Best Road Trips To Take From Richmond, Kentucky & What to Drive

If you’re in Richmond, Kentucky, feeling the pull of the open road calling you or wondering what the best road trip is, you’ve come to the right place. There are a wealth of exciting road trips from Richmond, so get out there and explore. Here are some of the best road trips to take from Richmond.

Dollywood

Train Ride into the Smokies by Steven Saus is licensed with CC BY 2.0

You should consider a trip to 2022’s No. 1 theme park in America, Dollywood, as voted by TripAdvisor’s reviews. This park is located in the Great Smoky Mountains and is home to 50 world-class amusement park rides, entertainment, and award-winning dining. This theme park also delivers equally for excitement and friendliness. In the summertime, Dollywood has a water park with towering slides, sparkling pools, and family-friendly splash zones, all beneath the shade of the big trees of the Smoky Mountains.

You have multiple choices for lodging. You can stay at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa for a world-class relaxation experience and spa pampering. If you prefer a more rustic, country experience with an expansive floor plan, perfect for families or a group of friends, you can check into one of the Bear Cove Cabins. The cabins are set in the mountains for stunning views. Make your tracks to Dollywood in the 2022 Chevrolet Trax, a compact SUV, or drive the larger Chevy Traverse for a bigger group. Pack your crew into the Chevy Suburban to enjoy the SUV with the amplest space.

The admission price for one day at the theme park is $84 for ages 10-61. Discounts are available for children and seniors, and there’s a special deal of $55 after 5 p.m. A one-day pass includes a free meal. Dollywood is located at 2700 Dollywood Parks Boulevard, Sevier County, Tennessee, less than three hours from Richmond.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

While in the area, you’re close enough to check out the Great Smoky Mountains national park. There you’ll find ridge upon ridge of the forest, which traverses the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. This world-renowned park has a bountiful diversity of animal and plant life. You can behold the beauty of the ancient Great Smoky Mountains and get a feel for the remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited in America as a great spot to hike, and camping is available on-site.

Get there in a hardy Chevrolet pickup truck, with plenty of room for camping gear and a convenient back gate for easy loading and unloading. Check out the 2022 Colorado or the line of Chevy Silverado pickup trucks. Since GPS can give inaccurate directions, for the best directions to the park, visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park website, to guide you.

Pigeon Forge

Another nearby location is Pigeon Forge, which boasts a wealth of activities for the whole family or a special group of your friends. To start your day, check out some of the best breakfast and brunch spots, including Sawyer’s Farmhouse Restaurant, which serves crepes, Belgian waffles, made-from-scratch pancakes, and omelets, as well as lunch and dinner foods. Next up, you may want to browse the shops at The Old Mill for treats such as fudge and candy. Check out the indoor amusement park WonderWorks. This “edutainment” amusement park has over 42,000 square feet of hands-on exhibits.

Get on one of the three Pigeon Forge alpine coasters for a thrilling ride. You can even go for a coaster ride at Goats on the Roof, with goats grazing alongside the coaster as you ride. Hop on The Great Smoky Mountain Ferris Wheel for a fantastic view of the Great Smoky Mountains. Play some games with the family or your group at the Pigeon Forge arcade. Zip around the town in the 2022 Chevrolet Spark hatchback, roomy enough for your crew but streamlined enough for in-town driving.

Dayton, Ohio

Heading north from Richmond, you can visit Dayton, Ohio. Some of the attractions in Dayton are the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. You can also visit the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at 1100 Spaatz St. or the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park at 16 S. Williams St. To watch live harness racing and try your luck at lottery machines, check out Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway. There are several restaurant options, including Zombie Dogz, serving gourmet hot dogs.

After you’ve spent a day touring, you’ve probably worked up an appetite, so stop into George’s Family Restaurant for hearty family fare. The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox is your ideal companion, as this roomy vehicle will get you around the city in a refined style.

Knoxville, Tennessee

Your first stop in Knoxville should be the premiere Knoxville Zoo, a fabulous experience with attractions such as Clayton Otter Creek, an area for otters, including the three new resident otters, Clayton, Pascal, and Reed. The Soaring Eagle Zipline also takes you on a ride above the zoo for a stunning view. There are also after-hours nights every Thursday at the zoo for a special time in the evening. Next, stop by the Ewing Gallery of art and architecture to see artwork in many forms and architectural works. They’re open from fall through spring and are closed in the summer.

For a taste of the great outdoors year-round, visit Concord Park. The park boasts many facilities and activities, including fishing, paddling, swimming, greenways, trails, skateboarding, playgrounds, and picnic areas. There’s also in-line hockey, a skate park, soccer fields, a paved walking trail, a junior golf course, tennis courts, PetSafe dog park, a dock, marina, and boat ramp, plus a shoreline trail leading to a prime spot for fishing. Opt for the sporty Chevrolet Blazer, with ample room and a smooth, comfortable ride to any locale to hold all your sports gear.

When you’re ready to find the perfect vehicle for your road trip, stop by Jack Burford Chevrolet. Our sales team would be happy to answer any questions, give you a tour around the dealership, or set up a test drive in any of our Chevrolet models. We’re conveniently located at 819 Eastern Bypass in Richmond, Kentucky. Our hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., closing at 6 p.m. on Friday and 5 p.m. on Saturday.