12 things to see & do on any Gatlinburg, TN vacation
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
7. Hit the road for a scenic drive
If you are not up for a lengthy hike, a scenic drive is a nice alternate way to enjoy the pretty mountain scenery. There are several options here, my favorite being the Foothills Parkway. Consider the 6 mile Eastern section which is uncrowded with little in the way of commercialization.
Along the route, there are several scenic viewpoints. The quaint countryside scenery and mesmerizing views of the mountains, especially at sunrise and sunset, make this a must-do while in the vicinity. Views of 4928 foot Mt Cammerer are simply incredible.
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
Another must-do is the 5.5 mile long one-way Roaring Fork Motor Nature trail. This picturesque drive is loaded with gorgeous views of the forest, creeks, and even a pretty waterfall. Additionally, numerous hikes including the beautiful Grotto Falls waterfall hike, are located directly on this route.
Check out the Roaring Fork Motor nature trail map for more details.
8. Soar 1800 ft up Crockett Mountain via Sky Lift
The open air skylift chairlift ride is a great option during the warmer months. Skylift has been taking guests up 500 feet to the top of Crockett Mountain since 1950. For the best views in town, look no further!
From the observing area, you will enjoy a wonderful overview of the Smoky Mountains.
You will also have access to Skybridge, a new attraction which just opened in July of 2019. The 680 foot long bridge is now the longest pedestrian swinging bridge in the country. The glass bottom near the midpoint of the walk is pretty cool (if you are not scared of heights!). The bridge is 5 feet wide and 140 foot tall. Views are fabulous! More details on the bridge later on.
Both the lift and the bridge are included with your admission. Tip: Book online to save yourself $4 per person.
- Address: 765 Parkway
- Hours: 9am-7pm (9 on Fri & Saturday).
9. Take your pick amongst cheesy museums
The Parkway is absolutely loaded with tacky museums. Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Ripley’s Haunted Attraction, the Guinness Book of World Records Museum, and so on. Basically any touristy museum you can think of, Gatlinburg has it. While most of these are severely overpriced, there is no harm having a little bit of cheesy fun while on vacation.
The Hollywood Stars Cars Museum is one of the better options, especially since the other museums can basically be found in numerous other tourist cities throughout the country. Although overpriced like all the others, this museum is unique in that it houses 40 classic movie and TV cars. If you love 80’s classics like Ghostbusters and Back to the Future, then you will love this museum. Let’s admit it: the cars in these movies were just as much of a star as “the stars” themselves!
- Hollywood Cars Museum Address: 914 Parkway
- Hours: 9am-10pm, 7 days a week
10. Head over to Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge, a touristy mountain town just 20 min outside of Gatlinburg, is an entertainment center of its’ own. There is enough to do here to easily justify the short drive over. More well-known attractions include Dollywood, the Titanic Museum, the Hollywood Wax Museum, and the Island, an entertainment destination of its’ own with shops, restaurants, fountain shows, and a giant Ferris Wheel.
The Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster is a must for thrill seekers. In terms of nightlife, you really cannot pass up on seeing the Smoky Mountain Opry variety show. The Thomas Kinkade gallery is a must stop for art lovers. A stop by the Incredible Christmas Place, the largest holiday store in the South, is a must for anyone who loves Christmas, anytime of the year. This place is huge with more ornaments and decor than you could ever possibly imagine! I love just walking around taking it all in.
In terms of dining, you will find all your big chains here. Hard Rock Cafe is always a fun touristy choice with great comfort food and a fun rock ambiance. The Twisted Mac and Cheese here really is the best! In terms of local dining, check out The Old Mill restaurant, featuring a cozy setting and Southern inspired fare. They serve a great Thanksgiving platter all year.
Really there is so much to do in Pigeon Forge that it is worth the daytrip. Be prepared to put up with a lot of traffic. It’s often bumper to bumper.
11. Put your putting skills to the test on the country’s most unique golf course
A round of mini golf at Hillbilly Golf is a must for anyone seeking something fun and unusual to do. The course is entertaining, quirky, and a bit weird. Even the trek to the course is quite unusual. First off, you will be taken up on a tram 300 feet high above the city where you will get to choose amongst 2 different 18 hole courses. The lovely setting in the beautiful forested land of the Smokies really makes this course stand out as so much more than simply a place to golf.
This is not your ordinary mini golf course. Lots of wacky Southern decor and a few really interesting themes add to the excitement. One hole features a crazy plinko style setup. Overall, it’s just a weird hillbilly themed course that is definitely worth a look while you are in town. One thing is for sure – you will never see another course like this one! The course is insanely cheesy, so you must have a sense of humor to enjoy the eccentric setting.
From golfing under a huge fallen down tree, to Plinko! golf, this is one crazy golf course!
As an added bonus, the course is super shady so golfing here is a nice escape from the brutal summer sunshine. For a few dollars more, you can come back the next day and play the other course! This is a great deal in an area, which frankly is quite overpriced.
- Address: 340 Parkway
- Hours: 9am-10pm, 7 days a week
12. Take a walk across the country’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge
Skybridge, a 680 foot long pedestrian suspension bridge, is gaining attention as Gatlinburg’s newest attraction. A scary walk across America’s longest swinging bridge is now the must-do while visiting, that is so long as you are not afraid of heights! Even if you are not scared of humongous drops, it is a bit nerve wracking to look down 140 feet beneath you as you walk on a shaky narrow bridge (of course there are guardrails).
The views of the Smokies from way up here are quite incredible, especially near sunset. Near the midpoint of the bridge you will notice all the tourists have seemed to crowd together. This is due to the unique glass bottom. If you aren’t too scared, it’s a pretty cool photo opportunity.
Entrance to the bridge is included with your Sky Lift ticket, and thus, this is a really great value. As a bonus, you can come back as many times as you like in a single day. I recommend taking in the views both during the day and around sunset for a different perspective of the mountains.
- Address: 765 Parkway
- Hours: 9am-10pm
Where to eat
I recommend checking out Pancake Pantry or Crockett’s Breakfast Camp for breakfast, both are conveniently located on the Parkway. For lunch/dinner, you have all your usual chains plus themed restaurants like Dick’s Last Resort, Johnny Rockets, and Bubba Gump Shrimp. These are all fun to visit while on vacation due to the touristy vibe.
Crockett’s Breakfast Camp: Right on the Parkway, big portions, and a fun country vibe!
If you prefer to go local, check out The Peddler Steakhouse or Taste of Italy. Taste of Italy is a real gem of a find. While quite overpriced (really, it’s hard to find a good value in a tourist trap town like Gatlinburg!), the food here is surprisingly good and the portions are humongous. Fresh delicious garlic knots are brought out as soon as you sit down. Order the Toasted Ravioli as an appetizer. For an entree, you really cannot beat a classic plate of Fettuccine Alfredo or Baked Ziti! Update: Taste of Italy is now closed.
Tips for a great Gatlinburg vacation
Visiting during the off season (late fall and winter) is best both value-wise and crowd-wise. Hotels will be cheaper, plus crowds will be virtually non existent. A shorter wait time for attractions and ease of finding trailhead parking are additional benefits of visiting during the slow season.
If you plan on hiking in prime season, get to the trails early in the morning to ensure parking availability. The trailhead parking fills up extremely fast on spring/summer weekends.
Be bear aware. Do not bother or feed bears. And always keep your distance. Read up on what to do if you see a bear.
In terms of lodging, cabin rentals are typically the best deal, particularly if you are traveling with a large party. As you have access to a full kitchen, you can cook some of your meals to save a few bucks. Timber Tops is a great company which offers a multitude of options, available in just about every size and price range.
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