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Cades Cove is a Tennessee attraction in Townsend, in our Smoky Mountains region. An 11-mile one-way loop road through a Smokies valley with the park's widest variety of historic buildings. Hours, prices and rules below were read from the official site on October 30, 2026; prices change, so confirm before you go.
- Prices$5 and upsee the list below
- HoursListed belowas the site prints them
- ParkingSee belowon-site details below
- DogsSee rulesbelow
Coming Up at Cades Cove
None of the events on our checked calendar name Cades Cove right now. The official site lists everything that is on. See every Tennessee event we have checked.
Also see Smoky Mountains Events.
About Cades Cove
An 11-mile one-way loop road through a Smokies valley with the park's widest variety of historic buildings.
- 11-mile one-way loop; allow 2 to 4 hours or more
- Widest variety of historic buildings of any area in the park
- Visitor center, campground, picnic area and riding stable in the cove
- Heavy traffic in summer, fall and on weekends year-round
Size, as stated: 11-mile one-way loop
Cades Cove Hours
Hours in a day
- OpenEvery daysunrise–sunset
- Loop road closed to motor vehicles every Wednesday, May 6 through September 30, 2026 (open to walkers and cyclists
- Class 1 and 2 e-bikes only).
Bars that fade start at sunrise or end at sunset or dark, which move with the season. The full hours, word for word, are in the list below.
- Loop road open sunrise to sunset each day.
- Loop road closed to motor vehicles every Wednesday, May 6 through September 30, 2026 (open to walkers and cyclists; Class 1 and 2 e-bikes only).
Source: official hours page, read October 30, 2026.
Admission and Prices
- No park entrance fee.
- Parking tag required for any vehicle parked in the park more than 15 minutes: $5 daily, $15 weekly, $40 annual.
Source: official prices page, read October 30, 2026. Prices change; confirm at checkout.
Parking
Parking tag needed if you park more than 15 minutes anywhere in the park. Physical tag only (digital not accepted), tied to one vehicle and its license plate, no refunds or transfers, does not guarantee a space. Daily/weekly tags from Recreation.gov, visitor centers or card-only machines; annual tags from Smokies Life. No tag needed on 2026 free days (Feb 16, May 25, Jun 14, Jul 3-5, Aug 25, Sep 17, Oct 27, Nov 11) or for vehicles with a state disability placard or plate. America the Beautiful passes do not replace the tag.
Dogs and Accessibility
- Dogs: Park pets page: leashed pets (6 ft max) welcome in campgrounds, picnic areas and along roads; only the Gatlinburg Trail and Oconaluftee River Trail allow pets; never in the backcountry; never left in a vehicle. The page does not mention the Cades Cove loop specifically. Service animals allowed anywhere visitors can go.
- Accessibility: Not published on the pages we read.
Directions and Contact
- Phone(865) 436-1200
- Map point35.67709,-83.74703 (approximate: looked up by place name, not by street address). Directions in Google Maps
- Official sitenps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/cadescove.htm
Places Near Cades Cove
- 1Ober Gatlinburg Ski Area & Adventure ParkAttractionabout 11 mi
- 2Ripley's Aquarium of the SmokiesAttractionabout 13 mi
- 3Titanic Museum Attraction (Pigeon Forge)Attractionabout 14 mi
- 4Seven Islands State Birding ParkState Birding Parkabout 19 mi
- 5Zoo KnoxvilleAttractionabout 24 mi
- 6Fort Loudoun State Historic ParkState Historic Parkabout 26 mi
Straight-line distances between map points, not driving miles. Dots sit in their true compass direction; distance is stretched near the middle so close neighbors stay readable.
Smokies Trip Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Cades Cove cost?
No park entrance fee. Prices change; confirm on the official page.
What are the hours at Cades Cove?
Loop road open sunrise to sunset each day.
Where do I park at Cades Cove?
Parking tag needed if you park more than 15 minutes anywhere in the park. Physical tag only (digital not accepted), tied to one vehicle and its license plate, no refunds or transfers, does not guarantee a space. Daily/weekly tags from Recreation.gov, visitor centers or card-only machines; annual tags from Smokies Life. No tag needed on 2026 free days (Feb 16, May 25, Jun 14, Jul 3-5, Aug 25, Sep 17, Oct 27, Nov 11) or for vehicles with a state disability placard or plate. America the Beautiful passes do not replace the tag.
Are dogs allowed at Cades Cove?
Park pets page: leashed pets (6 ft max) welcome in campgrounds, picnic areas and along roads; only the Gatlinburg Trail and Oconaluftee River Trail allow pets; never in the backcountry; never left in a vehicle. The page does not mention the Cades Cove loop specifically. Service animals allowed anywhere visitors can go.
What We Could Not Verify
- Street address of Cades Cove (park mailing address only: 107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738)
- Whether the Cades Cove loop itself has a specific dog rule beyond the general roadway statement
- Accessibility details (page not found/not published on pages read)
- Winter or weather closures of the loop road (not on pages read)
- Wednesday closure hoursPage says closed to vehicles all day
Sources
- Cades Cove: official site (read 2026-10-30)
- Cades Cove: hours (read 2026-10-30)
- Cades Cove: prices (read 2026-10-30)
- OpenStreetMap (map point)
Last checked October 30, 2026 by the It’s Tennessee editor. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Cite this page: It's Tennessee, “Cades Cove”, itstennessee.com/places/cades-cove/ (updated ). By the It's Tennessee editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.