After years of planning and building, the Foothills Parkway is now open!
Can you imagine having something in the works for nearly 75 years and it finally makes headway. The Foothills Parkway comes to life with stunning views of the Smoky Mountains, and miles of forested trees rolling gently in the distance.
In 1966 the southern most portion of the parkway that offers 17 miles of smooth road runs from Chilhowee Lake (US 129) to Walland (US321) was completed. This is a marveling stretch that is spectacular to see. A shorter section was opened in 1968 with a 5.6 mile stretch that runs from I-40 to US 321 near Cosby. 60 years later, the second phase was finally opened in December, 2018 offering 16 more awe-inspiring miles to enjoy miles to take in incredible mountain views.
The southern section of the Parkway offers incredible views of the Great Smoky Mountains on one side and the Tennessee Valley on the other. On clear days it is possible to see the Cumberland Mountains 50 miles to the west.
A popular site to visit is the Tail of the Dragon. The completed southern sections of Foothills Parkway provide a great connecting route for those heading to the Tail of the Dragon from the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area. It is also part of the Great Smoky Mountain Loop, which is an all day drive/tour (about 150 miles) that provide views of some of the best places in the Smoky Mountains.
Next time you visit the Great Smoky Mountains, be sure to take some to time relax in a peaceful car ride rolling gently along the Foothills Parkway. We trust in saying this will be one of the best drives in the southeast portion of the United States.
