Temporary Closures on Little River Road
September 12, 2026, 9:50 p.m.

GATLINBURG, TN - Great Smoky Mountains National Park will close the section of Little River Road between the Townsend Wye and Elkmont for essential road maintenance on September 15 and 17.

• On September 15, the park will close Townsend Wye to Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area from 7 a.m. to noon. Visitors can use Wears Valley Road (US 321) between Townsend and Line Springs Road as a detour.

• On September 17, the park will close Metcalf Bottoms to Elkmont Junction from 7 a.m. to noon. Visitors can use Wears Valley Road between Line Springs Road and Pigeon Forge as a detour.

Popular sites including Elkmont, Metcalf Bottoms and Cades Cove will remain accessible during this closure but may require detours. Visitors should plan for increased travel time.

Motor homes, buses and vans longer than 25 feet, as well as any passenger vehicles towing a trailer, are prohibited on Wear Cove Gap Road from the park boundary to and including the Metcalf Bottoms bridge.

The park first implemented temporary closures of Little River Road in 2024 to safely complete essential road maintenance. During these short closures (totaling less than 10 hours), park staff typically complete the following work:

• Mowing and trimming of 24 miles along roadsides.

• Cleaning 8.5 miles of roadside ditches.

• Repairing 27 damaged road shoulder areas.

You may check the park website for up-to-date information on road closures and construction.