Best Scenic Drive in Great Smoky Mountain National Park!

[@TheKiltedAdventurer]

Very informative and scenic video. Well done Bill! ❤️🇺🇲🇺🇦🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿☕

[@BillMarion]

Thanks for watching Toby!

[@tooge47]

Yes !! If you are riding a motorcycle, THIS is the road for YOU !!!!! Riding a motorcycle on this BEAUTIFUL road while listening to the bluegrass channel on Sirius !!! One of my favorite memories of my life with the love of my life, Barbara Norton. I miss them both

[@bartgomez4872]

I grew up in East Tennessee. We went on family drives from Gatlinburg to Cherokee, NC, many times and I always got a new pair of moccasins in the summer. This video brings back so many memories of my wonderful childhood with my family. I'm 62 now, and my parents are in Heaven. Thank you for this video.❤

[@BillMarion]

Thanks for sharing!

[@angel91485]

this was more spectacular during winter,...with ice capped mountains, frozen water hanging by the cliffs, snowy side roads..it was one of my best tour experiences in my life, I would never forget it..

[@BillMarion]

This was uploaded in 4K. I’m not sure why it’s pixelating so bad. But thanks for your patience!

[@Chillaxing113]

Very interesting video with great information. Thanks for sharing! I'll be visiting the park in a couple of weeks. I visited years ago but it was just for a day. I'm looking forward to spending a lot more time in the park this visit.

[@strongsadventures]

Going to put this drive on the itinerary for next fall! Thanks so much Bill.

[@BillMarion]

It's a must see! Thanks for watching Billy!

[@armandosulanj4382]

nice mountain amazing thank you bill for posting the video

[@juantomas3630]

The GAP is going to look pretty when the leaf's and flowers come to life and bring out the color !!

[@BillMarion]

Indeed!

[@kathyspivey2946]

Doing this drive in June 2024 for first time. Thank you for posting this drive.

[@BillMarion]

You’re gonna love it! Make sure you give yourself more than enough time to stop along the way. Enjoy! Thanks for watching and thanks for commenting!

[@BillMarion]

You’re going to love it! Make sure you give yourself more than enough time to stop along the way! Thanks for watching and thanks for commenting!

[@vs123]

Very beautiful nature

[@scmafia7515]

I drove new found gap at the end of January going to Gatlinburg and it was a good drive with awesome overlooks and the ice sickles as my daughter said were 5ft long

[@pmiller4421]

Again nice video, we will be doing this drive in July.

[@d25615]

Thanks FDR Ah, so it's a "new found" gap. That road looks super great.

[@BillMarion]

Yes, they found it new. Just like that…😂

[@b.mcdaniel]

Finally got a chance to visit the channel of the mayor. Nice video I’ll have to check it out sometime

[@thepaytonfamilyvlogs]

Being from Michigan, our trip through the Smokies was beautiful but so terrifying. I was about to faint driving up the mountain to the scenic view😥😥😥

[@stevenmckelvey4210]

Glad I clicked on your video

[@ericasmith4]

We love this area!!

[@BillMarion]

It’s the best of the Smokies! Miss you guys!!!

[@breng5767]

Thank you, Bill and Caroline. Must have driven the car? Take care and God Bless!

[@BillMarion]

Yes....Not the truck. Don't get me wrong, we're thankful to have something to drive, but we miss the truck terribly. We're praying she's done soon!

[@crippledbeast_U-toob]

Been through here twice in last 5 months, headed back soon for a week long camping trip, I only live about 3 hours from here

[@BillMarion]

I think it's one of the best drives in the Appalachian Mountains! Thanks for watching!

[@MacedoinaChoirs]

I love riding this road, But my wife hated. She would wake screaming dreaming we drove over a cliff.

[@jrforeman279]

I've ridden 441 several times. Definitely lots of traffic and twisted road.

[@pablol5472]

Would you please cite the reasons you think TN to NC drive is more scenic than the reverse? Also, does the place look so snow free in late february?

[@BillMarion]

Great questions! We like the drive from Gatlinburg to Cherokee better because we like the approach, and angle to the amazing views. How the scenic overlooks are revealed from the perspective of the driver or passenger seem to be better going towards Cherokee. But obviously, that's subjective. I didn't mention this in the video, (I just now thought about this) but it might be that access to the parking areas along the way are better going to Gatlinburg from Cherokee, but I don't remember. You've really got me thinking that I need to give better examples in my video when I say something like that! Good stuff! Second Question It actually snowed the day before we made this video. But leading up to that it was in the 70's, and eventually rain. The snow was just a dusting. Winter this year on the the East coast has been weird to say the least. We were shocked that 441 was opened this time of year. So often it's closed in the winter due to snow and ice. Typically, 69 inches of snow falls at the gap every year. One site claimed that Newfound Gap receives more snow than Minnesota. I didn't have time to verify so I left it out. But it's not surprising considering the Smokies seldom hurt for moisture. Mix moisture with the elevation and there you go. Another thing I didn't have time to research is why Newfound Gap receives so much snow when compared to other mountains in the region with higher elevations. I think it has to do with the rain shadow effect, but I'm not sure. That's not to say that the gap is the snowiest or coldest place in the Appalachian Mountains. Not by a longshot! I don't know this for sure, but Snowshoe in West Virginia, and many other places in West Virginia is a Winter Wonderland! (Check out our videos in West Virginia if you like snow!) Thank you for watching, and thanks for commenting!

[@ppopbha]

Which month was this shot ? How are Smokey’s in early to mid oct ?

[@BillMarion]

I think this was shot in February. The Smokies are amazing in October. Peak is sometime around the middle of October depending on elevation. It's possible to see a flurry or two in the high elevations, but in October it's unlikely to see too much winter weather except for a hard frost.

[@ppopbha]

@@BillMarion Thank you.

[@diannastopher944]

Where do you start this ride in Pigeon Forge?

[@BillMarion]

Drive all the way through Gatlinburg. You'll see a sign. I know that sounds vague, but it's really that simple. You'll love it! It's absolutely amazing! Thanks for watching! I'll answer any additional questions as best I can!

[@kevintodd8195]

You could've played some traditional mountain music!

[@BillMarion]

You're right. I should have used a selection or two. At the time, I was thinking about people who live outside the region who may not identify with mountain music. It's sort of cliche to make a video about the Appalachian Mountains a use mountain music. Don't get me wrong, I love mountain music. I've lived in three different regions of the Appalachian Mountains. I love mountain music. I was just trying something different. Thanks for watching and thanks for commenting!

[@kevintodd8195]

@@BillMarion I see, cool deal man, that makes sense, I do like the video, I have lived up there myself in NW North Carolina at 3000° and I listen to most music myself.

[@BillMarion]

@@kevintodd8195 I just wrote this in another comment section, I'd love to live in Western North Carolina at about 5500 ft. I love there. We're going to spend some time over there this coming year.

[@kevintodd8195]

@@BillMarion That high man? Do you know about beech mountain, highest community East of the Mississippi river at 5,500 ft, there is condos up there and snows in May, I lived about 40 minutes from there and 10 from banner Elk about 4000° not bragging, I just love that elevation, God's country.I guess I'm a southern northerner lol

[@BillMarion]

@@kevintodd8195 True Story, planned a video on Beach. Didn't call and check or anything, and when we got there it was closed for "special remodeling." We're heading back to Boone when the weather turns cold again. Thanks for watching and thanks for commenting!