alexander Parkway located in Townsend. At this intersection, take a left onto E Lamar Alexander Parkway. Continue to Townsend Entrance Rd, then take a slight right onto Old State Hwy 73 Scenic. Turn right onto Laurel Creek Rd, and follow to the Cades Cove Loop Road entrance. From your starting point, it should be about a 32-mile drive.

From Gatlinburg:

Follow the Gatlinburg Parkway to traffic light #10 and follow straight through into the National Park. Once you reach the Sugarlands Visitor Center (on your right), turn right onto Little River Road. Follow this road until you reach a dead end at the entrance point of Cades Cove Loop Road (there will be signage for directions). This set of directions should also be about a 32-mile drive.

*Tip: Don’t forget to fill up the gas tank before you go!

Hey, wait a second before you go! Be sure to check our Current Cabin Specials, Deals, and Discounts to see if your stay qualifies for a special discount! Book your cabin in Gatlinburg with Heartland Rentals for a memorable moment in the mountains.