Newfound Gap Road Byway
Newfound Gap Road Byway is an All-American Road in Tennessee. Within Tennessee it covers roughly 13 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Newfound Gap Road Byway with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
US-441 is the only road across the heart of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, climbing from Gatlinburg to Newfound Gap at 5,046 feet on the Tennessee–North Carolina state line. The 31-mile crossing gains nearly a mile of elevation, passing through forest types that change with altitude, and a spur leads to Clingmans Dome, the highest point in the Smokies. Fog, wildflowers, and fall color define the drive.
- Newfound Gap (5,046 ft)
- Clingmans Dome spur
- Great Smoky Mountains
- mile of elevation gain
- US-441
Designated for its scenic and historic qualities
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Places to stop along Newfound Gap Road Byway
Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail
A short, paved, fully accessible trail along the river near the Sugarlands Visitor Center, the park's main Tennessee-side hub.
Chimney Tops Trail
A steep climb to an observation point facing the twin rock pinnacles of the Chimney Tops, whose summits have been closed since the 2016 fire.
Alum Cave Trail
One of the park's most popular hikes, past Arch Rock to the huge overhang of Alum Cave Bluffs and on toward Mount Le Conte.
Newfound Gap
The 5,046-foot gap on the Tennessee-North Carolina line where FDR dedicated the park in 1940, crossed by the Appalachian Trail.
Clingmans Dome
The highest point in the Smokies at 6,643 feet, with a ramp to a concrete observation tower. Its access road closes in winter.
Where to Stay along Newfound Gap Road Byway
4 campgrounds and RV parks sit within about 5 miles of Newfound Gap Road Byway.
Campsite and lodging links are affiliate links — booking through them may earn Road Sorties a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Recreation.gov links are not affiliate links.
What is an All-American Road?
All-American Roads are the top tier of America's National Scenic Byways. To earn the title a road has to be a destination in its own right — offering features so exceptional, across several intrinsic qualities (scenic, natural, historic, cultural, archaeological or recreational), that they can't be found anywhere else.