The things-to-do choices are bountiful in the Smoky Mountain town of Cherokee

The possible itinerary options can seem limitless in this one-of-a-kind place in western North Carolina. Few other towns let you get as creative with your vacation plans. Where else can you combine trying your luck at a Vegas-style casino, riding a tube in a gentle river and shopping for authentic hand-crafted native-American goods — all before lunch? Or, how about hiking from your hotel room to a pioneer farm while watching for the elk herd that often grazes near the trail, driving the westernmost section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and then ending your day at an outdoor drama about the trials and triumphs of the Cherokee people?

Located at the south main entrance to the national park, Cherokee can be the perfect place to stay, play, explore and learn during your next Smoky Mountain outing. Knowing the following information before you go can help you plot the perfect Carolina-side-of-the-Smokies itinerary.

What you’ll find near the main southern entrance to the national park

There are two primary entrances to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the southern one is on the north side of the town of Cherokee.

Just 1.2 mile from the Cherokee city limits, the Oconaluftee Visitor Center is a beautiful national park facility where you’ll find a bookstore/gift shop and museum-like exhibits. A large number of Smoky Mountain visitors stop there for a break after crossing the mountains from the Tennessee side. Located at the foot of a mountain on a picturesque property adjacent to the Oconaluftee River, its Mountain Farm Museum features a log farmhouse, barn, smokehouse, apple house and corn crib. A herd of elk is often found near the center and museum grounds.

It’s 29 miles from the Oconaluftee Visitor Center to the Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, the main northern national park entrance.

Walking from Cherokee to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center is easy thanks to the Oconaluftee River Trail, a beautiful, shady 1.5-mile, flat path that parallels the river and the road. (Map to trailhead)

It’s easy to get to some of the national park’s other top places from Cherokee

Newfound Gap Road is the paved, heavily traveled road that takes you up and over the spine of the Great Smoky Mountains. Thousands of cars travel between Gatlinburg and Cherokee on that road — which is also U.S. Hwy. 441 — each day. Inside the Cherokee city limits, it changes names to Tsali Blvd., one of the town’s main streets. A typical itinerary in the area will require using the road to get to the following major Smokies features:

Mingus Mill, a historic turbine-powered gristmill where cornmeal-making demonstrations take place, is 1.9 miles from Cherokee (it is closed in 2024 for some rehabilitation work).
Clingman’s Dome, the highest peak inside the national park at 6,644 feet above sea level, is 25 miles from Cherokee. An uphill walk of about six tenths of a mile is required to enjoy the observation tower. Clingmans Dome Road is closed from December 1 to the second week of April.
Other most-visited scenic mountaintop overlooks in the national park are within 18 miles of Cherokee.
The southern terminus of the infamous Blue Ridge Parkway is just six tenths of a mile from the Cherokee city limits. Thirteen of the parkway’s scenic overlooks and four of its tunnels are within 20 miles of Cherokee.

Plan to go west just a few miles to include these in your itinerary:

The historic downtown of Bryson City is 10 miles away.
The Deep Creek section of the national park, where several popular hiking trails can be accessed, is just above Bryson City.
The Nantahala Outdoor Center, the top spot for taking a guided rafting adventure at the Nantahala River Gorge, is about 22 miles from Cherokee.

The popular national park valley attraction, Cades Cove, is a drive of about 60 miles from Cherokee.

Set aside a significant amount of time for enjoying the river

I cannot imagine a Cherokee, NC, itinerary that does not include spending at least a little time taking in the sights and sounds of the Oconaluftee River, or its tributaries. If you’re not able to enjoy the water from the trail mentioned above, the tranquility it provides is easy to enjoy from many spots right in town. Both Tsali Boulevard and Acquoni Road run parallel to the Oconaluftee River, one on each side. Many shops and restaurants are located only a few feet from it. Booking a hotel room with a river view balcony is possible.

Three pedestrian bridges welcome you to Oconaluftee Island Park, where you can enjoy a greenway and river vistas, and watch for waterfowl such as mallard and Canada Geese.

Of course, you can spend most, or all, of your time at the water if you so choose. Cherokee is trout-fishing country, plus there are many other ways to enjoy the rocky waterways. According to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Natural Resources Department fishing website, fishcherokee.com, "In Cherokee, NC, the fish are so plentiful, you won’t need luck. But you will need a permit.” The reasonably priced permits are easy to purchase online. Cherokee Fisheries and Wildlife Management keep 30 miles of mountain streams stocked with trout. Their Tribal Trout Hatchery staff tag and stock fish for annual tournaments and stock the rivers and streams twice weekly year round.

