Great Smoky Mountains Adventure Tour - For Families with Teens & Kids
National Park Adventures in Tennessee
Best for ages 9+ (Ages 4+ ok) | Min. age to ride own bike: 8+ | Min. age to ride e-bike: 16+
Family — Teens & Kids
5 days 4 nights
Activity Level: 1-3
Casual Hotels
From: $3,249 - $3,399 pp dbl occ
($600 for sgl occ) plus 9.25% tax
Wide grins are in store for the entire family on our adventures through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See for yourself why this is our nation’s most beloved park and a World Heritage site. Witness fog dancing atop ancient mountains. Wildflowers and waterfalls. Birds and bears. With over 800 miles of stunning and incredibly biodiverse backcountry, the Smokies are ready to make you smile.
Tennessee
Start/End Knoxville
Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Highlights
- Hike on wooded trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, home to protected animals including brook trout, great-horned owls and the famous black bear
- Stargaze and enjoy a s'more at our eco-friendly and upscale glamping campsite and relax on your cabin’s porch swing at our rustic lodge
- Splash and cool off in some of the park’s picturesque waters—river raft along rapids and swim below a waterfall
- Pedal on a riverside bike path in the vibrant town of Knoxville and then picnic on local specialties in a nature preserve
Itinerary
5 Days Casual Hotels
On our first Tennessee morning, bike on a paved road through the charming town of Knoxville | Ride on the Knoxville Greenway and hear the Tennessee River hum as it appears through greenery | Spy great blue herons and explore the Ijams Nature Preserve | Hike through an old-growth forest along Alum Cave Creek to Arch Rock—a formation of black slate | Climb stone-carved stairs to catch sight of magical mountain scenery including the Eye of the Needle—a hole in the top of the rock at Little Duck Hawk Ridge | Gaze above for passing peregrine falcons | Discover Alum Cave, a massive concave overhang towering 80 feet high | Walk along trails showcasing bright mountain laurel and rhododendron tangles | Find incredible geologic formations at the top of Mount Le Conte, one of the highest Smoky Mountains | Relax fireside under the stars at our idyllic glamping site tucked in the woods.
Nestled among wooded, lush terrain in the Land of Blue Smoke, the glampsite's safari-style canvas tents offer a wood-burning stove, deck and private bathroom.
The family is in for a refreshing good time and thrilling white-water fun on the Class II-IV rapids of the Upper Pigeon River—complete with stunning views of Pigeon River Gorge | Soar through the temperate rain forest on a zip-line tour | Bike a car-free and blissful route at historic Cades Cove, a formerly inhabited farming valley | Take in the lush landscape and look out for black bears and elk | Enjoy local dishes and handcrafted cocktails at Dancing Bear Lodge | Gather around as our Appalachian storyteller brings the region’s culture and history to life | Trek to one of the most scenic waterfalls in the Great Smoky Mountains, Spruce Flats Falls—feel free to take a dip under the cascading waters.
With rocking chairs and simple charm, the contemporary cabins at Dancing Bear Lodge offer rustic comfort in a serene setting.
Dates & Prices
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy.
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.
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Our Private Trips are best for groups of 6 or more. We suggest joining a scheduled trip.
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From our Guests
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Activity Level:
1-3
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Several routes and a range of levels are offered each day so you can choose how much or how little activity you want to do. Learn more about how we determine activity levels.
Route notes
The terrain ranges from lightly rolling to hilly with several steep longer climbs. Some routes have exposed sections. Hiking trails are often uneven, with roots, mud, rocks and other obstacles. Our biking routes are a mix of bike paths and county roads. The roads do not have a shoulder. Please note that unpredictable mountain weather and humidity can make hiking conditions more challenging.
Daily Route Options
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Several routes and a range of levels are offered each day so you can choose how much or how little activity you want to do. Learn more about how we determine activity levels.
Route notes
The terrain ranges from lightly rolling to hilly with several steep longer climbs. Some routes have exposed sections. Hiking trails are often uneven, with roots, mud, rocks and other obstacles. Our biking routes are a mix of bike paths and county roads. The roads do not have a shoulder. Please note that unpredictable mountain weather and humidity can make hiking conditions more challenging.
What's Included
Available Bike Options
The key to a stellar day's ride is a bike that's perfectly in tune with your cycling style… Backroads has you covered with the best bike fleet in the world! Please note that bike requests are subject to availability and prioritized based on the date they're submitted.
Click the arrow to see all bike options.
Included in your trip price
This custom-designed titanium bike is lightweight and responsive, featuring Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic shifting, 11-speed compact gearing, a premium Mavic Ksyrium Pro wheelset and a full carbon fork.
Included in your trip price
A proven classic, this custom-designed titanium bike is suited for a wide range of cyclists. It features a comfortable ergonomic seat and a long wheel base that add to the bike’s control and stability.
Included in your trip price
Keep pace or zip ahead, pedaling with an electric boost. This bike provides plenty of power to flatten the hills and more than enough battery range to cover the distance.
Min. age to ride e-bike: 16+
Included in your trip price
Backroads is the only travel company to manufacture its own line of kid's bikes. While the wheels might be small, the performance is big—it's the perfect choice for kids. On our Family Trips, you'll find 20" and 24" bikes.
Included in your trip price
The Burley Kazoo trailer bike, for children up to 85 pounds, attaches to an adult bike with your child providing some of the pedal power for a real team effort! It's ideal for kids who aren't yet ready for bike touring.
Also Included
- All breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners
- Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
- Snacks and beverages between meals
- Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
- Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
- Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
- On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
- Trailercycles and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
- Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
- Park and other entry fees
- Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
- Select coach transfers
- Baggage transfers and porterage
Straight talk
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Accommodations–Glamping
At Under Canvas Great Smoky Mountains, we stay in large canvas-walled safari-style platform tents. Each is outfitted with a king-size bed including linens, a small fan, a small battery-operated lamp, a wood burning stove, plus an en suite bathroom with a hot shower, flushing toilet and sink. On family trips, kids sleep in a smaller tent set up with two cots adjacent to the parents’ tent or on a pullout sofa in the parents’ tent. Each tent has a USB battery pack to charge a cell phone or small device. While our tents are comfortable, they do not have electricity or air-conditioning. Daytime can be hot but the tents' screened windows allow cool air to flow at night. Also, the property does not have Wi-Fi or cell reception. Our location is close to the national park, so we may occasionally glimpse wildlife strolling through camp. With canvas walls and doors, sound may carry from nearby tents and chirping crickets, so we suggest packing earplugs. Under Canvas has a social atmosphere and we'll be sharing communal spaces with other guests.
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
At Under Canvas Great Smoky Mountains, we stay in large canvas-walled safari-style platform tents. Each is outfitted with a king-size bed including linens, a small fan, a small battery-operated lamp, a wood burning stove, plus an en suite bathroom with a hot shower, flushing toilet and sink. On family trips, kids sleep in a smaller tent set up with two cots adjacent to the parents’ tent or on a pullout sofa in the parents’ tent. Each tent has a USB battery pack to charge a cell phone or small device. While our tents are comfortable, they do not have electricity or air-conditioning. Daytime can be hot but the tents' screened windows allow cool air to flow at night. Also, the property does not have Wi-Fi or cell reception. Our location is close to the national park, so we may occasionally glimpse wildlife strolling through camp. With canvas walls and doors, sound may carry from nearby tents and chirping crickets, so we suggest packing earplugs. Under Canvas has a social atmosphere and we'll be sharing communal spaces with other guests.
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