Each year, many people travel to White Pine, TN, to participate in events held at the Great Smoky Mountain Expo Center, fishing tournaments, and local celebrations like Pine Fest, Christmas and Independence Day parades, and cultural events that take place throughout the year. When you travel to White Pine for an event, you’ll also enjoy being just a short drive from a number of popular travel destinations. Here are some places you can visit without driving more than an hour or two from White Pine.
Travel Distance: 30 Minutes or Less
You don’t have to venture far from White Pine to find some great places to visit. Explore all of Jefferson County and the surrounding area by driving less than half an hour. Here are some of the top places to travel that fall within a 30-minute drive of White Pine.
Baneberry Golf & Resort – 10 minutes
When you travel to White Pine for an event on Saturday, don’t miss out on your weekly Sunday round of golf. There’s a great golf course located less than 10 minutes away from White Pine in Baneberry. Baneberry Golf & Resort has a par 72 course that offers unique challenges on each hole.
Panther Creek State Park – 20 minutes
Panther Creek State Park is a 1,444-acre park with 17 hiking trails that cover over 30 miles of terrain. The state park also has over 15 miles of mountain biking trails of varying difficulty. Hikers and bikers will get to see beautiful views of Cherokee Lake and the Cumberland Mountains as they wind through the landscape.
Douglas & Cherokee Lakes – 20 minutes
White Pine is about 20 minutes away from Douglas Lake to the southwest and 25 minutes from Cherokee Lake to the northwest. Both of these lakes are well known as great fishing spots. Stop by a marina on one of the lakes to rent a boat, paddleboard, kayak, or other water vessel to have a day full of fun water activities.
Bush’s Visitor Center – 25 minutes
A must-visit attraction in the area is Bush’s Visitor Center. The Visitor Center is housed in the original A.J. Bush & Company general store and has an interactive museum where you can learn all about this small-town business that became a national brand. You can even try some of their famous recipes like Pinto Bean Pie when you stop by Bush’s Family Café.
Travel Distance: 1 Hour or Less
If you venture a little further outside of Jefferson County, you’ll find that you can drive to a lot of exciting places less than an hour away. The surrounding counties offer a variety of fun activities and interesting sights that you won’t want to miss when you travel to White Pine, TN.
Knoxville – 40 minutes
Just 40 minutes west of White Pine sits Knoxville, which is the hub of activity in East Tennessee. This city has a variety of unique restaurants, shops, and entertainment. Take in a show at the Bijou Theatre, visit the Knoxville Museum of Art, or go on a walking tour. Afterwards, stop by one of the local restaurants in the vibrant downtown, which has everything from southern classics to fine dining.
Dollywood – 50 minutes
Dollywood is one of the most popular East Tennessee travel destinations. This theme park celebrates country music, local culture, and, of course, Sevierville’s local hero Dolly Parton. From thrilling rollercoasters to live music and shows, Dollywood has something for every member of the family.
Pigeon Forge – 50 minutes
After your event in White Pine is over, drive the short distance to Pigeon Forge to visit one or more of the town’s popular attractions. Shows like Dolly Parton’s Stampede, Pirate’s Voyage, The Comedy Barn, and Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud all offer fun family-friendly entertainment. There are also a number of mountain coasters, go kart tracks, arcades, zipline adventures, and more to keep your family occupied for hours.
Gatlinburg & Great Smoky Mountains National Park – 1 hour
Only an hour away from White Pine lies Gatlinburg and the famous Great Smoky Mountains, the most visited travel destinations in East Tennessee. Meander through shops, taste-test some moonshine, ride a chairlift, or go to the aquarium. There are so many different things you can do in Gatlinburg if you drive only an hour from your stay in White Pine. Rising above Gatlinburg is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which offers breathtaking views and over 800 miles of hiking trails, some of which lead to magnificent waterfalls.
Travel Distance: Under 2 Hours
If you want to drive a little further from White Pine, you’ll find additional interesting places to visit. Here’s what you can find within a 2-hour drive of White Pine, TN.
Bristol Motor Speedway – 1 hour 10 minutes
Bristol Motor Speedway is just over an hour away from White Pine. So, while you visit White Pine for an event or festival, you can take a short drive to catch a NASCAR or dirt track race. If you’re in White Pine during the Christmas season, stay for the Christmas parade and then drive the short distance to Bristol Motor Speedway where they always set up a giant lights display.
Asheville, North Carolina – 1 hour 30 minutes
Asheville is known for its vibrant art scene and rich history. Visit Biltmore Estate to admire amazing 19th-century architecture and artwork, hike to a sparkling waterfall, eat at a unique local restaurant in downtown, or go on a history tour. There are so many activities and educational opportunities to explore if you want to venture an hour and a half from White Pine, TN, during your trip.
White Pine – Centrally Located for Days of Fun
White Pine’s central location in East Tennessee makes it easy to reach any number of travel destinations within just a short drive. If you want to stay local, check out all the historic sites, outdoor activities, and local eateries in White Pine and the surrounding Jefferson County area. If you feel like driving a little further, you can reach so many places in less than two hours. This means you can travel to White Pine, participate in events, explore the area, and visit other exciting places, all during the same trip. This makes White Pine’s Great Smoky Mountain Expo Center the perfect place to plan your next event so that you can make an entire vacation out of it, or make White Pine, TN, your base of operations for your next vacation so you can experience everything that East Tennessee has to offer.