Gatlinburg Travel Guide
Weather, best time to visit, and the best food, culture, nature and activities.
Typical prices
- Budget meal$13.00
- Mid-range meal$30.00
- Cappuccino$4.50
- Domestic beer$6.00
- Taxi (per km)$2.20
- Public transport ticket$2.00
- Museum entry$18.00
- Mid-range hotel (night)$180.00
Food & Drink
- The Peddler SteakhouseSteakhouse · $$$
Longtime Gatlinburg steakhouse where diners choose their own cut and toppings, seated along the Little Pigeon River.
- Pancake PantryBreakfast · $
Tennessee's first pancake house, open since 1960, famous for its long lines and dozens of pancake varieties.
- The Park GrillSteakhouse · $$$
Rustic-lodge-style steakhouse on the Parkway known for its mountain trout and hickory-grilled meats.
- Crockett's Breakfast CampBreakfast · $$
Popular breakfast spot themed around Davy Crockett, known for its giant cinnamon rolls and skillet dishes.
- Smoky Mountain Trout HouseSeafood/Appalachian · $$
Local favorite serving fresh mountain trout prepared multiple ways, a Gatlinburg specialty.
- Ole Smoky Moonshine Holler
Original moonshine distillery and tasting bar on the Parkway with live bluegrass music.
- Sugarlands Distilling Company
Downtown distillery offering moonshine tastings and a rooftop bar with mountain views.
Culture & History
- Ripley's Believe It or Not! Gatlinburg
Odditorium museum on the Parkway showcasing Robert Ripley's collection of strange artifacts and illusions.
- Salt & Pepper Shaker Museum
Quirky museum displaying thousands of vintage salt and pepper shaker sets from around the world.
- Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales
Summer street festival featuring musicians and storytellers performing along the Parkway.
Nature & Outdoors
- Laurel Falls
One of the most popular waterfall hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, reached via a paved 2.6-mile round trip trail.
- Rainbow Falls
The tallest single-drop waterfall in the Smokies at about 80 feet, reached via a moderately strenuous trail from Cherokee Orchard.
- Clingmans Dome
Highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains at 6,643 feet, with an observation tower offering 360-degree views.
- Mount LeConte
Iconic Smoky Mountain peak reachable via several trails including Alum Cave, with the historic LeConte Lodge near the summit.
Active & Fun
- Dollywood
Dolly Parton's Smoky Mountain theme park in nearby Pigeon Forge, known for the Lightning Rod coaster and Southern craft demonstrations.
- Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
Large aquarium in downtown Gatlinburg with a moving glass-bottom boat ride over shark tanks.