Inside: Read the review and get a first-hand account of riding and racing on the NEW Pigeon Forge Racing Coaster, with all the information and details you need to go!
Imagine flying on twists and turns on the side of a mountain and racing your kid, friend, or partner to see who can complete the course first. If it sounds like go-kart racing, it is modeled after racecar driving, but the brand-new Pigeon Forge Racing Coaster is even cooler since it’s faster, has amazing views, and you can totally trash-talk your competitor the whole time since you’re racing on parallel tracks.
If you love high-flying, fast adventure, put the Pigeon Forge Racing Coaster on your list the next time you visit the Smokies! Special thanks to the Pigeon Forge Racing Coaster for inviting us to experience this unique adventure.
Look at those views!
Watch Us Race!!
About Pigeon Forge Racing Coaster
The racing coaster is the only one of its kind in the entire world. There is no other parallel mountain coaster like this one, and as someone who has ridden several mountain coasters, I can confirm this one is completely unique.
Pigeon Forge Racing Coaster is owned by BJ and Jessica McLeod. BJ is a NASCAR race car driver, and he and his wife own Live Fast Motorsports. They happened to visit Pigeon Forge and had the idea of a racing alpine coaster. It was literally sketched out on a napkin!
The theme is everywhere
The coaster has two parallel racing tracks and is a timed course. Since there were three of us who went, I rode with my youngest daughter so we could race my other daughter but I saw two adults ride the car together so you could make it work with however many people you have with you.
There are basically two courses that you ride with your ticket and these tracks are fast and fun – and long. They total 7,714ft, nearly 1.5 miles, together. And while you’re pushing hard on the throttle, don’t forget to enjoy the stunning views of the mountains and Pigeon Forge. The tracks even include an 80-foot double helix and a 360-degree spiral tower. It’s a very smooth ride since it’s a double track on the car and not a single track.
Racing the Coasters: “We built this one to start fights between cousins.”
I’m ridiculously competitive by nature and sometimes my daughters like to join in on the trash talking, which we could totally do on this ride because we were side by side. My daughter smoked us on both tracks but even though I lost, I would do it again 100% because it was so much fun.
The ride can get up to 30 mph and there are cameras on the car itself plus others that take photos during the ride and clock your speed. We both got up a little over 25 mph but it felt faster – we were flying around the curves! I was also easily distracted by the views because I just love mountains. The views were stunning.
Getting ready to race
The founders of the Pigeon Forge Racing Coaster set the tone for the ride starting with their website. You know these people are fun when the website reads: “This isn’t just another mountain coaster. It’s the one everyone else is going to wish they built first. We didn’t come to Pigeon Forge to play it safe. We came to build something no one else had the guts to pull off…We built this one to start fights between cousins.”
You know what I’m doing? Going on that coaster.
Nighttime Rides
We rode the coaster during the day but the night photos and videos we saw made us want to come back in the dark! The coaster has an extensive collection of LED lights that run the entire length of the track. You can go race in the dark and start fights with your cousin then.
The coaster is open until 10 pm most nights and some nights until 11 pm. See their website for current hours.
The ultimate spirals
Know Before You Go
It’s important to know these things before you book your ticket:
Must be at least 56″ tall to ride alone.
Weight limit: 375 lbs. in dry weather and 330 lbs. in wet weather conditions.
Riders with back, neck, or other injuries, or those who are pregnant, are not permitted to ride.
Proper footwear recommended, no loose items like hats on the ride.
If you drop something on the ride, you’re not getting it back.
Tickets are $25/adult (ages 13+) and $18/youth (ages 7-12). You can purchase coaster tickets online. Kids ages 3-6 (who are at least 38″ tall) ride free with an accompanying adult ticket. Discounted tickets are sold for further rides and photos and videos of your ride are available for purchase.
Dollywood is such a perfect destination from Greenville! At just about three hours from the Upstate, it’s a favorite with Kidding Around readers and their families. See what advice Kidding Around’s Bethany had to offer after her day at the park in Pigeon Forge in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee.
Find a place to stay near Dollywood. This article contains Stay22 affiliate links.
Why You Should Consider Dollywood For Your Next Theme Park
I’ll be honest; we truly had such a great family experience visiting Dollywood that I’m not even quite sure where to start. During our visit, I was immediately struck by the carefulness and attentiveness of the Dollywood theme park staff. The park was well-maintained, clean, and attractive. We found a wide variety of attractions for all ages. And, our family, despite visiting for one and a half days, never stopped enjoying our time at the park.
Dollywood: Review of The Rides & Play Areas
Rides Even a PreK Age Kid Would Love
As a family with young children, we were impressed by how many rides Dollywood provides for children. Our then five-year-old was tall enough to ride several small roller-coasters and most other rides when accompanied by an adult.
Even our then two-year-old was big enough to ride most of the rides in the “Country Fair” section of Dollywood. There are adorable rides like “Busy Bees” and the classic “Amazing Flying Elephants” which are always a hit for little kids just dipping their toes into theme parks. There are a couple of rides for PreK ages in the “Wildwood Grove” section of the park as well.
I noticed that the attendants in “Country Fair” were especially alert to helping families with small children. I saw rides stopped on several occasions because a small child was scared or crying. The child was politely allowed to get off, and then the ride was started again for the rest of the group.
The rides also spanned different thrill levels allowing all children to have fun, with multiple choices to ride comfortably. Most of the rides could also seat adults who wanted to ride with their children.
Dollywood Tip: If you visit the Centralized Measuring Station inside the park, your child will receive a colored armband coded by which rides your child is tall enough to ride. This armband will help you not accidentally wait in line for a ride that your child is too small to ride.
Rides for the Entire Family
We also found a couple of Dollywood rides that our entire family could ride. One of which was the Dollywood Express, an authentic coal-fired steam engine, that explore some of Dolly Parton’s history. Unfortunately, we made the mistake of riding the Dollywood Express during our daughter’s nap time (I thought she might fall asleep). Instead, though, she had a complete melt-down and struggled to get free during the entire ride. The train does not stop for anything, so you may want to be sure your kids are happy before boarding.
Dollywood also has a couple of great family rollercoasters, FireChasher Express. Children as small as 39 inches can ride this roller coaster, making it ideal for families wanting a ride that everyone can enjoy. The coaster is a fast-paced ride through a curling track with a mid-stop inside a “fireworks truck.” The car experiences a back-blowing explosion (complete with small flames as a special effect) that shoots the roller coaster back to the station. The fire is a bit thematically scary for some children, but the ride is not too intense.
Another great rollercoaster for younger riders is Blazing Fury, which starts as a sightseeing ride through a mine but ends with a minecart off the rails twist. This rollercoaster only has a couple of small hills and quick twists but is completely dark in the last seconds of the ride.
Roller Coasters for Big Kids and Adults
Not only did we find plenty of rides suitable for our young kids, but my husband and I enjoyed the larger roller coasters as well. My personal favorite roller coaster was the Wild Eagle roller coaster. It’s a massive rollercoaster that runs at 60 mph, but the ride is smooth, and the harnesses fit very snug, making it a more pleasant ride. The Lightning Rod is also super popular, and is a wooden roller coaster that resembles a 1950’s hot rod.
