About Little River Road River Pullouts
Little River Road runs about 18 miles from Sugarlands Visitor Center to Townsend, and for most of that distance the river is within a few yards of the pavement. The pull-offs along the way are not named overlooks. They are the places where the shoulder widens enough to park and walk down to the water.
What you will find
Each pull-off holds one to four cars. Some are gravel, some paved, and the National Park Service has recorded dozens of them. Down the bank you find boulders, riffles, small pools and, in the lower stretch near Townsend, wider water. The river is lined with rhododendron and hemlock, and in October the leaves of the maples and poplars drift onto the surface.
Using them well
- Choose a pull-off with room. On weekends the best ones fill, so keep driving and take the next.
- Wade carefully. The rocks are slick, the current is faster than it looks after rain, and the water is cold. Do not swim in the gorge sections.
- Fish with a license. Trout fishing requires a Tennessee or North Carolina license; check park rules first.
- Respect the pull-off. Park fully off the lane; the road is narrow and curves are blind.
The road in context
The famous stops along it are Laurel Falls (closed, not expected to reopen until 2027), Elkmont, Metcalf Bottoms, The Sinks and Meigs Falls. Between them are the unnamed pull-offs that give this drive its character. The drive takes about an hour without stops and two to three with them.
Little River Road is open year-round, weather permitting. A parking tag is required for stops over 15 minutes: $5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year, displayed in the car. Cell service is limited, so download directions before you start.
Good to know
- Do I need a parking tag?
- A Park It Forward parking tag ($5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year) is required for any vehicle parked more than 15 minutes inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Entry is free, and federal passes such as America the Beautiful do not replace the tag.