I'm trying to determine the real-world time it would take to drive from the Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg, TN area to either Fontana or Robbinsville?

I've looked at the maps on here, looked on google maps, etc and also see that on http://www.tailofthedragon.com/ is says about 60 minutes....but I want to be sure before committing to a cabin up there.

Anyone stayed up there and think the time it would take to drive back and forth to/from MOTD events would be too troublesome?

Thanks!

 

Being originally from this area of the world I would recommend staying in Townsend. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg will require driving through the National Park through Townsend, getting on Foothills Parkway, driving to the US 129 and then taking the Dragon to Fontana Village. Its a haul...I think it would be closer to 2 hours from these locations.

From Townsend you would be looking at around 1hr and 15 minutes.

I would also recommend looking at snooter's lodging list. If you want to be closer to the event things on the North Carolina side may be closer.

Also, it would also be closer to stay in a hotel in the southern part of Maryville, TN so you can quickly get on US 129. From here its about 45-60 minutes to Fontana.

 

I ended up staying in Cherokee, NC for 2 nights last year and that is about a 45 minute drive to Fontana. Gatlinburg is at least 45 min to an hour farther over the park.