SMOKY MOUNTAIN HOSPITALITY OPERATIONS
MOUNTAIN TOWN / TENNESSEE
Ride above the rooftops, linger on the Parkway, then trade the bustle for a trail. Gatlinburg puts two very different days within your vacation.
A LITTLE INSPIRATION FOR YOUR NEXT STAY
12 WAYS TO EXPLORE GATLINBURG
Mountain attractions, indoor discoveries, local makers, and days in the national park. Choose a few favorites below, then use our guides to build your stay. Official attraction links open in a new tab so you can keep this guide handy.
01 / FOR THE VIEW
Take the SkyLift up to SkyPark for mountain views and the SkyBridge. Make it the centerpiece of a Gatlinburg outing, with time afterward to explore downtown.
02 / MAKE A DAY OF IT
Gardens, treetop walks, dining, and mountaintop experiences give Anakeesta its own character. It is a separate attraction from SkyPark, with its own entrance and admission.
03 / FOLLOW YOUR CURIOSITY
Browse, stop for a meal, and let downtown be part of the experience. Choose parking around your main stop so your afternoon has more wandering and less doubling back.
04 / CHANGE THE SCENERY
Make a trail or scenic drive the next day’s main event. Explore our hiking guide or mountain overlooks guide to find an outing that fits.
05 / RAINY-DAY FAVORITE
Give a rainy afternoon a destination of its own. Ripley’s Aquarium on River Road brings an underwater experience into your downtown plans. Make it your main indoor stop, then add a meal or nearby browsing if the weather clears.
06 / RIDE ABOVE TOWN
Start with the Gatlinburg Tram and explore the mountain’s activities. Ober offers a mix of attractions that changes with the season, including ice skating and winter snow sports. Check operating activities, weather, and ride restrictions before choosing a pass.
07 / MEET THE MAKERS
Make time for galleries, handmade goods, and the people who create them. Browse the Arts & Crafts Community’s directory before you go, pick a few studios that match your interests, and leave space in the day for discoveries along the way. Individual shop hours vary.
08 / A SLOWER DOWNTOWN STOP
Step into The Village for a mix of specialty shops and food stops just off the Parkway. It works well as a relaxed addition to a downtown attraction. Check the shop directory for the businesses you most want to visit rather than assuming they all keep the same hours.
09 / A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
Ride the glass elevators to an observation deck overlooking downtown and the surrounding mountains. This gives you a different perspective from the mountaintop parks. Look at visibility and current admission details before making it your next stop.
10 / A SCENIC DRIVE
This narrow, one-way, 5.5-mile drive passes forest, streams, and historic buildings near Gatlinburg. It closes seasonally, and buses, trailers, and motor homes are not permitted. Check the National Park Service’s current road information before setting out, and arrange any required parking tag before arriving.
Official Roaring Fork route and access details → Explore our hiking guide
11 / FOLLOW THE WATER
Build a separate outing around a waterfall instead of squeezing a hike between downtown tickets. Grotto Falls and Rainbow Falls are options in the Gatlinburg area, but the routes differ in effort and access. Compare the walk with your group’s ability and check trail and road conditions before committing.
12 / MAKE IT A MOUNTAIN DAY
Plan a mountain-road outing for a different day from your downtown attractions. Our guide covers Newfound Gap and Kuwohi so you can compare viewpoints, walking demands, and seasonal access. Allow for changing mountain weather and check roads before departure.
A SMARTSTAY SUGGESTION
The best contrast to a busy town day is time in the mountains. Choose your trail by the group’s walking ability and save a generous block of time for it.
MAKE IT YOURS
01
START WITH THE VIEW
Pick SkyPark or Anakeesta and give it the time it deserves. Check the current admission options before you go.
02
TAKE YOUR TIME
Build in downtown time without a tight list of stops. Leave room for the shop or meal that catches your eye.
03
BRING IT HOME
Our suggestion: finish with dinner and a relaxed evening, then save the national park for another day.
A FEW USEFUL DETAILS
No. They are separate attractions with separate entrances and admission. The SkyLift serves SkyPark, not Anakeesta.
Yes, but build the day around one main outing. Trail time, mountain-road travel, and parking can make a short-looking itinerary take much longer.
That depends on the property and the route. Check the specific cabin location and current traffic instead of relying on a region-wide drive-time promise.
Consider Ripley’s Aquarium as a main indoor outing. Browse The Village or the Arts & Crafts Community between showers, checking individual business hours. Choose outdoor viewpoints around visibility and current weather.
Explore local makers in the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, browse The Village Shops, or plan a separate park day. Roaring Fork, a waterfall hike, and Newfound Gap each offer a different outing; check seasonal access before leaving.
Check current hours, admission, road conditions, and your route from the cabin before departure.
By SmartStay Hospitality · Sources checked September 18, 2026
Official details open in a separate tab: Gatlinburg SkyPark · Anakeesta.
Gatlinburg · Pigeon Forge · Sevierville · All things to do
Cades Cove · Hiking · Waterfalls · Kuwohi & Newfound Gap · Douglas Lake
Photography: Denil Dominic / Unsplash
Additional photography: Hannah Cole / Unsplash
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