Where to Stay in Gatlinburg (Best Places & Areas)

👉 Jump to: Best Places to Stay in Gatlinburg | Neighborhoods & Areas | Tips | FAQs

I grew up visiting Gatlinburg on family vacations, and now that I live in Tennessee, I love bringing my children to this cute mountain town. I’ve stayed in hotels and cabins both in Gatlinburg and in nearby towns.

If it’s your first time in Gatlinburg, I suggest staying in the Downtown area where you can walk to many of the biggest attractions. My top hotel pick is the Gatlinburg Inn, which has a great location and is also a stop on the Tennessee Music Pathways.

Of course, thanks to the town’s popularity as a tourist destination, there are plenty more options for where to stay in Gatlinburg. Keep reading, and I’ll break down my honest pros and cons of each area.

First up is a quick summary of my favorite hotels here.

Best Places to Stay in Gatlinburg

If you’re short on time, these are my top picks: 

• 🏆 Best Overall Hotel – Gatlinburg Inn
• 🗺️ Best Location – Gatlinburg Inn
• 💎 Best Luxury Hotel – Dollywood DreamMore Resort
• 👪 Best for Families – Twin Mountain Inn & Suites
• 🛎️ Best Boutique – Dancing Bear Lodge
• 🛏️ Best Budget – River Bend Inn

Ok, now scroll down for a deep dive into the pros (and cons) of each area of Gatlinburg: 

4 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Gatlinburg

Gatlinburg is a small town with significantly more tourists than residents. Most hotels are concentrated around the Downtown area. 

Many people also choose to stay in one of the towns near Gatlinburg when they visit the area, so I’ve included those top spots in this guide as well.

Downtown Gatlinburg

👉 Best Area For First-Time Visitors | ✨ Best Downtown Hotels: Gatlinburg Inn• Holiday Inn Express• Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg

Downtown Gatlinburg is sometimes also called the Gatlinburg Strip or Gatlinburg Parkway. This incredibly popular area hosts many of Gatlinburg’s biggest attractions, including the Gatlinburg Space Needle, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, and Anakeesta.

It really is impressive just how much is packed into this small area. You can find great restaurants, bars, shopping, and other attractions all within walking distance. The strip even branches off into brick-paved sections at several points where you can browse adorable gift shops or sit on benches by fountains.

I recommend that first-time visitors stay in Downtown Gatlinburg because there is so much to explore here. Plus, you can have Downtown to yourself in the mornings before the crowds arrive, and you can use the Gatlinburg Trolley to get to other parts of the town.

Another nice perk is that you can avoid paying for parking by staying at a hotel on the Parkway. 

One of my top favorites is the Gatlinburg Inn. Not only does it have a great location, but it has some cool history as well. Felice and Boudleaux Bryant wrote the song “Rocky Top” while staying in Room 388!

Pros of Staying in Downtown Gatlinburg:

• Easy walk to attractions
• Plenty of restaurants and bars
• Avoid public parking fees

Cons of Staying in Downtown Gatlinburg:

• Very crowded
• Once you leave Downtown, there’s traffic to get back in

Greater Gatlinburg

👉 Best Area For a Local Experience | ✨ Gatlinburg Hotels: Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort

There isn’t an official name for the part of Gatlinburg that isn’t on the Strip, so I’ve called it Greater Gatlinburg to differentiate. The Downtown area hosts Gatlinburg’s biggest attractions, but the rest of the town has its own charm, too.

Staying outside of Downtown is the best way to get a local experience. You can drive the loop that takes you through the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community to find passionate artists and craftspeople making everything from pottery to glass and woodcarvings.

I recommend staying outside the Strip in Gatlinburg if you want easy access to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but aren’t as interested in the crowds or touristy attractions Downtown. 

Most of the accommodations outside Downtown Gatlinburg are vacation rentals rather than hotels. However, one good hotel option is the Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort, which has two pools and a game room for guests.

Pros of Staying in Greater Gatlinburg:

• Fewer crowds
• More local shops and restaurants

Cons of Staying in Greater Gatlinburg:

• You’ll likely have to pay for parking if you go Downtown unless you are near the trolley

Pigeon Forge

👉 Best Area For Families | ✨ Best Pigeon Forge Hotels: Dollywood DreamMore Resort • River Bend Inn • Twin Mountain Inn & Suites

Pigeon Forge is another small mountain town in the area that’s full of family-friendly fun! 

