My husband and I recently returned from a short getaway in Sevierville, Tennessee—our very first trip to the Great Smoky Mountains and our first time renting a cabin. We had a wonderful, relaxing time, but we also learned a few lessons the hard way. As city slickers used to flat roads, we were not prepared for the winding, steep terrain of mountain life.
Here’s what I wish someone had told me before our trip—so I’m telling you.
Take Your Time When Driving in the Mountains
We are flatlanders through and through. So imagine my panic when I found myself creeping up steep inclines, completely unable to see what was waiting on the other side. Was it more road? A hairpin curve? A bear doing yoga? I had no idea—and it was terrifying.
Welcome to the world of blind summits. When approaching one, slow down. Give yourself enough time to react to whatever might be on the other side: an oncoming car, a sudden turn, a deer with a death wish—you just don’t know.
Yes, there is such a thing as driving too slowly (ask me about my second driving test sometime), but don’t let the line of impatient locals behind you force you to go faster than you’re comfortable with. Pull over when it’s safe and let them pass. Drive with caution, not ego. You’re not from around here—and that’s okay.
Learn How to Operate the Lower Gears of Your Car
I procrastinated researching how to drive in the mountains until the day before our trip. Then, just my luck, the power went out for 12 hours, and I was left scrambling to get packed. So I decided to just wing it.
Bless my 2017 Honda Accord for hanging in there, but I definitely could’ve saved my car (and my nerves) some wear and tear if I’d taken the time to understand the “S” and “L” gears. On mountain roads, lower gears help your car handle inclines and declines more safely—and prevent your brakes from doing all the work.
Moral of the story: read your owner’s manual before you’re white-knuckling it through the Smokies.
Take a Screen Shot of Your Check-in Info
When you rent a cabin, the company usually sends your address and door code the day of check-in—ours didn’t come until 3 p.m. While driving to Sevierville, we kept checking my husband’s phone for the info, and when the email finally came through, we pulled over, plugged in the address, and headed up the mountain.
Forty-five stressful minutes later, we arrived at the cabin… only to discover that I had zero cell service. Like, none. Zip. Nada.
And of course, the door code was in the email. We had to drive back down the mountain to find enough signal to call the rental company—and then go back up those same winding roads to finally get inside.
The entire situation could’ve been avoided with one simple step: take a screenshot of the check-in email while you still have service.
Bring Food to Eat on Your First Night
By the time we finally made it to the cabin (again) and unloaded the car, it was getting dark—and there was no way I was heading back down those roads in search of dinner. We were so far out that no restaurant would deliver, and honestly? I wouldn’t have blamed them.
Thankfully, I’d packed a jar of pasta sauce and some noodles. It wasn’t fancy, but it filled us up and bought us time to figure out the grocery situation in the morning.
Trust me: after navigating those roads, you’re going to want comfort food and a break from driving.
Final Thoughts
Staying in a secluded mountain cabin is an amazing way to unwind, recharge, and reconnect with nature—especially during a time when social distancing still felt necessary. But a little bit of preparation goes a long way.
If you’re a fellow flatlander heading for higher elevations, take it from me: drive cautiously, brush up on your car’s features, plan for limited cell service, and pack a meal. With those things covered, your mountain escape can be just as serene and magical as you imagined.
Great tips! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for stopping by!