Exploring all the fun and exciting things to do in Townsend, TN, has never been easier! All you have to do is follow our Townsend map and you will be well on your way to discovering your new favorite attraction, museum or restaurant in the area!
Our Townsend Map
Entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
If you love visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park but hate getting stuck in the traffic leading up to it, you will love discovering the ‘secret entrance’ to the park found in Townsend, TN! Although it’s not really a secret, this entrance is known to have a lot less congestion compared to other entrances, like Gatlinburg’s.
What makes this entrance even better is that you will also be able to discover a new set of scenic views found in and around the park when you enter through Townsend. Unlike other entrances, this section isn’t surrounded by a lot of businesses and attractions so you can experience a more peaceful side of nature when you are here.
Click here for driving directions to the Townsend entrance to the national park.
Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center
Step into true Townsend history at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center. Focuses on maintaining the unique culture that our area is known for, this center
In addition to preserving the history of Townsend, the heritage center also houses artifacts from the early settlers of Tuckaleechee Cove, as well as the Native Americans who once called this area home.
The items found at the Heritage Center date back to thousands of years ago and include items such as pre-historic artifacts, pottery, stone tools, and more! The permanent collections at the museum also include a log cabin made from hand-hewn logs from the East Tennessee Mountain Culture exhibit, as well as the history of transportation in Cades Cove in the Tennessee in the Move exhibit.
The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center is located at 123 Cromwell Drive, Townsend, TN.
Davy Crockett Riding Stables
With all this driving around on our Townsend map, you may want to get out and stretch your legs a little bit. And what better place to do that than the Davy Crockett Riding Stables.
Here, you and your family or group are invited to explore the foothills of the Smoky Mountains on the back of your very own horse, just like the early settlers once did. Don’t worry! All the tours come with a guide, so you don’t have to worry about getting lost. This also helps if you have never ridden a horse before.
The riding stable offers a variety of tour lengths to accommodate any travel itinerary. You can choose to ride anywhere from a half hour to two full hours of exploring. The choice is yours.
You can find the Davy Crockett Riding Stables at 505 Old Cades Cove Road, Townsend, TN.
Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum
Founded in 1982, the Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum is dedicated to preserving the rich history of the lumber history of the Smoky Mountains. Inside the museum, you will find the primary collection of photographs, papers, tools and other objects used by the lumber company. There is also a replica of the Elkmont Post Office that was once used by the town. Today, the replica is used as a gift shop for the museum.
Outside of the Little River Railroad museum, you will find several larger artifacts from the lumber company, including is a Shay 2147 caboose, two historic flatcars, a portable Frick steam engine, a wooden water tank, and an original logging family home.
Although admission to the museum is completely free, the staff does request a small donation to help with preservation.
The Little River Railroad Museum is located at 7747 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend, TN.
Townsend Visitor Center
Visitors centers are always fun to visit. Not only are these where you can learn a little bit of history of the area before hitting the trails in the national park, but they are also where you can pick up a ton of cool souvenirs to remember your trip. Souvenirs include t-shirts, maps, books, keychains, and a ton of other fun and unique gifts.
Because of this, we encourage you to add a stop to the Townsend Visitor Center during your next trip to the area. Besides learning more about the national park, this is also where you can learn fun and interesting facts about the history of Townsend, TN!
The Townsend Visitor Center is located at 7906 E Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend, TN.
Apple Valley
After visiting all these fun and exciting places on our Townsend Map, you are probably building up quite an appetite. If so, you should swing by Apple Valley in Townsend, TN.
This is where you can find a quaint cafe, and old country store and thrilling events throughout the year.
At the cafe, you will definitely want to sample some of the homemade fried Apple pies! The flaky crust and warm apple center is enough to curb any sweet tooth.
If sugary sweet treats aren’t your favorite things to eat, we suggest you try one of the freshly baked biscuits or house-made granola when you visit.
Before you go, stroll through the gift shop part of the cafe to pick up some of your favorite treats to go. You will also find candles, jewelry, quilts, coffees, home decor, and a lot of other fun souvenir items.
Apple Valley is located at 7138 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend, TN.
Tuckaleechee Caverns
By far, Tuckaleechee Caverns is one of the most unique attractions on our Townsend map because it takes you deep underground. Once you enter the cavern, you will find intricate formations and rocks that took Mother Nature over 10,000 years to form. The cavern itself is estimated to be between 20 and 30 million years old. Trust us, it was well worth the wait!
You and your family can tour the cavern seven days a week. Tours usually last about 15 minutes, so you will have no trouble squeezing in a visit between trips to attractions or lunch.
You can Find Tuckaleechee Caverns at 825 Cavern Road, Townsend, TN.
Cades Cove
Cades Cove is by far one of the most scenic areas in Townsend, TN, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Here, you can find dozens of historic buildings and cabins, as well as acres upon acres of lush fields, all which are surrounded by the mountains.
To experience Cades Cove, you and your family or group will drive around the 11-mile loop road. During this drive is when you will see much of the old homesites and churches. If you want to catch a closer look, there are a few places where you can park so you can stretch your legs and explore.
Cades Cove is also home to one of the last remaining working grist mills in the Smoky Mountains. This is cool to visit because you get to watch as they grind the grain that you can also purchase in the visitor center next door.
In addition to the beautiful nature found here, Cades Cove is also home to a variety of playful wildlife. Who knows, maybe you will see a wild turkey or a bear during your visit!
Cades Cove Cellars
The next stop on our Townsend map is Cades Cove Cellars. If you like fine wine and good times, then make sure you add a trip to the Cades Cove Cellars to your next vacation to the area.
Specializing in locally-made wines with locally grown products, Cades Cove Cellars is the perfect stop for any wine lover. Their selections range from sweet to dry and everything between.
You can’t have wine without a little bit of cheese! That is why we are happy to say that Cades Cove Cellars also offers you a delicious selection of Sweetwater Valley cheeses and sausages to compliment your selection. The gift shop here also sells local pottery, jewelry, artwork, and more!
For information on upcoming events and special promotions from this Townsend winery, follow Cades Cove Cellars on Facebook.
To learn more about “The Peaceful Side of the Smoky Mountains,” check out our page about Townsend, TN.