The new Big Bear Mountain roller coaster opened in 2023 and is a blast to ride. It’s a coaster that picks up speed at different points in the ride and follows a story line of getting chased by a bear. It’s located at Wildwood Grove. Dragonflier is another popular coaster right in that same area and is a great one to hit while you’re in that same part of the park. It’s really fun because you can dangle your feet!
Dollywood Tip: If you are visiting with small children, be sure to check out the “Parent Swap” feature that allows you to wait in line once and take turns riding the roller coaster while the other parent watches the children.
In addition to the Dollywood rides, my kids enjoyed playing in the playgrounds and water spray areas of the park.
Wildwood Grove at Dollywood
When you go to Dollywood, head right for Wildwood Grove because there is so much to see and do for your whole family! Wildwood Grove is based upon adventure, curiosity, and a little fairy dust. It beckons guests to use their imagination to explore a world with exciting possibilities around every corner. You enter Wildwood Grove through what looks to be an old tree and wind your way past the Treetop Tower and Giant Tree Swing, back towards the indoor playground at Hidden Hollow and splash pad at Wildwood Creek.
Our kids loved every minute we spent here because they not only got to experience age-appropriate adrenaline rushes in the rides but really did feel like they got to explore a world that was uniquely set up to trigger their imaginations. For both kids and adults, we mostly live a life of structure, and it’s good to get out of that box and have fun together and try new things, which is exactly what is encouraged at Wildwood Grove.
Plan to spend at least a couple of hours at Wildwood Grove throughout your time at Dollywood. We started the day there, and before we knew it, it was time for lunch. We headed back at the end of the day to go back on our favorite rides and see if the Dragonflier line was shorter (it wasn’t – the ride is crazy popular).
Let’s Eat & Meet in Wildwood Grove!
You can’t go anywhere in Dollywood without smelling the delicious food offered throughout the park, and Wildwood Grove is no different. Till & Harvest is the anchor restaurant at Wildwood Grove. They serve Smoky Mountain Mexican cuisine like burrito bowls, with grilled meat and vegetables.
A sweet shop is located next door, and there are popcorn stands and ice cream carts throughout the area. Don’t forget that free ice water is offered at most concession stands and all restaurants. This was a lifesaver for my kids and me throughout our time at Dollywood.
There are also Meet & Greets with characters at Wildwood Grove, which we totally missed because I forgot to set the reminder on the Dollywood app, which you should absolutely download for your trip there. So if you’d like to meet some cute bears and fairies, set that reminder on your app.p-0
Rides at Wildwood Grove
Here are all the rides offered at Wildwood Grove:
Frogs & Fireflies A super cute ride for little kids where they get in a frog or firefly car and bounce around in circles in a motorized ride.
Giant Tree Swing An old school favorite updated to be in Wildwood Grove’s theme, the Giant Tree Swing is a big boat-like swing that goes back and forth, getting higher and higher each time. We did this a couple times as it was a favorite of my kids.
Hidden Hollow This is the most genius activity in Wildwood Grove, so props to Dollywood for thinking of it. Hidden Hollow is a black-lit indoor playground for kids that also has comfy seats for parents. There are slides, sensory objects, climbing apparatuses, and a section for kids under three years of age. Again, this is indoors – which means a nice, cool, respite from the summer heat. And it’s located right next to the restrooms.
Dragonflier This roller-coaster is crazy popular and looks like quite the thrill ride for people of any age, yet even my almost 5-year-old was big enough to ride. But she chickened out, so we had to back out. If you decide to go on this ride, go first when you get there or get the TimeSaver pass and use it to skip the line here. Guests need to be at least 39”.
Big Bear Mountain This roller-coaster is a fast and fun ride through the story of getting chased by a bear. It’s also the longest coaster at the park.
Wildwood Creek Another genius creation in Wildwood Grove is the creek, which is basically a splash pad, which feels divine in 90+ degree heat.
Treetop Tower A non-scary ride for any age that goes up and spins around a couple of times before coming back down. Guests need to be at least 36”.
Mad Mockingbird I could have gone on this ride all day long. It’s a swinging ride from the carnival days of my youth but way better. Guests sit in a swing that looks like a mockingbird and are spun around in the air to the point where it feels like you’re flying. There’s a handle where you can move the bird’s wings to make the swing change position in the air. Guests need to be at least 36”.
Black Bear Trail Guests ride around on a motorized bear through some bushes and trees. It’s cute and great for kids, although I saw plenty of adults riding around on the bears, which was hilarious. Guests need to be at least 36”.
Dollywood Shows You Don’t Want to Miss!
While we missed out on most of the shows due to my kids’ ages, I enjoyed watching two shows in The Little Engine Playhouse. I love children’s books, so I was delighted to find out that the shows were based on books. I was equally impressed that the shows kept not only me entertained but my two-year-old mesmerized. Outside The Little Engine Playhouse, we also had fun watching a small magic show.
Dollywood Tip: Schedule a show for the hot part of the day to give your kids a break from the heat! The Dollywood app is a great way to keep track of the shows the day you go and you can set a reminder for ones you want to see on the app.
Each summer features a different main show, including everything from bubble shows to dog stunts. Be sure to arrive early as the theater gains a crowd quickly. The shows do not play every day, so you will want to consult the show guide as you plan your time in the park.
This year we also visited in the peak season and were able to see the nightly fireworks and drone show during Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration. The show was great and definitely worth staying until closing time to see. You can see the fireworks most clearly from near Firechaser at the top of the park. Most of the rides continue to run until closing time, but some of the rides up near the fireworks do close at dusk.
Dollywood Review of the Food
We ate inside the park our first year, but the food was expensive and the plates small. In later years we instead opted to pack our cooler with sandwiches and tailgated in the Dollywood parking lot. Consider bringing a couple of lawn chairs if you choose to do so. Re-entry is easy with a stamp upon exit, and the parking lot shuttle runs during the entire day. If you are willing to fork out the money, the park has great turkey legs and Aunt Granny’s is a popular place to eat inside the theme park as it’s basically an all-you-can-eat buffet. You’ll also find the famous best cinnamon bread at Grist Mill.
Dollywood Tip: You can get free ice water at any of Dollywood’s food vendors. This helps fight the heat of the summer.
The Dolly Parton Experience
New in 2024 is the Dolly Parton Experience where guests can walk through different Dolly museums that hold many of her dresses, shoes, and even wigs that she’s worn throughout her career. There are really cool sets of movies and shows she has been on, a room that looks like a giant bus as she made her way to Nashville, and papers that she wrote some of her most famous songs on.
Front of one of the buildings at the Dolly Parton Experience
You can also walk through her tour bus/RV. The Dolly Parton Experience is all part of your admission ticket is to your right when you walk into the park.
The entire experience is just so cool and you learn a lot about East Tennessee’s most famous resident and the stories behind her songs. My kids loved the “Dress Up Dolly” part where kids (or adults) use magnetic cutouts of Dolly’s dresses and wigs to dress her up on a big board in the Behind the Seams building.
Dress Up Dolly!
Definitely be sure to stop here during your time at the park. It’s worth the time to see many of Dolly’s over-the-top dresses and learn about the stories behind her most famous music.
Dollywood Extras
I felt like one of the biggest perks of visiting Dollywood was the unique variety of attractions for our family. Here are just a couple of the enjoyable spots we enjoy throughout the park:
Baby-Care Stations If you are breast-feeding or bottle-feeding an infant, you will be happy to find out that Dollywood does have a nursing station with gliders and a changing station. I also noticed several family bathrooms throughout the park. The bathrooms are well-maintained and clean during our visit.
