Your drive through the Smokies and surrounding areas might take a little longer than normal. More road closures are expected within Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in addition to planned lane closures for repair work along the Gatlinburg Spur.
Sections of Little River Road will close for several hours on two separate days beginning Sept. 15 for routine roadside maintenance, according to the National Park Service.
Popular sites including Elkmont, Metcalf Bottoms and Cades Cove will remain accessible during the road closures but might require detours, the park service advised. Visitors should plan for increased travel time.
When will Little River Road be closed?
- Little River Road from Townsend Wye to Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area will be closed 7 a.m.-noon Sept. 15. Visitors can use Wears Valley Road (US 321) between Townsend and Line Springs Road as a detour.
- Little River Road from Metcalf Bottoms to Elkmont Junction will be closed 7 a.m.-noon Sept. 17. Visitors can use Wears Valley Road between Line Springs Road and Pigeon Forge as a detour.
Motor homes, buses and vans longer than 25 feet, as well as any passenger vehicles towing trailers, are prohibited on Wear
Cove Gap Road to and from the park boundary, including the Metcalf Bridge, the park service said in a news release.
Updated Great Smoky Mountains National Park road closures and other updates are available on the park website and via the @GreatSmokyNPS social media account on X.
Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Your trip to Cades Cove or Elkmont could be delayed by road closures
