Driving Directions for Rapid Transit Trips

The Rapid Transit raft/train excursion meets and departs from the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Depot in downtown Bryson City, NC. We do not recommend using online map/driving directions services, as they have proven to be excessively confusing and give incorrect driving directions to our mountain locations.

From Asheville, NC -Take I-40 W toward Knoxville, TN. Take exit 27 onto US 74 W toward Waynesville. Drive on US 74 for 40 miles until you reach Bryson City exit 67. Bear right at the end of the exit ramp onto Veterans Blvd. See **From Veterans Blvd., below.

From west Atlanta, GA -Take I-75 N to I-575 N which becomes State Hwy 5. State Hwy 5 in turn becomes Hwy 76. Stay with this road until just past Blue Ridge, GA, and then turn left onto Hwy 60 to Mineral Bluff, GA. In Mineral Bluff, turn right onto Hwy 60 Spur. Follow it into North Carolina to US 74 E, turning right toward Murphy and Andrews. ~~ Continue on 74 E past Andrews until you reach Bryson City. You will pass by the Nantahala River and numerous rafting companies including NOC. Keep going! You will be meeting with NOC at the Depot in Bryson City, not at the river. Take exit 67 and turn left at the end of the exit ramp onto Veterans Blvd. See **From Veterans Blvd., below.

From east Atlanta, GA -Take I-85 N to I-985 N. At Gainesville, GA take 365 N to 441 N into North Carolina. Near Dillsboro, NC, US 441 merges with US 74 W. Stay on US 74 W until you reach Bryson City exit 67. Bear right at the end of the exit ramp onto Veterans Blvd. See **From Veterans Blvd., below.

From Chattanooga, TN -Take I-75 N toward Cleveland, TN. Take the first Cleveland exit (#20) onto US 64 BYPASS East. Go 6 miles, then take Ocoee Exit US 64 towards Ocoee/Murphy, NC. Continue on this highway into North Carolina. At Murphy, NC, the road number changes to US 74. (Then follow the directions from ~~ in From West Atlanta, above.)

From Veterans Blvd -Turn right onto Main St at the first traffic light on Veterans Blvd, then turn left onto Everett St at the next light. At the first traffic light on Everett, turn left onto Mitchell St. Parking for Rapid Transit will be on your right.