How to get around Gatlinburg

Alternate Routes in Gatlinburg

Travel Alert 

The North Carolina Department of Transportation has reported a rockslide on Interstate 40 near the Tennessee-North Carolina line.  The interstate is open with one lane in both directions while repairs are made.  The speed limit is 45 MPH and motorists can expect delays during heavy travel periods.  The lanes are expected to reopen in early April.

If you wish to avoid this area, the official NCDOT detour route is: Westbound traffic from Asheville, NC take I-240 east to I-26 west into Tennessee. Then, take I-26 down I-81 south back to I-40. Eastbound traffic should follow in reverse: I-40 to I-81 to I-26 to I-40. It’s about 160 miles long.

Visitors who wish to take the scenic route through Cherokee, NC over Hwy. 441 to Gatlinburg need to check with Great Smoky Montains National Park about weather-related road closures before traveling this route.

You can stay up to date on road conditions at the following websites:

NCDOT Road Conditions
https://www.drivenc.gov

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Road Conditions 
https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm
https://twitter.com/smokiesroadsnps

Click here to view our alternate routes map.

Once You're Here

You can now hop aboard the Gatlinburg Trolleys all day long for just $2 a day. This includes unlimited access to the Red, Blue, Purple and Yellow Trolley routes. The All-Day Trolley Pass is now sold at both Gatlinburg Welcome Centers, City Hall and the Mass Transit Center adjacent to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. You can also take individual routes, and the average fee starts at 50 cents. Exact change is required. Check the Gatlinburg Trolley map below for all the routes and fees.

You can view the locations of the trolleys and get a PDF of the Gatlinburg Trolley map below. The trolley map also shows local parking lots and decks. Gatlinburg has more than 17 parking lots conveniently located throughout the downtown area for easy access. Just look for the blue parking labels. Parking fees vary based on locations. Service animals are allowed.

Gatlinburg Trolley Map

Click here to view the Gatlinburg Trolley map.

Map of Gatlinburg Business Locations

Click here to find all of Gatlinburg’s businesses.

Where to Park

Finding a place to park in Gatlinburg is easy. With several public and private parking lots located throughout the downtown area, an open space is never far away.

Parking on River Road is free, but parking is limited.

The city staffs two large parking garages: one at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies and the other at Traffic Light #3, the McMahan Parking Garage. There’s a Park-n-Ride lot at the Highway 441 Welcome Center on Banner Road and another Park-n-Ride on East Parkway at the City Municipal Complex. Three city surface lots are available–on Parkway at the north end of town, on Reagan Drive and on Bishop Lane.

There are quite a few privately owned parking lots on River Road and along Historic Nature Trail, some offering a flat rate and others charging by the hour. There are also several privately owned parking lots and a garage on the Parkway on the south end of town.

If parking worries you, consider Gatlinburg’s Mass Transit Trolley System. Just hop on a trolley and ride wherever you want to go.

Vehicle Rentals

Need to rent a car? How about a 4×4? Local rental companies offer a great selection of cars, SUVs, motorcycles, ATVs, scooters and dune buggies. Mobility scooters are also available. Limousine services are available for weddings, corporate and scenic tours, trips to the airport or a fun night
out on the town.

Shuttles

If you’re looking for a shuttle from the airport to Gatlinburg or a scenic tour of the Great Smoky Mountains, several businesses offer shuttles to the Cherokee casino, your outdoor adventure destination, University of Tennessee home games and Bristol races. Historical tours and group shuttle transportation services are also available.