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Tennessee events › Answers › Is the Cades Cove Loop Road Closed to Cars on Wednesdays?
Yes on Wednesdays for part of the year: the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to motor vehicles every Wednesday from May 6 through September 30, 2026, open to walkers and cyclists. Otherwise it is open sunrise to sunset each day.
- Loop Length11 Milesone way
- OpenSunrise-Sunseteach day
- No CarsWednesdaysMay 6-Sep 30, 2026
- Allow2-4 Hoursper NPS
Last reviewed October 30, 2026.
What The Park Service Says
| Topic | What It Says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Loop road | 11-mile, one-way loop road. Open sunrise to sunset each day, closed to vehicles each Wednesday typically from May through September. Allow at least two to four hours to tour Cades Cove. | NPS |
| Vehicle-free days | Loop Road is motor vehicle-free all day on Wednesdays for part of the year. 2026 dates: May 6 – September 30, 2026. The page describes a 'full-day, vehicle-free Wednesday opportunity'. No Saturday rule is printed. | NPS |
| Live road status | Page says 'Know the status of the park's roads, facilities, and trails before you go.' It notes the Carlos Campbell Overlook on Newfound Gap Road is temporarily closed while maintenance crews assess cracks in the pavement and sidewalk. | NPS closures page |
Check the NPS closures page on the day you go.
More
Our Cades Cove page has the parking tag and pet rules; see also the national park pass answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the loop closed on Saturdays?
The NPS pages we read print a Wednesday rule only; no Saturday rule is printed.
What dates apply after 2026?
Not confirmed: the NPS page lists the 2026 dates only.
What We Could Not Confirm
- Vehicle-free dates after September 30, 2026: not printed.
- Weather and construction closures: live status is on the NPS page, not here.
Sources
Read on October 30, 2026. How we check: editorial standards; spot a mistake? Tell us.
Cite this page: It's Tennessee, “Is The Cades Cove Loop Road Closed to Cars on Wednesdays?”, itstennessee.com/answers/is-cades-cove-loop-road-closed-to-cars-on-wednesdays/ (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.