Things to Do In Gatlinburg with Kids
- Laura
- 7 hours ago
- 7 min read
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Gatlinburg, Tennessee is a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and great family fun. A stay in Gatlinburg means access to America’s most popular national park as well as oodles of family-friendly attractions. Our things to do in Gatlinburg with kids guide will help you organize, orient, and come up with a plan of attack.
Nestled in a valley next to the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg is a little town full of big adventures. Families can split their time between exploring the national park and Gatlinburg’s many attractions.
Our article on things to do in Gatlinburg with kids features activities in which the whole family can participate. Make forever vacation memories navigating treetop walks, sky bridges, biking in the national park, zip lining, exploring a ghost town, seeing a show, and more.
PIGEON FORGE & GATLINBURG TOURS
DIRECTIONS TO GATLINBURG TN
Gatlinburg is located at the intersection of US Routes 441 and 321. Nearby airports are in Knoxville TN (40 miles away), Atlanta GA (140 miles away), and Nashville TN (215 miles away). Most visitors will arrive in Gatlinburg by car.
Click this link for information regarding airfares to Gatlinburg.
Click this link for information regarding regional rental car prices.
GATLINBURG TROLLEY & GETTING AROUND
Downtown Gatlinburg is compact and the best way to get around is on foot. The town offers a free shuttle service, the Gatlinburg Trolley, that links the downtown area to many attractions, hotels, and Pigeon Forge. Away from the free trolley line, there is little public transportation and a personal vehicle is recommended.
GATLINBURG TN MAP & AREA
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS TOURS
GATLINBURG TN HOTELS
Many travelers find it convenient to book a hotel that is on the trolley route to avoid the cost and stress of parking in downtown Gatlinburg. Consider these well reviewed Gatlinburg hotels that are in-town or on the trolley line:
Tip: If you do book a hotel off of the trolley route, drive to one of the Gatlinburg Visitor Centers, park for free, and take the trolley into town.
GATLINBURG WEATHER
Summers (June, July, August) in Gatlinburg are hot and hazy with frequent rain and temperatures averaging in the mid-80s (F). Winter brings cold nights and bouts of rain and/or snow, with temperatures averaging in the 40’s (F). Spring and fall are transition seasons.
BEST TIME TO VISIT GATLINBURG TN
The best time to visit Gatlinburg is during the months of May, June, early-September, and late-October (with the exception of peak foliage weeks in late-September and early October). During these months, the weather is well-suited for outside activities and almost-all businesses are open.
Gatlinburg can get very crowded during school vacations, weekends, holidays, and peak summer weeks (July and August). If your schedule dictates that you travel during these times, buy tickets ahead to guarantee admission and arrive early before the crowds thicken.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN GATLINBURG WITH KIDS
Anakeesta Theme Park
Gatlinburg Parkway
Anakeesta is our #1 pick for family fun in Gatlinburg TN. Located on a mountain top, Anakeesta Theme Park has 5 “lands” full of attractions and several restaurants with phenomenal mountain views. Families will enjoy climbing the AnaVista Tower, a TreeTop Skywalk, two excellent mountain coasters, gorgeous gardens, zip lining, and Astra Lumina – an enchanted light and musical night show.
Drive or Bike Cades Cove
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Cades Cove is one of the most popular areas in the National Park. On the 11-mile scenic route, discover historic churches, log cabins, cemeteries, mountain vistas, hiking trails, and wildlife. These heritage sites are great for kids because, unlike a museum, kids can get up close to the exhibits.
From May to September, on Wednesdays, the loop is closed to motor vehicles and open to hikers and bikers. Don’t miss this beautiful valley, but go early – it gets crowded. Get your e-bike rentals here: Gatlinburg E-Bike Rentals
Moonshine Mountain Coaster
Gatlinburg Parkway
Mountain coasters are 1-2 person sleds that use gravity to slide down hillsides. There are several great coasters in Gatlinburg including the Ripley’s and Anakeesta tracks. Another much-loved ride is the Moonshine Mountain Coaster. After being pulled uphill through the woods, the ride down involves loops, curves, laser lights, and pop music (especially fun at night).
Get your tickets here: Moonshine Mountain Coaster tickets
Gatlinburg SkyPark and Ober Gatlinburg
Gatlinburg Parkway
In downtown, take a chairlift to the top of Crockett Mountain. At the Gatlinburg SkyPark walk a 700 foot suspension bridge (with 30 feet of glass bottom) for views of the valley below. Also onsite are viewing towers and wilderness trails.