First-Aid Stations We managed to scrape a knee within moments of getting in the park and had the opportunity to visit the first-aid station. The nurse was able to save the day by applying an Angry Bird bandage to my kid’s knee.
More Dollywood Tips for Families
Don’t miss the tram back to your parking spot just because you have a stroller! The tram has stroller parking in the front of the tram.
While you aren’t allowed to bring food in the park, you can get your hand stamped, leave the park, and reenter during the same day.
The roller-coasters have sample restraint systems outside where you can check to be sure that you fit in and are comfortable with the restraint system.
The restaurants inside the park can help warm bottles for bottle-feeding parents.
You can turn in your tickets after your visit for a credit on a season pass. The season pass is an excellent deal and costs less than three visits to Dollywood. They also have a preschooler season pass program, where you can get a free season pass for them, so you will want to keep an eye out for that deal.
You can also purchase a 1-day, 2-day, or 3-day pass to visit both Dollywood and Dollywood Splash Country on the same trip.
If you’re a homeschooling family, don’t miss Homeschool Days at both parks where homeschoolers get significant discounted tickets.
I received media tickets in order to write about Dollywood but this post contains my honest opinion about our trip. We had such a great time that we have made several additional family trips to Dollywood since the original publication of this review.
More To See At Dollywood
The team at Kidding Around are huge fans of the country music legend and her amusement parks and because of that, there is no shortage of information from our trips to share with readers. If you are planning a trip to Dollywood, we encourage you to make the most out of your trip with the information offered on Kidding Around.
Homeschool Days If you are looking to have an adventure, Dollywood will be offering Homeschool Days for families that are utilizing the homeschool option. These days focus on mostly science and math – and really, what’s cooler than learning about the laws of physics by riding a roller coaster?
Christmas At Dollywood – Smoky Mountain Christmas The famous theme park becomes a mecca with over five million lights draped across every single building. Shows like It’s A Wonderful Life play throughout the month-long festival. And a Christmas parade is held nightly at 8:15 pm, an engaging entertainment show full of lights and colors.
Splash Country Water Park Dollywood is a popular place to visit for Greenville families as it’s tons of fun and only three hours away. While you’re there, you can beat the heat by spending some time at Dollywood’s Splash Country.
Dollywood 2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd, Pigeon Forge, TN
If you’ve ever dreamed of sleeping where hobbits or wizards would lay their heads, it can happen at Mountain Shire in Sevierville, TN. We stayed in this incredible village and have all the details you need to plan your trip!
Thank you to Mountain Shire for letting us escape reality for a few days and stay in the magical village to write this review.
I’ve read the Lord of the Rings trilogy at least three times and have nicknamed my kids hobbits because they love second breakfast and think about food all day like the short creatures in the famed J.R.R. Tolkien books. Getting to stay in a Middle Earth-themed village was a dream that came true at Mountain Shire in Sevierville, Tennessee, minutes from Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
My daughters and I had such a blast here and thoroughly enjoyed the thoughtful details around every turn. It was one adventure after another and we were determined to make the most of our time there, even taking on the dress of Gandalf, hobbits, elves, and an elven princess because why not. When else were we going to be in the Shire?
“There are no safe paths in this part of the world. Remember you are over the Edge of the Wild now, and in for all sorts of fun wherever you go.” ~ The Hobbit
Gotta play the part
About Mountain Shire
Mountain Shire is an adorable village of tiny homes only a couple miles from the main strip in Pigeon Forge but it feels miles away. Tucked away off Wears Valley Road, there are several tiny homes in the village behind a hobbit wall with entrances for humans, elves, wizards, and pups. Yes, the village is dog-friendly. In fact, if you’re lucky, you’ll get to enjoy the company of Westie pups Luna or Lily while you’re there.
There are communal fire pits, a gas grill, covered decks with games, comfortable swings, and a chair straight from a palace somewhere in Middle Earth.
There are gardens that surround the village with all kinds of flowers, plants, lily ponds, and fountains. You’ll easily forget your worries staying at Mountain Shire.
Mountain Shire village
The House of Dragons
We stayed in the Hobbit House of Dragons tiny home, which had a big, yet hobbit-inspired, round door that led into one of the most intricately decorated homes I’ve probably ever been in. There’s a big map of Middle Earth along with dragons in the nooks and crannies – think a dragon night lamp, a dragon door handle, dragon-inspired hoard of gold above the sink. So thoughtful.
The House of Dragons has a loft with a king bed and a tree with roses coming out of the top. The bathroom feels like you are underground in a hobbit house cave of sorts. The day bed is downstairs so the entire house sleeps three people (don’t worry, the other tiny homes can sleep more people so you can bring your family!).
Inside of the House of Dragons
There’s a raised pub desk table with two bar stools that you can spin to get your desired height. There’s a kitchen with fridge, microwave, sink, coffee pot, tea kettle, pots, pans, dishes, cutlery, and a two-burner cooking appliance. We made use of all of this to save a little money on eating out while visiting Pigeon Forge.
Each tiny home has WiFi and televisions.
The Other Hobbit Homes and the Harry Potter House
There are other hobbit-themed homes you can rent at Mountain Shire that are all unique and comfortable. Most are on the lower level property but there’s also a second level above the gardens, which contains more hobbit houses. The owners are currently adding more tiny homes to the village so this place is about to get even better.
The Harry Potter tiny home is incredible. The woman staying there when we were visiting was gracious enough to let me check it out and I was blown away. Let me say that I have not read any of the Harry Potter books yet I was completely enthralled at the level of detail in this home and the really cool accommodations.
They have floating candle lights all over the ceiling, two beds in different nooks of the house (one literally inside a cupboard), a loft bedroom, a wall of potions, and so many other things I can barely even remember because my mind was just overwhelmed checking everything out. That house can fit the most people at six with two queen beds and two singles.
Happy Potter-themed tiny house
Whichever house you choose, know that you’ll have the opportunity to relax, enjoy the property, and forget about life for awhile as you enter into a whimsical fantasy land.
Nearby Things to Do
At Mountain Shire, you are four minutes from Goats on the Roof, where you can ride a mountain coaster, play mini-golf amongst dinosaurs, and feed goats. There’s also a zip lining course a couple minutes away and the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is about a 15-minute drive into Metcalf Bottoms (a great swimming hole and picnic area by the way).
To get to more popular trailheads, expect to drive around 30-45 minutes. It took us about 45 minutes to drive to the Chimney Tops Trailhead, where we hiked one day. Laurel Falls is a few minutes less and Alum Cave is about the same distance. Cades Cove is just under an hour’s drive.
Dollywood is about 20 minutes away, which we totally recommend! We really enjoy both the theme park and Dollywood Splash Country.
You can literally walk to Bigfoot Philly Cheesesteak, which serves us cheesesteaks and ice cream. We did check out the inside but didn’t eat there. We saw one of our tiny home neighbors get pizza delivered so you don’t even need to leave the hobbit village to get food.
Honest Mom Review: Mountain Shire
My daughters and I had so much fun at Mountain Shire. We made use of the common spaces, got to relax outdoors, had way too much fun taking photos dressed up as residents of the Shire and Lord of Rings landmarks. It was an absolute blast.
