Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Day One:

7:00amCT - Leave Home (Milan, TN)

30 Minute - Bathroom Break

1:30pmET to 2:30pmET - Look Rock - Foothills Parkway (Look Rock Picnic Area Road A)
*Picnic Lunch
*Observation Deck - 1/2 Mile Hike

3:30pmET to 4:30pmET - Elkmont Campground - 434 Elkmont Road, Gatlinburg, TN
Camp - $20night (SiteG018)

4:45pmET to 7:45pmET - Laurel Falls Trailhead - Little River Road, Gatlingburg, TN
2.6 mile Round Trip - Laurel Falls

8:00pmET - camp/dinner

Day Two:

9:00amET - Leave Camp

9:30amET to 10:30am ET - Lazy Daze Campground - 8429 State Highway 73, Townsend, TN
Shower

11:30amET to 1:00pmET - Cades Cove Visitor Center & Museum - Cades Cove Loop Road
Cable Mill
Hours: Summer 9am to 7pm

1:00pmET to 1:30pmET - Picnic Lunch

3:00pmET to 4:00pmET - Sugarlands Visitor Center - 1420 Old State Hwy 73 Scenic, Gatlinburg, TN
Hours: Summer 8am to 7pm
20 Minute Film
Museum

4:15pmET to 5:00pmET - Noah "Bud" Ogle Self-Guiding Trail - Cherokee Orchard Road
Trail: 0.7 mile loop

5:00pmET to 7:00pmET - Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
*5:15pmET to 6:30pmET - Grotto Falls Trail - 2.6 mile RT

7:30pmET - Elkmont Camp/dinner

Day Three:

9:00amET - Leave camp

10:00amET to 12:00pmET - Clingman's Dome - Clingman's Dome Road

12:30pmET to 1:30pmET - Newfound Gap - Newfound Gap Road
*Picnic lunch
*Appalachian Trail
*Tennessee/North Carolina State Line

2:00pmET to 3:00pmET - Oconaluftee Visitor Center - US-441
Mountain Farm Museum
Mingus Mill

3:15pmET to 4:15pmET - Cherokee/Great Smokies KOA - 92 KOA Campground Road, Cherokee , NC
set up camp
$35 night

4:15pmET to 5:15pmET - Mingus Falls - Big Cove Road, Cherokee, NC
0.4 mile 

5:15pmET - Camp/Dinner/Shower

Day Four:

 9amET - Leave Camp

9:40amET to 11:00amET - Deep Creek Trails - W Deep Creek Road
Juneywhank Falls
Indian Creek Falls
Toms Branch Falls

 12:00pmET - 1:00pmET - Fontana Dam - Fontana Dam Road

 1:30pmET to 3:30pmET - Cherohala Skyway - US-129 & NC-143

 7:30pmCT - Home (5 hours drive)


Great Smokey Mountains National Park does not have showers at their campgrounds.  Here is a list of places that have been known to allow you to shower for a fee of $2-$5.

Alpine Campground-Pigeon Forge
Shady Oaks-Pigeon Forge
Fontana Dam TVA
Gatlinburg Community Center
Lazy Daze Campground-Townsend
Big Meadows Campground-Townsend
Ye Olde Mill Campground-Townsend
 Cherokee Campground-Cherokee
Happy Holiday RV Park-Cherokee

Other Lodging Options:

Fontana Village Resort-300 Woods Ave, Fontana Dam, NC
Honey Hill-2630 Smokey Park Hwy, Candler, NC
Mountain Bear Cabins
 

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Day 1:

7:00am - Leave Home

11:00am to 12:00pm - World's Largest Cross - W. Knagge Road, Effingham, IL
*Picnic Lunch

3:30pm -  Indiana Dune National Lakeshore
map
Dunewood Campground $18 First Come First Servie
Pinhook Bog Trail - Easy; 0.75 mile trail through Indiana's only "true" bog. Available by ranger-guided tour only. Tour details can be obtained at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Visitor Center at (219) 926-2255 or by calling (219) 395-1882.

