Cades Cove Sightseeing Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

Travel with Action
4.1
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Cancellation Policy
Up to 24 hours before your scheduled admission.
Happiness37395954851
18 days ago
great value for the cost! and being able to tour at our own pace in our car and keep our 3 dogs with us was wonderful! Easy to pay for on line.

Purchase only one tour per vehicle, not per person. Everyone listens together! Discover gorgeous natural scenery and rich history at Cades Cove, one of the most popular destinations in the Smoky Mountains. This scenic loop packs a ton of sights into a small space. Check out sparkling waterfalls, lush hiking trails, and historic churches all in one place! Plus, learn the fascinating history behind this cove, including how the Civil War once threatened to tear it apart. After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months. This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

Departure Point

  • Begin from 107 Sugarlands Visitor Center Loop Rd, Gatlinburg, TN. After booking the tour, search your emails and texts for "audio tour". Your tour is VALID FOR ONE YEAR so follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.
Return Details
  • ADDITIONAL NOTE: Between May and September, Cyclists and pedestrians have exclusive usage of the Cades Cove Loop Road every Wednesday. No other vehicles are allowed during this time.
Duration1 hour - 2 hoursLanguages Available
  • Audio guide - English

Points of Interest

Stop At: John Oliver CabinTownsend, TN 37882The first landmark you'll encounter is the John Oliver Place, a historic homestead dating back to the early 1800s.Duration: 10 minutesStop At: Cades Cove Visitor Center1 Cades Cove Loop Road, TennesseeYour 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. Note: The tour is over 35+ miles long, with more than 40+ audio stories, and takes about 1-2 hours to complete. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.Duration: Not AvailableStop At: Cades Cove Primitive Baptist ChurchPrimitive Baptist Church Road, Townsend, TN 37882Next up is the Primitive Baptist Church, one of three historic churches in Cades Cove which offers a window into the area's past.Duration: 10 minutesStop At: Cades Cove Methodist ChurchCades Cove Loop Road, Townsend, TN 37882Past that is the Methodist Church, which cost only $115 to build when it was constructed in 1902!Duration: 10 minutesStop At: Cades Cove Missionary Baptist ChurchCades Cove Loop Road, Townsend, TN 37882Then 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.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: Elijah Oliver CabinWet Bottom Trail, Townsend, TN 37882Continuing 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.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: Cades Cove Historical Grist MillCable Mill Road, Townsend, TN 37882Up next is the Abrams Falls Trail, which takes hikers to a powerful waterfall hidden deep in the wilderness.Duration: 10 minutesStop At: Henry Whitehead HouseForge Creek Road, Townsend, TN 37882After that, you'll see the John Cable Grist Mill. This mill dates back to 1870 and you can still see it in operation today!Duration: 10 minutesStop At: Tipton RoadTipton Road, Townsend, TN 37882From 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!Duration: 10 minutesStop At: Carter Shields CabinCades Cove Loop Road, Townsend, TN 37882Next on your route is Tipton Place, which was once home to a war hero of the American Revolution..Duration: Not Available

Additional Information

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
  • How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
  • Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
  • Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
  • Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
  • Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
  • Audio Setup: Connect your phone to your car's stereo system using Bluetooth, USB, or AUX. For the best experience, consider using headphones for walking tours. Audio playback is compatible with Apple CarPlay, with navigation features coming soon. Support for Android Auto is also on the way.
  • For the best experience, please use an iPhone running iOS 15 or later, an Android device running version 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular connectivity, as these are recommended for navigation.
  • Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to vehicles every Wednesday from May to September for exclusive cyclist and pedestrian use, and Laurel Falls Trail will be closed starting January 6, 2025, for approximately 18 months due to rehabilitation work.
Inclusions
  • Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
  • Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
  • Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
  • Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
  • Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
  • Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
  • Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
  • Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
Redemption Instructions1. Find The Setup Instructions NOW:• Download the App: actiontourguide.com/app• Find Your Password: Search your email or text messages for "Action Tour Guide"• Enter Password: Open the app and enter your 8-digit password• Download the Tour NOW while you have WiFi or cell service• Offline Ready: Once downloaded, the tour works without internet• Need Help? Visit: actiontourguide.com/redeem2. Download The Tour NOW:• Download NOW over WiFi or cellular data ahead of your trip.• Don't wait until travel day - your tour is VALID FOR ONE YEAR from purchase.• Your password redemption is limited to the number of travelers booked. Please enter the same password on each device.3. Audio Tour Tips:• This is a self-guided audio tour - no one will meet you at the starting point.• Entrance and attraction tickets are not included. Please book those separately.• Curious how it works? Watch a quick video here: actiontourguide.com/tutorial• For the best audio experience, connect to the car stereo via Bluetooth, USB, or AUX, or listen through your phone's speaker.• CarPlay and Android Auto aren't supported yet.• Valid for 12 months - listen to your tour on any day without changing your travel date or rebooking!4. Help & Support:• Visit our FAQs: actiontourguide.com/faq• Chat online: actiontourguide.com• Call: 1-435-288-0560• Email: support@actiontourguide.com ❄️ Important Notes: • Vehicles are not allowed on Wednesday.• Between May and September, Cyclists and pedestrians have exclusive usage of the Cades Cove Loop Road every Wednesday.• No other vehicles are allowed during this time.• Laurel Falls Trail is closed as of January 6, 2025, for about 18 months of rehabilitation work.Voucher InfoMobile or paper ticket accepted

The tour identified in this promotion is made available through Viator. Groupon is not affiliated with or sponsored by the Travel with Action in connection with this deal. Please contact Groupon customer service for all inquiries related to this offer. Inquiries placed to Viator will be directed back to Groupon. This offer is not eligible for promo codes.

Need To Know Info

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services. Offer is not eligible for our promo codes or other discounts. Learn about Strike-Through Pricing and Savings

Customer Reviews

4.1
based on Groupon 74 reviews
100% Verified Reviews
All Groupon reviews are from people who have redeemed deals with this merchant. Review requests are sent by email to customers who purchased the deal.
Reviewed on
Happiness37395954851
great value for the cost! and being able to tour at our own pace in our car and keep our 3 dogs with us was wonderful! Easy to pay for on line.
Rodney_R
Take the time to get out at the stops. Well worth it. The cemeteries at the churches were very interesting.
Josue_T
It truly brings the experience to life! There are so many wonderful stories and facts! The information comes up at perfect points throughout the travel journey.
WallyFaye_W
This is an incredible drive. It’s very slow going and that makes it even better. We saw a bear! He was happily eating sweet grass next to a stone bridge. Maybe 20 feet away from us as we drove by!
Navigator56050044287
This reasonably price audio tour enhanced our trip with great stories and advance notice of points of interest. It’s about an hour drive from the Sugarlands welcome center to the start of the Cades Cove loop. Lots of background info in the audio tour helped pass that time. The loop itself can take much longer than you expect since it’s one way and you will behind a long line of vehicles. We were in the loop at least 3 hours during this busy October season (plan accordingly and give yourself plenty of time). There are 2 crossroads in the loop that allow you a quicker exit if needed. Bathrooms are available at Sugarlands/ Caves Cove visitors center and the Grist mill stop in the loop. Traffic has been intense this first week of October and is often stop and go. It’s a beautiful park but there are large crowds and lines of traffic and difficulty parking almost everywhere

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