Facility Overview
FootHills Parkway Southwest Parking # 16 is a paved scenic overlook and roadside parking area situated along the picturesque Foothills Parkway near Tallassee, Tennessee. Administered as part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park system, this open-air surface turnout provides drivers with expansive panoramic vistas across Chilhowee Mountain, the Tennessee Valley, and the surrounding ridges of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Designed primarily as an observation point and rest stop, the lot features open, pull-in parking stalls with generous space and unobstructed overhead clearance, making it effortlessly accessible for standard passenger cars, large pickup trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, campervans, and small recreational vehicles.
Prime Location & Nearby Attractions
Perched high along the crest of the western Foothills Parkway corridor, this turnout serves as a premier stopping point for travelers touring the scenic mountain byway. Key nearby landmarks and attractions include:
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Direct access to the park\'s scenic roadway system offering unmatched autumn foliage viewing and landscape photography.
- Chilhowee Lake & Abrams Creek: Located a short drive down toward US Route 129, providing access to boating, paddling, and fishing areas.
- The Tail of the Dragon (US 129): Situated just southwest at Deals Gap, a legendary 318-curve touring route popular with sports car enthusiasts and motorcyclists.
- Look Rock Tower & Picnic Area: Located further east along the Foothills Parkway, offering hiking access to the Look Rock observation tower and sweeping 360-degree views.
- Townsend & Wears Valley: Accessible via the parkway\'s connection to US 321, serving as peaceful gateway communities with artisan shops, local dining, and quiet mountain retreats.
Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity
Vehicle access to Parking Turnout #16 is straightforward, with direct ingress and egress onto the Foothills Parkway. The roadway features gentle grades and well-engineered sightlines, though drivers should maintain cautious speeds to accommodate sightseers, cyclists, and crossing wildlife. There are no public transit systems, buses, or rail services operating along the parkway; personal vehicle, motorcycle, or bicycle transport is required. Easy arterial connections link the parkway to US Route 129 (Tapoco Road / Calderwood Highway) to the southwest and US Route 321 toward Walland and Maryville to the northeast.
Facility Amenities & Key Features
- Open-Air Surface Parking: Level asphalt paving with clearly designated standard passenger spaces.
- Unrestricted Clearance: Open-sky layout with no overhead height barriers, accommodating roof racks, overland rigs, and taller adventure vans.
- Scenic Overlook Views: Front-row scenic vantage point ideal for sunset watching, dawn photography, and stargazing.
- Park It Forward Tag Compliance: Vehicles parking longer than 15 minutes within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park require a valid park parking tag.
- Pet-Friendly Stop: Paved edge areas suitable for leashed pets during highway driving breaks.
Ideal For
- Scenic Byway Explorers: Road trippers cruising the Foothills Parkway looking for scenic rest stops and photo opportunities.
- Motorcyclists & Sports Car Enthusiasts: Touring drivers taking a pause along the curving mountain route.
- Nature Photographers: Creators chasing sunset light, valley mist, and seasonal leaf colors across East Tennessee.
- Stargazers: Night sky observers capitalizing on elevated positions away from intense city light pollution.
Visitor & Driver Tips
Before traveling, remember that the National Park Service requires a \'Park It Forward\' parking tag for any vehicle parked for more than 15 minutes anywhere within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park boundary. Tags must be purchased in advance online via Recreation.gov or at nearby visitor contact stations, as cellular data coverage along this stretch of the parkway can be intermittent or unavailable. Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis; while turnover is generally brisk during typical travel hours, spaces fill quickly during peak autumn leaf-peeping weekends. Winter travelers should check National Park Service road advisories, as high-elevation sections of the Foothills Parkway may temporarily close during icy conditions or winter storms.
