Option 1 · Smoky Mountains riverfront — tubing from your back deck
The trip, day by day
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Sun Jun 21Fly · arrive Townsend
Fly AA/UA nonstop ORD → TYS (~1 h 45 m). Pickup minivan at TYS. 45-min drive to Evergreen on Little River. Ford the small stream at the horseshoe bend → settle in → walk down the stairs and dip feet in the river by sunset. BBQ on the deck.
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Mon Jun 22Cades Cove sunrise · Townsend Y swim
Pre-dawn wakeup. Drive the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop at sunrise — bears, deer, wild turkeys (free, no permits). Breakfast at the cabin. Afternoon at the Townsend Y swimming hole on the Little River (free, deep swim pocket with rock jumps).
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Tue Jun 23🏔 Anakeesta + Tuckaleechee Caverns
Morning: Tuckaleechee Caverns in Townsend (cool 58° escape from heat, "Big Room" is bigger than a football field). Afternoon: drive to Gatlinburg for Anakeesta — sky lift up, treetop suspension walks, ridge zipline, dueling roller coaster. Dinner in Gatlinburg.
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Wed Jun 24Horseback + river tubing
Morning ride at Cades Cove Riding Stables (1 hr guided trail ride, ages 6+). Afternoon: tube the Little River right from the cabin's private river access — walk upstream and float down to your deck. Sunset s'mores at the fire pit.
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Thu Jun 25Fly home
Slow morning on the river. Pack out by 11. 45-min drive back to TYS. Afternoon flight home — back in Chicago for dinner.
Budget breakdown
| Flights ORD → TYS (6 pax · AA/UA basic) | $1,500 |
| Seats + 1 checked bag pp | $180 |
| 7-pax minivan (5 days, Knoxville airport) | $280 |
| Stay (4 nt Evergreen on Little River) | $1,539 |
| Cades Cove Stables horseback (6 × ~$50) | $300 |
| Anakeesta family pass (6 pax) | $280 |
| Tuckaleechee Caverns (6 pax) | $130 |
| Tube rentals + shuttle | $90 |
| Groceries + 2 dinners out | $520 |
| Gas / parking / buffer | $130 |
| All-in total | ~$4,949 |