At night, we made s’mores in the outdoor fire pit (they have firewood and lighters available for guests….and lighter fluid for those of us who are fire-challenged) and waited for the lights to sparkle in the dark. Mountain Shire was absolutely designed for fun and relaxation and we tried to enjoy all of it while visiting.
One of the best things about Mountain Shire besides actually feeling like you’re in the Shire, was the location. It was far enough removed from the main strip at Pigeon Forget to be away from the traffic but close enough to get where we wanted to go. We visited during Jeep Invasion and the area was absolutely packed but we never sat in traffic because we mostly were able to use back roads to get where we wanted to go or every place we wanted to go was close by.
Mountain Shire
If you’re looking for a pretty unique place to stay for a family adventure, this is it, especially if you love The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter. You’ll be blown away by Mountain Shire and will want to book your next visit before you leave.
“The road goes ever on and on, down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the road has gone, and I must follow, if I can.” ~ J.R.R. Tolkien
Booking Your Stay at Mountain Shire
While Mountain Shire has their listings on AirBnB, it’s less expensive to book direct right at the Mountain Shite website. Pricing depends on the time of year and days of the week.
Camp Margaritaville Pigeon Forge in Pigeon Forge, TN is a fantastic spot to spend a few days or a whole week for a family trip. And it’s easy on the gas tank at three hours from Greenville, SC. Thank you to Camp Margaritaville RV Resort & Lodge for inviting us to the resort for a complimentary stay so we could write this review.
About Camp Margaritaville Pigeon Forge RV Resort & Lodge
Camp Margaritaville Pigeon Forge RV Resort & Lodge is less than a minute from the main drag in Pigeon Forge and five minutes from the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The location is ideal for families who want to go hiking and explore the park plus enjoy all the fun things to do in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg – of which there are many. Or just stay at Camp Margaritaville because there are enough things to do there.
Camp Margaritaville is part of the Margaritaville brand, which means the decor is beachy and just lovely colors of blue, green and yellow, which I love. It really does make for a relaxing vibe. The RV resort opened in the summer of 2021 while the Lodge only opened in February 2022. It is impeccably clean, spacious, and incredible for families.
The resort has both RV sites and hookups as well as a beautiful lodge, which is where we stayed. I’ll get to our amazing room in a bit.
There are pickleball courts and an awesome pool area that has a zero-entry pool, little splash area, hot tub, and water slide. The lodge is also home to a big arcade, Fins Bar & Grill, a lazy river, darts, duckpin bowling, a huge green open space for activities, and a snack bar.
If you don’t want to drive anywhere during your stay, the Pigeon Forge Trolley makes a stop right inside the resort, which will take you anywhere on the main drag in Pigeon Forge.
We stayed in a Deluxe King Room, which was enormous. It was light-filled with calming blue and teal walls and “License to Chill”, the trademark slogan of Margaritaville properties, painted on the walls, which, honestly, I need to be reminded of. I appreciated it.
The bathroom is beautiful with a huge shower and vanity. They have shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel already in the shower from their St. Somewhere Spa. I really liked this because I always forget these necessities. My kids also forgot their toothbrushes and the resort was quick to give me a couple for them. They have excellent customer service!
Here’s the best part of the room: there are two twin beds in a little tent hideaway that you have to pull aside heavy curtains to get to. How fun! The sheets actually look and act like sleeping bags, keeping with the camp theme. There’s a television in there so the kids can watch cartoons when they get up at the crack of dawn and parents want to sleep in a little. So smart, Camp Margaritaville, so smart. Our Deluxe King also had a pullout couch so it could sleep six people if need be.
The room also has an adorable mini-fridge, Keurig coffee maker, and microwave. Just an all-around excellent setup that is truly geared toward having a relaxing and fun time with your family.
The Pool & Lazy River
We got a glimpse of the pool and waterslide from the parking lot and my kids couldn’t get up to the room fast enough to change into their swimsuits. So that’s what we did since it was a nice, hot afternoon when we arrived.
I love waterslides myself so I got up there and tried it out and had a blast. It’s not too high, maybe ten feet and there are two twists in the open-air slide, which dumps you into a pool that is four-and-a-half feet deep. The water was nice and warm and felt great, so good in fact that I got up there and slid down again. My kids must have gone on the slide at least 30 times. I had a hard time convincing them to leave the pool so we could eat dinner.
One of the evenings after we had a blast at the arcade, we went back out to the pool for an evening swim. Ok, more like the kids sliding endlessly down the waterslide. They loved it and I got to relax, a particularly foreign concept to me. Oh, and the music at the pool is great! It’s a lot of Jimmy Buffet and old-school country music with a little modern pop thrown in. And there’s a fire pit that gets lit in the evenings.
The pool isn’t deep at all, which is great for smaller kids or weaker swimmers. The deepest is four-and-a-half feet at the waterslide. There is a great zero-entry part of the pool for smaller kids (or parents who want to lounge in the water but not take a dip) plus a small splash area that is just over a foot deep. For adults, there is a hot tub. Do you feel relaxed yet?
There is plenty of seating around the pool area with lounges and Adirondack chairs plus tables if you want to eat dinner out there. They don’t have towels so be sure to either bring your own or use the big, striped ones that the lodge provides in each room. Pool hours are 10 am – 10 pm.
The lazy river is now open (2024) and is a fun time for adults and kids alike!
Fins Bar
The restaurant on-site at the lodge is right next to the pool. Servers walk around the pool area and you can actually order whatever you want and have it brought to you out there, which I totally did because after all, I was given a license to chill (™). I got one of their signature margaritas because, well, I was at Margaritaville. It was delicious. Visit the Fins Bar Website to view the menu.
Once I managed to convince my kids they needed to eat and leave the waterslide, we headed inside to the restaurant. While our dinner was being made, we played cornhole outside, which was a blast. I imagine it’s even better at night since they had lights strung over the turf for a nice ambiance.
I got the pork nachos for dinner the first night, which was an appetizer that could have fed two people for dinner. It was huge with cheesy goodness everywhere. My kids got cheeseburgers off the kid’s menu and they couldn’t even finish them because the portions were large. Everything was flavorful and the staff was amazing. Then the second night we got the Beach Chips, which are homemade lattice chips layered like nachos with cheese, chives, sour cream, and ranch. I also got the Fins Burger, which was delicious and cooked perfectly and had some kind of tasty sauce on it. If I could recommend one thing though on the menu, it’s those Beach Chips. The nachos are a close second. I love food layered in cheese.
Beach Fries. Oh-so-good.
They also have things like a spicy chicken sandwich, wagyu hot dog, pizza, and salads on the menu.
Our server, Clara, was the sweetest and so attentive. She initially served us out at the pool and was our server for dinner. We had at least one manager come and ask us how dinner was as well. All the staff we came into contact with were so kind. There was one girl, Madi, who was at the pool and then later at the arcade that remembered the names of my daughters (and all the other kids going down the waterslide). And it was her first day!
Fin City Entertainment Center
A good arcade is such a fun thing to do for rainy days but since it was nice outside and we needed to let dinner settle, we hit up the arcade at the lodge right after dinner. It’s downstairs where the new Feeding Frenzy snack and frozen drinks bar is. It looks really fun with lots of space at the bar, tables, comfy couches, a space where video games can be rented, foosball, and darts. It leads out to the lazy river and big activity green.
