Things to do / Travel Guide
The southern Appalachian Mountains region is quite large, and it's spread over portions of several states. This means there's entry points to it from all around the eastern U.S. The northern tip is just a few miles from Pennsylvania, while the southern tip is close to Georgia. Whether you're planning on reaching the region by air or by land, you've got plenty of options.
By Plane
McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) is the only airport actually located within the region, in Knoxville, about 20 miles from Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can fly directly into the region, connecting via one of the nearby airports, but this isn't so common. More commonly one flies into an airport adjacent to the region and then just drives in.
All together, including McGhee, there are nine airports available for access to the southern Appalachian Mountains region: three around Washington DC, one west of Virginia, and five south of Virginia. The three around Washington DC are the biggest, while, of the others, Raleigh's is the most frequented.
The northern part of the region is best served by the three Washington DC area airports. Coming from the east, the central part of the region is served by Piedmont Triad (GSO) and Raleigh Durham (RDU), and coming from the west, Bluegrass Airport (LEX) in Lexington, Kentucky, is the most convenient choice. The southern reaches of the region are best served by McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in Knoxville and to the east - Greenville/Spartan (GSP) and Douglas Municipal Airport (CLT) in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The three Washington area airports serve the entire United States and many international destinations as well, with access to the northern parts of the region via I-66 Routes into these airports are generally more competitive (read: cheaper) than the other airports in the region:
- Dulles International Airport (IAD) - This is a large low-cost hub, with JetBlue taking the lead to and from major Atlantic cities. United Airlines also flies in from across America. Other major carriers are U.S. Airways and United Express.
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) - The largest carrier servicing this airport is far and away U.S. Airways, though plenty of others have a presence as well. National is smaller than Dulles, but it, too, services all the major airports in the East.
- Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) - This airport is a major hub for Southwest Airlines, but it also services AirTran Airways and U.S. Airways, among others. BWI is further away from the region's attractions than Dulles or National.
Airlines that fly into Blue Grass Airport (LEX) in Lexington, Kentucky include American, Delta, Continental, Northwest, and United, serving Chicago (O'Hare), Dallas/Fort Worth, Atlanta, Cincinnati, New York (La Guardia), Washington (National), Orlando, Cleveland, Detroit, Memphis, and Charlotte.
The following airports are also options if you wish to arrive close to the Smokies or the Black Mountains, from the east:
- Greenville/Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) - This airport, in South Carolina, is a good bet if your destination is the southernmost mounts of the Appalachians, stretching into northern Georgia. It serves most of the same airlines and destinations as those served by Blue Grass Airport. Flying to this airport may be a more expensive option.
- Douglas Municipal Airport (CLT) - U.S. Airways uses this airport as a major hub, though it serves many other national carriers. Flying to this airport, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, can be cheaper.
- Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) - United Airlines, Delta, and U.S. Airways are the major carriers to this airport, though others operate as well. Flying to this airport is generally a more expensive option, though it might be a good choice if southern Virginia is where you're headed.
- Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) This airport is served mainly by American Airlines, though other major airlines have presences as well. It services the entire eastern U.S., as well as other cities including San Antonio, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Chicago, Milwaukee, and the big Texan cities. Flying to this airport is often a cheap option, though admittedly it's farther away from the region's attractions.
By Car
This region is smack in landlocked U.S. territory, and there are plenty of roads leading to it. The region is well served by the Interstate Highway system.
- I-81 starts in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, runs the length of the region, and terminates in Knoxville. Coming from the northeast, you will probably be arriving in the region by I-81.
- I-77 crosses the central part of the region from north to south, from Cleveland, Ohio, to Columbia, South Carolina.
- I-64 crosses the region from east to west in the vicinity of Shenandoah National Park. I-64 reaches Virginia Beach in the east and St. Louis in the west.
- I-40 crosses the United States from the North Carolina Coast all the way to California and passes right by Great Smoky Mountains National Park. East of the Smokies, I-40 serves the major cities of Greensboro and Raleigh, North Carolina. Towards the west, the interstate meets up with Knoxville, then Nashville, Memphis, Little Rock, and points further west.
The following are approximate distances and driving times to the major destinations in the southern Appalachian Mountains region from major cities outside the region:
- Atlanta to Roanoke - 435 miles, 7 hours
- Atlanta to Knoxville - 215 miles, 3 hours 20 minutes
- Atlanta to Harpers Ferry - 630 miles, 10 hours
- Washington DC to Roanoke - 240 miles, 4 hours
- Washington DC to Knoxville - 485 miles, 7 hours 40 minutes
- Washington DC to Harpers Ferry - 65 miles, 1 hour 20 minutes
- Memphis to Roanoke - 650 miles, 10 hours
- Memphis to Knoxville - 390 miles, 5 hours 50 minutes
- Memphis to Harpers Ferry - 845 miles, 13 hours
- Cincinnati to Roanoke - 390 miles, 6 hours 50 minutes
- Cincinnati to Knoxville - 260 miles, 4 hours 10 minutes
- Cincinnati to Harpers Ferry - 485 miles, 7 hours 40 minutes
By Train
While no passenger trains actually reach the region, a few lines serve nearby cities. The Carolinian/Piedmont line runs from New York to Charlotte (total trip time = about 13 hours). The Silver Star can take you from New York to Raleigh in 10 hours.
By Bus
If bus is your preferred mode of transportation, it's no problem to take Greyhound or Peter Pan into the region. Closer to the region, from a major city there's a larger chance of not needing to transfer buses; farther away you'll need to transfer. You can get from Washington DC to Roanoke on one bus; to Knoxville you'll transfer once, and to Asheville you'll transfer twice. It can take up to 15 hours by bus to get to Knoxville from various points across the Eastern Seaboard.
Around the Shenandoah, you can take a Greyhound bus to Charlottesville and Roanoke. Around Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you can take a Greyhound bus to Asheville and Waynesville, North Carolina, and to Knoxville.
Airports in Roanoke, Asheville, Smoky, Blue Ridge, Shenandoah and Southern Appalachian Mountains
Getting-There
Baltimore/Washington Intl Airport (BWI)
Douglas Municipal Airport (CLT)
Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Greenville/Spartanburg Airport (GSP)
McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)
Piedmont Triad Intl Airport (GSO)
Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU)
Washington National Airport (DCA)
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