For many, autumn signals “cuffing season,” prompting couples to find cozy retreats filled with blankets, hot beverages, and long chats with the windows slightly ajar.

During summer, drives focus on speed and excitement, whereas fall encourages couples to relish in tranquility, the changing light, and the season’s brief beauty.

A public relations firm’s announcement revealed that Gunther Volkswagen Coconut Creek conducted a survey with 3,005 couples to identify their views on Tennessee’s most romantic autumn drives, based on past experiences. The top three are highlighted below:

1. Cades Cove Loop Road
   • Cades Cove Loop Road offers an 11-mile journey through meadows, forests, and history, surrounded by Smoky Mountain peaks. In the fall, the trees’ colorful foliage frames quiet valleys where deer and wild turkeys graze. Couples can also stop at preserved cabins and churches to enjoy a little trip through time surrounded by the park’s natural beauty.
2. Newfound Gap Road
   • A Great Smoky Mountains classic, Newfound Gap Road climbs from valley forests to high country, staging fall color in waves. Frequent pull-offs reveal sweeping views and layered blue ridgelines.
3. Ocoee Scenic Byway (US 64)
   • The byway follows the Ocoee River through Cherokee National Forest, combining the excitement of the whitewater with the beauty of the quiet woods. The rapids sparkle next to the colorful hillsides, while overlooks recall Cherokee history and Olympic glory.

If you want to see the full list of the most romantic routes to enjoy the fall foliage in other states, follow this link.