U.S. Route 74: Lake Junaluska to Balsam, North Carolina.

Driving west along U.S. Route 74 from Lake Junaluska to Balsam is a short but delightful cruise through the soul of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This nine-mile stretch, locally signed as the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway, connects mountain towns and pockets of history with sweeping ridgeline views that beckon us to slow down and savor the scenery.

We begin our ride by joining U.S. 74 from NC-209 in Lake Junaluska—a lakeside community known for its serene walking trails, historic chapel, and the tranquil waters that reflect the surrounding peaks. Almost immediately, the highway starts to climb in gentle curves, pulling us higher into the hills and teasing us with glimpses of the rolling ranges that define western North Carolina. It’s a smooth, divided highway at this point, making it an easy drive whether we’re in a sedan or towing a camper headed for the Parkway.

A few miles in, we drift through Hazelwood, once a mill town and now a charming neighborhood of Waynesville. Though the highway skirts the heart of Hazelwood, a quick exit can lead us to its little historic district—home to a handful of local shops, cozy cafés, and the kind of friendly pace that invites visitors to linger. As we merge back onto U.S. 74, we pass Clyde just to the east; this small town features a quaint main street dotted with antique shops and family-run diners that evoke a slower, simpler time in the Smokies.

As the road twists gently southwest, we feel the hush of the forest closing in, the ridgelines crowding closer as we near Balsam Gap. This spot is where the expressway intersects the Blue Ridge Parkway, one of America’s most celebrated scenic byways. It’s a great idea to pull off here if time allows—just a few miles on the Parkway can reward us with sweeping overlooks, blooming rhododendrons in summer, and fiery foliage come fall. We wrap up this drive right at Balsam, a community that sits serenely amid the high country and serves as a quiet gateway for Parkway adventures or deeper explorations into the Smokies.

This quick ride between Lake Junaluska and Balsam is more than just a connector; it’s a perfect sample of what makes western North Carolina such a favorite among road trippers. Rolling ridges, historic hamlets, and that timeless mountain air—it’s all here waiting along U.S. 74.