So, back to the arcade. They had my ultimate favorite game, Skeeball, which I immediately ran over to, leaving my kids to wonder what in the world had overtaken me. I did pretty well, too, considering I haven’t played in many, many years.
You get a card instead of using coins where you can put money on and reload as you want. Most games are $1. My kids’ favorite was one where you rode a motorcycle. It did look pretty fun but I was still enamored by Skeeball. We spent about an hour there each night and really enjoyed the laid-back vibe. It was not an easy task to leave since we all were having so much fun but it was such a joy to see the smiling faces of my kids and hear their laughter. Plus, they won some prizes from the claw hands that totally made their night.
Breakfast
There’s a breakfast buffet and then there’s the breakfast buffet at Camp Margaritaville Pigeon Forge. This was one of those times where I wish I could just eat unlimited food and not get full. They had everything you could possibly want from pancakes and French toast to biscuits and gravy to fruit, yogurt, muffins, ham, cheese, cereal, and my favorite: blueberry syrup.
Again, the staff was so kind, helpful, and attentive. Our server, Sydnah, was the sweetest woman and asked what we were up to the first full day we were there and then the next morning at breakfast, she remembered what we had done and asked how it went. The amazing customer service only added to the experience of the excellent food. It really makes a difference.
Breakfast is available daily from 7:00-11:00 am and costs $14.95/adult and $9.95/ages 5-10 years old. Kids 4 and under are free. They have coffee to go as well, which is helpful if you want to get an early start on any outdoor activities you may have planned.
Kids Activities at the Resort
Camp Margaritaville always has a ton of fun events for kids and adults on their events calendar. You can enjoy arts & crafts, yoga, competitive games, bingo, lip-sync battles, and so much more!
If you come to the resort, go find Mark who works in the Activities department. This guy knows everything about what there is to do at the resort and how to find out what is going on. He can also give you some fantastic hiking recommendations. The plans he has for things to do with kids sound awesome – think fire building and s’mores and meet & greets with local fire departments. His enthusiasm for his job and for helping families make the most of their visit and take back memories to last a lifetime is so fantastic. I don’t know how Camp Margaritaville found all their staff but they managed to do a stellar job.
I have a really hard time unwinding, as in it hardly ever happens. There was something about this place that made it so easy to relax. I don’t know if it was the easygoing, laid-back vibe or the supreme happiness of my kids (ages 7 and 11), or the attentiveness and kindness of the staff. Maybe it was all of that but in the end, although we were only there for two nights, I felt refreshed. The Smoky Mountains are one of my most favorite places to visit. I love the mountains and the fact that the resort overlooks the Smokies and is in such close proximity to the Park, plus has so many fun things to do with your family, I think makes this resort such an ideal spot for a family trip.
There’s that balance on family vacations to strike between having enough things to do with the kids plus having that downtime that parents desperately need. Camp Margaritaville strikes that balance to perfection and I think that’s what helped really make the trip such a stellar experience.
Now that the lazy river is open (it was still in construction when I visited), I need to go back! Visit the Camp Margaritaville Pigeon Forge website to learn more about their new lazy river.
Courtesy of Camp Margaritaville
Visiting Camp Margaritaville Resort
You can book Camp Margaritaville online whether you want to stay at the lodge or the RV park. Like any other resort, nightly costs will vary depending on the time of year and day of the week.
The resort is pet-friendly both in the RV park and the lodge and has a dog park called Barkaritaville. Clever right?
I don’t think you can go wrong staying at Camp Margaritaville.
Thinking about planning a getaway this winter? Pigeon Forge, Tennessee offers Winterfest celebrating the Christmas season and wintertime. You’ll find winter-themed shows, holiday lights, amusement rides and so much more! KAG Contributor Kristina Hernandez traveled to Pigeon Forge with her daughters during Winterfest. In this review, she’s sharing the many activities they enjoyed and also many more that are available for Pigeon Forge visitors during Winterfest.
On half a tank of gas or less, you can be right in the middle of an entire town in the Great Smoky Mountains that is completely head-over-heels for wintertime and the Christmas spirit. You may know Pigeon Forge as a mecca of family-friendly fun during the warmer months but it’s just as much – maybe even more – during Winterfest, which starts in early November and runs straight through February, giving visitors plenty of time to come for a week, a few days, a weekend, or even an action-packed day trip.
**I received a VIP card from the city of Pigeon Forge valued at $1,500 per person during my visit for Winterfest. All opinions and reviews of shows and attractions are mine.
I took my two kids, ages 7 and 4, with me to experience as much of Winterfest as we could manage over 48 hours. Was it worth it? More than I can possibly put into words that capture the essence of what Pigeon Forge has managed to offer during this special time of year.
If you’re looking for a new family tradition during the winter months or just want to spend quality time together, this is the place to go. I’m going to tell you all about holiday light displays, dinner shows, an incredible magic show straight from Las Vegas, one way you can enjoy views of the city from a 200-foot tall Ferris wheel, and how to create memories that will last all year long till you do it again next year!
Find a place to stay in Pigeon Forge, TN. This article contains Stay22 affiliate links.
Winterfest
Winterfest in Pigeon Forge is a months-long celebration of all things winter and Christmas. The whole town is decked out in Christmas lights, which extend through the main drag on The Parkway and on the roads that lead to Dollywood. There are displays of fairy tales and Christmas trees and nursery rhymes. There is a super cool tunnel of lights that my kids begged to keep going through.
Winterfest runs from November 9, 2023 through February 18, 2024. Many of the entertainment venues in Pigeon Forge get on board with Winterfest by offering special Christmas-themed shows, which are perfect for getting everyone in the spirit of the season. In January and February, guests can ride the trolley service around town for $3/ticket per person for the whole day.
Be sure to pick up a Pigeon Forge coupon book either at the Visitor Center or wherever you are staying. There are tons of coupons for all the attractions and many of the restaurants. Also, many of the websites for attractions offer online coupons.
Oh, and apparently having your photos taken in front of a green wall is the thing to do in Pigeon Forge. So be prepared for lots of family photos in front of some interesting backgrounds. You can buy as many or as little of the finished products as you like.
Here Are Some Great Things to do in Pigeon Forge During Winterfest
Wonders of Light Walking Trail
The Winterfest Wonders of Light Walking Trail, a free walk-through light display that has several access points along the river in Pigeon Forge, debuted during the 2022-23 season and it’s so awesome. The trail runs from Pigeon Forge Municipal Parking Lot, which is at 2936 Teaster Lane between the LeConte Center and The Island in Pigeon Forge along the Riverwalk Greenway to Patriot Park, which is about a mile-and-a-half one way. There are more than 40 light displays along the paved path, including light tunnels (my favorite). It’s really neat and such a lovely display of lights.
Wonder of Lights Walking Trail
Christmas Parades
There are parades in Gatlinburg, Sevierville, and Townsend and they are all free. The Gatlinburg Christmas parade is December 1, 2023, the Sevierville Christmas parade is December 2, 2023, and the Townsend Christmas parade is December 3, 2023.
Dollywood
When I was planning this trip, I knew I had to get to Dollywood. I had never been and only heard great things about it. During Winterfest, Dollywood hosts the Smoky Mountain Christmas, which basically means everything – like literally everything, the trees, the buildings, the light posts – are decked out in over five million lights. They have a beautiful live nativity play with captivating music, several shows at the park, a tunnel of sparkling lights that look like they are falling from the trees above, indoor areas where you can play reindeer games and take photos with Santa, and a nightly Christmas parade. I wrote an entire story just on Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas.