3:30pm to 4:00pm - Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center -Munson Rd (Indiana 49 & Highway 20)

4:10pm - Indiana Dunes State Park - 1600 N 25 East, Chesterton, IN park map
Nature Center
Bird Observation Platform
Devil's Slide?
Trails
Camping $26 a night (Site 138)

Day 2:

9:00am - Leave Camp

9:20am to 10:15am - Heron Rookery Trail - N. County Road 600 E. Michigan City, IN

10:30am to 11:30am - Great Marsh Trail - 500 S Broadway, Beverly Shores, IN

11:35am to 12:30pm - Dune Ridge Trail

12:45pm to 2:00pm - Old Lighthouse Museum - 1 Washington Street, Michigan City, IN
*Picnic Lunch before tour

2:05pm to 3:05pm - Mount Baldy Trail

3:10pm to 4:00pm - Central Beach

4:20pm - Back at Camp
Dinner and explore park

Day 3:

9:00am - Leave Camp

9:10am to 11:00am - Bailly Chellberg Visitor Center
Chellberg Farm and Bailly Homestead

11:10am to 12:00pm - Calumet Dunes Trail

12:10pm to 12:30pm - Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center
Turn in JR Booklets

12:50pm to 3:00pm - West Beach Visitor Center
West Beach
*picnic lunch

5:30pm - Hotel around Indianapolis, IN

Day 4:

9:00am to 12:00pm - Indianapolis Speedway Hall of Fame Museum - 4790 West 16th Street, Indianapolis, IN

6 Hours from Home

Other activites in the area:

Washington Park Zoo - 115 Lakeshore Drive, Michigan City, IN

Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad

Kentucky State Parks #1

Day 1:

7:30am - Leave Home

10:30am to 12:30pm - Lost River Cave - 2818 Nashville Road, Bowling Green, KY
Visitor Center Hours: 8:30am to 6:30pm
Boat Tours: Hourly 9am to 6pm
Admission: Adults $15.95, Kids $10.95

2:00pm - My Old Kentucky Home - 501 E Stephen Foster Ave, Bardstown, KY
Campground - $30

Federal Hill Mansion Tour @ Visitor Center
9am to 5pm ET

Stephen Foster - The Musical
8:30pm ET
Reservations: 1-800-626-1563

Day 2:

9:00am - Leave Camp

10:00am to 12:00pm - Old Fort Harrod State Park - 100 S College St, Harrodsburg, KY
Grounds: 9am to Dusk
Fort, Gift Shop and Temple: Wed thru Sat 9am to 5pm, Sunday 12pm to 5pm
Museum: Fri and Sat 10am to 2pm

1:00pm to 2:00pm - Lincoln Homestead State Park - 5079 Lincoln Park Rd, Springfield, KY
Museum: Open May 1 thru September 20
Admission: Adults $2.50, Kids $2

4.5 hours to home

Gatlinburg 2-Day Trip

Day 1:

7am - Leave Home

10:00am to 10:30am - 30 Minute Pit Stop - Cookeville, TN

12:00pm to 1:00pm - Knoxville Sunsphere - 810 Clinch Ave, Knoxville, TN
Observation Deck Hours: 9am to 10pm
Admission: Free

1:00pm to 1:30pm - Knoxville Visitor Center - 301 S Gay St., Knoxville, TN
Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:30am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 12pm to 4pm

2:00pm to 2:30pm - Hotel Check-In
Super 8 Sevierville, 1410 Winfield Dunn Parkway, Sevierville, TN

2:40pm to 3:00p, - Dolly Parton Statue - Sevier County Courthouse - 125 Court Ave, Sevierville, TN

3:30pm to 4:30pm - Cooter's Place - 542 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN
Monday thru Saturday 9am to 9pm, Sunday 9am to 7pm
Admission: Free, $5 photo w/ General Lee

4:30pm to 5:30pm - Hard Rock Cafe - 515 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN

6:00pm to 10:00pm - Wonderworks - 100 Music Road, Pigeon Forge, TN
Hours: 9am to Midnight
Admission: Combo GA & Wonders of Magic - Adults $35, Kids $27

10:15pm - Hotel

Day 2:

8:30am - Leave Hotel

Ripley Attraction Combo Tickets
Aquarium + 3 attractions
Adults $49, Kids $32

Hours: OPEN DAILY 365 Days a Year

January – February: 10am to 8pm

March – Memorial Day: 9am to 9pm

Memorial – Labor Day: 9am to 11pm

Labor Day – New Year’s Day: 9am to 9pm

 

9:00am to 11:00pm - Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies - 88 River Road, Gatlinburg, TN
Hours: see above

11:10am to 12:00pm - Log Cabin Pancake House - 327 Historic Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN
Hours: 7am to 2pm

12:04pm to 1:00pm - Space Needle - 115 Nature Trail (Historic), Gatlinburg, TN
Admission: Adults $8.50, Kids $4

1:00pm to 3:00pm - Ripley's Believe It or Not - 800 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN
Hours: see above

3:05pm to 5:00pm - Guiness World Records Museum - 631 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN
Hours: see above

5:00pm to 6:00pm - Sherlock Holmes Pub - 651 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN

6:00pm to 8:00pm - Marvolous Mirror Maze - 623 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN

2:00am - Home

or stay another night in the hotel and go home in the morning.

