3-Day Gatlinburg Itinerary

Day 1: Downtown & SkyLift

Morning: Breakfast & Village

8:00am - Breakfast: Get here before 8:30am or you'll be waiting in line for an hour. This sets you up to walk right onto the SkyLift before the noon rush.

9:00am - Walk the Village: Most shops open at 10. Use this hour to walk the river while it's quiet.

Mid-Morning: SkyLift

10:30am - Gatlinburg SkyLift: Go now to beat the post-lunch rush. The chair lift takes 10 minutes; the bridge walk takes 20.

Budget 1.5-2 hours total. Tickets are $35-40 per adult. Worth it.

Afternoon: Arts & Crafts Loop

1:00pm - Lunch: Grab something quick downtown or pack sandwiches.

2:00pm - Arts & Crafts Community: Drive the 8-mile loop. Stop at studios that look interesting. Go at your own pace—some people spend 20 minutes, others spend 3 hours.

Focus on a few shops rather than trying to see everything. Most shops in the Glades close strictly at 5pm. This isn't downtown; don't expect late hours.

Evening: Dinner & Moonshine

6:00pm - Dinner: Head back downtown. The Peddler Steakhouse or Cherokee Grill are solid. For casual, try No Way Jose's or Mellow Mushroom.

8:00pm - Optional Distillery: Ole Smoky Moonshine or Sugarlands have free tastings and live music. Touristy but fun.

Call it a night after. Day 2 shifts gears from tourist attractions to the real reason you're here: the National Park.

Day 2: Hiking in the Smokies

Early Start

7:30am - Breakfast: Quick breakfast at your lodging or grab coffee and a muffin to go.

8:30am - Hit the Trail: Head to Alum Cave or Grotto Falls. We do this early because trailhead parking is gone by 10am.

Alum Cave Trail Option (More Challenging)

5 miles round trip to Alum Cave Bluffs. Elevation gain is significant—it's a workout.

The payoff is views and the interesting rock formations. You don't have to hike all the way to Mt. LeConte (11+ miles round trip). The Alum Cave turnaround is a good 2.5-hour hike.

Bring water and snacks. The first half mile is easy, then it gets steep.

Grotto Falls Option (Easier)

3 miles round trip through forest to a waterfall you can walk behind.

Good for families or if you want a shorter hike. Still pretty but less dramatic than Alum Cave.

The trail is moderate—some uphill sections but nothing extreme.

Afternoon

12:30pm - Back to Town: You'll be hungry, and downtown lunch spots have a wait by 1pm. Grab something quick like pizza or burgers.

2:00pm - Relax: Head back to your cabin or hotel. Take a shower, rest up.

Optional Afternoon Activity: If you're not wiped out, drive the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. It's a pretty loop through the forest, and you can drive it versus walking more.

Evening

6:00pm - Dinner in Gatlinburg: Try something you didn't do yesterday. Wild Plum Tea Room if you want something different, or hit another downtown spot. If you're too tired to shower and dress up, go to Smoky Mountain Brewery. It's loud, busy, and full of other hikers in muddy boots.

Early night again. For Day 3, we're beating the dawn to catch the Smokies' most famous wildlife viewing loop.

Day 3: Cades Cove

Early Morning is Critical

7:00am - Leave Early: Painfully early, but necessary. This puts you in the loop when bears are active and before the 11-mile road becomes a parking lot.

Why so early? The loop is 11 miles of one-lane road. After 10am, it's bumper-to-bumper. Early morning, you see deer and bears. Later, you see brake lights.

The Loop

8:00am-11:00am - Cades Cove: Drive the loop at your own pace. If traffic stops, patience is key—it means a bear sighting.

Bring binoculars for wildlife. Bears are most active early morning. Please use pull-offs. The "Cades Cove Crawl" happens because one person stops in the middle of the road for a deer. Don't be that person.

There's a small store at the halfway point (Cades Cove Campground Store). Otherwise, no facilities. Bathrooms at the start.

Budget 2-3 hours minimum. Some people drive it in 90 minutes, others spend half a day.

Late Morning/Afternoon Options

You have a few options after Cades Cove:

Option A - Clingmans Dome: Drive to the highest point in the Smokies. 45-minute drive from Townsend plus 30-minute walk to observation tower. Views are incredible on clear days.

Option B - Drive Townsend/Wears Valley: Take the scenic route back to Gatlinburg through quieter back roads. Nice mountain views, less traffic.

Option C - Head Back Early: If you're tired, just drive back to Gatlinburg and relax. You've done the main stuff.

Final Evening

Dinner: Last meal in Gatlinburg. If you haven't tried a local place yet, now's the time.

Pack Up: Most people check out the next morning and drive home. If you have energy, do a final walk through downtown or grab dessert somewhere.

What to Pack

Absolutely Bring

• Hiking shoes or boots: Not optional. Trails are rocky and can be muddy.
• Layered clothing: Mountain weather changes. Pack a fleece or light jacket even in summer.
• Rain jacket: Afternoon thunderstorms are common spring through fall.
• Water bottle: Stay hydrated, especially on hikes.
• Sunscreen and hat: Sun exposure is real at higher elevations.
• Bug spray: Mosquitoes and ticks exist. DEET works.

Nice to Have

• Binoculars: For Cades Cove wildlife and mountain views.
• Small backpack: For carrying layers, water, and snacks on hikes.
• Camera: Your phone works, but a real camera captures better mountain shots.
• Portable charger: Cell service is spotty. Preserve battery for photos and navigation.

Leave at Home

• Fancy clothes: Gatlinburg is casual. Jeans and a clean shirt work for any restaurant.
• Heels or dress shoes: You'll be walking. A lot.
• Excessive luggage: Most lodging has laundry if you're staying longer. Pack light.

Where to Stay

Location matters. Downtown is convenient for day 1. Pigeon Forge or quieter areas work if you want cheaper lodging and don't mind a short drive.

Check our where to stay guide for neighborhood breakdowns.

More Resources

For details on specific activities, see our best things to do guide.