Things To Do in Gatlinburg

Top Attractions

The must-do sights (SkyBridge, National Park, etc.)

Gatlinburg SkyLift & SkyBridge

The yellow chairlift carries you 1,800 feet up Crockett Mountain to the SkyDeck – and to the SkyBridge, a 680-foot-long pedestrian suspension bridge with glass floor panels in the middle. It’s the most popular attraction in town for a reason: the panoramic mountain views are legitimately impressive.

Tips: Go early morning or after 5 pm to avoid the longest lines. Hours vary by season (typically ~9am–9pm), so check the schedule. Tickets cost around $40 for adults – pricey, so make it count. Only pay to go up on a clear day; if it’s foggy, you’ll be paying $40 to stare at a cloud. (They even have a live webcam – check it before you buy your ticket.) And don’t get fleeced on refreshments: a bottle of water costs “airport prices” at the top, so bring your own.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

This is why you’re really here. America’s most visited national park is free to enter and offers over 800 miles of trails ranging from easy river walks to all-day summit treks. (Note: as of 2023, a parking tag is required if you park for more than 15 minutes – $5/day, $15/week – though the park itself has no entrance fee.)

A few easy hikes near Gatlinburg give a great taste of the Smokies without an all-day commitment:

• Laurel Falls (2.6 miles round-trip): Paved trail to a photogenic 75-foot waterfall. It’s super popular (expect crowds and limited parking by mid-morning), but manageable if you go early. Stroller-friendly for much of the way.
• Alum Cave Trail (5 miles round-trip to Alum Cave “Bluffs”): A moderate hike that climbs through an old-growth forest to a large cliff shelter. The views get better as you ascend, especially past Arch Rock and Inspiration Point. You don’t need to go all the way to Mount LeConte’s summit to enjoy it – the turnaround at Alum Cave (about 2.5 miles in) is a great payoff.
• Grotto Falls (3 miles round-trip): A family-friendly forest trail where you can actually walk behind the waterfall – the only waterfall in the park you can do that. It’s a fun, somewhat less crowded alternative to Laurel Falls (though Grotto can still be busy on weekends). The trail is unpaved but short; you’ll get to the 25-foot falls in about 1.3 miles.

For detailed trail descriptions and current conditions, check the official park website or our hiking trails guide. Note: Cell phone signal disappears just minutes after you leave Gatlinburg (for the most part, cell service in the park is non-existent), so download offline maps or carry a paper map before you head out. GPS and Google Maps will not save you once you’re deep in the mountains!

Ober Gatlinburg

A mountaintop amusement park and ski area reached by an aerial tramway from downtown. In winter, Ober Gatlinburg is a small but functional ski resort (good for a few runs or a beginner lesson – don’t expect Aspen). The rest of the year it offers an alpine slide, mountain coaster, wildlife encounter (black bears, otters, etc.), and an indoor ice rink.

Honestly, the tram ride up is the best part – a scenic 2.1-mile cable ride that lifts you 2,800 feet above sea level. Round-trip fare is about $29 for adults. You can ride up just for the views and skip the activities at the top if you’d like.

Tips: If you do explore the park at the summit, save your appetite for later – the food court is nothing special (you’re better off eating back in town). Also, note that Ober’s attractions can feel a bit dated, so manage your expectations. But for kids or first-timers, it’s a fun half-day diversion.

Mountain Activities

Scenic drives and outdoor adventures in the Smokies

Let’s be real: you didn’t drive to the Smokies just to stay on the Parkway. When you’re ready to swap go-karts and mirror mazes for some mountain scenery, here are the top outdoor things to do:

Cades Cove Loop

This 11-mile one-way loop road is the park’s crown jewel drive. It circles a gorgeous valley teeming with history and wildlife. Cades Cove was once a settler community, and you can stop at preserved 19th-century cabins, churches, and a grist mill as you drive through. Early morning and dusk are prime times to spot wildlife like white-tailed deer, turkey, and sometimes black bears in the open fields.

Tips: Drive it early (before 10am) or late to avoid the midday traffic jams – in summer and October, the loop can become a bumper-to-bumper crawl by noon. Budget about 2–3 hours to fully tour the loop (longer if you explore sites or hike any of the side trails). There is a visitor center with restrooms halfway around and a small camp store, but options are limited, so pack snacks and water.

