Gatlinburg to Little Rock: A Smoky Mountains to Delta Road Trip

This route crosses the continental divide twice, first over the Great Smoky Mountains and then the Cumberland Plateau. The drive from Gatlinburg, Tennessee to Little Rock, Arkansas spans 480 miles and takes approximately 7.5 hours via I-40 W. In 1919, the first transcontinental highway, the Bankhead Highway, passed through Little Rock, linking the Atlantic to the Pacific. Today's I-40 follows a similar corridor through the heart of the South.

The most direct route is US-321 N to I-40 W in Knoxville, then I-40 W all the way to Little Rock. Fuel costs average between $2.80 and $3.20 per gallon along the way. Memphis offers the cheapest fuel near the Arkansas border.

• Exit 407 (Gatlinburg) to Exit 140 (Little Rock)
• Major cities en route: Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis
• Rest areas every 30–40 miles in Tennessee and Arkansas

The drive begins in the lush Smoky Mountains, transitioning to the rolling hills of Middle Tennessee, then to the Mississippi Delta floodplain. In the Smokies, look for black bears and synchronous fireflies. The Delta region features cotton fields and catfish farms.

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park: old-growth forests
• Arkansas Delta: Big River Crossing pedestrian bridge
• Local commerce: Knoxville's Market Square, Memphis's Beale Street

Truck traffic is heavy on I-40, especially near Nashville and Memphis. Use the left lane only for passing. Rest stops with picnic tables are well-maintained in Tennessee. For fatigue, stop at the Tennessee Welcome Center near the state line.

• Best stop for families: The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
• Pet-friendly: Bark Park in Memphis (off-leash)
• Hidden gem: The Sipsey River Recreation Area in Alabama (slight detour)