East Tennessee Crossing
Places to Visit
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Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (KY)
Cumberland Gap is the second largest historical park in the nation and features the Gap, the Hensley Settlement, Cudjoe Cave, and numerous other historical and natural sites of interest. Cumberland Gap offers the actual paths and recreated road that Native Americans and settlers used to cross the mountains. There is a visitors center and numerous interpretive installations. Visitors can drive to the top of Pinnacle Mountain and view Tennessee, Kentucky and Virgina and distant views of North Carolina. Trails and interpretation are in place along the drive and at the vista. The Hensley Settlement is a preserved rustic mountain site with tours.
Distance from byway: 0.1 mi / 0.2 km Travel time: 5 minutes Directions: Proceed north on US-25E through the tunnel into Kentucky. The visitors center is located at the exit just north of the tunnel.
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Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum of Lincoln Memorial University (TN)
This facility features one of the most extensive collections of Lincoln materials in the country. The museum offers art, sculpture, and interpretive displays on the life of Abraham Lincoln and on the Civil War in Eastern Tennessee.
Distance from byway: On the byway Directions: Look for a sign on west side of byway to Abraham Lincoln Memorial University and Museum. It lies just a few hundred yards from the road.
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Bean Station is both a current village and a nearby historic site. Bean Station was the most prominent trading station on the Wilderness Road.
Distance from byway: 1 mi / 1.6 km Directions: Merge onto US-11W N/ LEE HWY/ TN-1 E toward ROGERSVILLE. Turn left onto Broadway. The island lies west on 11W about 2 miles on the west side of the byway.
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The Cherokee National Forest, known for its spectacular white water, might be thought of as the "Land of Waterfalls."
Distance from byway: On the byway Directions: Located at the southern end of the byway
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To the south of Newport, the byway runs along the French Broad River, the third oldest river in the world, to the site of the Christy Mission in Del Rio.
Distance from byway: 6 mi / 9.7 km Directions: Exit the byway at Del Rio (at Edwina Bridgeport Rd). Go 0.6 miles and take a slight right at Rocky Top Rd. Go 4.6 miles and turn left at Chapel Hollow Rd. Destination will be on the left 1.1 mi. 1425 Chapel Hollow Rd. Del Rio, TN 37727
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Clinch Mountain offers spectacular views of lakes, valleys and the Great Smoky Mountains.
Distance from byway: On the byway Directions: The viewing area is located on the west side of the byway, immediately south of the peak of Clinch Mountain.
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This stop offers a fun diversion with over 20 wines including Hound Dog Red and Scooter Trash.
Location: 1335 Bullen Valley Rd
Thorn Hill, TN 37881 -
The Warriors Path crossed the Pigeon River just 1,000 feet from the current bridge in Newport. From its creation in 1790, Newport saw tens of thousands of people headed west and north.
Distance from byway: 0.4 mi / 0.6 km Directions: Turn south on US321 and go 1/4 mile to Lakeview. Turn left and then right on Prospect. Parking lot is to immediate right.
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This is a historically-accurate, recreated log structure on the original site of the building in which Davey Crockett grew up and helped his family with the running of the tavern.
Distance from byway: 0.6 mi / 1.0 km Directions: Turn west on Highway 11/34 (East Morris Blvd), go 1/4 mile and turn right onto South Park Avenue, turn right onto East Main (Morningside Drive). Tavern is on the right about 100 yards from intersection.
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park (TN)
One of the most visited national parks in the country, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has welcomed over 10 million visitors.
Distance from byway: 15 mi / 24.1 km Directions: Take US Highway 321 (the Cosby Highway) south from Newport for about 15 miles to Cosby and the eastern entrance to the National Park.
