xAs we entered the park from Cherokee, North Carolina, we had to make our way right through to the other side to Gatlinburg to reach the Roaring Forks Motor Trail. You have to make your way into Gatlinburg to traffic light number 8 and follow "Historic Nature Trail". A booklet (which I think was about 50c) is available at the start of the trail and explains things to see as you go along.
This is a five-mile long loop road that meanders up and down through shady trees and past rushing rivers and trickling streams. Along the way are waterfalls, which you can park up and walk to, reconstructed shacks showing how the early settlers lived and raised families.
We found it very peaceful with not much traffic to delay my clock-watching husband.
Of course at the end of the loop we ended up on a different road to which we had started, but with a little common sense soon found our way back through Gatlinburg to the park and Cades Cove.