Note (October 2026): Earlier versions placed Dollywood in Gatlinburg; it is in neighboring Pigeon Forge. Clingmans Dome was officially renamed Kuwohi in September 2024, and the Hollywood Star Cars Museum now lists more than 50 vehicles.
The best things to do in Gatlinburg, Tennessee include driving to Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome), the highest point in the Smokies; touring the 11-mile Cades Cove loop; hiking Mount Le Conte on the Alum Cave Trail; skiing or riding the tram at Ober Gatlinburg; browsing the 8-mile Arts & Crafts loop; and visiting Dollywood in nearby Pigeon Forge.
Key Takeaways
- Gatlinburg sits at the busiest entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which drew 11.5 million visitors in 2025.
- Clingmans Dome was officially renamed Kuwohi on September 18, 2024; its access road is open April 1 to November 30.
- Dollywood is in Pigeon Forge, about 6 miles north of Gatlinburg, not in Gatlinburg itself.
- Park entry is free, but any vehicle parked in the park for more than 15 minutes needs a parking tag ($5 daily, $15 weekly, $40 annual as of October 2026).
- Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to cars on Wednesdays, typically from May through September.
If you’re planning your next vacation to explore a beautiful place in the States, then there lies a city among the lush green peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains, waiting to welcome you. That city is Gatlinburg, Tennessee, a mountain resort town of 3,577 residents (2020 census) beside the busiest entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which Wikipedia reports drew 11.5 million visitors in 2025, the most of any U.S. national park. Gatlinburg offers hiking, scenic drives, skiing, museums, shopping and mountain crafts within a short distance of each other.
Things To Do In Gatlinburg – Gatlinburg Attractions
Let’s dive into the unique monuments, sites, and festivals that this great city has to offer and list all the exciting things you can do at Gatlinburg.
Clingman’s Dome
Here’s a nature-centric getaway for you. As soon as you reach Gatlinburg, plan a trip to Kuwohi, the summit known as Clingman’s Dome (officially Clingmans Dome) until September 18, 2024, when the Cherokee name meaning “mulberry place” was restored. At 6,643 feet, Kuwohi is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains and in Tennessee. Kuwohi suits visitors who want a big mountain view without a long hike.
From Gatlinburg, the drive takes roughly an hour each way via Newfound Gap Road and then Clingmans Dome Road, which runs 6.7 miles from Newfound Gap and is open each year from April 1 through November 30. From the parking area, a half-mile paved but steep trail climbs to a 45-foot concrete observation tower built in 1959. On a clear day, the tower looks out over the surrounding ridges of the Smokies.
Cabins
The scenic city is home to some beautiful holiday cabins, chalets, cottages, and houses. If you wish to enjoy a cool dip in a beautiful, secluded fun area, with a great view of the mountains, then opt for Gatlinburg cabins with indoor pool before heading to enjoy Gatlinburg’s nightlife.
Alternatively, you can opt to stay at chalets or log cottages.
Ober Gatlinburg
If you reach Gatlinburg in winter and enjoy skiing, Ober Gatlinburg is the place for you. Ober Gatlinburg is a ski area and year-round adventure park with 11 ski trails (27% beginner, 55% intermediate, 18% advanced), night skiing and snowmaking. It traded as Ober Mountain from 2022 and returned to the Ober Gatlinburg name in April 2026. Many visitors reach the resort on the Gatlinburg aerial tramway, a 2.1-mile ride from downtown that takes about 10 minutes. The view from up there is breathtaking. You can ride a mountain coaster (earlier guides called it the Ski Mountain Alpine Coaster; Ober’s coaster is now listed as the Tennessee Flyer Mountain Coaster) and see native animals at the Smoky Mountain Wildlife Encounter.
Dollywood
Dollywood is a theme park in Pigeon Forge, the neighboring city about 6 miles north of Gatlinburg, rather than in Gatlinburg itself. Dollywood opened on May 3, 1986, covers 168 acres and is jointly owned by Herschend and Dolly Parton Productions. It is a place with lots of food, music, dance, and laughter all around. For those with a more adventurous heart, roller coasters would thrill them. Dollywood draws nearly 3.8 million guests a year, making it the biggest ticketed tourist attraction in Tennessee, and it has been reported to appear in best-theme-park lists from Tripadvisor and USA Today.
