Tennessee State Route 297
{{Short description|State highway in Tennessee, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox road
|state=TN
|type=Sec
|route=297
| map={{maplink-road|from=Tennessee State Route 297.map}}
|map_custom=yes
|map_notes=SR 297 highlighted in red
|alternate_name=
|length_mi=62.0
|length_ref=
|tourist=File:MUTCD D6-4.svg Cumberland Historic Byway
|direction_a=West
|terminus_a={{jct|state=TN|Sec|154}} in Sharp Place
|junction={{jct|state=TN|US|27}} in Oneida
{{jct|state=TN|TN|63}} in Huntsville
|direction_b=East
|terminus_b={{jct|state=TN|US|25W}} in Jellico
|counties=Fentress, Scott, Campbell
|previous_type=Sec
|previous_route=296
|next_type=Sec
|next_route=298
}}
State Route 297 (SR 297) is a {{convert|62.0|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} east–west secondary state highway in Middle and East Tennessee. It is the primary road in and out of Scott State Forest and Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, where it is known as Leatherwood Ford Road.
Route description
=Fentress County=
SR 297 begins in Fentress County in Middle Tennessee at an intersection with SR 154 in Sharp Place. It winds its way east through farmland as Leatherwood Ford Road, a two-lane highway, to enter wooded areas and Scott State Forest before crossing into Scott County and East Tennessee.{{Google maps |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/TN-297,+Tennessee/@36.4988257,-84.5200441,16z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x885d082a7d0a2aa7:0xa4728dd143f538cc?gl=us |title=Overview map of SR 297 |access-date= }}{{cite web|url=https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/tdot/maps/county-maps-(us-shields)/a-g/Fentress%20County.pdf|title=Map of Fentress County|website=tn.gov|access-date=15 September 2023}}
=Scott County=
SR 297 then becomes curvy as it passes through Scott State Forest before entering the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area and crossing the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River. It passes through the park before leaving it and passing through farmland again as Coopertown Road. SR 297 then enters Oneida as W 3rd Avenue, going through neighborhoods before passing some businesses, where it passes by Tennessee College of Applied Technology at Oneida. The highway then makes a sharp right onto Industrial Lane, where it goes through industrial areas, before coming to an intersection with US 27/SR 29 (Alberta Street). SR 297 then becomes concurrent with US 27/SR 29 and they then head south and widen to a four-lane undivided highway and pass through a business district before leaving Oneida. The highway (now Scott Highway) has an interchange for Scott Municipal Airport before passing through Helenwood. They then enter Huntsville and come to an intersection with SR 63 (Howard H. Baker Memorial Highway), where SR 297 splits off from US 27/SR 29 and becomes concurrent with SR 63. They pass by several homes and businesses before passing through downtown. SR 63/SR 297 then narrows to two-lanes as it leaves Huntsville and has an intersection with SR 456. The highway then enters some mountainous terrain before crossing into Campbell County.{{cite web|url=https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/tdot/maps/county-maps-(us-shields)/o-w/Scott%20County.pdf
|title=Map of Scott County|website=tn.gov|access-date=15 September 2023}}
=Campbell County=
SR 63/SR 297 pass through mountains for several miles before entering Pioneer and coming to an intersection, where SR 297 splits off from SR 63 and heads northeast up the Elk Fork Creek Valley along Newcomb Pike. SR 297 passes through the communities of Elk Valley and Newcomb before entering Jellico and passing by Indian Mountain State Park. It then enters downtown and comes to an end at an intersection with US 25W/SR 9.{{cite web|url=https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/tdot/maps/county-maps-(us-shields)/a-g/Campbell%20County.pdf|title=Map of Campbell County|website=tn.gov|access-date=15 September 2023}}
Major intersections
{{jcttop|length_ref=}}
{{TNint
|county=Fentress
|location=Sharp Place
|mile=0.0
|road={{jct|state=TN|Sec|154|name1=Pickett Park Highway|city1=Jamestown|location2=Pickett CCC Memorial State Park}}
|notes=Western terminus
}}
{{jctbridge
|state=TN
|county=Scott
|cspan=5
|location_special=Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
|mile=11.1
|bridge=Bridge over the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River
}}
{{TNint
|location=Oneida
|mile=22.1
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=TN|US|27|dir1=north|name1=Alberta Street/SR 29 north|location1=Downtown|city2=Winfield}}
|notes=Western end of US 27/SR 29 concurrency
}}
{{TNint
|location=none
|mile=25.3
|road={{jct|extra=airport}} Airport Road - Scott Municipal Airport
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{TNint
|location=Huntsville
|mile=28.6
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=TN|US|27|TN|63|dir1=south|dir2=begins|name1=Scott Highway/SR 29 south|city1=Sunbright|city2=Wartburg}}
|notes=Eastern end of US 27/SR 29 concurrency; western terminus of SR 63; western end of SR 63 concurrency
}}
{{TNint
|location=none
|mile=34.7
|road={{jct|state=TN|Sec|456|dir1=north|name1=Annadell Road|city1=Oneida}}
|notes=Southern terminus of SR 456
}}
{{TNint
|county=Campbell
|cspan=2
|location=Pioneer
|mile=44.0
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=TN|TN|63|dir1=east|name1=Howard H. Baker Memorial Highway|city1=Caryville|to2=to|I|75}}
|notes=Eastern end of SR 63 concurrency
}}
{{TNint
|location=Jellico
|mile=62.0
|road={{jct|state=TN|US|25W|name1=N Main Street/5th Street/SR 9|location1=Williamsburg, KY|city2=La Follette|to2=to|I|75}}
|notes=Eastern terminus
}}
{{jctbtm|keys=concur}}
References
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}
{{reflist}}
Category:Transportation in Fentress County, Tennessee