Obviously, Oconaluftee Island Park is a great spot for watching waterfowl and other birds. Wear your swimsuit. The water is cool in summer and the shade is fantastic.

Cherokee Rapids Tube Rentals is an in-town summertime business that makes it easy to enjoy an economical Oconaluftee River adventure.

Learn about native-American culture at some of Cherokee’s top attractions

Other than the large casino, the biggest percentage of visits to the town of Cherokee are inspired by its popular culture- and art-related attractions. These make it easy for inquisitive vacationers to plan native-American-themed activities:

The Museum of the Cherokee People is open 359 days a year. For the small price of admission, visitors can enjoy exhibits and events that tell the Cherokee people’s story. The 22-foot tall wooden Sequoyah statue is hard to miss.
At the Oconaluftee Indian Village, enjoy a mostly shaded walking tour of an outdoor living history museum. Learn what survival was like 250 years ago in the North Carolina mountains for the Cherokee people. See indigenous people crafting things such as baskets, tools and weapons that were typical of the 18th century while exploring an 1750 Cherokee town replica.
Unto These Hills is an outdoor drama at a 2,800-seat mountainside theater. See a large cast and technical team portray Cherokee history from their 1540 encounter with DeSoto to the 18th century. Enjoy traditional music and dancing, and learn about the native-American heroes Sequoyah, Junaluska and Tsali.

Cherokee Historical Association operates Oconaluftee Indian Village living history museum and Unto These Hills outdoor drama.

Native-American art is prevalent throughout the town. Next door to the Museum of the Cherokee People, you’ll find a retail art gallery setting at Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual. Enjoy Cherokee handicrafts such as quilts, pottery, baskets and jewelry that were made using techniques passed down from generation to generation. In addition, among the myriad of unique stores in Cherokee, there are other retail galleries plus some shops that have a mix of goods that includes local art:

The Cherokee Bears Project showcases a variety of talented artists with over a dozen statues scattered around the town:

Visitors of all ages should enjoy examining the art and learning the story behind each painted bear.

Do more in a day thanks to smaller crowds and less traffic woes

The Tennessee side of Smokies is amazing, but you will experience fewer traffic frustrations on the Carolina side. Learning to be patient while spending a significant amount of your vacation time on the road moving slowly in your car is part of the trip experience in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. It’s seldom an issue in Cherokee.

Much more developed as a vacation area, the Tennessee side has more theme parks, amusement centers, outlet centers and accommodations due in part to how easy major highways make it to get there. But, when you want to spend more time enjoying trails, wildlife, art or scenic vistas — not wondering how long it will take to get to the next red light — Cherokee can be the better choice for your Smoky Mountain basecamp.

There’s enough to do at the casino to keep you busy without leaving the property

Whether it’s for a day, a weekend or a week-long vacation, the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort was designed — as most casino resorts are — to make it easy to never leave the property during your trip. You can get lost in the gaming action on the huge casino floor, while having dinner in a fine restaurant, or while relaxing in your room, and easily forget that you’re not out in the Nevada desert at Planet Hollywood, Paris Las Vegas or Caesars Palace.

Could you fit any of these activities into your Smoky Mountains itinerary?

Wager on pro and college sports while watching it on a 90-foot screen at Caesars Sportsbook
Laugh it up at this week’s act at The Comedy Zone
Enjoy appetizers and frozen treats in your private cabana at the casino pool (registered resort guests only)
Risk it all a little at a time playing craps, roulette, blackjack or some of the 3,000 slot machines
Shop at some of casino’s eight stores
Go bowling or play arcade games at UltraStar Multi-tainment Center
Get pampered at the Mandara Spa
Try various grub at the Gordon Ramsay Food Market
Fuel up at the Selu Garden Cafe’s all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet

The list of possible things to do in Cherokee goes on and on

See numerous nostalgic reminders at the many novel shops, plazas, attractions and hotels that were built — or last updated — in the 1970s or 1980s.
Plan to hike, jog or mountain bike part of the Fire Mountain Trails’ 10.5 miles of multiuse paths.
The Sequoyah National Golf Club is a topnotch native-America owned facility with a challenging layout and some incredible views.
Enjoy one-of-a-kind restaurants like Peter’s Pancakes & Waffles, Wize Guys Grille and Sassy Sunflowers.