Dollywood also recently opened the brand new Wildwood Grove, a whimsical and fun addition to the park. Definitely be sure to visit when you go!
Hatfield & McCoy Christmas Disaster Dinner Show
If you don’t know, the Hatfield and McCoy families were two groups who really hated each other in rural West Virginia in the 1800s. This show, the Hatfield & McCoy Christmas Disaster, is a hilarious take on that feud and is a must-see when you go to Pigeon Forge for lots of reasons.
First, they give you a ton of food – a ton of good food. It’s a dinner theater experience so you get all-you-can-eat soup, rolls, pulled pork, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, cole slow, and corn plus a dessert. This was the best meal I had while in Pigeon Forge and my kids loved it as well.
Secondly, the show is funny, like really funny. They use all kinds of redneck jokes that had the audience laughing out loud the whole time. And the clever ways they engage kids was appreciated. It’s a show you can bring the whole family to and they will all love it.
Thirdly, the show is a top-notch performance of music and acting and dancing on a truly believable stage that opens up to reveal a diving pool. Like a diving pool in the stage where the actors did flips and tricks. Looking around, I wasn’t the only audience member impressed.
At the end of this show, you’ll leave feeling full and happy. Total time you’re in the theater is a little over two-and-a-half hours. Tickets can be bought online.
The Island at Pigeon Forge
If you have ever seen photos of the iconic Ferris wheel in Pigeon Forge, this is where it is, on the Island at Pigeon Forge. Truly, you do not even need to leave the Island to have a great time. During Winterfest, the Island transforms into a winter wonderland, with 40,000 ornaments, more than 5,000 feet of garland, and a sparkling half a million lights. There are three Christmas trees – one you can even walk through – at the Island and familiar Christmas music plays everywhere. If you’re lucky, you can greet Santa and Mrs. Claus in their new workshop.
The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel at the Island was our favorite thing to do. We went on once during the day and another spin at night. Even though it was rainy during our visit, we could still make out the mountains and at night, the whole Island was lit up and you could see everything from a bird’s eye view.
There are several great restaurants on-site plus dozens of other games for both adults and kids. There is shopping, the St. Somewhere Spa, the Fudgery (get the chocolate fudge), and of course, the Margaritaville Island Hotel where grabbing a signature margarita should definitely be on your list. It’s fun to just walk around and enjoy the atmosphere during Winterfest because it’s so festive and bright. You can park for free on-site and take a trolley into the main part of the Island if you don’t want to walk.
New Thrills & Christmas Attractions in Pigeon Forge
Two new thrill rides have been introduced in Pigeon Forge. The Mountain Monster is a 200-foot-tall drop tower featuring three exciting rides and is located at the Tower Shops at the Mountain Mile. And at Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud & Adventure, the Flying Ox offers adventurers a zipline excursion that follows a roller coaster track.
Mountain Monster. Photo courtesy of Tower Shops at Mountain Mile.
Also, Santa’s Haus is a new 2,000-square-foot facility at The Incredible Christmas Place at 2470 Parkway in Pigeon Forge. Children and adults will enjoy various holiday activities like cookie decorating, writing letters to Santa, and an elf academy. This is a year-round attraction, but it is of special interest during Christmas.
The Titanic Museum
I wasn’t sold on this museum because it’s a sad story and I don’t like to do sad things when I’m with my kids having fun. However, even though I knew how the story ends, I was wowed by this museum, by the details that went into making this an educational and dare I say, fun, experience. It’s hard to miss the Titanic Museum as it looks exactly like the real Titanic, complete with the iceberg and water, and is a huge boat off of the main street running through Pigeon Forge. Everyone gets an audio necklace and a boarding pass with a true story of one of the passengers on the fateful voyage and then it’s off to the museum. Some parts of the museum are decorated with Christmas trees and wreaths throughout as part of Winterfest. And guests are able to decorate a small ornament at the end and add it to a Christmas tree in the room or keep it for your tree at home.
My seven-year-old listened to almost all the stories on her audio while my four-year-old gave up less than halfway through – but both of them really liked the exhibits, especially the kids area near the end where they can try to steer the Titanic away from the iceberg. A super cool thing at this museum is that it holds the largest replica of the Titanic ever completed with LEGO bricks. And who made it? A 10-year-old autistic boy from Iceland. It is stunning to see in person and learning his story made it even more incredible.
Set aside about 90 minutes to visit the museum. Read our full review of the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge.
This building was one the first places we drove by when we got to Pigeon Forge and my kids asked if we could go see the “upside down” place for a day. Wonderworks was not on my original list of things to do for my visit but I am sure glad we made time for it. The place is full of educational entertainment that the kids – and adults- will not be able to get enough of. There is a laser tag arena, an indoor glow-in-the-dark ropes course (wear closed-toe shoes), flight simulators, an indoor roller coaster simulator, an astronaut training ride, climbing walls, and over 120 exhibits where your family will probably lose track of time.
While Wonderworks does not have any specific Winterfest program, I absolutely recommend it if you visit Pigeon Forge, especially during the winter months when the weather can be rainy or cold. It’s a great indoor entertainment option. While there are plenty of things to do with the smaller kids, I think that older kids will love it even more since they are tall enough to go on most of the rides. For the rides, most of them require kids to be at least 42” tall. Rope climbing requires the person to weigh at least 40 pounds.
Is your family planning a vacation to Gatlinburg, Tennessee? There are so many fun things to do in Gatlinburg, TN and the Pigeon Forge area that we have put together a full Gatlinburg Travel Guide for you. Our guide is full of places to visit in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN. We share attractions, places to eat, suggestions on where to stay, and more for this East Tennessee region vacation destination.
A few tips:
Starting March 1, 2023, you must have a parking pass on your car if you park for more than 15 minutes inside the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. A daily pass is $5, a weekly pass is $15, and a yearly pass is $40.
Almost all shows in Pigeon Forge offer combo tickets, which are significantly discounted when bought together. So do the math and figure out what works for your family. Pigeon Forge has a wonderful guidewith coupons that is available online and via hard copy at the Welcome Center. It can also be mailed to you.
There are a bunch of coupon books in almost every restaurant and shop in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge. They all offer a least a couple of dollars off attractions, which can save money in the long run if you do a lot of activities.
Sign up for the email list of your favorite attractions and hotels since they often send out discount codes throughout the year.
If you come to East Tennessee more than a couple times a year, consider a season pass to some of the attractions like Dollywood and Anakeesta, which can pay off in just a couple of visits.
What is There to Do in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge?
Check out these Gatlinburg attractions and things to do near Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN.
Anakeesta This mountaintop village theme park hosts a Rail Runner alpine coaster, ziplining, stunning gardens, a beer garden, a village with restaurants and shopping, an outdoor movie space, a treehouse play area, seasonal-themed events, and an awesome Chondola ride up and down the mountain. Admission ticket prices range from $20 – $29. The alpine coaster, Astra Lumina light display, gem mining, and ziplining are extra costs. You’ll want to read our Anakeesta review of tips and tricks on how to make the most of your visit to Anakeesta.
