We Took the Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour: What Surprised Us
If you want to see Great Smoky Mountains National Park without having to drive the mountain roads yourself, the Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour is a fun way to do it. Between the scenic stops, the Newfound Gap overlook, and the off-roading at the end, it packs a lot into one morning.
We took the Newfound Gap tour from Pigeon Forge and ended up liking it for a lot of reasons, especially how nice it was not to be the driver for once. But there were also a few things that caught us off guard, like just how cold Newfound Gap was compared to Pigeon Forge and how rough the off-roading got.
If you’re thinking about booking the Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour, here’s what surprised us most and what to know before you go.
A special thanks to the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism for hosting my trip! As always, all opinions are my own.
Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour Overview
- Guided drive into Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- You can sit back, take photos, and actually enjoy the ride
- Scenic stops on the way to Newfound Gap
- Open-air Pink Jeep Wrangler experience
- 4×4 off-road adventure after the park drive
What Is the Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour?
The Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour is a guided driving tour that takes you into Great Smoky Mountains National Park in a customized, covered Pink Jeep Wrangler.
Along the way, you’ll make photo stops at the National Park Sign and Ben Morton Overlook, take a short walk along a river trail, and visit Newfound Gap where you can stand in two states at once (Tennessee and North Carolina).
This tour is one of my favorite ways to see the national park because you don’t have to do the driving yourself and the guides are a lot of fun.
After driving through the park, you’ll head to a private trail for a 4×4 off-roading adventure! So it’s a little educational sightseeing and a little adventure, all wrapped in one tour.
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What Makes the Newfound Gap Tour Different?
You Don’t Have to Drive the Mountain Roads
If you’re always the driver on your road trips and never get to fully enjoy the views, then you’re going to love this tour. This is one of my favorite parts of the Pink Jeep tours: you can let someone else take the wheel, and you can sit back and enjoy the ride.
Taking this guided tour meant we didn’t have to worry about traffic, driving the winding mountain roads, finding parking in the packed parking lots, or navigating an unfamiliar national park.
I’m also always the one planning out the perfect road trip itinerary (see my Yellowstone and Grand Teton itinerary), trying to figure out when to leave to beat the crowds, what stops to make in what order, and where the bathroom stops are. So having the road trip already planned, and someone else to execute it for us, was such a relief.
The Tour Includes Several Scenic Stops
On a Pink Jeep tour, you’re not just sitting in the Jeep the whole time. You actually make some stops for photos and sightseeing. Here’s where we stopped on our tour:
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park sign: we got individual pictures and a silly panorama group picture.
- Chimney Tops Trail: we got out here for a short walk along the dirt trail to see the rapids and waterfalls along the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River.
- Ben Morton Overlook: we stopped here for pictures of the scenic mountain layers and took individual photos with the Pink Jeep.
- Newfound Gap Overlook: we made our longest stop here where we walked the entire width of the Appalachian Trail, stood on the Rockefeller Memorial where President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1940, had a bathroom break, and took photos with the views and standing in two states at once (North Carolina and Tennessee).
We also made a stop at the off-roading trail; if you didn’t want to do the off-roading portion, you could hop out and wait at a covered pavilion.
You Visit Newfound Gap
The scenic stop at Newfound Gap Overlook is the highlight of the tour.
Newfound Gap Overlook is nearly 1 mile above sea level and a scenic overlook gives you a great southeastern view of the Smokies and the mountain pass below. It’s also much colder at this elevation than it is down in Pigeon Forge. We took the tour in April, and it was 40° at the overlook and in the 60s in Pigeon Forge.
The overlook sits on the Tennessee/North Carolina state line. This give you a fun moment to stand in two states at once.
The Appalachian Trail crosses here, so it’s a popular trailhead for a shorter section hike. Our guide had us walk from one side of the trail to the other, and told us “congratulations, you’ve just walked the entire width of the Appalachian Trail!”
The Rockefeller Memorial is another unique spot. This is where President Franklin D. Roosevelt stood to dedicate the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on September 2, 1940.
The tour spends about 30 minutes at this stop, giving you time for a bathroom break and plenty of opportunity for pictures and enjoying the views.
There’s an Off-Road Adventure at the End
After driving through the national park, you head to a private trail for an off-roading adventure. This is the most unique aspect of this tour.
This trail is designed specifically for the Pink Jeep tours (our guide was actually the one who designed the course!). There are a ton of bumps and turns. You’ll have to hold onto the overhead handles if you’re sitting in the backseat! At one point, our driver had the Jeep stopped at such a sharp angle, we couldn’t see the road in front us and everyone in the back was holding on for dear life.
