Erwin sits on Interstate 26 in northeastern Tennessee, roughly midway between Asheville, North Carolina (about 55 miles southeast) and Johnson City, Tennessee (about 18 miles north). The drive from Asheville takes just under an hour; from Johnson City, around 20 minutes.
The nearest commercial airports are Tri-Cities Regional Airport (TRI) in Blountville, Tennessee — about 35 miles north, with connecting flights through major hubs — and Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), which has more direct service to larger cities. There is no scheduled passenger rail or bus service to Erwin itself; a car is effectively required. US-19W and TN-395 provide local access into the gorge and Cherokee National Forest areas west and east of town.