The Smokies and the Blue Ridge Parkway from Maggie Valley
Elk in Cataloochee, the highest overlooks on the Parkway, Cherokee, Asheville and the Biltmore. Every drive time measured from the cabins on Google Maps.
Area guide and map
Pick a category, then a place to see it on the map and get directions.
Drive times are Google Maps road times from the cabins' road, measured October 22, 2026. Leaf season, traffic and winter weather add time. The exact address is shared after booking.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The park entrances closest to the cabins are Cataloochee and Oconaluftee.
Cataloochee Valley
46 min
Elk herd valley in the national park. The last stretch is a narrow, winding gravel road
Oconaluftee Visitor Center
34 min
Park visitor center on US-441 north of Cherokee, beside the Mountain Farm Museum. Elk often graze the fields nearby.
Kuwohi, formerly Clingmans Dome
1 hr 8
Highest point in the Smokies at 6,643 ft, formerly Clingmans Dome. The road is open April 1 to November 29 in 2026.
The Blue Ridge Parkway, 11 minutes up the road
The Parkway crosses US-19 at Soco Gap, milepost 455.7. As of October 21, 2026, the Park Service lists the whole stretch near Maggie Valley as open. It is not plowed, so it closes in snow and ice.
Mile High Overlook
Overlook at about 5,250 ft on Heintooga Ridge Road, open mid-May through October 31.
19 min
Blue Ridge Parkway at Soco Gap
Nearest Parkway access, milepost 455.7, where US-19 crosses the Parkway above Maggie Valley.
11 min
Blue Ridge Parkway at Balsam Gap
Parkway access south of Waynesville at milepost 443.0.
20 min
Waterrock Knob Visitor Center
The Parkway’s highest visitor center at 5,820 ft
21 min
Richland Balsam Overlook
Highest point on the Parkway motor road at 6,053 ft.
37 min
Graveyard Fields
Parkway valley with waterfalls at milepost 418.8.
55 min
Day trips
Cherokee, the railroad, rafting and Asheville.
Biltmore Estate
The Vanderbilt estate in Asheville
38 min
Downtown Asheville
Downtown Asheville.
39 min
Downtown Waynesville
Walkable Main Street with shops, restaurants and the courthouse.
13 min
Dillsboro
Small riverside town on the Tuckasegee.
33 min
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Excursion trains from the Bryson City depot, with the Polar Express in season.
43 min
Museum of the Cherokee People
Museum of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
32 min
Oconaluftee Indian Village
Living history village
34 min
Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort
Casino resort owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
28 min
Nantahala Outdoor Center
Whitewater rafting on the Nantahala River, March through October.
55 min
Sylva
Jackson County seat with a walkable Main Street.
31 min
Max Patch
Grassy bald on the Appalachian Trail
55 min
Chimney Rock State Park
State park in Hickory Nut Gorge, reopened after Hurricane Helene.
1 hr 12
Getting here
Google Maps drive times to the cabins. Asheville Regional (AVL) is the closest airport.
Asheville (downtown)
33.9 miles
39 min
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)
37.9 miles
42 min
Knoxville (downtown)
92.8 miles
1 hr 41
McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)
106 miles
1 hr 56
Charlotte (uptown)
147 miles
2 hr 38
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
146 miles
2 hr 38
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP)
101 miles
1 hr 39
Atlanta (downtown)
174 miles
3 hr 29
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
185 miles
3 hr 39
Chattanooga
167 miles
3 hr 20
Nashville
271 miles
4 hr 40
Raleigh
278 miles
4 hr 30
Columbia, SC
181 miles
2 hr 47
Charleston, SC
292 miles
4 hr 49
Savannah, GA
337 miles
5 hr 13
Tampa, FL
628 miles
9 hr 48
Orlando, FL
608 miles
8 hr 59
Jacksonville, FL
468 miles
6 hr 57
Birmingham, AL
312 miles
5 hr 27
