National Scenic Byway · Tennessee

Sequatchie Valley Scenic Byway

State Route 28 up the Sequatchie Valley from South Pittsburg to Pikeville, between Walden's Ridge and the Cumberland Plateau escarpment.

Also known as State Route 28 through the Sequatchie Valley

  • Length65 miles[1]Tennessee's tourism office gives 70 miles.
  • Drive timeAbout 2 hours without stops; 3 to 4 hours with overlooks, towns and short hikes[2]
  • RoadsState Route 28[2]
  • Start and endSouth Pittsburg (south end) to Pikeville (north end)[2]
  • Fees and passesNone for the byway[1]
  • Best seasonFall, for foliage; peak color around Chattanooga is typically mid-October to early November[2]
  • SurfaceNot verified
  • Vehicle notesMinimal shoulders between Cumberland Homesteads and Pikeville; wide shoulders and some four-lane sections from Dunlap south to Jasper; shoulders disappear in the towns.[3]
  • Seasonal closuresNot verified

Before you go

Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.

Facts last checked against the sources on October 29, 2026.

About the drive

The Sequatchie Valley Scenic Byway follows State Route 28 and the Sequatchie River north from South Pittsburg through Jasper, Whitwell and Dunlap to Pikeville. The valley is long and narrow, walled in by Walden's Ridge on the west and the Cumberland Plateau escarpment on the east.

For a view over the valley, the river and the bluff lines, take TN-111 to the Sequatchie Valley Overlook at Dunlap. Historic stops include the Children's Holocaust Museum in Whitwell and the Historic Bellview School in Pikeville.

Plan about two hours to drive it, or half a day with stops. Gas and restrooms are in the towns. Fall color usually peaks in this part of Tennessee from mid-October into early November.

Stops along the way

  1. South Pittsburg

    Town at the southern end of the byway.

    Official information · 35.01231, -85.70442

  2. Jasper

    Valley town with gas and services.

    Official information · 35.07425, -85.62608

  3. Whitwell

    Home of the Children's Holocaust Museum.

    Official information · 35.20147, -85.51914

  4. Dunlap

    The Sequatchie Valley Overlook on TN-111 is here, with views of the river and bluffs.

    Official information · 35.37146, -85.39053

  5. Pikeville

    Northern end, with the Historic Bellview School.

    Official information · 35.60563, -85.18885

Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).

Food along the way

Farmers markets within about 25 miles

Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.

Farms along the way

Farm stands and pick-your-own seasons vary, so check with the farm before you go.

In season during the best months to drive

The drive's best months are Oct, Nov. Typical U.S. seasons from our Fresh Market Guide; local harvests vary.

Keep exploring

Scenic drives nearby

More scenic drives in Tennessee

Food and farms in the area

Sources

  1. America's Byways: Sequatchie Valley Scenic Byway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-29)
  2. Plan Your Fall Foliage Journey on Tennessee's Beautiful Byways (Tennessee Department of Tourist Development) (checked 2026-10-29)
  3. Sequatchie Valley Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan (Tennessee Department of Transportation, PDF, archived copy) (checked 2026-10-29)
  4. Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-29.

Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.

Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).

More drives in Tennessee · All scenic drives