A Guide To Gatlinburg: Planning a Family Vacation
Gatlinburg is one of the most well-known towns in the Smoky Mountains.
It’s a town with plenty to do and some great scenery. Living nearby, we’re here all the time throughtout the year.
Even out of the many countries we’ve visited, a Gatlinburg family vacation is one of our top choices for families.
Gatlinburg Basics
At the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this charming but busy town offers a blend of shopping, restaurants, and things to do.
The town sits in a valley, surrounded by hills and mountains, making it more picturesque than Pigeon Forge.
You can read more about the differences between these two towns.
The whole town is centered around the Parkway, the main road through town.
This road is also the only way to get through town, creating a traffic bottleneck on busy days.
Location And Getting To Gatlinburg
Gatlinburg is conveniently situated on the doorstep of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in eastern Tennessee.
Its location makes it easily accessible from many major cities in the southeastern and midwestern United States.
It’s within a day’s drive of half the country’s population.
Getting Here:
- By Car: Gatlinburg is a fantastic road trip destination, with major interstates like I-40 and I-75 leading toward the area.
- By Air: The closest major airport is McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) near Knoxville, Tennessee, about an hour’s drive from Gatlinburg. You can easily rent a car, which is almost a requirement for the area due to traveling around the national park.
- Local Transportation: Once you’re in town, the Gatlinburg Trolley system is a convenient way to get around. But the town is small enough just to walk around, and traffic makes driving slow in the summer.
Parking:
Parking can be a challenge in Gatlinburg.
Your best option if staying in town is to leave your car at the hotel, and walk or take the free trolley. You can download the trolley map here.
If you’re going for the day, you can either use one of the city parking areas or try to find a spot off the main parkway.
We normally park on Historic Nature Trail, also known as Airport Road.
Parking gets cheaper as you get a few blocks away from the parkway.
This road isn’t as busy as the Parkway, and parking costs drop from $20 to $15 to $10 as you head south from the Parkway.
And it’s only about a 5-minute walk from the main road.
Where To Stay in Gatlinburg
We recommend either staying in a cabin (which will be a bit of a drive from town) or staying downtown, within walking distance of all the attractions.
Read more on our guide to the best hotels in Gatlinburg.
Our Favorite Hotel
Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg is a 4-star resort located on the main parkway (Hwy 441) in Gatlinburg.
We have stayed at this resort several times, and while it’s not the cheapest resort in Gatlinburg, it’s our favorite. Read more on our review here.
The resort’s convenient location across the street from Anakeesta makes it a perfect base.
What tO SEE
Anakeesta is one of our favorite things to do in Gatlinburg. See more on our guide to the top things to do in Gatlinburg.
There’s plenty of places for a scenic drive around Gatlinburg, here’s what we’d do if we were visiting for the first time.
Cades Cove
Cades Cove is a beautiful valley with a 13-mile road loop, a popular tourist destination for its beautiful views, abundant wildlife, and historical significance.
Cades Cove can get super busy on the weekends and holidays, so we’d recommend picking a slow day to visit. We took the picture above in February.
Even better, bring a bike and ride around in the summer on Wednesdays when it’s closed to car traffic.
Drive To Clingmans Dome
Clingman’s Dome is the highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the highest point in Tennessee.
Located near North Carolina, Clingman’s Dome rises to an elevation of 6,600 feet above sea level. The road to get here is closed in the winter.
A steep, short paved trail can reach its summit. On clear days, you can even see up to 100 miles away!
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