Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg Review: updated 2024
In one of the best locations for exploring Gatlinburg, the Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg offers a unique blend of mountain charm and tropical paradise.
We’ve stayed here multiple times, and recently returned for our first stay this year.
In summary: It’s as good as ever, and apart from minor issues, our stay was great. It’s still in our top spot for the best hotels in Gatlinburg. And to clarify: Our stays have been all paid for ourselves, these aren’t sponsored reviews. Note this article contains affiliate links, from which we may earn a commission on purchases (at no cost to you).
Location
This Jimmy Buffett-inspired resort brings a slice of island life to the picturesque town of Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
One of its strongest selling points is its prime spot at 539 Parkway in Gatlinburg.
If you’re visiting Gatlinburg, you’ll most likely spend a lot of time walking the Parkway, and this is one of the best spots to be. Heading to our favorite Gatlinburg attraction of Anakeesta? It’s right across the street.
In the picture above (taken from the balcony room), you can see the base station of Anakeesta and the cable car leading up the mountain.
Booking
Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg is bookable on their website, or through other booking channels like Expedia.
Prices vary greatly by season and day of the week, ranging from around $100 for a weekday in Winter to over $300 for a Friday/Saturday night in Summer.
For our stay on a Sunday night, the cost was $219, but offset by a $50 food and beverage credit.
Check-In
The lobby sets the tone for the stay, with its bright, airy design and tropical decor including live parrots.
The parrots are on loan from Parrot Mountain in Pigeon Forge, which is also somewhere we recommend visiting.
There’s valet and self-parking available. We’ve never used valet, as self parking is very convenient, right around the back next to the pool.
You’ll also need a parking tag, which you can get from the valet or at check-in.
Rooms and Suites
Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg room types. We stayed in a standard two-queen, which has plenty of room.
Our room featured:
- Comfortable beds with premium linens
- Spacious bathroom with separate bathtub and a large walk-in shower
- Private balcony Adirondack chairs. Another nice thing about the balconies is they’re recessed, and you don’t see the other balconies next to you.
- Mini-fridge and coffee maker
- Island-inspired decor
Amenities
The outdoor area is one of the best parts of this resort, and our kids favorite. This stay we spent most of the evening out there.
Pool Area
Though we have a pool at home, our kids consider hotel pools much better, and we spent a lot of our stay out here, mostly using the slide.
There’s an indoor pool that doesn’t get used much during the summer, as the outdoor pool area is so good.
There’s also a hot tub, a shallow pool with built in chaise lounge chairs (no pictures of those this time), and a splash pad for younger kids.
There’s a large outdoor dining area with a firepit, and games like cornhole.
There’s also several TVs out here to not miss out on any sports games.
Fitness Center
A large gym on the first level includes a cable machine and free weights.
Dining Options
License to Chill Bar
We love this dining option. As we had a short stay and our kids would rather spend time by the pool than several hours eating out, this let us combine both.
You can order either poolside with a server or inside at the bar, which has an extensive food and cocktail menu.
Many poolside hotel restaurants only have several items to eat, while there’s a whole menu available here. Including our kids favorite, the loaded french fries.
The only (minor) negative from our stay: the four-cheese pizza appeared to be missing all of the cheeses except cheddar, and our son (who loves all pizza) wouldn’t eat more than a bite.
LandShark Bar & Grill
LandShark is a family restaurant located on the parkway, in front of the hotel. Serving American cuisine, we’ve been to other locations in this brand but haven’t eaten at the Gatlinburg location.
Joe Merchant’s Coffee & Provisions
By the lobby check in desk, Joe Merchant has grab-and-go options for breakfast and light meals. Specialty coffees and smoothies
Additional Amenities
Just inside the front door there’s a gift shop featuring Margaritaville merchandise
If you walk back past the pool area, you’ll find some great river views along the back of the property.
We’ve never seen anyone else back here. There are some signs advertising it as a smoking area, but it’s a good spot for some river views also.
St. Somewhere Spa
St. Somewhere Spa is a full-service spa offering massages, facials, and body treatments. As we normally travel with our kids, we don’t usually get to take advantage of spas and didn’t use this.
Value for Money
Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg is in the upper range for hotels in Gatlinburg.
While it’s not the cheapest option, the combination of location, amenities, and unique atmosphere is a great option for people looking for mountain getaway.
Final Thoughts
Apart from one food item, we had a mostly perfect stay, and Margaritaville keeps our top spot for the best hotels in Gatlinburg. We’re looking forward to our next stay!
