How to Spend 7 Days in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge TN
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The Tennessee towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are tucked at the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains. Full of southern charm and Appalachian fun these communities make a great base for exploring the national park. Our 7 day itinerary will help you experience the area’s unique character and stunning natural beauty.
Gatlinburg is sure to wow you with its walkable downtown, mountaintop coasters, and treetop walks. Neighboring Pigeon Forge is home to the Dollywood amusement park as well as an array of dinner shows, entertainment museums, and thrill rides. A trolley system links the two family-friendly towns.
Add to this, all there is to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and you may come home more exhausted than when you departed. In this guide we have tried to balance the hubbub of the attractions with the hush of the forest. Use our 7 day itinerary to see the best Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge have to offer – indoors and out.
GATLINBURG & PIGEON FORGE TOURS
BEST TIME TO VISIT GATLINBURG AND PIGEON FORGE
Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are year-round resort towns. The region is most crowded during the summer months, during peak foliage, school vacations, and regional festivals. At these times, traffic can be bumper to bumper in both towns and in popular areas of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
We think spring and fall, excluding peak foliage weeks, are the best time to visit Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. During these months most attractions, hiking trails, hotels, and eateries are open. Moreover, the weather is pleasant and crowds are below peak.
Click this link for information regarding airfares to Gatlinburg region.
Click this link for information regarding rental car prices in the region.
PIGEON FORGE AND GATLINBURG TN HOTELS
Both Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg have many hotels, resorts, cabins, and condominium communities. Look in Pigeon Forge for budget-style and chain hotels. Consider Gatlinburg if you like more inclusive resort-style hotels.
Try one of these well-reviewed hotels:
THINGS TO DO IN GATLINBURG AND PIGEON FORGE TN
The town of Gatlinburg has a village-feel. The city of Pigeon Forge is spread out over a 5-mile long strip. In both communities there are highly commercialized fun zones with a range of family friendly things to do. To give you an idea, we have summarized these activities into categories (G=Gatlinburg; P=Pigeon Forge):
Theme Parks: Dollywood (P), Anakeesta (G), The Islands at Pigeon Forge (P), SkyPark (G), Parrot Mountain (P), Wild Bear Water Park (G)
Dinner Shows & Nightlife: Hatfields & McCoys (P), Dolly Parton Stampede (P), Blake Shelton’s Ole Red (G), Jason Aldean’s Rooftop Bar (G), Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud (P), Country Time (P)
Shopping Malls: The Village (G), Reagan’s Terrace (G), and the Old Mill (P)
Adventure & Thrill Rides: Many mountain coasters, go-karts, rope courses, ziplines, horseback riding stables, laser tag facilities, and arcades in both towns.
Food/Drink: Whiskey distilleries, wineries, breweries and specialty food stores of all kinds in both towns.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Scenic drives to Cades Cove and Roaring Forks Motor Road; hiking; and attractions like Clingman’s Dome and the Elkmont Ghost Town. Tours of the national park are also popular such as:
ATTRACTIONS IN PIGEON FORGE AND GATLINBURG
There are so many attractions in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg that we have listed them out by town. Here is our list of the best attractions in each community.
Pigeon Forge
Titanic Museum, Wonderworks, Magiquest, Hollywood Wax Museum, Alcatraz East, Beyond the Lens, Rowdy’s Snow Park
Gatlinburg
Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Hillbilly Golf, Hollywood Stars Cars, Fanny Farkle’s, Gatlinburg Escape Rooms, Ober Mountain
Gatlinburg Hollywood Star Cars
TRIP ESSENTIALS
In the Smokies, and almost every travel destination, I find myself reaching for my Eddie Bauer Rainfoil Jacket, Frogg Toggs Hat, Merrell Hiking Boots, and Crocs Strappy Sandals (wear to dinner or the pool).
Other items I rely on include my Huk Sunglasses and Contigo Autoseal Water Bottle (no spills in the backpack).
But by far, my number one can’t-do-without essential is my Sony RX100 Compact Camera. It fits perfectly into a pocket. Or, mounted on a Mini-Tripod it slips into my Travelon Sling Bag.
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HOW TO SPEND 7 DAYS IN GATLINBURG & PIGEON FORGE
Watch the weather forecast and adjust this itinerary as needed so outdoor activities can be completed under sunny skies. When we suggest a theme park or attraction, look at the list of things to do and attractions in the sections above and make substitutions according to your group’s interests.
Day One
Begin your adventure in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Cades Cove scenic drive is one of the most popular drives in the park. The 11-mile paved road winds through an Appalachian valley. The route is punctuated by historic churches, cemeteries, log cabins, wildlife, and stunning mountain vistas.
Plan for a 3-4 hour drive. Get an early start as the route gets crowded.
When you finish up at Cades Cove, head to the Elkmont Ghost Town. The abandoned 1920s vacation community is a cluster of rustic cabins that have been partially restored by the National Park Service, and are open for viewing.
