Outdoors Townsend
Little River (Townsend Wye)
An outdoor spot in Townsend, free to visit and worth about 1.5 hours. Best time to go: Summer afternoon.
Why go
Popular swimming hole where two forks of the Little River meet.
It is one of 9 curated places we feature in Townsend, alongside 2 activities, 2 places to eat and 2 sights. The closest of our other picks is Burger Master Drive-In, 1.4 mi away as the crow flies.
- Type
- Outdoors · Nature
- Neighborhood
- Townsend
- Price
- Free
- Time needed
- 1.5 hr
- Best time
- Summer afternoon
Nearby
The 6 closest curated picks in Townsend, measured as straight-line distance.
- 1Burger Master Drive-In
Old-school drive-in for burgers and shakes after Cades Cove.
Food · 1.4 mi straight-line - 2Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center
Museum and historic buildings on Native American and pioneer life.
Sight · 1.4 mi straight-line - 3Peaceful Side Social
Brewery and food hall with a big lawn and mountain views.
Drinks · 2.4 mi straight-line - 4Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum
Small museum on the logging railroad that shaped the Smokies.
Sight · 2.8 mi straight-line - 5Tuckaleechee Caverns
Guided cave walk with a huge chamber and a 210-ft underground waterfall.
Activity · 3.7 mi straight-line - 6Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro
Lodge restaurant serving upscale Appalachian dishes.
Food · 4.4 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
Little River (Townsend Wye) is a stop on our Smokies Weekend route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More outdoor spots in Townsend
Another curated outdoor spot in Townsend. See the full Townsend guide.
When to go
Average daily highs in Townsend run from 48°F in January to 88°F in August; July is usually the wettest month. For Little River (Townsend Wye) itself, we suggest: Summer afternoon.
Modelled monthly averages for Townsend from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Townsend weather by month.
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Little River (Townsend Wye), so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Address
- Laurel Creek Rd & Little River Road, Townsend, TN 37882, USA
- Coordinates
- 35.65962, -83.70777
- Destination
- Townsend, Tennessee
Little River (Townsend Wye): quick answers
How much time do you need at Little River (Townsend Wye)?
Plan on about 1.5 hours at Little River (Townsend Wye). That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Little River (Townsend Wye)?
Our pick: Summer afternoon. Insider tip: Cold water; arrive early in summer for parking.
Is Little River (Townsend Wye) free?
Yes, we list Little River (Townsend Wye) as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.
Where is Little River (Townsend Wye)?
Little River (Townsend Wye) is at Laurel Creek Rd & Little River Road, Townsend, TN 37882, USA. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.
Which TripsCircle routes include Little River (Townsend Wye)?
Little River (Townsend Wye) appears on Smokies Weekend, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add Little River (Townsend Wye) to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Townsend.
Plan Townsend
- Townsend travel guide 9 places
- Best time to visit Townsend weather by month
- Knoxville to Townsend 21 mi straight-line
- Townsend to Cherokee 28 mi straight-line
Lists & regions
Also in Townsend
- Abrams Falls Trail Activity
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.