Note: From mid-June through late September, the loop is closed to cars every Wednesday until evening, reserving it for cyclists and pedestrians. If you plan to drive, avoid those times; if you want to bike it, take advantage!

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

A lesser-known scenic loop that’s just 5-6 miles from downtown Gatlinburg. Roaring Fork is a 6-mile, single-lane one-way road through lush old-growth forests, alongside a rushing mountain stream. It’s narrower and twistier than Cades Cove – no RVs or trailers are allowed on this road – but that also means fewer traffic clogs. The drive offers pull-offs to view waterfalls (look for the “Place of a Thousand Drips” trickle at the end) and historic log cabins tucked in the woods.

Several trailheads spur off Roaring Fork: the popular Rainbow Falls trail (5.4 miles round trip, moderately strenuous) is located just before the loop start, and about 2 miles in you’ll find the Grotto Falls trailhead (mentioned above). Even if you don’t hike, Roaring Fork is a peaceful, shady drive that takes about an hour with stops.

Tips: The road is closed in winter (typically from December through March) due to ice and snow hazards. And remember it’s one-way – you’ll enter from Gatlinburg’s Historic Nature Trail road at traffic light #8 and emerge near U.S. 321 east of town. So you can’t turn around halfway. Plan accordingly, and take it slow to enjoy the solitude (roll down your windows to hear the creek as you drive).

Clingmans Dome

At 6,643 feet, this is the highest point in the Smokies – and in Tennessee. It’s about a 45-minute drive (23 miles) from Gatlinburg via Newfound Gap Road to reach the Clingmans Dome parking area, but it’s worth it on a clear day. From the parking lot, a steep half-mile paved path leads to an observation tower on the summit. The climb will get your heart pumping (and the air is thinner up here), but the 360° views from the top are incredible. On perfectly clear days, you can see for dozens of miles in every direction – layered mountain ridges across several states. Often it’s misty or “smoky,” which cuts visibility, so try to check the weather forecast or Newfound Gap webcam beforehand if panoramic views are your goal.

Tips: The Clingmans Dome Road is closed in winter (generally from early December through late March) due to snow. In peak season, arrive early in the morning – the large parking lot commonly fills by mid-to-late morning, and rangers will gate the access road when no parking is available. There are vault toilets at the lot but no food/drink, so come prepared. Even in summer, it’s 10–20°F cooler up there than in town, and it can be very windy, so bring a jacket. Lastly, note that the trail to the tower is too steep for wheelchairs or strollers and pets are not allowed. If you can’t manage the hike, you’ll still get great vistas from the parking area. But if you can, the short trek to stand on the highest point of the Smokies is a must-do “top of the world” moment.

Downtown Highlights

Local spots to explore when you’re off the trails

When your legs are worn out from hiking, Gatlinburg’s quieter side has a few gems to explore. These spots feel more local and authentic – a refreshing break from the crowded Parkway strip.

The Arts & Crafts Community

An 8-mile loop road (Glades Rd. and Buckhorn Rd. off Hwy 321) on the outskirts of town that’s home to the largest group of independent artisans in the country. This is not the usual tourist junk; we’re talking about some 100+ shops and studios where local craftspeople sell quality handmade goods – pottery, woodcarvings, blown glass, quilts, paintings, jewelry, you name it. You can watch many of them work and chat about their craft. It’s a laid-back, wallet-optional excursion – browsing is free, and the artists are friendly even if you’re “just looking.” If you’re souvenir shopping, though, this is the place to find something unique and actually made in Tennessee.

Tips: The loop is too spread out to walk, so drive or take the yellow trolley that services the area. Most studios keep hours roughly from 10:00am to 5:00 or 6:00pm, Monday–Saturday (many close on Sundays). A printed map or the Gatlinburg App will help you locate specific shops since they’re spread along the route. And if you’re visiting in July, check if the annual Craftmen’s Fair is happening at the Convention Center – it brings many of these artists under one roof downtown.

Gatlinburg Space Needle (if you must)

A 407-foot-tall observation tower smack in the middle of downtown. It offers 360° views of Gatlinburg and the surrounding mountains, similar to what you’d see from the SkyLift Park but from the opposite side of town. You ride a glass elevator up to an outdoor deck. The Space Needle is perfectly fine – and they do let you go up again at night with the same ticket – but if you’ve already done the SkyLift & SkyBridge, this will feel a bit redundant and less thrilling. Consider it if the SkyLift is closed due to weather or you’re a view junkie who wants to see the twinkling lights of Gatlinburg after dark. Tickets are around $16 for adults (so notably cheaper than SkyLift). Below the tower is a huge arcade and a pizza place, which can be a fun rainy-day diversion for kids. Bottom line: Great views, but not a must-do if you’ve hit the other high points.

