14 days in Smoky Mountains & Cherokee Itinerary

Highlands is an incorporated town in Macon County in the U.S. You'll discover tucked-away gems like Cullasaja Falls and Cashiers Farmers Market. Get outdoors at Sunset Rock and Ravenel Park and Oconee State Park. Venture out of the city with trips to Yellow Branch Falls (in Mountain Rest), Primitive Outback (in Otto) and Chattooga Belle Farm (in Long Creek). And it doesn't end there: get a taste of the local shopping with The Bascom, admire the sheer force of Silver Run Falls, go deep underground at Jackson Hole Trading Post & Gem Mine, and take a pleasant ride with Dillard House Stables.

To find where to stay, photos, reviews, and tourist information, use the Highlands holiday tool.

Pensacola to Highlands is an approximately 8.5-hour car ride. You can also fly; or drive; or do a combination of bus, subway, and car. Due to the time zone difference, you'll lose 1 hour traveling from Pensacola to Highlands. Expect a bit cooler temperatures when traveling from Pensacola in August; daily highs in Highlands reach 82°F and lows reach 61°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 4th (Fri) so you can go by car to Cherokee.

The center of Cherokee culture in the eastern part of the country, the town named after this Native American tribe serves as a base camp for hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains.

You'll explore the less-touristy side of things at Soco Falls and Charlies Bunion. Escape the urban bustle at Horseback Riding Tours and Waterrock Knob. Explore Cherokee's surroundings by going to Waynesville (Cedar Hill Studio & Gallery, Mast General Store, &more). There's much more to do: stroll around Oconaluftee Islands Park, take an in-depth tour of Mountain Farm Museum, indulge your thirst for a good beer at Mountain Layers Brewing Company, and sample the fine beverages at Elevated Mountain Distilling Co..

For traveler tips, photos, and more tourist information, refer to the Cherokee driving holiday planning website.

Traveling by car from Highlands to Cherokee takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. In September, daytime highs in Cherokee are 79°F, while nighttime lows are 57°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 8th (Tue) to allow time to drive to Murphy.

Murphy is a town in and the county seat of Cherokee County, North Carolina, United States. Get outdoors at Murphy River Walk and Appalachian Trail Rides. Give yourself a bit of retail therapy at Marketplace Antiques and Blue Ridge Olive Oil Company. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Murphy: Engelheim Vineyards (in Ellijay), Chattahoochee National Forest (in Clayton) and Blue Ridge (Morganton Point Recreation Area & Grumpy Old Men Brewing). There's much more to do: do a tasting at Cherokee Cellars Winery, make a trip to Clay's Corner, take in the dramatic scenery at Sea Creek Falls, and get a taste of life in the country at Walnut Hollow Ranch.

To see ratings, more things to do, traveler tips, and tourist information, read Murphy trip itinerary builder website.

You can drive from Cherokee to Murphy in 1.5 hours. Another option is to drive. September in Murphy sees daily highs of 80°F and lows of 56°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 12th (Sat) to allow time to travel back home.