Another great place to enjoy the outdoors and mountain vistas is at Ober Gatlinburg. Ride an aerial tramway to the top of Ober Mountain and enjoy an alpine slide, ziplining, amusement rides, and downhill mountain biking. In winter, there is skiing and snowboarding.
Gatlinburg Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
Gatlinburg Parkway
Spend a day at the Ripley’s Aquarium. See thousands of sea creatures in giant tanks. Walk through underwater tunnels to watch penguins at play. Touch stingrays, jellyfish, and turtles. The daily schedule is full of interactive feeding times, dive shows, and other educational programs.
Get your tickets here: Ripley's Aquarium Combo Ticket
Elkmont Ghost Town & Little River Trail Hike
Great Smoky Mountains National Forest
The Elkmont “Ghost” Town is an abandoned resort community in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Rustic cabins in the community have been partially restored by park rangers. Kids can wander the empty cabins interiors and see how people vacationed in the early 1900’s. The self-guided tour is free.
When you are done at Elkmont, hike on the nearby Little River Trail. The 2.5 mile trail is rated as easy and is fairly flat. On this trek find lots of wildflowers, thick woods, and a mountain stream running parallel to the trail.
Try this tour: Historic River Town Ramble
Wild Bear Falls Water Park
Westgate Resort Road, Gatlinburg
Wild Bears Falls is a mountain-themed indoor water park at the Westgate Resort. The complex has a retractable roof and heated water. Guests can enjoy water slides, a lazy river, an interactive treehouse, and other water elements. The resort is on the Gatlinburg Trolley route.
Hillbilly Golf
Gatlinburg Parkway
Gatlinburg has a number of mini-golf courses, but Hillbilly Mini Golf is undeniably one of the most unique. To begin the course, players ride a cart up a 300’ incline. Guests then chose one of two 18-hole courses to play down. Along the way, putt through moonshine stills, covered wagons, cabin-scenes, and outhouses.
Climb to Kuwohi Summit (Clingman’s Dome)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Take a scenic drive on US-441 (aka Newfound Gap Road) to Kuwohi Road and a mountaintop Visitor Center. Park in the large lot, then hike a 1-mile paved path to an observation tower atop Kuwohi Mountain (formerly known as Clingman’s Dome). The tower walk boasts exceptional views from one of the highest points in the national park (but its fun even when its foggy).
Pigeon Forge Dinner Show
Pigeon Forge
A dinner show is a great night out. In neighboring Pigeon Forge, find a variety of kid-appropriate shows to choose from. Look at the reviews for the Dolly Parton Stampede, Pirates Voyage, Hatfields and McCoy dinner Feud, and Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud.
Get tickets for the Paula Deen Lumberjack Feud Dinner Show here.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Gatlinburg
Gatlinburg Parkway
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Gatlinburg is packed full of “rare and unusual” artifacts. At the museum touch a meteorite, view animal oddities, pop-culture art, and interactive games. See Great Smoky Mountains displays featuring a wooly mammoth leg and one-horned unicorn deer.
Gatlin’s Fun Center
Gatlinburg Parkway
Located in the Reagan Terrace Mall off of the Parkway, this little fun center has a lot to offer. In the complex, find four Escape Games, mini-golf, bumper cars, laser tag, and an extensive rope course. In the middle of all the fun is a pretty courtyard and nearby eats.
Get your Fun Center tickets here: The Escape Game 60 Minute Adventures
Stroll the Gatlinburg Parkway & River Walk
Gatlinburg Parkway
Spend a few hours wandering downtown Gatlinburg. Stroll the Parkway, take a glass elevator to the top of the Gatlinburg Space Needle, and trek the River Walk that runs along the Little Pigeon River. Shop the souvenir stores, eat (ice cream, candy, caramel corn, Byrd’s cookies), and spend some coin in the arcades.
Hollywood Star Cars Museum
Gatlinburg Parkway
The Hollywood Star Cars Museum displays vehicles that have been used in famous TV shows and movies. See cars from the Fast and Furious franchise, two Batmobiles (1966 and 1992), and cars used in the Transformers, Smoky and the Bandit, and Ghostbusters movies. There are also cars driven by famous people, like Michael Jackson and Mike Tyson.
Dollywood
Pigeon Forge
Dollywood Theme Park, in nearby Pigeon Forge, is the last entry on our list. This first class theme park offers more than 50 rides, many shows, musical entertainment, shopping, and eateries onsite. The complex also includes the Dollywood Splash Country Waterpark – for those really hot days (separate fee).
Y’all come back now, y’hear? Laura and Randy
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