Bryson City Travel Advisories

If any travel advisories are in effect, they will be published on this page.

Tropical Storm Helene

Bryson City is open to visitors and welcoming tourists back to Bryson City! Congressman Chuck Edwards announced on October 3, 2024, that Swain County (Including Bryson City, NC) is open for business. Edwards suggests first of all, that you can help by donating food or money (https://edwards.house.gov/helpwnc), Edwards emphasizes that "the next best way to support our community is to support our economy and visit (our area) of Western NC.". Electricity, water, and other utilities are all operational. Restaurants are open and receiving their regular food deliveries from their suppliers. Shops are open and fully stocked. WiFi and cell service are working. For a geographical perspective to where Bryson City is located in western North Carolina, in connection with the areas damaged by Helene to our east:

Helene NC Map

Click to enlarge map.

Bryson City is open and local businesses eagerly welcome visitors. We encourage tourists and outdoor enthusiasts to visit Bryson City this October and in the months ahead to experience all the beautiful fall colors and holiday happenings. Please plan to find the safest routes to Bryson City, avoiding highways to our east that emergency personnel in the Asheville area need.

Week of October 7, 2024

Grocery stores are open and stocked with non-perishable items. Perishable grocery supply can vary from day to day, and we recommend that visitors bring perishable groceries with them. Local gas stations are receiving regular deliveries of fuel. Also consider visiting one of our farms or farmer's markets for fresh produce.

The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad has resumed excursions to the Nantahala Gorge.

The Nantahala Outdoor Center is open for restaurants and retail. The sustained no damage and will soon be open for rafting and zip lining.

The Nantahala National Forest is open.

Fontana Dam, Fontana Village Resort (Including dining and retail) and Fontana Marina are open and operating. Fontana Lake did not experience any flooding and is open for recreational use.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park:

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open at Deep Creek.
US 441/Newfound Gap Road from Cherokee to Gatlinburg is open.
Kuwohi Road (formerly Clingmans Dome Road) is open.
While the park has assessed high-use areas and trails for hazards and downed trees, visitors should exercise extra caution as they hike and explore the park. Check the Park's website for trail information.
There are two scenic drive road closures in our area:
- Road to Nowhere (Lakeview Drive) - National Park crews are working to clear debris and reopen as soon as possible
- Blue Ridge Parkway. This is likely closed for the long term, National Park crews are working diligently to reopen when it is safe to do so. A similar "fall color" scenic drive in our area is the Cherohala Skyway.

Scenic Drives:

These scenic drives (including the National Park mentioned above) are also open in our area: Nantahala Gorge Scenic Byway: Cherohala Skyway, US 129, and the Hellbender 28 to Fontana Dam. More scenic drives can be found here.

Check our downtown webcam for a live view of downtown Bryson City, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, and the Nantahala River.

Downtown Bryson City Live Webcam

Nantahala River Live Webcam at the NOC

Train Depot - Downtown Bryson City

Letter from U.S. Congressman Edwards Declaring Swain County Open for Tourists

Congressman Edwards - Helene Letter

Click to Enlarge Edwards Letter

How to Help the Asheville Community

Operation Airdrop

Samaritan's Purse

Other Ways to Help

Plan Your Route to Bryson City Carefully

Many of the highways in and around Asheville are closed due to damage from Tropical Storm Helene. Avoid highways near Asheville that are needed for emergency personnel in hard-hit areas. The information below is based on news reports and social media and are subject to change, and not guaranteed. Plan your route ahead of your trip with the help of www.Drivenc.gov for the most recent information.

Getting Here:

Driving from the SOUTH, roads are clear on 441/23N in north Georgia. Follow 441 north into North Carolina; this route eventually becomes 441/74 as you pass through Dillsboro toward Bryson City. Stay on 74 to Bryson City. (441 exits to Cherokee at exit 74, and 441 through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open).
Driving from the WEST: US 74 is clear at the NC/TN state line at Ducktown, TN, through Murphy, Andrews, the Nantahala Gorge, and on to Bryson City. Also from the west is US 129 S out of Maryville, TN, which will take you along the Tail of the Dragon into Robbinsville, NC. There, you can pick up 143 out of Robbinsville, to 28 at Stecoah, and US 74 east onto Bryson City. Please note that the "Tail of the Dragon" is a very curvy road.
Driving from the NORTH, please avoid I40, as that highway is closed from Knoxville to Asheville. However, US 441 (Newfound Gap Road) from Gatlinburg TN to Cherokee NC through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is OPEN. Park roads are not structurally designed to sustain traffic from heavy vehicles. Commercial vehicles will be turned away.
There are three alternatives if you are traveling to Bryson City from the EAST. Interstate 40 is OPEN through Asheville, however 1-3 lanes are closed with an expected high traffic impact
A second alternative is to take Interstate 85 south and pick up 441 north at Commerce, GA. A third alternative is to take Interstate 26 West to Interstate 40 West, to 74 West in Waynesville to Bryson City. NOTE: You cannot access the city of Asheville along the Interstate on this route. Please refer to www.drivenc.gov for real time updates in the storm-impacted Asheville area.