Visitors in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge can expand their vacation plans to include a trip to Cherokee, NC without driving the twisting mountainous drive across US 441 (Newfound Gap Road). You can leave the driving to someone else by taking advantage of the Shuttle service that connects the Tennessee Smokies and the North Carolina Smokies.
The shuttle picks up passengers at the Gatlinburg Welcome Center and Patriot Park in Pigeon Forge several times daily and transports them to Cherokee and back. The service is provided year-round as long as Newfound Gap Road through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is not closed due to snow and ice. During the summer months there is also an evening run that takes passengers to and from the outdoor drama at the theater in Cherokee.
Each trip over the mountain includes a stop at Newfound Gap allowing travelers to take pictures, stretch their legs and enjoy the scenery. Hikers on the Appalachian Trail will find it convenient to board the shuttle at this stop for a ride into town to gather supplies. The shuttle service also provides hiker drop offs and pick ups at The Happy Hiker parking lot just after departing the Gatlinburg Welcome Center at regularly scheduled times. In fact hikers can schedule a drop off or pick up at any pull-over area on Highway 441 throughout the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
The shuttles are climate controlled passenger buses and carry-ons such as strollers, backpacks, car seats, small coolers and mobility devices are allowed on board. You can purchase Shuttle Tickets from the drivers however children age 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
The rates for this shuttle service (at the time this article was written) are $12 or $14 per person roundtrip depending on whether you are leaving from Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge; a $2 discount per person roundtrip applies for groups of three or more people; and a $2 discount for seniors age 60 and over is available. If you are planning to travel one way and stay overnight, then the fee is $7.
The best part about a Gatlinburg Cabins vacation is the opportunity to explore the nature of the Smoky Mountains and all of the history and action of the surrounding resort cities. You can cover a lot of ground by catching the Shuttle in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg, TN to and from Cherokee. From each shuttle stop you can then transfer to a local trolley and travel throughout the cities and other destinations.
To find out more information about the shuttle service please contact:
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Public Transit
PO Box 455
Cherokee, North Carolina 28719
828-497-5296 or 866-388-6071
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