576 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN
Treetop Skywalk at Anakeesta
PINK Jeep Smoky Mountain Tours Ride around in a bright pink Jeep and see all the very best sights in the Great Smoky Mountains and get the adrenaline going with their 4×4 off-roading course, built especially for PINK Jeeps. Tickets depend on the tour you choose but kids ages 18 months+ are able to do the tours and costs range from $57-$74 per person. Our PINK Jeep reviewgives you the lowdown on what to expect with the tour.
3152 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN
PINK Jeep Smoky Mountain Tour
Wonderworks A truly fun experience for the whole family, Wonderworks is an indoor entertainment facility with a glow-in-the-dark ropes course, a 3-D roller coaster, a bubble room, laser tag, a climbing wall, an earthquake simulator, and tons more. You can easily spend all day here but allow at least two hours at Wonderworks to really do everything, more if you see the magic show (extra charge). Read our review of Wonderworksto get all the details.
100 Music Road, Pigeon Forge
Dollywood The iconic theme park is fun to visit any time of the year but they do have special events for summer, fall (a big pumpkinfest), and winter (a huge festival with a nightly parade and lights). The new Wildwood Groveencourages guests to explore their imaginations with an indoor black-lit playground, splash pad, rides for the whole family, and the new DragonFly coaster. Our KA Dollywood reviewwill tell you all the best places to visit while at Dollywood. Adult tickets are $89 and kids are $79/each ages 4-9.
2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd, Pigeon Forge, TN
Dollywood’s Splash Country A wet and wild theme park that opens right next to the Dollywood theme park over the summer, Splash Country has a wave pool, multiple water slides, a lazy river, concessions, and a tube coaster. We love this theme park and it’s on our must-do list every summer! For the 2021 season tickets were $49.95/ages 10-61, $39.95/ages 4-9, and $39.95/senior citizens 62+. Parking is $15/day.
2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd, Pigeon Forge, TN
Dollywood’s Splash Country
Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Show If you don’t know, the Hatfield and McCoy families were two groups who really hated each other in rural West Virginia in the 1800s. The show is a dinner theater experience so you get all-you-can-eat soup, rolls, pulled pork, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, cole slow, and corn plus a dessert. This was the best meal I had while in Pigeon Forge and my kids loved it as well. At the end of this show, you’ll leave feeling full and happy. The total time you’re in the theater is a little over two-and-a-half hours. Tickets are $59.99/adults and $34.99/kids ages 3-11 and under 2 are free.
119 Music Road, Pigeon Forge
Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Show
Titanic Museum Experience the history of the Titanic, and the stories of those aboard, at the Titanic Museum. You’ll find hands on exhibits, an audio tour, and even the largest Titanic replica ever built out of lego bricks! Want to know more? Check out our KA review of the Titanic Museum.
2134 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN
Learn why the Titanic Museum is a must-see when visiting Pigeon Forge, Tennessee!
Wild Bear Falls Water Park This is an enormous indoor waterpark at the Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa in Gatlinburg. It’s open year-round and you can go even if you’re not a guest at the resort.
915 Westgate Resorts Road, Gatlinburg, TN
Dolly Parton’s Stampede This is one of the more popular shows in Pigeon Forge and features horse stunts, lots of special effects, and a four-course meal plus dessert. Families love this show especially.
3849 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN
Pirates Voyage Lots of energy and fun at this dinner show in Pigeon Forge, the newest show to come to town. Kids will love the mermaids and pirate fights plus the water features of the show are always fun.
Soaky Mountain Waterpark Located just 15-20 minutes north of Gatlinburg is an enormous 50-acre waterpark with tons of slides, a lazy river, watercoasters, and a 35,000 wave pool. You will learn everything you need to know before going in our KA review of Soaky Mountain Waterpark.
175 Gists Creek Road, Sevierville, TN
Ole Smoky Moonshine The distillery is the oldest in the state and you can taste several moonshine varieties for $5 – they are really good! Be sure to try the Buckeye if you like peanut butter. You can also see how moonshine is made through the glass walls of the distillery at the Holler in Gatlinburg, which totally counts for homeschooling your kids.
This snow tubing place is open all year round because it’s indoors! This place has real snow for the tubing lanes plus a snow area where kids can build forts and snowmen. Plus, it’s always around 60-70 degrees inside so you aren’t freezing. Kids must be 38″ tall to tube. If not, you can buy them a ticket just to play in the snow. Tickets start at $29.99 for an hour of snow tubing and at $36.99 for tubing plus 30 minutes of snow play. No reservations are needed. See ourfull review here.
2533 Teaster Lane, Pigeon Forge, TN
Learn why Pigeon Forge Snow is such an epic place to play while visiting Pigeon Forge!
Just opened in 2019, the SkyBridge is a mile high and has a glass bottom in the center. It is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America and overlooks this mountain town and the surrounding Smoky Mountains. You have to take a chair lift up to the mountain to access the SkyBridge. Buy tickets in advance online to save a couple of dollars off each ticket. Read more in our KA review of the Gatlinburg SkyBridge here.
I’m not big into shopping but the Boot Factory Outlet was awesome. They have amazing customer service – people who help you until you find what you want and make suggestions. They seem to genuinely care about service. I was blown away. The outlet offers a continuous deal of buy one pair of boots and get two free. I had to see it for myself because that didn’t seem real. It was! I walked out with three fantastic pairs of boots for my family, all well-made and of excellent quality. Highly recommend.
This is such a cool experience that we recommend for anyone looking for a super unique adventure underground. The Lost Sea tour explores the expansive Craighead Caverns with its rare rock formations. But the coolest part is the boat ride in the underground lake! You can read our KA review of The Lost Sea Adventure to learn more. It’s about an hour and 20 minutes from the Gatlinburg area. Visit Sweetwater Valley Farm nearby for awesome grilled cheese and milkshakes.
140 Lost Sea Road, Sweetwater, TN 423.337.6616
Free/Cheap Things to do in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park The park is the most visited in the whole country, with over 11 million people visiting every year. And there is no admission cost whatsoever. The park boasts over 850 miles of hiking trails plus two long stretches where you can drive to see wildlife and take in the natural beauty of the area.
Get up to Clingman’s Dome, the highest point in the park, or Newfound Gap for stunning views of the smokies. Cruise through Cades Cove or Roaring Fork Motor Trail to see if you can spot black bears. Read more in our KA review of the Great Smoky Mountains National Parkand all there is to do and see in the Smokies.
Please note that since March 1, 2023, the National Park has instituted parking fees to be able to handle the millions of visitors each year. Parking tags must be displayed anywhere in the Park, except for cars spending 15 minutes or less there. Fees are $5/single day, $15/up to 7 days, and $40/annual parking pass. You can buy them at the Visitor Centers or online.
Clingman’s Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
See Elk in Cherokee or Cataloochee Valley Elk were originally native to the area and have been reintroduced. They are thriving thanks to the protection of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Guests can see the majestic animals at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee, NC, right outside the park, or in the Cataloochee Valley. In the fall, the bulls loudly bugle and it’s quite the animal sound to hear!
Elk in the Smokies
Go Swimming The Smoky Mountains have some desirable swimming holes during the hot summer months. One is the Townsend Wye right near the entrance to the park in Townsend, TN. It’s a huge swimming hole with small rapids for tubing and deeper waters for swimming. The National Park’s official stance on swimming is that it discourages it.
