Cades Cove Audio Tour: Explore Nature and History
4.1
44 Ratings
Townsend
Embark on a captivating audio tour of Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountains. Explore nature, history, and stunning scenery all in one place. Book now for a lifetime of adventure!
Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Cades Cove Visitor Center - Your tour of Cades Cove begins near the Sugarlands Visitor Center. From here, you’ll drive down a scenic route to reach the main attraction: Cades Cove Loop.
  • John Oliver Place - The first landmark you’ll encounter is the John Oliver Place, a historic homestead dating back to the early 1800s.
  • Cades Cove Primitive Baptist Church - Next up is the Primitive Baptist Church, one of three historic churches in Cades Cove which offers a window into the area’s past.
  • Cades Cove Methodist Church - Past that is the Methodist Church, which cost only $115 to build when it was constructed in 1902!
  • Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church - Then there’s the Missionary Baptist Church, which split off from the Primitive Baptist Church during the early days of Cades Cove due to ideological divides.
  • Elijah Oliver Cabin - Continuing on, you’ll come to the Elijah Oliver Place, accessible via a half-mile trail. This secluded homestead once belonged to an abolitionist who found himself in grave danger when the Civil War broke out.
  • Abrams Falls Trail - Up next is the Abrams Falls Trail, which takes hikers to a powerful waterfall hidden deep in the wilderness.
  • Cades Cove Historical Grist Mill - After that, you’ll see the John Cable Grist Mill. This mill dates back to 1870 and you can still see it in operation today!
  • Henry Whitehead House - From the John Cable Grist Mill, you’ll have the option to make a detour to the Henry Whitehead House. This pleasant cabin was actually built as a wedding gift!
  • Tipton Road - Next on your route is Tipton Place, which was once home to a war hero of the American Revolution..
  • Carter Shields Cabin - Finally, you’ll come next to the Carter Shields Cabin, a staunchly abolitionist home that lost much during the Civil War.

There are many stories that you’ll hear along the way, including
• A Cherokee Homeland
• White Settlers Arrive in Cades Cove
• Smokies Wildlife
• The Cussing Cover
• Last Family who lived in Cades Cove and more.
Explore the captivating Great Smoky Mountains and the stunning Cades Cove by purchasing our special bundle that includes both destinations.

What's Included
  • Hands-free GPS-based stories available all day with help support.
  • Comprehensive itinerary, including travel tips, audio and video narratives, and lesser-known sights.
  • GPS map and offline navigation support with step-by-step directions.
  • Personalized private tour with the freedom to take breaks and explore at your own pace.
  • Convenient mobile app with easy download instructions and exclusive access to your tours.
  • Ultimate flexibility with the ability to use the tour any day, multiple times, and it never expires.
  • Exceptional value for the whole car, offering savings over traditional bus tours.
What's Not Included
  • Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
Additional Information

Only one tour should be bought per car, not per individual. Everyone shares the experience!

Explore the beautiful landscapes and deep-rooted history of Cades Cove, a hot spot in the Smoky Mountains. This picturesque circuit offers a multitude of sights in a confined area. Revel in the beauty of sparkling waterfalls, verdant hiking routes, and antique churches, all located in a single venue! Also, uncover the intriguing past of this cove, including its brush with the Civil War.

Upon reservation, before downloading the Tour Guide App by Action from your email, type in your unique code to unlock your tour. Be informed that the above process requires stable internet/wifi connection. Simply heed the verbal guidelines and the prescribed course thereafter.

This doesn’t include admission. Confirm operating hours prior to your visit.

Never expires — The tour offers lifetime access!

  • How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email and an instructions email. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular
  • How to start the tour: Once onsite, open the Action’s Tour Guide App: • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If there are multiple tour versions, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
  • Amazing savings: • Driving Tours: Save money by purchasing a single tour for the entire vehicle, avoiding individual fees per person like on a bus tour. Connect your phone to the car speakers to share the audio.
  • Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It’s perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. • Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
  • Comprehensive Tour Experience: •The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
  • Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
  • Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
  • Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
  • Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app’s features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.
Location
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Library
Tennessee 73
After booking the tour, search your email for the phrase "Set up your self-guided tour now." Follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.1
(44 Ratings)
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1 star
181christye
Apr 6, 2024
Meaningful tour - This was a great addition to our scenic drive. The historical information and stories made the long drive more meaningful.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Erichr2968sh
Apr 4, 2024
Worth it - It worked well and added much needed context to our tour. The kids liked loved the addition as well. For me it was the most enjoyable part of the trip so far and the least expensive 🙂
Review provided by Tripadvisor
U4997bkalisonl
Mar 21, 2024
The Best Travel Companion - This was the perfect mix of history and visual information. It let you fully enjoy the trip without being intrusive. We would definitely do another one!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alliek8089
Jan 15, 2024
Great with family - We went on a cold rainy day to the Smokey mountains for this tour. It was perfect. Make Sure you download it before like they suggest- there is no service once you get into the national park.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Melissa_r
Jan 1, 2024
It’s worth the price - We loved this guided tour. Learned a lot of information about the area. Beautiful place. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Sabrina
Nov 26, 2023
Interesting and Professional Self Guided Tour for the Family. - This tour is very well done! It is very accurate automatically matching the sites with the explanations, and is also full of knowledge. The voice and the words of the guide are very clear so even people that don’t have English as their first language would easily understand. This tour was amazing as we could visit all the attractions at our own pace and could also have maps and perfect road guidance when no phone signal was available. We actually felt safer during our visit because of this. All this is also true for the Full Tour of the Smoky Mountains they also have. We bought that as well. Thank you for making our experience an unforgettable one!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chris_m
Dec 6, 2023
I was unable to download... - I was unable to download the app and therefore lost much of the experience . The loop experience was still enjoyable and we were able to pick up some information and the view of the mountains was spectacular. Able to get good pictures just really missed the other information that must have been on that app and the stories that it would have told
Review provided by Viator
Lovestravel87
Apr 4, 2024
Not worth it. Smoky Mountain National Park way more scenic! - The longest hour of my life! When I read the reviews and it says it would take up to four hours. I would never do this with a family or an impatient driver again. We saw nothing! There are signs saying stay 50 yards back. 😂 from what the grass. Horses where the only animal we saw except for the two in the backseat. Not worth it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shelley_b
Nov 21, 2023
Order early so you can download the day before - no cell service in the national park. Begins with Townsend. - Purchased the audio tour and then (only then) realized that the starting point was literally at the end of our planned drive. So it wouldn’t work. Tried to cancel, but was going to charge 100% of fee. Didn’t get an e-mail with download link on the day I ordered it, so I assumed it was only going to pop up the next day when we’d said we were planning to use the audio tour. So, decided to download it the next day before we left for the drive to “see what happens”. Finally got the notice to download literally at the end of our drive - in the national park with no cell service - so I didn’t get to even download it. This ad definitely could use some additional information for the buyer.
Review provided by Viator
Jennifer_h
Nov 10, 2023
App sucks - Couldn't get to download before we left. We missed out on alot of things including my money I paid for the download
Review provided by Viator
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