Gatlinburg Trail

One of the simplest pleasures in town: a flat, riverside walking path that starts from downtown and heads 1.9 miles into the national park. It’s actually the only trail inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park where dogs (on leash) and bicycles are allowed. The trail begins near the Sugarlands Visitor Center and follows the west branch of the Little Pigeon River back toward Gatlinburg, ending near Traffic Light #10. Along the way, you’ll pass the foundations of old homesteads and have plenty of spots where you can dip your toes in the river on a hot day. It’s paved in parts and gravel in others, but overall very easy – suitable for all ages, strollers, or a casual bike ride. Locals use it for morning jogs and dog walks.

Tips: If you’re staying in central Gatlinburg, you can hop on the trail from town (at the River Road/Newfound Gap Road intersection) and walk 15–20 minutes to the Sugarlands Visitor Center – much nicer than driving there. Early mornings are especially peaceful on this trail. Just remember: beyond this and the Oconaluftee River Trail in NC, pets aren’t allowed on park trails, so don’t venture beyond the Gatlinburg Trail with Fido.

When to Visit

The best (and worst) times for a Gatlinburg trip

Best Times

• April – May (Spring): Mild weather, wildflowers blooming, and moderate crowds. Spring in the Smokies is beautiful – hillsides come alive with trilliums and mountain laurel. Visitor numbers are usually lower in late April and early May (after Spring Break but before summer), making it one of the best overall times to visit. Just pack a light jacket – mornings can be chilly – and an umbrella for occasional showers.
• September – October (Fall): The autumn colors are the big draw. Leaves start turning at higher elevations by late September and peak in mid-late October. By mid-October, the mountains explode with reds, oranges, and golds – it’s honestly spectacular. This is a popular time (October is the busiest month of the year in the Smokies), but if you can swing a weekday trip or come in early November, you’ll catch great color with a bit less crowd. Book lodging months in advance for any October weekends – the region fills up completely. And be mentally prepared for traffic delays on scenic routes; everybody is out “leaf-peeping.” It’s worth it, but patience is required.
• Winter (Dec – Feb): The quietest time in Gatlinburg. Crowds are minimal, rates are lower, and with leaves off the trees you get clearer views of the mountains. There’s a peaceful beauty to a winter hike or a scenic drive after a dusting of snow. Just know that some roads (like Roaring Fork and Clingmans Dome) and higher elevation trails close for the season. In town, things are slower but Winterfest holiday lights and events add charm. If you don’t mind the cold, you might have the park’s vistas all to yourself.

Times to Avoid

• Summer peak (late June, July & early August): School’s out and everyone and their grandma is in Gatlinburg. It’s hot and humid (afternoon highs in the 90s°F in the low elevations) and the park’s most popular spots are packed. Expect heavy traffic on Newfound Gap Road and hour-long lines for attractions in town. If summer is your only option, try to go in early June or late August when it’s slightly less busy. Either way, get up early (hitting trails at sunrise if you can) to beat both the crowds and the worst of the heat. By midday, trailhead parking lots and downtown sidewalks are overflowing.
• October Weekends: As mentioned, October is peak fall color season and every weekend is jammed. Saturdays in October bring standstill traffic on popular routes (like the Cades Cove Loop and Roaring Fork Motor Trail). If you’re coming for fall foliage, aim for weekdays. You’ll still encounter crowds, but it’s a bit more bearable. Also consider early November – still very pretty, and much calmer.

Planning Your Visit

For a first trip, 3 full days in Gatlinburg is a sweet spot: one day for downtown attractions and the SkyBridge, one day dedicated to hiking in the national park, and one day for scenic drives (like Cades Cove or Newfound Gap/Clingmans Dome). This lets you hit the highlights without feeling too rushed. If you only have a weekend, you can still make it work – just prioritize what interests you most (hike early, do touristy stuff in the afternoons).

Check out our 3-day itinerary for a detailed game plan, and see our "Best Areas to Stay" guide for lodging tips. Most importantly, plan ahead in busy seasons – booking accommodations, buying any attraction tickets you can in advance, and making restaurant reservations will save you a lot of hassle during your trip.