Cherokee

Cherokee is a town in the North Carolina Mountains within the Qualla Boundary, the proper name of the Cherokee Indian (Eastern Band) reserve.

Understand

This is the center of Cherokee culture in North Carolina (and indeed the eastern United States). Many natives call this area home, the Cherokee language is also spoken by many in this area. The town was established by the Cherokee who stayed behind while the US Government forced them west in the Trail of Tears. Those who stayed behind hid in the mountains that now make up the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Cherokee people are eastern Native Americans; do not ask them where the tipis are. Tipis were made by Native Americans who lived in the Great Plains. The Cherokee people lived in houses made of woven grass covered with mud, and after the European settlers arrived, log cabins.

Cherokee is one of the gateways to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and its economy is mainly tourism based. There is no "downtown" to Cherokee; the entire built up area is mainly composed of hotels and tourist shops selling "Indian" themed merchandise.

Get in

Cherokee is accessible by US 441 and Highway 19. Most visitors will come from the direction of Knoxville or Asheville.

Get around

There is public transportation with different stops throughout the area and a pickup can be scheduled by contacting Cherokee Transit • phone 828-554-6300 • Text 828-269-5790 • Toll-free 866-388-6071 • TDD: 711. Many of the larger hotels have a shuttle service.

See

The town mainly exists because of its proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and its other attraction is it's the traditional homeland of the Cherokee people.

• 1 Mingo Falls. (updated Nov 2019)

Do

• 1 Oconaluftee Indian Village, ☏ +1-800-438-1601. Visit and learn about Cherokee Native American culture. The tour takes you through various live demonstrations of Cherokee life, including two educational and informative talks. The description says it shows a "typical day in a Cherokee village", but that's stretching it. There are several small stands when you walk in, one shows a person forming clay pots, another weaving baskets, and another displaying arrowheads. There is a man burning wood to hollow out of log for a canoe. $15. (updated May 2019)
• 2 Museum of the Cherokee Indian, 589 Tsali Blvd, ☏ +1 828-497-3481. Daily 9AM-5PM, closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Artifacts, artwork, life-sized figures, computer generated animation to tell the story of the Cherokee people and their long life in the southern Appalachians. (updated Oct 2021)
• 3 Harrah's Casino, 777 Casino Dr, ☏ +1 828-497-7777. A popular attraction in Cherokee which is owned by the local Cherokee tribe. (updated Nov 2019)

There are a limited number of other attractions in the area, most of which are related either to Indian culture or natural landmarks.

Buy

The entire built-up area of Cherokee is tourist stores, almost all of which sell Indian-themed merchandise. There is a grocery store on the outskirts of town. If you stop at one of these tourist stores, you've pretty much stopped at all of them.

One stand-out is the Talking Leaves Native American Bookstore (Highway 441 & Highway 19 Intersection) which has a huge inventory of Native American books which would make any university library proud. They also sell clothing and Native American-made jewelry. Bookstore is owned and operated by a Native American woman.

If you really want to learn about the Cherokee people and other Native Americans, stop here and buy a few books.

Eat

There are several locally owned restaurants offering typical American food, it is difficult to find authentic Native American cuisine, but it can be done if you know where to look. There are also some franchises such as McDonald's or Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), of course.

If you are in the mood to gamble, the casino might be a great place to eat as well.

Drink

The town of Cherokee is dry. There is a convenience store 1/2 mile from Cherokee on highway 441 where you can get alcohol. You can also drink at the casino.

• Qualla Java, 938 Tsalagi Rd, ☏ +1 828-497-2882, social@quallajava.com. Small batch Columbian coffee, with a riverfront patio. (updated Jun 2021)

Sleep

Cherokee has no shortage of hotels, motels and Inns. Best you just drive around and look before you leap, as quite a few appear to be on the verge of collapsing. If you want to support the locals, stay in a local-owned motel, not one of the large chains.

• Best Western Great Smokies Inn, Highway 441 N & Aquoni Road, ☏ +1 828 497-2020, fax: +1 828 497-3903. 
• Microtel Inn & Suites, 674 Casino Trail, ☏ +1-828-352-2302. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. 
• Fairfield Inn & Suites Cherokee, 568 Painttown Road, ☏ +1 828 497-0400, fax: +1 828 497-4040. 
• Chestnut Tree Inn Cherokee, 37 Tsalagi Road, ☏ +1 828 497-9181. 
• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 376 Painttown Road, ☏ +1 828 497-3113. 
• Magnuson Hotel Great Smokies Inn, 1593 Acquoni Road, toll-free: +1-866-904-1309. This Magnuson Hotels affiliate is the closest hotel to the entrance of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. 
• Raccoon Ridge Properties, 162 Everett Street, ☏ +1 828 399-9765. Offering several privately owned cabins for rent. Raccoon Ridge Properties has owned and managed luxury cabins in the Bryson City/Cherokee area since 2005. They pride themselves in providing the highest quality and comfort at an affordable price. Raccoon Ridge Properties strives to make your next vacation to the mountains a memorable one. Their selection includes waterfront and mountain view cabins. 

Go next

• Cherokee is a gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
• Go explore the rest of the Appalachian Mountains.

Routes through Cherokee

Asheville ← Maggie Valley ←	N  S	→ Bryson City → Atlanta
Knoxville ← Great Smoky Mountains N.P. ←	N  S	→ Clayton → Athens