Nice Drives
Photo by David Ratledge, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Cherohala Skyway, Tennessee to North Carolina
📍 Tennessee, United States
Mountain Passmoderatemountainforesthigh-altitudescenic
- Distance
- 51 mi
- Est. duration
- 1 hr 32 min
- Difficulty
- moderate
About this drive
The Cherohala Skyway is among the least-visited great drives in the eastern United States, primarily because it connects two small towns — Tellico Plains, Tennessee and Robbinsville, North Carolina — that most travelers have no other reason to visit. That obscurity is part of its appeal. The road climbs from valley towns below 1,000 feet to ridge crests above 5,000 feet, and the views from the top — across the rolling ridgelines of the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests — are as expansive as anything east of the Rockies. The name combines "Cherokee" and "Nantahala," the two national forests the road passes through. The upper section follows open ridgelines and grassy high balds for long stretches, giving it a big-sky character unusual for the southern Appalachians. The road surface is consistently good, the curves are wide enough for comfortable speed, and traffic is light enough on weekdays that you can stop at overlooks without worrying about the car behind you. Combine the Cherohala with the Tail of the Dragon — about 30 minutes away — for a full day of exceptional mountain driving without repeating a single section of road. The nearest accommodation is in Tellico Plains or Murphy, NC; Maryville offers more options about an hour from the western terminus.