by pass the park

From  Madison (Georgia) to Gatlinburg the shortest route (195 miles and 4 hours goes 441/23 through Great Smoky Mountain National Park You can go around the park (increasing the distance by 30 miles by cutting off on 74 toward  Waynesville (North Carolina) and then take I-40 around the park and taking US 321 along the north side to Gatlinburg.  You can also do it by taking more interstates -go up to Athens (Georgia) and then get on I85,I-26 and I-40.  This route is 257 miles and takes 5 hours