Southeast - Looking for recommendations for a route from Knoxville to Chattanooga

A friend (or two) and I have been talking about doing a ride from Knoxville to Chattanooga (TN, of course)...wondering if anyone here has done this ride and has a recommendation for a route to take (or maybe, one not to take?)...

I have thought about this a lot, ridden part of it, and driven other parts. I am still waiting for an excuse/opportunity to do it.

From south Knoxville, I would go Maryville Pike through Maryville, and get on 411. There are a few miles after you first get on 411 that really suck, but after that there is a generous shoulder. I have ridden all the way down 411 past Chattanooga, but I have not found an acceptable way to get into town that way.

Instead, I would suggest taking 68 (from Madisonville ) west over to US27, which takes you (south) into Nooga. HWY 27 is the way the Chattanooga Bike Plan (http://http://www.chcrpa.org/Divisions_and_Functions/TPO/Plans_and_Projects/Chattanooga_Urban_Area_Bicycle_Facilities/Bike_Maps/WHamBikeRecs.pdf) takes you into town.

I just rode from Rome,Ga to Aurora Indiana. I took 41/sw of Chattanooga to 28-127. Great shoulder..Glenn in Naples,Florida..

I did this ride over the Fourth of July weekend. My best advice is to find a direct route to US-27.

My main course of action was to get on maps.google.com and get directions from knox to chatt and then change the drop-down to "walking directions." That made the route very nice, scenic, and without much traffic.

I cannot remember my exact path, but I do remember going by Watts Bar (or over?)

I did this ride over the Fourth of July weekend. My best advice is to find a direct route to US-27.

My main course of action was to get on maps.google.com and get directions from knox to chatt and then change the drop-down to "walking directions." That made the route very nice, scenic, and without much traffic.

I cannot remember my exact path, but I do remember going by Watts Bar (or over?)

I didn't know about "Walking" with Google. Very neat. Thanks.

As I zoomed in on your route, I saw roads that paralleled the walking route that would do a zig-zag going south. I guess that would add several miles to the trip, but would avoid traffic.

I've thought about making such a trip myself (but never seriously enough to start planning). That's quite a bit of added distance for a more-bicycle friendly route. I'll return that idea to the back burner.

I know this thread is over two years old but I'm planning the same ride except in reverse (Chattanooga to Knoxville). Actually I'm planning a ride from Chattanooga to Gatlinburg but once I get to Knoxvbille I should be fine. Can anyone give me any route information that worked for them on this ride (or any parts of it)?


Mike

There is a lot of traffic from I-40 to Pigeon Forge, but the highway has a wide shoulder. Be careful from Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg. There is no shoulder or bike lane and a lot of traffic on the highway. Pick a good time of day to ride it. A ride from East Knoxville to Newfound Gap past Gatlinburg is a good day trip.

Alternative from Chattanooga to Gatlinburg would be through Maryville and Townsend and Cades Cove. Highways in the park can be difficult for traffic.

I've been going to Townsend and Gatlinburg (by car) 4-6 times a year since I was in my teens (54 now). I'm very familiar with the area and the trails. I ride the Cades Cove loop several times a year and have rode my bike from Gatlinburg most of the way to Newfound Gap (I turned around and headed back at the Alums Cave Bluff trailhead, traffic was just too heavy that day.) What I'm looking for is quiet backcountry roads from Chattanooga to the Pidgeon Forge area that will miss most of the traffic. I'd love to ride to Townsend and then through the park to Gatlinburg but some of the curves are so sharp I don't see how I could keep from getting run down by cars before they could see me. That's why I was planning to come into the park from the Gatlinburg side.

Try some county road maps. I doubt if most of the roads in East Tennessee will be packed with traffic, except for in the Smokies.

There are some ridge lines that create some substantial barriers for backroads...in general, approaching from blount county (by map...looks for a direct due-south route from downtown Knoxville...roughly Martin Mill Pike, Wildwood, etc.) probably affords some better options, but I don't doubt you can find a route without having to get in a "parkway" and cruise with a million cars