Anniversary driving experience
Foothills Parkway, top down, no itinerary
The best version of this day is a tank of gas and no plan. We handle the car. East Tennessee handles the rest.
Quick answer
Explore our active enthusiast cars, with each car’s actual seating, transmission and drivetrain shown below. Choose Maryville pickup or contactless delivery at McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS). Review the pickup instructions for your confirmed booking before traveling.
Key facts
- Ideal rental length
- 1–2 days (weekend preferred)
- Best season
- Spring and fall: top-down weather, color
- Current vehicles listed
- 8
- Pickup
- Maryville or TYS airport delivery
- Pricing
- Choose trip dates and times on a vehicle page
Cars that fit the moment
See full fleet →Compare prices for your dates
8 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.
2020 Subaru BRZ Limited
4 seats · Manual · RWD
View vehicle & pricing →
2021 Toyota Supra 3.0 Premium
2 seats · Automatic · RWD
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2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF 30th Anniversary
2 seats · Manual · RWD · Convertible
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2022 Subaru WRX GT
5 seats · Automatic · AWD
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2016 Scion FR-S Release Series 2.0
4 seats · Manual · RWD
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2021 Subaru WRX STI Base
5 seats · Manual · AWD
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2024 Nissan Z NISMO
2 seats · Automatic · RWD
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1994 Toyota MR2 GT-S
2 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.
The route that makes it worth it
From the western end of Foothills Parkway you're 20 minutes from the Cades Cove entrance. The loop road is 11 miles of pastoral valley: open fields, historic homesteads, deer everywhere if you go early. It's not a driving road (20 mph limit, not designed for it) but it's one of the most scenic morning loops in the region. Do it before 9am and the crowds haven't arrived yet.
Dinner in Gatlinburg or Townsend is the natural endpoint. Townsend is quieter, more local, less tourist density. Gatlinburg has more options and the energy of being in a small mountain tourist town at night, which is its own thing. Either way you're 30–40 minutes from the Maryville return.
Choosing the car for the occasion
- Foothills Parkway west: 17 miles, ridge-top, Smoky Mountain views, no traffic lights
- Cades Cove loop: 11 miles, pastoral, best before 9am for light crowds
- Cherohala Skyway: longer option, 43 miles if you want a full driving day
- Dinner in Townsend: quieter and more local than Gatlinburg
- Sunset from Look Rock observation tower on Foothills Pkwy: one of the region's best views
Logistics that make the day easier
Pick up the car the evening before if possible. That way Saturday morning starts from your hotel with the car already in hand, not with a drive to the pickup point. Evening-before pickup doesn't cost extra. The rental period just starts then.
Choose pickup and return dates and times in the booking flow. Follow the access instructions for your confirmed trip, and contact us through your booking if your arrival plans change.
Weather matters for convertibles. May and October are statistically the best months in East Tennessee for top-down weather: warm but not summer-humid, blue skies more often than not. June through August works but is hotter. Spring can surprise you with rain. Check the forecast and have a flexible itinerary; the region is worth visiting in rain too, the car just becomes a coupe.
Frequently asked questions
Can we do a sunrise drive at Cades Cove?
Yes, and it's worth it. The Cades Cove loop road opens at sunrise. Getting there before 8am means the wildlife is active, the light is low and golden, and the crowds haven't arrived. Pair it with an early pickup the morning-of or an evening-before pickup to make it work logistically.
Can I surprise my partner: book the car without them knowing the details?
Yes. Book in your name, pick it up yourself, and drive to where they are. They don't need to be part of the booking process. The only time both people's information matters is if you both plan to drive. An additional driver needs to be listed in the booking.
What if we want to go to dinner and I've had drinks, can my partner drive back?
Yes, if your partner is added as an additional driver in the booking. Both people need a valid license and insurance on file. If only one person is listed as a driver, only that person can drive. Add the additional driver before you leave for dinner.
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
Related
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Foothills Parkway
17 miles of ridge road through the Smokies. The top-down drive that defines East Tennessee.
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Clingmans Dome Road
Fog, elevation, dramatic atmosphere. Add it to the day if you want the full Smokies experience.
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Anniversary photo shoot
Book a photographer to meet you at Foothills Parkway or Cades Cove with the car.
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Wedding car rental
The same cars for the wedding itself: getaway car, photo car, morning-of groom's car.
Current sports cars