11 Tips to Help You Get the Most Out of Your Gatlinburg Trip

First, before beginning your adventure, stop by the Gatlinburg Welcome Center where you can get answers to all your questions, buy parking tags for the Smokies, park your car to ride the free trolley, and pick up a Gatlinburg Vacation Guide or a little souvenir.

Second, you should download the free Visit Gatlinburg app. Not only is it a guide for all things Gatlinburg, but by tapping the plus sign on places or events that interest you, the app builds a customized itinerary for you under the My Plan section which you can use the map to navigate your trip in Gatlinburg. 

Now that we have our digital guide, we’re going to take a stroll along the Parkway because Gatlinburg is extremely walkable. Many of the most popular attractions and restaurants are downtown, meaning you’ll just need to park once in a city lot or garage and walk where you want to go.

Speaking of parking, you can find more information in the parking section of the app or on our website including live parking updates for two of our city garages. Of course, if you don’t want to spend all day on your feet, you can always hitch a ride on a free Gatlinburg Trolley. Be sure to download the free Trolley Locator app to find your route and check arrival times. 

As you can see, walking is also a great way to explore every corner of the city and also find some fun photo ops like the mural outside Smith and Sons or the Gatlinburg sign in front of the Convention Center. Gatlinburg has several murals and photo op locations you can visit. The Self-Guided Tour section on the app has fun, free adventures like our seasonal scavenger hunts such as the Scarecrows or Snowpeople.  Depending on the time of year you visit, check out the Challenges section on the app to participate in Gatlinburg Pancake Week or GatlinBURGER Week to win cool prizes.

Now, if you’re on a budget and looking to get the most bang for your buck without breaking the bank, check out the Deals & Discounts page for an updated list of discounts and special offers at places to eat, stay, play, and shop all over town.

As we pass by an iconic section of Gatlinburg known as The Village, you'll find it’s one of many places to shop around here with 27 unique stores. If you want to see all your options, get a selfie or just take a break, have a seat at the iconic fountain and check the Shopping section on the app or website to discover the more than 500 shops in Gatlinburg. It takes the whole shop till you drop thing to a new level. 

Oh, hey look, there’s a bear statue where you can take a selfie. You'll find several of these along the parkway during the summer months. This is a good reminder that Gatlinburg is in bear country. You may see one of our black bear neighbors strolling around, especially early in the morning or after sundown, and it’s important to remember that they’re wild animals and we want them to stay that way. You can find more information about black bear facts and safety tips you need for your trip or watch our bear safety video.

If you’re on a spontaneous day trip or you’re just a go-with-the-flow kind of traveler, check out the events section of the app or website for everything happening around Gatlinburg, especially if it’s near a holiday because we have some amazing festivities and parades happening throughout the year. 

When you reach the end of the Parkway at traffic light #10, this marks the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is where you will also find the Gatlinburg Trail - the only pet-friendly trail on the Tennessee side of the park. It’s an easy, 2-mile tree-lined walk along the river so you can take it at your own pace. Check the Smokies section of the app or website for more information.

We’re coming close to the end of our walk so I want to call out a few spots that weren’t on our route today, like a pleasant, scenic drive like the world-renowned Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community where you can visit master artists and craftsmen at work all along an 8-mile loop, or the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, which is one of the Smokies’ most popular scenic drives.