(1888PressRelease)
April 18, 2006 - Gatlinburg City Manager, Cindy Cameron Ogle has urged visitors to Gatlinburg and the Smokies to try and avoid the direct routes to the area and take the “roads less traveled” instead.
Highway traffic in the Smokies can be a lot to bear, especially along the primary routes of Highways 66 and 441 leading into Sevierville and through Pigeon Forge. However, visitors to the region can now avoid all that traffic on their way to Gatlinburg.
“Take the less-traveled and scenic alternate routes to Gatlinburg and on the return journey home...it’s a little bit further, but can easily save over an hour in traffic congestion,” she said.
It’s a secret worth sharing, so Ogle along with the Gatlinburg City Commission have come up with an alternate route map developed with driver relaxation in mind!
FROM CHATTANOOGA – Take Exit 81 on I-75 North and follow Highway 321 North through Maryville and Townsend and Highway 73 to Gatlinburg. Approximate drive time from interstate: 70 minutes.
FROM NASHVILLE – From I-40 take I-75 South to Exit 81 and follow Highway 321 North through Maryville and Townsend and Highway 73 to Gatlinburg. Approximate drive time from interstate: 70 minutes.
FROM VIRGINIA – From I-81 South take I-40 East to Exit 435 (Newport) and follow Hwy 321 South to Gatlinburg. Approximate drive time from interstate: 45 minutes.
FROM LEXINGTON – Take I-75 South to I-640 East, then I-40 East to Exit 435 (Newport) and follow Highway 321 South to Gatlinburg. Approximate drive time from interstate: 45 minutes.
FROM ASHEVILLE – Take I-40 West to Exit 443 and follow Foothills Parkway to Highway 321 South to Gatlinburg. Approximate drive time from interstate: 45 minutes.
FROM ATLANTA – Take I-85 North to I-985 North to US 23. Take US 23 to Highway 23/441 to Highway 74/441 through Cherokee, North Carolina to Gatlinburg. Approximate drive time from Atlanta: 4 hours 10 minutes.
With tourism at the heart of Gatlinburg's success as a mountain resort community, Ogle has often been a facilitator of programs that have boosted the local economy such as the Smoky Mountain Lights program in Gatlinburg. She also played an instrumental role in the recruitment of the Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, one of the largest and most visited aquaria in the country.
Gatlinburg gears up for the expected boom in 2006 travel to the Smokey Mountains region - http://www.gatlinburg-rentals.info