The Strip
A shopping spree during the vacations is a must, and there is no better place than ‘The Strip’ in Gatlinburg to indulge in it. The Parkway through downtown is lined with boutiques, galleries and eateries (an older count put the number at over 27; the mix changes often). Shops range from souvenir and sweet shops to galleries, and the same strip holds attractions such as the Gatlinburg Space Needle and the Hollywood Star Cars Museum.
Cades Cove
Cades Cove is a broad valley inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, toured on an 11-mile one-way loop road that is open from sunrise to sunset. The wildlife is a feature to behold, but the area has a rich history that you can explore – from the Cherokee settlement known as Tsiya’hi (“Otter Place”), recorded by 1797, to the first permanent Euro-American settlers, John Oliver and his wife, who arrived in 1818. Black bears and white-tailed deer are commonly seen.
Pancake Pantry
If you’re a big foodie, then Gatlinburg has tasty food to offer. Pancake Pantry, opened by Jim and June Gerding in 1960, is described as Tennessee’s first pancake house, and many visitors rank its pancakes among the best in the state. So as soon as you land in Gatlinburg, make a stopover at Pancake Pantry. Of course, a stack of their famous buttermilk pancakes is the thing you should be looking forward to.
Arts & Crafts Community
This city is the artist’s dream with a very well-established Arts & Crafts community. Established in 1937, the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community has more than 100 artists and craftspeople along an 8-mile loop on the north side of town. Tennessee tourism listings promote it as the largest group of independent artisans in North America. So if you’re an artist and happen to be in Gatlinburg, then this is the place for you.
Mount LeConte
Again, this is a delight for trekkers who are at Gatlinburg for vacations. Mount Le Conte (6,593 feet) has five trails to the summit, and the 4.9-mile Alum Cave Trail is the most scenic and most used, passing Arch Rock and Alum Cave Bluff. It has lots of notable and beautiful landmarks, and it is recommended that you plan a hike at Mount LeConte the next time you visit Gatlinburg.
Hollywood Star Cars Museum
Gatlinburg is also a hub for car enthusiasts! The Hollywood Star Cars Museum at 914 Parkway, open since 1996, displays TV and movie vehicles and cars once owned by celebrities.
As of October 2026, the museum lists more than 50 vehicles, including the 1966 TV Batmobile, the Ghostbusters Ecto-1 and the Munsters Drag-u-la; its website does not say whether visitors may sit in the cars. Of course, it’s a haven for a petrol-head, and you could go on for hours marveling at the beauties parked there.
Conclusion
Gatlinburg is the place to be! We’ve only listed a few of the many attractions that the great city has to offer.
Gatlinburg suits families, hikers, skiers and shoppers alike because its attractions sit close together. Plan your next vacation to the town, and you’ll be investing in a lifetime of beautiful memories. With that being said, happy holidays!
After dark, nightlife around Gatlinburg cabin rentals picks up where the daytime list stops.
Gatlinburg Attractions at a Glance
| Attraction | Type | Key fact | Season note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome) | Scenic summit | 6,643 ft; half-mile paved trail to tower | Road open Apr 1 – Nov 30 |
| Cades Cove | Valley drive, history, wildlife | 11-mile one-way loop | No cars on Wednesdays, typically May – Sep |
| Mount Le Conte | Hike | 6,593 ft; Alum Cave Trail 4.9 miles | Conditions change quickly at altitude |
| Ober Gatlinburg | Ski area and adventure park | 11 trails; 2.1-mile tram from downtown | Skiing in winter; other rides year-round |
| Dollywood (Pigeon Forge) | Theme park | 168 acres; opened 1986 | Check the park’s operating calendar |
| Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community | Craft studios and shops | 100+ artisans on an 8-mile loop since 1937 | Year-round |
| Hollywood Star Cars Museum | Museum | 50+ vehicles at 914 Parkway | Open daily 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. as of October 2026 |
| Pancake Pantry | Restaurant | Opened 1960 | Breakfast and lunch |
Do You Need to Pay to Enter the Smokies From Gatlinburg?
