A Weekend Itinerary
Day 1: Travel
Gatlinburg is only around five and a half hours from my home in Kentucky, making it a quick drive. If you choose to fly, the nearest airport is in Knoxville, Tennessee which is forty miles away. To truly enjoy all Gatlinburg has to offer, you’ll need a car at your disposal.
Day 2: The Strip and Skylift Park
After a restful night in, spend your second day exploring the Strip.
Tip: When staying in Gatlinburg, I like to book a cabin that is right up the mountain from the Strip. I appreciate the views on up the mountain and the accessibility to the Strip where there are plenty of food and entertainment options. You can easily spend a day on the Strip with no itinerary, but I’ve outlined the spots I’d be sure to hit.
The Village Shops
The Village Shops are a small collection of stores with European influence located right in downtown Gatlinburg. When you step off of the busy streets of the Strip into the Village, you genuinely feel transported into a Swiss mountain town. To match the eclectic architecture are the stores themselves, which boast old-fashioned candy, craft donuts, and even artisanal dog treats. Take your time browsing the stores on the cobblestone streets or take a picture in front of the London style telephone booths; I promise this is a stop on the Strip you absolutely should not miss.
If you’re an early riser, hit the Village Shops to beat the crowds and snag a notorious Donut Shop donut. Nestled into an unassuming corner, this is one of the most famous stops in Gatlinburg. Even if you arrive early, there will most certainly be a line wrapped within the shop itself, but I think the wait is worth it. Choose from flaky pillow donuts or decadent Boston creams; even the plain glaze here is delicious. I truly think these are the best donuts I’ve ever had. Another reason to arrive early: so you can have your pick of treats from the case!
Tip: Make sure you have cash. They don’t accept credit cards here.
SkyLift Park
There are plenty of parks along the Strip to choose from. If you’re looking for rides and entertainment, you might opt for Anakeesta. But if you want a cheaper option that will immerse you in the natural beauty of the Smokies, I’d choose Skylift park.
I bought tickets online for my group and we took the lift up to the top of the park right from the Strip. The pass ranges in price seasonally, but $40 tends to be the peak price in the summer months. I pre booked our passes to save a few dollars and we paid the extra $2 for the opportunity to ride the lift up to the park as many times as we wanted. If you’re spending the day on the Strip—it’s worth it.
Included in the Skylift park pass is your ride on the lift up to the park and access to the SkyBridge, which is the longest cable bridge in North America. It offers breathtaking views of the Smoky Mountains in the distance and all of Gatlinburg below. We walked the sky bridge during the day to see the mountains and again at night to see Gatlinburg lit up. At Christmas time, there are additional lights strung all around the park.
There are accessible trails from the top of the park and places to sit and enjoy the view. Head inside the gift shop to purchase a souvenir or buy a hot chocolate during the crisp winter months. Snacks are available for purchase as well.
In the winter, I believe the pass was well worth it. We didn’t have to spend hours hiking outside in the cold for beautiful views and the pass was only $30. In the summer months, it might be more economical to actually hike the trails surrounding Gatlinburg if that is an accessible option for you.
Ripley’s Aquarium
While the Ripley’s aquarium isn’t exclusive to Gatlinburg, it is located right off of the Strip, making it a convenient pitstop for tourists. If you’re a teacher, they also offer a substantial discount. I was able to buy tickets for $12.50 each. I didn't even have to show my school badge; I just showed the clerk my school email and she was happy to apply the discount.
You can buy tickets online, and there are bundle offers with Ripley’s other attractions on the Strip, but my party simply walked up to the ticket office outside of the aquarium when we were ready to go in.
I think $12.50 was well worth the price of admittance. My party was trying to kill time until the sun slipped behind the mountains and the Christmas lights lit up the Strip, and the aquarium was a nice option. It offers a reprieve from the cold or heat, it’ll entertain the kids and adults, and has plenty of exhibits to explore and interact with. My favorites were the Penguin Playhouse and the Stingray Bay. I leaned over the side of the tank dutifully with two fingers, but the rays never came high enough for me to touch their slick wings. Nonetheless, it was a worthwhile experience and one that, no doubt, children will enjoy.
End your day at one of the many restaurants on The Strip. There are plenty of fan favorite chains like Bubba Gump and Margaritaville or opt for local favorites like Calhoun’s or Smith and Son’s.
