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Little River and Laurel Creek Roads, Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
Photo: Mark Leckington · CC BY 3.0 · cropped

Drives Tennessee The Smokies

Little River and Laurel Creek Roads

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee · Sugarlands → Cades Cove

Twisty25 mi55 min2,700 ft climbHigh point ≈ 2,300 ftOne way
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The drive

Little River Road starts at Sugarlands on US 441 and runs west beside the Little River to the Townsend Wye, where it becomes Laurel Creek Road. The drive follows it over to Cades Cove, 24.6 miles in all.

The Sinks is on the way, about 12 miles from the Sugarlands Visitor Center, in a small lot on the left about one mile past the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area. The route is Twisty most of the way and climbs about 2,700 feet to a high point of 2,300 feet. It ends on Laurel Creek Road just before the Cades Cove Loop entrance.

Along the way

  1. Sugarlands (US 441)
  2. The Sinks
  3. Cades Cove
Elevation
2,700 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 2,300 ft
SugarlandsCades Cove
Curves
Twisty most of the way
SugarlandsCades Cove
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • The Sinks is not signed. The park says visitors have drowned there and asks everyone to view it from the designated area.
  • Little River Road is open year-round, weather permitting.
  • Parking longer than 15 minutes needs a parking tag, which is not an entrance fee.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Great Smoky Mountains National Park: closures.

Questions about this drive

How long does Little River Road take to drive?

Little River and Laurel Creek Roads from Sugarlands to Cades Cove are 24.6 miles and take about 55 minutes.

Where is The Sinks on Little River Road?

The park says it is about 12 miles from the Sugarlands Visitor Center, in a small lot on the left about one mile past Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area.

Is Little River Road open in winter?

The park lists Little River Road as open year-round, weather permitting.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Little River and Laurel Creek Roads, from Sugarlands to Cades Cove