Townsend

The Townsend Wye, located about two miles from Townsend in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is a popular spot for creek wading.

Welcome to Townsend, Tennessee

Are you looking for a peaceful getaway?  If so, then look no further than Townsend, Tennessee.  Located just minutes from the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Townsend provides the accommodations and access to outdoor activities you love without the traffic and commercialization you don’t.

With prices somewhat less expensive than some of the surrounding tourist’s hot-spots, yet close proximity to all that the Smoky Mountains have to offer, Townsend is a great home-base for your Smokies Adventure! Townsend is known for its many seasonal festivals and celebrations, as well as its focus on heritage.

You can visit the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Museum or the Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum to learn about the history of the region.  You can also walk or bike the eight-mile historic trail through Townsend, which features sites such as the Laughing Horse Motel and a Native American archaeological site.

Cades Cove is a mere seven miles from Townsend, making it the closest town to this popular tourist destination

A Closer Look at Townsend…

Nestled in historic Tuckaleechee Cove, Townsend is the least trafficked of three ‘gateways’ to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  The town was founded by Colonel W.B. Townsend of Pennsylvania, who purchased 86,000 acres there to start a lumbering company in the early 1900s.  Many predicted that the economy of the Tuckaleechee Cove area would suffer with the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park because of the loss of the lumber industry.  The economy actually prospered, however, thanks to the tourist industry.

Today, Townsend is known for its laid-back atmosphere and beautiful scenery.  With its close proximity to hiking trails such as Abrams Falls, Laurel Falls, Gregory Bald, Cumberland Gap, and Rich Mountain Trail it is a hiking enthusiasts dream.  The many golfing and horseback riding facilities nearby will ensure you never run out of things to do!

Don’t forget about nearby Tuckaleechee Caverns, a system of caves under the Smokies!  Check out the 200′ tall double waterfall and the 400′ long, 150′ deep “Big Room” inside the caverns.

If a peaceful getaway is what you’re dreaming of, get away to Townsend, Tennessee, today!