The Peaceful Side of the Smokies

Townsend, Tennessee is known as the "Peaceful Side of the Smokies."  Townsend is a quiet mountain community that is a change of pace from the hustle and bustle of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville.  Townsend is an Appalachian town, full of rich heritage and surrounded by breathtaking nature.

Townsend lies in the beautiful Tuckaleechee Cove, a mountain valley at the border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  The Little River descends from the mountains into the heart of town, making it a natural gathering place for recreation.  These waters are very clear and clean and are often used by visitors and locals for swimming, fishing, kayaking, and tubing.

Townsend is very conveniently accessible to the Smoky Mountains and is a very popular town for the outdoor enthusiasts.  There is an endless number of ways to enjoy the outdoors around Townsend, from biking and hiking to golfing and fishing.


Townsend's surrounding nature looks so pristine and untouched however this beautiful town has actually been inhabited for thousands of years.  Evidence of inhabitants dates back 10,000 years ago.  Historic sites, museums and trails give visitors a taste of this town's rich history, from the historic railroad to the life of Native Americans.  The Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center displays artifacts and highlights of the major periods in the region's history, all the way from 3000 B.C. to 1930.

A fantastic way to combine outdoor recreation and history is to take a ride on the historic bike trail, an eight-mile route right through Townsend.  Pick up a brochure at the Townsend Visitors Center and then follow the markers that point out historic sites and explain important historic periods.

Townsend is also adjacent to Cades Cove, a once-thriving mountain community built in the 1800s.  An 11-mile driving loop takes visitors back in time as they explore a working grist mill and other historical buildings and churches.  Cades Cove is one of the most popular attractions in the Smokies.

Townsend is the perfect place to stay. Choose from many types of accommodations-cabins, hotels, and campgrounds.  Outdoor adventures are not the only activities Townsend has to offer.  Townsend is the perfect mountain town in which you can spend a low-key day in the town's charming shops, art galleries and antique stores, where you will find one of a kind items, mountain-style crafts, original art and feet Southern hospitality.