Townsend Wye
Go Fishing Trout are stocked in the miles of rivers and streams that cut through the Smokies and visitors are allowed to fish from those waterways. In Tennessee, both residents and non-residents ages 13 or older must have a fishing license. In North Carolina, ages 16 and older need a license. Fishing is permitted all throughout the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
Every year around June, the synchronous fireflies appear in the Smoky Mountains to do their annual mating dance. And it is a sight to see! Millions of these fireflies light up all around you then go quiet for about eight seconds and then light up again.
It is completely fascinating to see and we highly recommend trying to get a lottery ticket or booking a campsite at Elkmont during that time of year to see them. To enter the lottery, you pay $1 and if you win, your parking pass is $25. A campsite at Elkmont is around $30.
Synchronous Fireflies at Elkmont
Things to Do During the Holidays in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge
Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas The experience at Dollywood at Christmastime deserves its own review because it is so beautiful and enchanting. You and your kids can step into a life-size snow globe, watch a nativity show, and enjoy the rides. They have beautiful light displays as well. It’s an amazing time to visit the amusement park. Read what we loved about the Smoky Mountain Christmas in our review.
2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd, Pigeon Forge, TN
Smoky Mountain Christmas in Dollywood
Winterfest in Pigeon Forge From the end of November until early February, Pigeon Forge is decked out in Christmas lights and guests can ride the trolley all around town (small fee) to check out the beautiful decorations. Shows and events correspond with the Christmas theme and the whole town becomes a winter wonderland. It’s totally free to drive around and see all the lights. Learn more with our KA review of Winterfest and be sure to pick up the guide that the City of Pigeon Forge offers, which includes coupons.
Where to Stay in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge
There are hundreds of places to stay in the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area. All of these places we list below are places we have personally stayed at and where we’ve had excellent experiences. Reviews are all linked below. If you are not staying in a Gatlinburg cabin, then these campgrounds and hotels are the best there is for a family-friendly vacation Gatlinburg vacation. So, start planning your lodging today!
You can also use the map below from Stay 22 to find other options! When you book through the map and links, we may earn through an affiliate relationship with Stay22.
https://stay22.com/embed/64aff43e17da6c003ce794b2
Margaritaville Island Hotel A stay at this beautiful and trendy hotel will be a relaxing experience. Margarita makers are in every room and balconies overlook either the river or the Island at Pigeon Forge. You can explore the Island, take a ride on the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, grab a margarita at the bar (or in your room), and just chill. Read our KA review of Margaritaville Island Hotel to learn why it is such a great option.
131 The Island Dr, Pigeon Forge, TN
Margaritaville Island Hotel in Pigeon Forge
Greystone Lodge By the River One of the very last family-owned hotels in Gatlinburg, the Greystone dates back originally to the early 1960s and has become the go-to hotel for generations of families. The location cannot be beaten as it is steps from the aquarium and across the street from Anakeesta, within walking distance to shops and restaurants.
They also have a great pool and free breakfast. It’s perfect for families looking to have a restful and accommodating place to call home during their trip. We stayed there and absolutely loved it.
Camp LeConte Kicking up the glamping a notch further is Camp LeConte, which offers a treehouse, safari tents, and a retro camper. You can even catch the trolley into Gatlinburg from the campground. Depending on the time of year, the two-person safari tent starts at around $136/night. Read ourKA review of Camp LeConteand learn why we love it so much.
The Westgate Smokies is a beautiful resort overlooking Gatlinburg that has lots of different room types to choose from, a huge indoor water park, spa, zip line, mini-golf, two outdoor heated pools, and a fabulous restaurant. Read our review KA review of the Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort to learn more.
Be blown away by the 17-room game mansion in Gatlinburg! It has more than 300 indoor and outdoor games and sleeps up to 20 people. This is perfect for a multi-family or big friends vacation and is about 15 minutes from the main strip in Gatlinburg.
Smoky Hollow Outdoor Resort Stay in a covered wagon or tipi at this resort in Sevierville, TN for the ultimate pioneer adventure. The resort is close to Soaky Mountain and minutes from Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and the Smokies. Read our review of the Smoky Hollow Outdoor Resort to get a good idea of why it’s so cool!
660 Gists Creek Road, Sevierville, TN
Foothills RV Park & Cabins If you are not into tent camping but are still looking for a cheaper option than a hotel, Foothills has bare-bones cabins to rent where you bring your own linens/sleeping bags and pillows. This is a good option if you’re really trying to stay within a budget but want someplace clean and comfortable.
The location is right on the cusp of Pigeon Forge and maybe ten minutes from Gatlinburg. Camping cabins are rented from April through October and start at $58/night.
4235 Huskey St, Pigeon Forge, TN
Inn on the River The Inn on the River has pretty awesome amenities like both indoor and outdoor pools, free breakfast, free popcorn, hot chocolate, coffee, and tea, a free gift bag for kids, and really nice staff. Plus, they are located right on the main strip in Pigeon Forge and within walking distance to several restaurants and attractions. Read our KA review of the Inn on the River to help you decide where to lodge.
2492 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN
Inn on the River
Wilderness at the Smokies This family-friendly hotel has three waterparks on-site, including Tennessee’s largest indoor waterpark. You won’t even need to leave the resort for entertainment and dining once you get there! Rooms are spacious and some suites offer bunk beds for kids. And it’s directly across the street from Soaky Mountain Waterpark. Learn why we love Wilderness at the Smokies for families in our KA review!
1424 Old Knoxville Hwy, Sevierville, TN
Where to eat in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge
If you’re not headed to a lunch or dinner show, there are plenty of options to enjoy a good meal. Gatlinburg is known as the Pancake Capital of the World so be sure to hit up a good pancake house while you’re there.
Pancake Pantry Gatlinburg’s first pancake house, which opened in 1960, is hugely popular. Get there when they open and bring cash since they don’t take credit cards.
628 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN
Log Cabin Pancake House Opening in 1976, the Log Cabin Pancake House serves up breakfast all day long and also has delicious pancakes (of course).
327 Historic Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN
Apple Barn & Cider Mill The fried apple pies and apple cider donuts are what people usually come to the Apple Barn for. It’s worth it. Both are delicious and well-worth the calories.
230 Apple Valley Rd, Sevierville, TN
The Old Mill Restaurant This is the place that people who have been to Pigeon Forge will recommend. They have generous portions and authentic, local Southern cuisine. Country fried steak, cornbread, and chowder are staples of a great meal here. They served breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
164 Old Mill Ave, Pigeon Forge, TN
Cliff Tops Bar & Grill at Anakeesta If you are spending a day up on the mountain at Anakeesta, the Cliff Tops Grill & Bar is a great place to grab lunch or dinner. The Brisket Philly Cheesesteak is especially tasty and the kids meal of mac & cheese is also quite delicious.
576 Parkway Suite A, Gatlinburg, TN
Cliff Top Bar & Grill at Anakeesta
Big Daddy’s Pizza With a handful of locations in both towns, Big Daddy’s is a decent option for families who want something simple, easy, and pleasing to everyone.
Various locations in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN
Southern Comfort The flagstone restaurant at the Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort in Gatlinburg, Southern Comfort serves up Lowcountry cuisine with a Cajun twist. It’s delicious and you’ll want to keep coming back for more. The hospitality is just as sweet as the s’mores dessert.
915 Westgate Resorts Road, Gatlinburg, TN
Looking for more travel ideas? Check out our Travel Guide, with ideas for travel throughout the Southeast and beyond!