This is the part of the trip where you’ll really want your Dramamine if you easily get carsick. There’s one seat in the front of the Jeep, which is the best spot to be if you get motion sick but you still want to experience the ride; I sat here and it was a lot less bumpy than in the back. You’re also welcome to sit out the off-roading if you aren’t feeling up to it.
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Our Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour Experience
We started our Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour at 9 a.m. at their Pigeon Forge location and drove into Great Smoky Mountains National Park from the Pigeon Forge entrance.
Our first stop was at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park welcome sign where we took a bunch of pictures in front of the sign. Our guide even made us take a panorama where we posed like bears on one side and reacting to seeing a bear on the other side.
Back on the road, it was a scenic drive along Newfound Gap Road to the Chimney Tops Trail. Here, we got out and took a short walk along the rocky, uneven trail down to a bridge across the rapids and a bridge in front of a waterfall. It wasn’t a long walk, but it was nice to stretch our legs and get into nature a little.
Then we drove a little further to the Ben Morton Overlook where we stopped for a quick photo op in front of the scenic mountain view and with the iconic Pink Jeep.
It was just a short drive then to Newfound Gap Overlook where we stood in two states at once, saw the Rockefeller Memorial, stepped foot on the Appalachian Trail, took a bathroom break, and enjoyed the incredible views of the mountain pass to the south.
We retraced our drive back and took a little detour through Gatlinburg. We drove down Campbell Lead Road, where we had great views of the town and the SkyTrail. This road down into town was winding, but very scenic. We drove through a little bit of Gatlinburg on our way back into Pigeon Forge.
We went to the private off-roading land located on Dollywood property (yep, Pink Jeep Tours and Dollywood are owned by the same parent company!). It was a wild ride full of bumps, turns, and bear jokes.
We were dropped off back where we started at the Pink Jeep location at 12 p.m., just in time for lunch.
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What Surprised Us About the Tour
The Temperature Drop Was Huge
There’s a huge temperature change between the valley in Pigeon Forge and the top at Newfound Gap Overlook, so bring along layers! It was 60° in Pigeon Forge when we left, and 40° when we arrived at Newfound Gap Overlook.
The Jeep itself is covered, with vinyl siding that can be opened in the heat of summer and that can be closed with the heat blasting inside in the cold of winter. So we were plenty cozy inside the Jeep.
But when I stepped out of the Jeep at the overlook, I was severely unprepared for 40° weather! Luckily, it wasn’t a terribly long stop, and the drive kept the Jeep warm if you wanted to sit and wait in the car.
It Was Nice Not Being the Driver
It was so nice not being the driver as we wound our way up Newfound Gap Road. I could look out the window and enjoy the views the whole time.
Mountain roads are beautiful to drive, but they also require a lot of focus. There are curves, traffic, pull-offs, changing weather, and plenty of other drivers also trying to figure out where they’re going (or look at the views while they drive). It’s such a treat to hand over the responsibility of driving to someone else.
On this tour, we could just enjoy the Smokies. We could look for wildlife, take pictures, listen to our guide, and actually see the mountain views instead of sneaking quick glances between curves. For first-time visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, that makes the whole experience a lot easier, and you can actually experience the Smokies.
The Off-Roading Was Bumpier Than Expected
I knew there was an off-roading portion at the end of the tour, but I did not expect it to be quite that bumpy. This isn’t a gentle dirt road with a few potholes. It’s a private 4×4 trail with lots of bumps, turns, dips, and sharp angles.
If you’re sitting in the back, you’ll definitely want to hold onto the overhead handles. At one point, our driver stopped the Jeep at such a steep angle that we couldn’t see the road in front of us. Everyone in the back was laughing and holding on for dear life.
It was fun, but it’s also the part of the tour where motion sickness could become an issue. I sat in the front seat, and that made the ride feel a lot smoother. If you get carsick easily, bring Dramamine, ask about sitting up front, or sit out the off-roading portion and wait at the covered pavilion instead.
We Didn’t See Bears
Worst part of the tour. Y’all know me, I want to see bears every day of my life.
Wildlife sightings can definitely happen on this tour. But of course, they’re not guaranteed.
Our guide told me that the best tour for bears is their afternoon Cades Cove tour in the spring. The day before our tour, their Cades Cove tour saw 20+ bears in a field! So catch me on that tour next spring 🐻
Pros of the Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour
- Easy way to see Newfound Gap without driving
- Guided experience with photo stops
- Great for first-time Smokies visitors
- Fun Pink Jeep factor
- Off-road section adds something different
- Good morning activity from Pigeon Forge
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Cons of the Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour
- Off-roading may be rough for motion-sensitive travelers — taking Dramamine and sitting up front can help.
- Temperature changes can catch you off guard — be sure to pack a jacket!
- You’re on a set route and schedule — this tour only has its pre-planned stops, there’s no making unplanned detours or going off course.