Day 3: Great Smoky Mountain National Park or The Apple Barn
For the Hikers/Summer Months…
If you like to hike, or it’s warm enough outside that you want to enjoy the natural beauty of Gatlinburg, you should certainly venture into Smoky Mountain National Park. I was surprised to learn the Smokies, not Yellowstone or Glacier, is the most visited National Park in the U.S. But based on its location and the ancient beauty of these mountains, it’s easy to see why so many choose this destination each year.
If you want a challenging hike that leads to panoramic views, try the Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte. Mount LeConte is the third tallest mountain in the Great Smoky Mountain National park, and this elevation gain leads to breathtaking views at the top. This five mile hike is moderately challenging due to the elevation gain, but it passes quite a few notable landmarks along the way. If you’d rather not hike all the way up, hike 2 miles into the Alum Cave, which is a large cliff bluff. In the winter, this is a beautiful hike due to the many icicles that hang off of the bluff. Make sure to watch for falling icicles, though, if you choose to complete this hike.
In the summer, one of the best hikes to do is Grotto Falls which is fairly easy and kid friendly. This 2.6 mile hike is relatively flat and is shaded almost the entire way, making it a great option no matter your ability. This is the ONLY trail in the Smokies that allows you to walk behind a waterfall. Take the opportunity for a unique photo opt here, especially in the afternoon hours where an evening glow filters in through the trees. Before you head back, take a splash in the falls and water below to beat the summer heat and humidity.
If you’re not much of a hiker but you want to see the natural beauty of the Smokies, try the Gatlinburg scenic overlook. Located on the bypass just a few miles outside of Gatlinburg, you can easily drive to the top and witness panoramic views of the mountains and city below. If you want to see the city lit up, go at sunset or nightfall.
There are plenty more trails within the Great Smoky Mountain National park, these are just a few worthwhile stops near Gatlinburg.
For the Shoppers/Winter Months…
If you’re not much of a hiker, or you're visiting around Christmas time, a perfect way to spend the day is at The Apple Barn. You may use this as a quick pitstop or as a full-day experience, but there is certainly plenty to do at the Apple Barn.
One of the main draws is the 6,000 square foot Christmas shop located on the premises. Walk inside to a winter wonderland, no matter the time of year, and pick out hand crafted Christmas candles or select an ornament from the rows and rows of Christmas clad aisles.
For a quick bite, we headed into the Cider Bar and General store where flaky apple pies waited glowing inside the bakery case. While there are plenty of desserts to choose from, the most popular choice was easily the apple turnover with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Truly, the combo was unbeatable and the crust of the pie added the perfect flaky crunch to the gooey apple inside.
Because you can never get enough apple, I also ordered an apple cider to drink. It was a refreshing palate cleanser after the pie and ice cream.
If you’re looking for a meal on site, try the Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant. I’d recommend putting your name on the waitlist while you browse the Candy Factory, Creamery, and General Store.
If you care for wine, make sure to try out the Winery for plenty of apple infused drinks.
I visited in the winter when the orchards were barren, but if you visit during the fall, walk amongst the apple trees and pick your own to bring back home.
Even if you can’t spend the day here, I think the Apple Barn is a worthy stop outside of downtown Gatlinburg.
Day 4: Travel
Enjoy your trip back home! Make sure to stop at the Bucee's located in Sevierville if you didn't get the chance to on the way in.
When to Go
Now that you have a loose itinerary and a plan to try some delicious donuts, you’re probably wondering when you should go to Gatlinburg. Truth be told, I don’t have an answer for this. I’ve been to Gatlinburg in every season, and I truly think they each have something to offer tourists. Spring months are less busy than summer and allow for milder temperatures for hiking or walking the Strip. In the summer, all the trails are open and accessible and there are a variety of waterparks to choose from. Gatlinburg will be busier during this time, but this doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t visit. No matter the season, Gatlinburg is always busy.
The fall might be my favorite time to visit the mountains and that is entirely because of the beautiful foliage that sets the mountains ablaze with color. September and October can rival the summer months as far as business, but there’s a reason so many choose to visit Gatlinburg during this time.
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For lighter crowds and milder weather, consider going to Gatlinburg in the Spring (minus the first week or so in April when most schools are on Spring Break.)
For peak attractions and balmy weather, go to Gatlinburg in the summer.
For fall foliage and great hiking, visit Gatlinburg in the fall months.
If you want to see the Christmas decor or cozy up by a fire in the mountains, go to Gatlinburg in December.
Simply put, there is no “best time” to visit Gatlinburg. Consider your schedule and what is important to you on your trip, and know that anytime is a good time to experience Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains.