Great Smoky Mountains // East Tennessee
Car rental for the Smoky Mountains
The most-visited national park in the country has roads worth renting a car specifically for. Here's how to pick the right one.
Explore the current cars
Quick answer
These current cars are recommended for a scenic Smoky Mountains drive. Compare seating and transmission for your route. Choose Maryville pickup or contactless delivery at McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS). Review the pickup instructions for your confirmed booking before traveling.
Key facts
- From TYS to park entrance
- ~60–70 miles · 60–80 min
- From Maryville to Townsend entrance
- ~20 miles · 25 min
- Most visited US national park
- ~12 million visitors/year
- Key roads
- Cades Cove loop, Newfound Gap, Foothills Pkwy
- Best season
- April–October (fall foliage peaks mid-Oct)
- Current vehicles listed
- 6
- Pickup
- Maryville or TYS airport delivery
- Pricing
- Choose trip dates and times on a vehicle page
Best cars for this road
See full fleet →Compare prices for your dates
6 current options. Enter your trip times once, then choose a vehicle to check availability.
Earliest pickup: today at 2:30 PM ET.
Estimates include rental taxes. Optional extras and airport exit parking are separate. Your dates carry through to the vehicle page.
2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF 30th Anniversary
2 seats · Manual · RWD · Convertible
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2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser Base
5 seats · Automatic · 4WD
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2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser Trail Teams
5 seats · Automatic · 4WD
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2014 Nissan NV Passenger SL
12 seats · Automatic · RWD
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2017 Nissan NV Passenger SL
12 seats · Automatic · RWD
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2016 Scion FR-S Release Series 2.0
4 seats · Manual · RWD
View vehicle & pricing →Ready to request a trip? You'll create an account, verify your email and phone, and provide your driver's license, a selfie and insurance details before submitting. A request is reviewed before your booking is confirmed.
Need help with seating, luggage or pickup? Ask us before you book.
Planning your Smokies trip from TYS
McGhee Tyson Airport in Alcoa is the closest commercial airport to the park. It's about 30 miles to the Townsend entrance (the quieter western entrance, near Cades Cove) and about 45 miles to the Gatlinburg entrance (busier, more tourist infrastructure). The drive on US-321 from Maryville to Townsend is one of the more pleasant arrival routes: foothills the whole way, no significant traffic outside summer peak.
Fall foliage in the Smokies typically peaks mid-October. It's the single busiest week of the year. Book the car early, expect traffic, and plan Cades Cove for a weekday morning. The views are worth the planning.
Drive times from our pickup points
| From | To | Minutes | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) | Townsend (West entrance) | 45 | 30 |
| McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) | Gatlinburg (North entrance) | 80 | 45 |
| Maryville, TN | Townsend (West entrance) | 25 | 20 |
| Maryville, TN | Cades Cove loop start | 35 | 27 |
| Downtown Knoxville | Gatlinburg | 70 | 55 |
Frequently asked questions
How far is TYS from Gatlinburg?
About 70 miles and 75–90 minutes, depending on traffic. The last stretch through Sevierville and Pigeon Forge is a tourist strip and can back up on weekends. Budget extra time if you're arriving Friday afternoon.
Can I take a convertible into the park?
Yes. The Foothills Parkway and Cades Cove are excellent top-down drives. Avoid Newfound Gap with the top down if it's cold. The summit is significantly colder than the valley floor.
Are there access restrictions for Cades Cove?
No timed-entry reservation is required. The one restriction is that the Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to motor vehicles (cyclists and pedestrians only) all day every Wednesday from early May through late September. On every other day it's open sunrise to sunset. A Park It Forward parking tag is still required to park more than 15 minutes.
What's the best time of day to drive Cades Cove?
Early morning. The loop opens at sunrise and is least trafficked before 8am. Wildlife is most active: deer, black bear, and wild turkey sightings are common. By 10am it's bumper-to-bumper on peak season weekends.
Can I pick up in Gatlinburg instead of TYS?
We don't have a Gatlinburg pickup location. Pickup is at TYS (McGhee Tyson Airport) or our Maryville location. The Townsend entrance to the park is 20 minutes from our Maryville location, often faster than driving through Gatlinburg's tourist corridor.
How do I see pricing and request a booking?
Open a vehicle and select your trip start and end dates and times to see pricing. A listed vehicle is not a guarantee of availability for your dates. Continue from the vehicle page to submit a booking request.
Where do I collect the car?
Choose Maryville pickup or contactless delivery at McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS). Review the pickup instructions for your confirmed booking before traveling. Airport delivery has no separate delivery charge. Customer responsible for airport parking fee upon exit, typically no more than $13
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