From Cherokee, the Parkway rises into some of its highest country almost immediately. Waterrock Knob is the clean short target; more time carries the drive through the Balsams toward Richland Balsam and Mount Pisgah country. High elevation is only a benefit when cloud, wind and road status cooperate.
More elevation and more miles are not automatically a better Parkway day.
Waterrock Knob is the obvious compact target because the Parkway does most of the climbing for you. On a clear day the payoff arrives quickly.
With more time, the road can keep climbing through the Balsams. The route only earns the extra mileage if weather and road status keep the high country useful.
The southern Parkway gains thousands of feet from the gateway. A pleasant morning in Cherokee can become windy, cool or clouded higher up.
The planner treats the weather as route context. It should not send you farther simply because a stop is famous.
The farther north you climb, the more of the day is spent retracing the same Parkway miles back toward Cherokee.
Set your hours and interests, then let the engine decide how far north the day is worth carrying.