It’s impossible to mention Pigeon Forge without bringing up Dollywood, one of Tennessee’s biggest attractions. It’s a theme park with exciting rides, great food, and high-quality entertainment. You can even stay at the Dollywood DreamMore Resort to extend the fun for your entire visit.

The town is also home to the Titanic Museum, Wonderworks, Dolly Parton’s Stampede, the Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster, and much more. There’s plenty to keep all ages entertained.

Pigeon Forge is located right next to Gatlinburg, and it’s where my family typically rents a cabin when we bring our children to the area. 

Pros of Staying in Pigeon Forge:

• Has a wider range of activities
• Generally has less traffic than Gatlinburg

Cons of Staying in Pigeon Forge:

• You’ll need to drive more to get around
• There will be traffic driving to Downtown Gatlinburg

Townsend

👉 Best Area For Outdoor Adventure | ✨ Best Townsend Hotels: Tremont Lodge & Resort • Dancing Bear Lodge

Townsend is another small town in the area that’s roughly a 45-minute drive from Gatlinburg. 

Just like Gatlinburg, Townsend has an entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The town has lots of outdoor activities, including hiking, mountain biking, and tubing on the river. I also enjoyed taking a tour through Tuckaleechee Caverns when I last visited.

The Townsend area is less built up than Gatlinburg. While the town gets visitors, it’s not the enormous crowds that Gatlinburg gets. Townsend is perfect if you’d rather spend most of your time enjoying the outdoors in the Smoky Mountains and still be able to drive into Gatlinburg one day to see the attractions there.

Dancing Bear Lodge is a rustic-inspired lodge that’s perfect for a quiet evening after spending the day exploring the Smoky Mountains.

Pros of Staying in Townsend:

• Easy access to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Fewer crowds

Cons of Staying in Townsend:

• It’s roughly a 45-minute drive from Gatlinburg
• More limited dining and fewer tourist attractions

Tips for Staying in Gatlinburg

Expect Crowds and Traffic

Gatlinburg is a very popular vacation spot for most of the year. Expect that there may be traffic delays entering Gatlinburg as well as when you leave to get back onto the Interstate.

Use the Trolley System

Gatlinburg has a free trolley system that you can use to get around. It’s quick and convenient, and you can even take it to get from Downtown to the Arts & Crafts Community.

Plan for One Major Attraction Each Day

There’s a lot to do in Gatlinburg, as it’s home to some of the biggest attractions in Tennessee. However, I recommend planning out one big must-do attraction per day. 

That way, you’ll have some structure to your day along with the freedom to explore any of the smaller attractions that catch your eye while you’re there, like stopping at a candy shop to buy some homemade fudge!

Make Sure to Spend Time Outdoors

Gatlinburg has so many tourist attractions that it can be easy to forget that the area’s natural features are what originally attracted visitors in the first place. 

Plan to visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, take a hike, go mountain biking, or try out another outdoor activity while you’re visiting.

Book Your Accommodations Early

While there is no shortage of hotel rooms and cabin rentals in and around Gatlinburg, you’ll get the best pick if you book earlier. This is especially true when school is out for summer vacation, when the leaves change in the fall, and for winter holidays.

I recommend my guide on the best time to visit Tennessee for more info on when to plan your trip.

FAQs

What are the best areas to stay in Gatlinburg for first-timers?

The best area to stay in Gatlinburg for first-timers is the Downtown area. You’ll be able to walk to lots of attractions from your hotel, and you won’t have to worry about paying for parking.

What are safe areas to stay in Gatlinburg?

In general, most areas of Gatlinburg are relatively safe. Some people may feel safer staying in the Downtown area because there will be lots of other visitors around. Like anywhere, you should be aware of your surroundings.

What are the best parts of Gatlinburg to stay with kids? 

Families visiting Gatlinburg with kids may want to consider staying nearby in Pigeon Forge because it has a larger number of kid-friendly activities. However, families with very young children might prefer staying at a hotel in Downtown Gatlinburg because you can easily walk back to your hotel for naptime.

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I hope I’ve helped you figure out your best option for where to stay in Gatlinburg! Up next, check out my guide on places to visit in Tennessee.