Other Interests in the area:
Old Smokey Moonshine - 903 Parkway
Skylife - 765 Parkway
Monster Truck Rides - 910 Parkway

2 National Parks, 2 Distilleries and a State Park in 2 Days

**FREE - This adventure is FREE except the campsite**

Day 1:

7am - Leave Home

9:30am to 10:30am - Stones River National Battlefield - 3501 Old Nashville Hwy, Murfreesboro, TN
Visitor Center Hours: 8am to 5pm
*Junior Ranger Program
Admission: Free
map

11:30am to 12:30pm - George Dickel Distillery - 1950 Cascade Hollow Road, Normandy, TN
Tours: 9am to 4:30pm
Admission: Free

1:00pm - Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park - 732 Stone Fort Drive, Manchester, TN
*museum 8am to 4:30pm
*1.25 mile trail - waterfalls
*Fort Enclosure Trail
park map
Camp $25 

Day 2:

9am - Leave Camp

9:30am to 12:00pm - Jack Daniels Distillery - 280 Lynchburg Hwy, Lynchburg, TN
Tours: 9am to 4:30pm
Admission: Free
*Jack Daniels Grave - Church St and Morgan St.

12:00pm to 1:00pm - Lunch in Lynchburg

2:30pm to 4:30pm - Russell Cave National Mounument - 3729 County Road 98, Bridgeport, AL
Hours: 8am to 4:30pm
Admission: Free
*Junior Ranger Program

Home is 4 Hours

Hot Springs National Park

Hot Springs National Park

Day 1:

8am - Leave Home

11:30am to 11:45am - Little Rock's Little Rock - Ottenheimer Plaza, Little Rock, AR

12pm to 12:30pm - Old Mill Park - Lakeshore Dr., N Little Rock, AR
*Picnic Lunch

1:30pm to 2:30pm - Gulpha Gorge Campground - 305 Gorge Road, Hot Springs, AR
*Check-In and Set-up camp
Camping Fee $10 primative, $24 hookups

2:35pm to 4:00pm - Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center, 369 Central Ave, Hot Springs, AR
Hours: 9am to 5pm
*Junior Ranger Program

3pm-Fordyce Bathhouse Guided Tour
    
 

4:00pm - Back to camp - Dinner

Day 2:
for additional information about the routes taken on this day refer to Hot Springs National Park map or Bathhouse Row map

9am - Leave Camp

9:05am - Parking Garage @ Exchange St.
-Walk S to Court/Reserve St & Central Ave

9:07am to 9:15am - Thermal Jug Fountain (There are 3 located on corner of Reserve and Central)
-Walk up the west side of Central to Lamar Bathhouse

9:17am to 9:45am - Lamar Bathhouse Bookstore/Gift Shop
Hours 9am to 5pm
-Walk back to corner of Central and Reserve to Grand Promenade (path located behind Bathhouse Row)

9:47am to 10:15am - Grand Promenade
-Visit Thermal Jug Fountains and Open Hot Springs along the way
-Walk to Arlington Lawn

Location: Behind Fordyce Bathhouse

10:15am to 11:15am - Arlington Lawn - located at the corner of Central Ave and Fountain Street
-Tufa Rock
-Hot Water Cascade

-Heat Exchanges
 *Picnic Lunch
-Walk south on Central Ave (down Bathhouse Row)

11:30am to 11:45pm - Fordyce Bathhouse
*turn in your Junior Ranger Books and get your badge and certificate for all your hard work
-Walk south on Central Ave to Arkansas Walk of Fame

11:50am to 12:00pm - Arkansas Walk of Fame - 619 Central Ave
-Walk back to car @ Exchange St.

12:10pm to 12:20pm - Happy Hollow Spring - Fountain St/Hot Springs Mountain Drive

12:25pm to 1:00pm - Hot Springs Mountain Tower - 401 Hot Springs Mountain Dr, Hot Springs, AR
Admission: Adults $7, Kids $4
Hours: 9am to closing time varies per season (5pm to 9pm)
.
1:30pm to 4:30pm - Garvan Woodland Gardens - 550 Arkridge Road, Hot Springs, AR
Hours: 9am to 6pm
Admission: Adults $10, Kids $5

5:30pm-6:30pm - Stop in Little Rock for Dinner

10pm - Home

John James Audubon and Jefferson Davis

Day 1:

7:30am - Leave Home

11am - John James Audubon State Park - 3100 US Hwy 41 N, Henderson, KY

Museum, Nature Center, Gift Shop, Trails
* Woodpecker Trail
Camp (Site 64) $34.50

Inside the museum/nature center is a art gallery showcasing many of John James Audubon's works. About halfway through the gallery is a door that takes you up to what was his studio which is located at the top of the tower. There is a fee to enter the gallery but the rest of the nature center is free. 

