East Tennessee Crossing
Exploring the Wilderness Road of Tennessee
| Departure: | Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Kentucky |
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| Destination: | Morristown, Tennessee |
| Time to allow: | 1 day |
This itinerary offers the traveler more depth into the Wilderness Road and is a perfect complement to the activities available along the Kentucky portion of this route. Enjoy the rich history and beauty of Tennessee on this exciting route along the East Tennessee Crossing Byway.
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Start: Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
Visiting Cumberland Gap National Historical Park provides visitors with an excellent overview of the Gap and the Wilderness Road and the role it played for animals, Native Americans and settlers. The recently-renovated Park Service visitors center offers a quality review of the Gap and the Wilderness Road, the geology of the Park and professionally-produced film on Daniel Boone. Drive up to the Pinnacle Rock overlook and see the vistas of the Cumberlands in both Kentucky and Tennessee. Interpretation is installed on both the history and physiography of the Park. Trails extend from the points along the drive and the top. Trails also run throughout the Park and can be accessed from the Visitors Center or from entry points in the Town of Cumberland Gap. Tours are given of Cujo’s Cave and driving tours are offered to the historic settlement school on the Park property. Finally, walk on the original path of the Wilderness Road as it rises from Tennessee to the Gap and into Kentucky.
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Stop 1: Town of Cumberland Gap
Directions from previous place: Drive south along US-25E from the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and veer right at the sign for US-58 to Virginia. Turn left at either South Cumberland Drive or North Cumberland Drive to enter the village. The northern entrance passes a recent interpretive installation on the Wilderness Road and those who passed over this route. The installation includes sculpture and audio clips to enhance the experience.
Distance from Previous Site: 2 miles / 3.2 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 5 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour This historic village is located at the base of Pinnacle Rock. It offers lodging, antique and gift shops and Webbs Country Kitchen a well-known local eatery and music venue. The village is adjacent to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and its trails and interpretive installations are located within walking distance of the village.
This would be a good stop for a meal following a visit to the National Park.
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Stop 2: Wilderness Road State Park
Directions from previous place: Drive five miles from the Town of Cumberland Gap along US-58. The park is on the left.
Distance from Previous Site: 5 miles / 8.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 10 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours Wilderness Road State Park gives the visitor a great experience of what a Wilderness Road outpost and trading post was like. The movie is excellent and the landscape is beautiful.
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Stop 3: Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum of Lincoln Memorial University
Directions from previous place: Travel west along US-58 to the junction with US-25E, head south and turn right into Abraham Lincoln Memorial University. The museum is immediately on the right.
Distance from Previous Site: 7 miles / 11.2 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 15 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours This museum provides a good background on another aspect of the Wilderness Road, its role as the Dixie Highway during the Civil War, the battles for Cumberland Gap and Lincoln’s perspective on the importance of Eastern Tennessee.
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Stop 4: Tazewell
Directions from previous place: Drive south for 12 miles through the farmland of Claiborne County.
Distance from Previous Site: 12 miles / 19.2 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 18 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes This is the next stop south of the Museum, the Gap and Harrogate. The town offers a brief Civil War driving tour and a historic Gulf gas station which was featured in the movie, "Thunder Road."
This would be a good location to grab a snack before heading south. There are numerous eateries coming into Tazewell or immediately after the byway turns south.
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Stop 5: Clinch Mountain Winery
Directions from previous place: Drive south on US-25E for about 10 miles to the bridge crossing the Clinch River. Go another 2.5 miles and look for Bullen Valley Road on the right. Drive about 1 mile to the winery. See signs. Winery on left.
To visit Petticoat Junction General Store, continue on down same road to junction and turn right on TN-131. Go 4 miles to hamlet containing Petticoat Junction General Store.
Distance from Previous Site: 15 miles / 24.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 20 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour This winery is located immediately off the byway on Bullen Valley Road, as one climbs up Clinch Mountain. Tastings and a gift shop make for a nice 1/2 hour experience. The winery produces over 20 different wines and is housed in an old barn on an old farm.
Down the road another 5 miles is the Petticoat Junction General Store. This store literally has a contingent of local gentlemen who gather daily to whittle and chew the fat with anyone that comes buy. Have a coke (i.e., a soda pop or soft drink), kick back and enjoy the meadows and hillsides from the front porch.
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Stop 6: Clinch Mountain Overlook
Directions from previous place: Drive 2 miles up to the top of Clinch Mountain and stop just on the southern side of the ridge.
Distance from Previous Site: 2 miles / 3.2 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 5 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 45 minutes This short stop provides some interpretive signage and a wonderful view of the byway and landscape to the south . Local musicians often play at the nearby restaurant.
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End: Morristown
Directions from previous place: Follow the byway south to the intersection with US-11E, East Morris Blvd.
Distance from Previous Site: 18 miles / 28.8 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 25 minutes Morristown is a logical way to end this day. Visit Crockett’s Tavern Museum, where you can learn about Davy Crockett’s life and ways of living from the late 18th Century. If time allows, take the downtown stained glass walking tour.
The next morning drive around Cherokee Lake, take a trip into Grainger County, visit pristine Panther Creek State Park or follow the Bridge to Bridge Civil War Tour.
You can find lodging near hear or to the west of town. Restaurants are located along the byway and along East Morris Blvd.