- No guaranteed wildlife sightings — you may get lucky, but this tour isn’t out looking for wildlife.
- Not the best tour if your main goal is seeing bears — Cades Cove is one of the best places for seeing bears in Smoky Mountain National Park, so try the Pink Jeep Cades Cove tour instead!
Tips for Taking the Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour
- Bring layers
- Take Dramamine if you get carsick
- Ask about sitting in the front seat if you get carsick
- You can sit out the off-roading portion if you are pregnant, have neck or back issues, or get carsick easily
- Bring a camera or phone with plenty of storage for pictures
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for short stops as there is some uneven terrain
- Don’t expect guaranteed bears or wildlife spotting
Who Is the Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour Best For?
The Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour is best for first-time Smokies visitors who want an easy, guided way to see Great Smoky Mountains National Park without driving the mountain roads themselves.
This tour is a good fit for:
- First-time Great Smoky Mountains National Park visitors
- Travelers who want to see Newfound Gap without planning the route themselves
- Pigeon Forge travelers who don’t want to drive mountain roads
- Road-trippers who are usually stuck doing all the driving
- Couples, families, and groups who want a fun morning activity
- People who want scenic overlooks, photo stops, and a little off-roading
- Travelers who like guided tours but don’t want a full-day commitment
This may not be the best fit if your main goal is seeing bears, if you get motion sick easily, or if you prefer exploring the national park completely on your own schedule. In that case, I’d look at the Cades Cove tour for wildlife or drive Newfound Gap Road yourself for more flexibility.
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Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour Pricing, Duration, and Starting Location
Location: The tour departs from the Pink Jeep Tours location in Pigeon Forge, along the Great Smoky Mountains Parkway at 2611 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863.
Parking: There is plenty of free parking in front of the tour location and in the adjacent shopping center.
Duration: 3 hours
Tickets: Pricing is available for adults, children 2-12, and private tours. Check the latest prices here. Booking ahead is recommended.
What’s included: Guided 4×4 Jeep tour, scenic stops, a short walk on an unpaved trail.
What to bring: Bring along sunscreen, water, snacks, rain gear, and comfortable shoes and clothes. Bring a purse or standard-size backpack that you can easily hold in your lap.
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Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour Alternatives
If the Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour isn’t the perfect fit for your trip, there are a few other ways to see Great Smoky Mountains National Park from Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg.
Drive to Newfound Gap Yourself
You can absolutely drive to Newfound Gap yourself if you want more flexibility. This is the best option if you want to stop whenever you want, spend more time at the overlooks, add on a hike, or explore the national park at your own pace.
If you still want some guidance without booking a group tour, a self-driving audio tour is a good middle ground. You’ll still do the driving yourself, but the audio guide can help you understand what you’re seeing along the way. This is best for travelers who don’t mind mountain roads but don’t want to plan every stop from scratch.
Take the Pink Jeep Cades Cove Tour
If your biggest goal is seeing wildlife, I’d look at the Pink Jeep Cades Cove Tour instead. Our guide told me this is the better option for seeing bears, especially on afternoon tours in the spring.
Cades Cove is one of the most popular areas of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and it’s known for mountain views, historic buildings, and wildlife sightings. This tour is also fully paved, so it’s a better fit if you like the idea of a guided Pink Jeep experience but don’t want the bumpy off-roading portion.
Book Another Smokies Tour from Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg
If the Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour isn’t quite right for your trip, there are other guided Smokies tours that may be a better fit:
- Great Smoky Foothills Parkway Jeep Tour: Best if you want mountain views but don’t necessarily need to visit Newfound Gap. This tour focuses on the Foothills Parkway, Wears Valley scenery, and scenic photo stops.
- Full-Day Guided Smokies Tour: Best if you want to make Great Smoky Mountains National Park the main focus of your day. You’ll have more time for scenic stops, short walks, overlooks, and learning about the park from a guide.
- Newfound Gap Guided Driving Tour: Best if you want to visit Newfound Gap without driving yourself, but you don’t care about the Pink Jeep or off-roading portion. This is a good option if you prefer a more traditional sightseeing tour.
FAQs About the Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour
Is the Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour worth it?
Yes, I think the Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour is worth it, especially for first-time visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You get to visit Newfound Gap, make scenic photo stops, learn from a guide, and enjoy the mountain views without having to drive the winding roads yourself.
The off-roading portion at the end also makes the tour feel more unique than a standard scenic drive. If you want to see the Smokies without planning every stop yourself, this is a really fun and easy way to do it.
How long is the Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour?
The Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour lasts about 3 hours. Our tour started at 9 a.m. from the Pink Jeep Tours location in Pigeon Forge, and we were dropped off back at the same location around 12 p.m.