The nature center has a small theater to watch a short film about John James Audubon, a hands on education room and a wildlife observation room which has binoculars and guides available to use so you know what you are looking at.  We really enjoyed watching the different birds. Infact so much so that when we got home we set up our own little bird sanctuary.

Behind the nature center is a bench were you can see what you were looking at through the glass in the observation room. Be very quiet...you never know what you might see.

Dante was so excited that he scared the fox away before we could get a good picture. 

There are many different trails to take. Long ones and short ones. The took the museum trail that takes you on a short loop behind the museum. We saw a few snails but not much else. 

We also took woodpecker trail...we didn't see anything except a deer but we did hear some woodpeckers.

It rained just about the while time we were there but we had fun despite. The campground was nice and we chose a great spot next to the playground and near the bathhouse but the campground was located too close to the main highway for my taste. You could hear the traffic all night.

We had a very friendly set of squirrels that visited us at our campsite. We fed them some bread and enjoyed watching them.

Day 2:

9am - Leave Camp

10:30am to 1pm - Jefferson Davis Historic Site - 258 Pembroke-Fairview Road, Fairview, KY

Museum and Monument Combo - Adults $5, Kids $3
Hours: 9am to 5pm
The museum was informative but not real exciting. It's basically just a way to pass the time until it's time to go up to the top of the monument. 

We went to the top in an elevator with a few other families. At the top is a little room with 3 windows that look out for miles and miles.

Lunch

1:15pm to 1:45pm - Trail of Tears Commemorative Park - 100 E 9th St, Hopkinsville, KY
 We did stop here but there was nothing to see and the building was closed.

4pm - Home

Lookout Mountain Parkway

Lookout Mountain Parkway

Day One:

7am - Leave Home
Google Map Directions

9am to 9:30am - Natchez Trace Parkway - Buzzard Roast Spring - MP 320

11:30am to 1:00pm - Ava Maria Grotto - 1600 St. Bernard Drive, Cullman, AL
Hours: Daily 9am to 5pm
Admission: Adults $7, Children 6-12 $4.50
Picnic Lunch

2:00pm - Noccalula Falls Park & Campground - 1600 Noccalula Road, Gadsden, AL
Hours: Spring Hours:March 1-June 1, 2013 - 9:00-5:00pm
Summer Hours: June 2-August 10, 2012 - 9:00-7:00pm
Back to School Hours: August 11-October 11, 2013 - 9:00-5:00pm
Fall Hours: October 13 - October 30, 2013 -10:00-4:00pm
Admission:  Adults: $6, Senior Adults (55+): $4, Children (4-12): $3, Children (3 & under): Free
Camping: $16-$21 Night
*Explore: Falls, Animal Habitat, Pioneer Village, Unlimited Train Rides, Gardens


Day Two:
Google Map Directions

8am - Leave Camp

8:30am to 9:30am - Cherokee Rock Village - 2000 County Road 70, Leesburg, AL

10am - Little River Canyon National Preserve - Scenic Drive  map
*start at AL273/Blue Pond Road and County Road 275
10:45am to 11am - Stop #1 - Canyon View Overlook
11:05am to 11:30am - Stop #2 - Mushroom Rock
11:35am to 12:30pm - Stop #3 - Little River Falls *Boardwalk and Lunch

12:40pm 1:00pm - Alabama Statues - Gault Ave and 4th St, Fort Payne, AL

1:30pm to 2pm - Desoto Falls - Co Road 613 and Desoto Falls Road, Mentone, AL

3:10pm - KOA Campground - 930 Mountain Shadows Drive, Trenton, GA


Day Three:
Google Map Directions

8am - Leave Camp

9am to 11am - Chickamauga & Chattanooga Nat'l Military Park - 3370 Lafayette Road, Ft, Oglethorpe, GA
Chickamauga Battlefield Auto Tour map

11am to 2pm - Tennessee Aquarium - 1 Broad St, Chattanooga, TN
Admission: Adults $25, Kids $15
Hours: 10am to 6pm

2:10pm to 3:30pm - Incline Railway - 3917 St. Elmo Ave, Chattanooga, TN

Hours: 10am to 6pm
Admission: Round Trip - Adults $15, Kids $7














3:40pm to 6pm - Rock City Gardens - 1400 Patton Road, Lookout Mountain, GA



Hours: Varies per season
Summer Hours: 8:30am to 8pm
Admission: Adults $20, Kids $12

10pm - Home