I gave you the way with the least amount of turns: I-40E to Exit 20 (Maggie Valley/276). You wanted the easiest way to go from Lake City.
Otherwise, I have done it in the Fall when it is really beautiful there and enter the Blue Ridge Parkway from 19/Soco Rd.
The casino bus also takes a longer route in bad weather. Personally, I would not do that drive in the winter if there was ice on the road. Right after you are through the touristy part of Maggie Valley is when 19/Soco Rd gets windy/curvy and up and down and woodsy. It's (19/Soco Rd) still the main drag in Maggie Valley meaning it's where all of the motels/restaurants/tourist spots are. US19 or Soco Rd however is primarily a one lane in each direction road (there are parts when it's two lanes) that is winding and up and down a mountain. 276 is a straight run from the I-40 exit ramp (Exit 20) to US 19. Wait isn't the Maggie Valley exit turn into a extremely narrow road leading into reservation? I just remember reading a post about a narrow hazardous road somewhere around Maggie Valley on another board.
