An 18-mile limited access scenic parkway, the western portion of the Foothills Parkway connects Chilhowee Lake with Townsend. While strictly located outside the bounds of the national park, the parkway offers stunning views of the western reaches of the Smokies. It is lightly traveled and a good alternative to other, more crowded scenic roads.

The parkway follows the ridge of Chilhowee Mountain. There is a campground, picnic area, and observation tower at Look Rock.

Seemingly in an effort to confuse visitors, the parkway actually consists of two separate roadways. The eastern section, also called the Foothills Parkway, is a six-mile stretch that connects Cosby with I-40.