Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail Commemorative Motor Route
Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail Commemorative Motor Route is a National Historic Trail in Tennessee. Within Tennessee it covers roughly 17 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail Commemorative Motor Route with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
Tennessee's stretch of the Overmountain Victory Trail's Commemorative Motor Route retraces the 1780 march of Patriot militia toward the Battle of Kings Mountain. It's part of a 330-mile trail crossing Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. In Tennessee the route runs from the Sycamore Shoals crossing of the Watauga River through present-day Elizabethton, then crosses the Doe River twice near Hampton and Roan Mountain before climbing into the Unaka Mountains toward the North Carolina line. It honors the 'Overmountain Men,' Revolutionary War militia from what is now East Tennessee who crossed these same mountains to help defeat British forces at Kings Mountain in South Carolina. President Jimmy Carter signed the trail into law in 1980, exactly 200 years after the campaign, making it the first National Historic Trail designated east of the Mississippi. Marked highway signs let drivers follow the militia's route by car alongside more than 80 miles of separately maintained walking trail.
- Overmountain Men
- Sycamore Shoals
- Battle of Kings Mountain
- 330-mile trail
- Watauga River crossing
- 1980 designation
- Elizabethton
Plan a drive on Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail Commemorative Motor Route →
What is a National Historic Trail?
National Historic Trails trace journeys that helped shape the country, letting you retrace a route of genuine historical significance by car.
Where to Stay along Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail Commemorative Motor Route
1 campground or RV park sits within about 5 miles of Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail Commemorative Motor Route.
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.