Great Smoky Mountains National Park charges no entrance fee, but the National Park Service requires a parking tag for any vehicle parked inside the park for more than 15 minutes. As of October 2026, tags cost $5 for a day, $15 for a week and $40 for a year.
- Daily and weekly tags can be bought online through Recreation.gov and printed; annual tags are sold online by the park’s nonprofit partner and shipped.
- Tags are also sold at park visitor centers and ranger stations and at 13 automated machines inside the park.
- Most trailheads have no tag machine, so buy the tag before driving to Kuwohi, Cades Cove or the Alum Cave trailhead.
- A physical tag must be displayed; a digital copy is not accepted. Holders of disability placards or plates are exempt.
- Tags are not needed on National Park Service fee-free days.
How Do You Get to Gatlinburg?
Gatlinburg is in Sevier County, Tennessee, 39 miles southeast of Knoxville. U.S. Route 441 runs through town and into the national park, and Pigeon Forge lies about 6 miles to the north, so Dollywood and Gatlinburg are easy to combine. For more ideas in the neighboring city, see these places to explore in Pigeon Forge.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Gatlinburg?
The best time depends on what you want to do, because several attractions are seasonal.
- Winter: Ober Gatlinburg runs ski trails with snowmaking, but Clingmans Dome Road to Kuwohi is closed outside its April 1 to November 30 season.
- Spring to fall: the Kuwohi road is open and high-elevation hikes such as Mount Le Conte are easier to plan.
- Summer: Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to cars on Wednesdays, typically May through September, which makes those days popular with cyclists and walkers.
- Busy periods: the National Park Service says Cades Cove traffic is heaviest in summer, in fall and on weekends year-round, so arrive early.
Tips for Planning a Gatlinburg Trip
- Allow two to four hours for Cades Cove, as the National Park Service advises, and longer if you hike.
- Pack layers for Kuwohi and Mount Le Conte, which both rise above 6,500 feet.
- Black bears are often seen in Cades Cove; watch from a distance and use pullouts when you stop.
- If you are weighing a cabin against a hotel, compare the trade-offs in this guide to booking a vacation rental instead of a hotel.
- Driving in by RV? This list of useful things to take on an RV trip helps with packing.
- Before buying extra cover, read about travel insurance add-ons you may not need.
Gatlinburg Wildfire History
In late 2016, a wildfire that started in the Chimney Tops area of the park spread into Gatlinburg, driven by wind gusts recorded up to 87 mph during a drought. According to Wikipedia’s summary, about 14,000 people were evacuated, more than 2,400 structures were damaged or destroyed, damages exceeded $500 million, and 14 people died. The town has since rebuilt and remains a major gateway to the park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dollywood in Gatlinburg?
No. Dollywood is in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, about 6 miles north of Gatlinburg. The two towns are often visited on the same trip.
What is Clingmans Dome called now?
Clingmans Dome was officially renamed Kuwohi on September 18, 2024, restoring the Cherokee name meaning “mulberry place.” At 6,643 feet, Kuwohi is the highest point in Tennessee and in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Is it free to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park from Gatlinburg?
Entry is free, but a parking tag is required to park for more than 15 minutes. As of October 2026, tags cost $5 per day, $15 per week or $40 per year.
When is Cades Cove closed to cars?
Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to vehicles on Wednesdays, typically from May through September. On other days the 11-mile one-way loop is open from sunrise to sunset.
Is Ober Gatlinburg open outside ski season?
Yes. Ober Gatlinburg operates as a year-round adventure park with a mountain coaster, a wildlife encounter, indoor ice skating and summer tubing, reached by an aerial tramway from downtown.
What is the most popular hike to Mount Le Conte?
The Alum Cave Trail is the most used and most scenic of the five summit trails. It is 4.9 miles one way and passes Arch Rock and Alum Cave Bluff.
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