I liked that it worked as a morning activity. We got to see a good amount of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and still had the afternoon open for lunch and more things to do in Pigeon Forge.
Does the tour go into Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
Yes, the Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour goes into Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We entered the park from the Pigeon Forge side and drove along Newfound Gap Road.
Our tour included stops at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park sign, Chimney Tops Trail, Ben Morton Overlook, and Newfound Gap Overlook. After the national park portion, we drove through Gatlinburg and headed to a private trail for the off-roading adventure.
Do you see bears on the Newfound Gap Tour?
You can see wildlife on the Newfound Gap Tour, but bear sightings are not guaranteed. We didn’t see bears on our tour, which was personally devastating because y’all know I want to see bears every day of my life.
Our guide told me that the Pink Jeep Cades Cove Tour is usually better for seeing bears, especially on afternoon tours in the spring. If wildlife is your main goal, I’d look at that tour instead.
Is the off-road part scary?
I wouldn’t call the off-road portion scary, but it is bumpier than I expected. The private 4×4 trail has lots of bumps, turns, dips, and sharp angles, so you’ll definitely want to hold on if you’re sitting in the back.
It was fun, and everyone was laughing, but it’s not a gentle dirt road. If you’re nervous about bumpy rides, motion sickness, or being tilted at steep angles, this is the part of the tour to think through before booking.
Can you skip the off-road portion?
Yes, you can skip the off-roading portion if you don’t want to do it. There’s a covered pavilion where you can wait while the rest of the group does the 4×4 trail.
This is helpful if you’re pregnant, have neck or back issues, get carsick easily, or just decide you’re not feeling up to the bumpy part of the tour that day.
What should you wear for the tour?
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes that work for short walks and uneven terrain. You’ll get out of the Jeep at a few scenic stops, including a short walk along the Chimney Tops Trail area.
You should also bring layers. There can be a big temperature difference between Pigeon Forge and Newfound Gap Overlook. When we took the tour in April, it was in the 60s in Pigeon Forge and 40° at Newfound Gap.
Is the tour good for people who get carsick?
The scenic drive itself was fine for me, but the off-roading portion is where motion sickness could be an issue. The trail is very bumpy, especially if you’re sitting in the back of the Jeep.
If you get carsick easily, bring Dramamine just in case and ask about sitting in the front seat. I sat up front during the off-roading portion, and it felt a lot smoother than the back. You can also sit out the off-roading portion completely and wait at the covered pavilion.
Is Newfound Gap in Tennessee or North Carolina?
Newfound Gap is on the Tennessee/North Carolina state line. That means you can stand in two states at once, which is one of the fun photo ops at the overlook.
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Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour Overview
- Guided drive into Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- You can sit back, take photos, and actually enjoy the ride
- Scenic stops on the way to Newfound Gap
- Open-air Pink Jeep Wrangler experience
- 4×4 off-road adventure after the park drive
Final Thoughts: Is the Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour Worth It?
Yes, I think the Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour is worth it, especially if this is your first trip to Pigeon Forge or Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
This tour makes it easy to see Newfound Gap, enjoy the mountain views, and get a little bit of adventure without having to drive the winding mountain roads yourself. I loved being able to sit back, look for wildlife, take pictures, and actually enjoy the Smokies instead of focusing on traffic, parking, and which overlook to stop at next.
The scenic stops were beautiful, Newfound Gap was the highlight, and the off-roading portion made the tour feel more unique than a standard guided drive. Just come prepared with layers, Dramamine if you get carsick, and realistic expectations about wildlife.
If you want an easy, fun, and scenic introduction to the Smokies from Pigeon Forge, the Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour is a great way to spend a morning.
Top Pigeon Forge Tours
- East Tennessee Off Road ATV Guided Experience
- Smoky Mountains Roaring Fork Guided Sightseeing Tour by Jeep
- Pink Jeep Newfound Gap and Smoky Mountains Jeep Tour
- Highlights of the Smokies
Where to Stay in Pigeon Forge
- Where I Stayed (for large groups): Grand LeConte Lodge
- Top Hotel: Margaritaville Island Inn
- Great Value: Country Cascades Waterpark Resort
- Unique Stay: The Inn at Christmas Place
More Tennessee Travel Guides
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- Where to Drink in Pigeon Forge: Tasting Rooms & Fun Drinks
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- 16 Best Things to Do in Nashville, TN
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- An Unforgettable Visit to Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Memphis, TN
Ready to visit Pigeon Forge, TN? Plan your trip with these tips.
- Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
- Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Pigeon Forge using Booking.com.
- Start Packing: Make sure you’ve packed everything you need with my packing list resources.
Cheers!
Paige
Did you find this review of the Pink Jeep Newfound Gap Tour helpful? Let me know in the comments!
