In this local guide, we’ve got the best places for a family to stay in Gatlinburg, TN.
We’ve visited or stayed at all of these, and they’re all great options.
Visiting for the first time? We recommend staying near the main road, Highway 441 (or the Parkway). Traffic slows to a crawl in the summer, and it’s easier to stay somewhere where you can leave your car and walk around town.
#1
Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg
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Our top choice is
We have stayed at this resort several times, and you can read our review here. While it’s not the cheapest resort in Gatlinburg, it’s our favorite, especially if you’re visiting for the first time.
The location makes it a perfect base for exploring the best of Gatlinburg.
This new resort has spacious rooms, an outdoor swimming pool with a slide, an indoor pool, and even real parrots in the lobby.
A Margaritaville restaurant is just outside the resort, and a smaller bar serves drinks and food by the pool.
The resort’s location makes it a perfect base for exploring the best of Gatlinburg.
#2
Embassy Suites Gatlinburg
Our next choice is
We’ve stayed here several times. You can read the original review from when it first opened, and the updated summer 2024 review here.
Why is it in second place? Its location isn’t as good as Margaritaville.
Instead of being right on the main road, it’s a half-mile walk uphill back to the property.
If you’re visiting for the first time and would like to explore all of downtown Gatlinburg, it’s not an ideal location.
But if that isn’t a problem, this may be the best hotel in town. The 2 room suites, huge pool area, and complimentary breakfast and evening reception make it one of our favorites
#3
Greystone Lodge on The River
The
Greystone is next door to Margaritaville and also sits on the banks of the Little Pigeon River.
It’s an older building, but clean and well-maintained.
There’s an outdoor pool, though it’s more like regular hotel pools than the giant resort pools of the top two choices.
#4
Holiday Inn Club Vacations & Holiday Inn Express Gatlinburg Downtown
These two properties are next to each other, and joined together by a small indoor water park.
Like Embassy Suites, it’s south of the parkway (not quite as far), so it involves a bit more walking.
#5
Gatlinburg Inn
The historic
This hotel has older rooms but is in the best location in Gatlinburg for walking the town. It also has a good free breakfast.
The inn is right next to the Gatlinburg Skypark ski lift (we took the above picture from the ski lift).
#6
Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg
We’ve stayed at the
Since then, it’s been moved down our list—not because it’s gotten any worse, but because the Embassy Suites is such a great choice. However, the Garden Inn is still a good option if you’re looking for something lower priced than Embassy Suites but still in the Hilton brand.
There’s an indoor pool and a large outdoor jacuzzi. Plus, it’s just a block away from the Parkway.
#7
Courtyard by Marriott Gatlinburg Downtown
The
Like the others, it’s a bit of a walk to the parkway. But it’s a good option if you’re trying to stick to the Marriott brand.
There’s a large outdoor hot tub, along with an indoor pool.
#8
Hampton Inn Gatlinburg
One of two Hampton Inns in Gatlinburg, the
During our stay, the location and employees were great, but we didn’t care for the motel-style rooms that were open outside in such a busy location.
Read more on our review here.
Conclusion
That’s our list of the best places to stay in downtown Gatlinburg, TN.