After a stroll through the cabins, find the nearby Little River Trail (use the same parking lot). The 2.5 mile trail is flat and good for children and adults alike. The trail winds along a mountain stream that is lined by the forest and abundant wildflowers.
GATLINBURG AND PIGEON FORGE ATTRACTIONS
This evening, head into Gatlinburg. Walk the carnival-like “Parkway” for a first look at the village. Locate Blake Shelton’s Ole Red Restaurant and Bar. Have dinner, and enjoy the live music over a few drinks.
Day Two
Spend day two of your vacation at Anakeesta, Gatlinburg’s mountain top theme park. Access the park from downtown Gatlinburg (there is paid parking behind the ticket building). Take a chairlift to the summit park and discover its five “lands.”
There are activities for all age groups. Climb the Anavista Tower, navigate the TreeTop Skywalk, ride the mountain coasters, zip line, enjoy gardens, and let your little ones play in the BirdVenture interactive bird houses.
Plan to spend the morning and early afternoon at the park. Then, take a break to swim or nap at your hotel. Head back to Anakeesta before sunset. Have a drink at the Tap House infinity bar. Then, enjoy dinner at the Clifftop or Smokehouse Restaurant.
After dinner, see Astra Limina. The enchanted light and music show begins after dark.
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS THINGS TO DO
Day Three
Begin your morning with a hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Choose from over 848 miles of trails. Or, try one of our favorite hikes like the Laurel Falls Trail (2.6 miles) or the Alum Caves Bluff (4.6 miles). Plan for 2-3 hours.
Next, drive the Newfound Gap Road (US-441) to an historic overlook. The “Newfound Gap” straddles the border between Tennessee and North Carolina. On a clear day there are panoramic views of the Appalachian Mountains from this spot.
Back in the car, drive the scenic 7 mile road that runs from US-441 to the Kuwohi (Clingman’s Dome) Visitor Center. At the Visitor Center, take the 1 mile paved trail to an observation tower atop Kuwohi Mountain (all uphill). The tower offers phenomenal views from one of the highest points in the national park.
Tonight, have a quiet dinner in Gatlinburg. Try the Melting Pot, Peddler Steakhouse, or Greenbrier’s. (Rest up for tomorrow.)
Day Four
Grab a hat and some sunscreen for a day at Dollywood. Dolly Parton’s Appalachian-themed park. Dollywood consistently ranks as one of the best amusement park's in the country. It boasts over 40 rides with massive roller coasters. The Splash Country Waterpark is home to several extreme water slides.
Plan to spend the day and night at Dollywood. There are many restaurants and Appalachian crafts stores. Throughout the day enjoy great entertainment with elaborate stage productions, fireworks, and live music. There is even a museum with Dolly’s costumes.
PACKING ESSENTIALS
We rely on a combination of bags: Our Level-8 28” and Level-8 20” spinners are fun and stylish. Our Delsey Helium 28” hardshell is a workhorse. Our Tomtoc Backpack is great for short trips.
Randy doesn’t use them, but I swear by segregating items into Compression Packing Cubes and Wet Bags.
For security, we place an Apple Air Tag in each bag, and keep a supply of RFID Blocking Sleeves on hand.
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Day Five
Sleep in and have a lazy morning.
In the early afternoon, head to Pigeon Forge. Spend a couple of hours at a Pigeon Forge attraction. We suggest the Titanic Museum, Wonderworks, Alcatraz East, or the Hollywood Wax Museum - but there are many, pick your favorite.
Next, head to the Old Mill in Pigeon Forge for some lunch and shopping. The historic grist mill has several restaurants and lots of specialty stores (pottery, candy, vinegars, clothing, toys).
This evening, take in a Pigeon Forge dinner show like the Hatfield & McCoys, the Dolly Parton Stampede, or the Paula Deen Lumberjack Show. Or, have dinner at an area restaurant and see a show at the Comedy Barn.
Day Six
In the late morning, head to Gatlinburg. Just outside of town, pause for a game of Hillbilly Golf. This unique mini-golf course is played on a steep hillside (a funicular brings you to the top).
Next, walk Gatlinburg’s Parkway to shop and play. Mid-way along the strip, stop at SkyPark . Buy a ticket and take the chairlift to the summit of Crockett Mountain. Spend the next few hours trekking across the longest pedestrian bridge in North America, hiking the park’s trails, relaxing by a fire pit, and climbing the Tulip Tower for Smoky Mountain Views.
Day Seven
Pack for home in the morning. After, take a scenic drive just outside of Pigeon Forge on the Weirs Valley Road (US Hwy 321). Along the drive pass family farms, antique stores, second-hand shops, craft galleries, woodcarvers, and all sorts of Americana.
Enjoy your last evening at the Island at Pigeon Forge. At this entertainment complex you can grab dinner, and then shop for any last minute gifts. The kids can enjoy amusement rides, a rope course, arcades, and a 200’ Ferris Wheel. And, everyone will love the dancing fountains!
Hope you enjoy the barbecue and whiskey, Laura and Randy
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