Flying In To Knoxville

The Smoky Mountains don’t just feel like a magical place, they really are a mystical destination. The phrase “old as the hills” rings true when you really dive into the old lore of the mountains. When you come to visit, take this otherworldly tour and investigate for yourself. Here are six of the Smokies’ best kept secrets.

1. Elkmont Trollbridge

Escape to a place that really feels like a glimpse into a mythical land. The Elkmont Trollbridge is a true hidden gem that only locals know about. Hike along the Little River Trail until you reach this spot. Covered in moss and mushrooms, the Trollbridge is perfect for capturing pictures or looking for hidden fantastical creatures.

2. House Of The Fairies

This whimsical spot is only a mile from downtown Gatlinburg yet it feels like you’ve been transported into another realm. Map to this magical place, then go out and explore. Here, you’ll find towering trees and moss covered logs and boulders. Then at the end of the trail you’ll see it...an arched doorway, that looks like it’s almost cut into the side of the hill, sits with a wooden ladder leaning against the frame. Step inside and find a cool spring, filled with water that tinkles like bells.

3. Synchronous Fireflies

The synchronized fireflies that come out every year like clockwork might be more science than magic but when you’re sitting among the trees and they begin to spark in unison, flickering in and out of sight, it feels like something otherworldly. This rare phenomenon is only seen in a few places in the world and The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of them.

4. Elkmont Ghost Town

Once a thriving vacation spot for the Knoxville elite, the Elkmont Ghost Town looks like a legend brought back to life. Recently restored, explore inside the homes and hike trails where you will find the remains of homes once occupied by Appalachian locals who would serve, supply and work in the town. This piece of history is frozen in time and feels like stepping back into the past.

There are many magical places in the Smokies and these are only four of them. Don’t stop here, continue to search for more mystical creatures and sprites living in the trees and hollows. To discover more, stay overnight in the mountains in a log cabin. This cabin is even called Magical Moments, which is exactly what you’ll find when you visit the Smoky Mountains.

Air Travel to The Smokies

In choosing the Smoky Mountains as your vacation destination, you've chosen one of the best places to bring a family, group or sweetheart (or just yourself!) for a vacation in the country. The Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee are the #1 most popular National Park in the country (for many very good reasons) and the surrounding cities are continuously on the grow with excellent attractions for kids, adults, elders and everyone in between. You and whoever you bring with you are pretty much guaranteed to have an awesome time here.

And while many of our visitors drive to the Smokies from nearby places, many more come from further around and need to fly into Knoxville to have access to Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Sevierville and Wears Valley. In this article, we'll give you a short run down of what to expect when flying into Knoxville.

* McGhee-Tyson Airport *

McGhee-Tyson is our major airport for Knoxville and Sevier County. Is it located on Alcoa Highway in Alcoa, TN, roughly 58 minutes from Pigeon Forge. As far as airports go, McGhee-Tyson is thankfully smaller and simpler than some other major airports you might be familiar with (it's a lot harder to get lost). McGhee-Tyson offers several restaurants onsite (Ruby Tuesday and Quiznos, to start with), several gift stores, a huge, gorgeous indoor fountain and more. The Hilton Knoxville is the onsite hotel and you can visit their website here

Car rental companies onsite are:

* Enterprise Rent-A-Car

* Budget Car Rental

* Hertz Rent-A-Car

* Alamo Rent-A-Car

* National Car Rental

There are also taxi services you can charter to and from the airport that you can see at www.knoxvilleairporttaxi.com.

After choosing your ride, you will turn left out of the airport and go North on Highway 129. You will turn right onto West Governor John Sevier Highway and drive that until you get to Chapman Highway. Chapman Highway is the road that connects Knoxville (West) to Sevierville (East). You will want to go East towards Sevierville on Chapman Highway (which is also 441). This drive will go on for quite some time (roughly 30-35 minutes) and then you will come to Forks of the River Parkway. When you see a clock tower show up along the city skyline, you've reached Sevierville. Forks of the River Parkway is extremely short and then turns right onto the Parkway that connects Sevierville with Pigeon Forge and later Gatlinburg.

Congratulations! You've arrived at the Smoky Mountains!

If you would like to see a Google Maps path that details getting from McGhee-Tyson Airport to Pigeon Forge, here is that link: https://goo.gl/maps/y2ZqHgaNj5s

If you would like to see a Google Maps path for getting back to McGhee-Tyson from Pigeon Forge, here is that link: https://goo.gl/maps/xnE1nr6AevE2