Smokies Return Drive -- May 25, 2026

Departure

Wears Valley Cabin

Depart 8:30–9:00 AM ET

GPS Wears Valley, TN

Head out on I-40 W toward Knoxville. The Tennessee River Gorge stretch is scenic -- a good way to close out the Smokies chapter before the long straight drive home.

🗺 Open in Waze

Optional ⭐

Buc-ee's Crossville, TN

Optional

Purpose Leg stretch -- early in the drive, take it or leave it

Address 2045 Genesis Rd, Crossville, TN 38555 (I-40 Exit 320)

Drive Time ~1h 20min from cabin

Est. Arrival ~9:50–10:20 AM ET

Optional only. Truck doesn't need fuel this early. Worth stopping only if you need to move around. If you're rolling fine, skip it -- Franklin is three hours ahead and a better stop.

🗺 Open in Waze

Stop 1

Franklin, TN -- Lunch

Purpose Lunch, stretch, walkable historic downtown

Drive Time ~3 hrs from cabin

Est. Arrival ~Noon CT (accounting for time zone crossover)

Location Downtown Franklin, TN -- right off I-65 N, easy street parking

Franklin is worth the stop. Well-preserved 19th-century Main Street, independent restaurants, and a town that doesn't feel like an interstate exit. Budget 60–90 minutes -- park once, walk around, eat somewhere good. Plenty of cushion before home.

🗺 Open in Waze

Final Destination

East Peoria, IL

Home

Est. Arrival ~6:30–7:00 PM CT

Route I-65 N → Louisville, KY → I-74 W → home

Straight shot after Franklin. Louisville passes by without needing a stop. I-74 W through Champaign and Bloomington puts you in the driveway before dark.

🗺 Navigate Home

Full Timeline (CT unless noted)

Time	Leg
8:30–9:00 AM ET	Depart Wears Valley Cabin -- I-40 W
~9:50–10:20 AM ET	⭐ Buc-ee's Crossville, TN -- I-40 Exit 320 (optional)
~Noon CT	Franklin, TN -- lunch, 60–90 min
~1:00–1:30 PM CT	Depart Franklin -- I-65 N
~3:30–4:00 PM CT	Louisville, KY -- pass through
6:30–7:00 PM CT	Home -- East Peoria, IL -- ARRIVED

Route Summary

Wears Valley Cabin -- GPS lock ↓ I-40 W Tennessee River Gorge → Knoxville ↓ I-40 W Crossville, TN -- Buc-ee's (Exit 320, optional) ⭐ ↓ I-40 W → I-24 W → I-65 N Franklin, TN (lunch) ↓ I-65 N Louisville, KY ↓ I-65 N → I-74 W Champaign → Bloomington → East Peoria, IL ↓ I-74 W East Peoria, IL -- Home

Built for May 25, 2026 · Tap Waze buttons on your phone · Carmen's route · Skippy Portal