Ripley's Mountain Coaster

Ripley's Mountain Coaster is the longest track in Gatlinburg at 3,100 feet, and honestly, you feel every bit of those extra 100 feet compared to the competition. The whole ride takes about 5 minutes if you don't brake much, winding through the treetops with decent mountain views when you're not focused on the turns ahead. We've done it probably a dozen times over the years, and the kids still ask to go again every trip.

The best part? You control your own speed up to 35 mph, so our 8-year-old can ride with me without getting terrified while my husband bombs down the mountain like he's training for the Olympics. Just know that kids 3-9 need an adult driver, and solo riders have to be at least 10 and 54 inches tall.

Night rides are where this coaster really shines — they light up the whole track and it's completely different experience. We usually hit it around 7pm to catch both daylight and the illuminated version. The free parking lot right in front fills up fast though, especially on weekends, so get there early or just walk from downtown since it's literally right there.

One thing that caught us off guard last time was the February closure for maintenance — they shut down for a month to redo the track and cars. Runs rain or shine the rest of the year, which is both impressive and slightly terrifying when you're flying down wet rails. If you're doing multiple Ripley's attractions, grab the combo pass because individual rides add up quick when everyone wants to go twice.