Directions To Paddle Inn Rafting Company
Download a printable copy of these directions here.
1-1/2 Miles Upriver from the Nantahala Outdoor Center. On busy days parking right before and right after the Pedestrian Crosswalk on the right and just past the big Yellow Sign with the Red Tin Roof on the left is the main parking lot and Rafting Check In.
GPS Coordinates: N35.33508, W-83.61578*
GPS Note: Please use these Coordinates, if you plug in our Address, keep your cellphone handy, we’ll get a call from you from one of three goose hunt spots the GPS will lead you to, but it won’t be here. For those of you who don’t believe,, you can grin and bear it when you get here.. Ha.. GPS does not stand for Global Position Satellite in this neck of the woods! Ha.. Ha..
ENTERING FROM THE EAST
From Asheville, travel West on I-40 to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park exit #27 which is Hwy 74 West. After taking this exit, choose Hwy 23/74 toward Waynesville and Sylva. DO NOT take Hwy 19 as it would add a lot of slow mountain driving. Drive past Sylva, Cherokee and Bryson City remaining on Hwy 74 (Great Smoky Mt. Expressway). Continue West on (Highway 74), pass Bryson City about 10 miles. Prepare to bear left as the highway splits and narrows to a two lane road. Continue West on the two lane road. You will come to a Convenience Store on the left and the road makes a sharp right curve. Continue traveling west about 1.5 miles after you see the river on your right….on busy days we have parking right Before and right After the Pedestrian Crosswalk on the right side of the street. However, Rafting check-in is on the left side of the street with an 8 x 8′ sign with a red tin roof over it with Paddle Inn in white letters. The main parking lot is on the left side of the street past the sign.
ENTERING FROM THE WEST
Coming from the Southwest stay in the center or left lane through Chattanooga. Leaving Chattanooga, travel North on I-75 toward Knoxville. Take the first Cleveland Exit #20 to Cherokee Natl. Forest. A sign says (64 Bypass East-Cleveland). Go toward Ducktown & Murphy. Stay on the (East 64/74) Bypass until you see OCOEE East 64 Exit. Continue East on (Hwy 19) through Murphy, and Andrews, NC. After the Highway narrows to two lanes, you go thorough Topton. You will pass a Park Forest sign indicating rafting “Put In” park on your right. (We are 6.2 miles Past the “Put In”) . Continue past the “Put In” about 3 miles and there will be another park on the left which is Ferebee Park. (We are 3.4 miles past the park). The river will now be on your left. When you see the Slow to 35 miles per hour sign slow down we are just around the bend. There is a Pizza By the River on the left, shortly past that you will see the Paddle Inn Sign on your right which is the main parking lot and Rafting check in. On busy days we have parking right Before and right After the Pedestrian Crosswalk on the left.
Entering from the South:
From Atlanta
via Georgia Route 5/515 Take I-75 North to I-575 North, which becomes Route 5/515 in 3 miles. Go North on 5 / 515 past Blue Ridge about 4-5 miles and you will see a yellow blinking light on the right side of the road 100 foot before a traffic light. Then you will see a small sign on the right side of the road saying Hwy 60. (The sign is only a few feet from the intersection). Turn left (west) on route 60 toward Mineral Bluff or Murphy. Go 1.5 miles to Mineral Bluff, then turn right at red brick church in Mineral Bluff onto “60 spur”. Go approximately 12 miles to a stop sign, junction with 19/74. Turn right (east) toward Murphy, NC.
Continue 30-40 minutes on 19/74 and you will enter western Swain County through the Nantahala Gorge. You will pass a Park Forest sign indicating rafting “Put In” park on your right. (We are 6.2 miles Past the “Put In”) . Continue past the “Put In” about 3 miles and there will be another park on the left which is Ferebee Park. (We are 3.4 miles past the park). The river will now be on your left. When you see the Slow to 35 miles per hour sign slow down we are just around the bend. There is a Pizza By the River on the left, shortly past that you will see the Paddle Inn Sign on your right which is main parking lot and Rafting check in. On busy days we have parking right Before and right After the Pedestrian Crosswalk on the left.
Entering from the North
From Knoxville via I-40 Take I-40 East and, after crossing the TN/NC border, take exit 27 which is Hwy 74 West. After taking this exit, choose Hwy 23/74 toward Waynesville and Sylva. DO NOT take Hwy 19 as it would add a lot of slow mountain driving. Drive past Sylva, Cherokee and Bryson City remaining on Hwy 74 (Great Smoky Mt. Expressway). Continue West on (Hwy 74), pass Bryson City about 10 miles. Prepare to bear left as the highway splits and narrows to a two lane road. Continue West on the two lane road. You will come to a Convenience Store on the left and the road makes a sharp right curve. Continue traveling west about 1.5 miles after you see the river on your right….on busy days we have parking right Before and right After the Pedestrian Crosswalk on the right side of the street. However, Rafting check in is on the left side of the street with an 8 x 8′ sign with a red tin roof over it with Paddle Inn in white letters.
Click here for a graphical map of the area
If you want to use a mapping program to print your directions, use the address:
14611 Highway 19 West, Bryson City, NC. Zip 28713.
Make sure you use the above routes when you get close. Cutting 15 miles off of your trip could cost you an hour driving time. If your brand new GPS tells you to take Highway 28, or 129 make sure you don’t have anyone in the vehicle who is affected by motion sickness.