What are the best places to stay in the Smoky Mountains? This is one of the questions I get asked often by friends and coworkers. My answer for this one is not simple, because one size does not fit all here. There are several things to consider when finding the best places to stay in the Smoky Mountains. The first part is what types of activities you plan to do. This will help you decide which side of the mountains to stay on. Next you want to decide what type of lodging your family prefers. Does your tribe enjoy the outdoors, or prefer to stay inside to avoid any potential weather factors?
How do I pick which town to stay in?
The first component in choosing the best place to stay in the Smoky Mountains is to identify what your itinerary might look like. This is important to limit the amount of time spent in the car driving (or sitting in traffic) to your activities. You want to maximize your time on vacation, right?
Gatlinburg is a great place to stay for your Smoky Mountain getaway. There are numerous hotels and condos on the Gatlinburg strip where visitors take advantage of being able to walk to shops, restaurants, and local attractions. If you prefer to be more secluded, Gatlinburg also has an abundance of cabins and condos. A lot of them come with beautiful mountain views and opportunities to see wildlife. Another popular destination is Pigeon Forge. The Pigeon Forge strip is lined with go-kart tracks, shopping, restaurants, putt-putt courses, oh and hotels. Lots of hustle, bustle, and noise here. There are also a ton of cabins throughout the Pigeon Forge area. If you plan to spend several days at Dollywood Theme Park, shopping at the outlet mall, or hitting the go-cart tracks, then Pigeon Forge is your spot. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are both very busy, high-traffic areas.
Townsend, known as ‘the quiet side of the Smokies’, is great if you are seeking a less crowded option. Townsend is a totally different vibe from Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge. There are still things to do such as shopping, restaurants and some outdoor attractions, but much fewer. Cades Cove is about a 15-minute drive from Townsend which is a great for those who like to frequent that area of the park. Cherokee, located in North Carolina is another scenic place to stay. Cherokee is filled with culture, elk-viewing, fishing and history. There is also a casino there.
What type of accommodation?
Now that you have picked the best place to stay in the Smoky Mountains, now you can pick what type of lodging is best for you. There is no shortage of hotel options in the Smoky Mountain area. Hotels are great for families looking for convenience and parking. There are countless chain hotels throughout the area but many of the family-owned hotels have great reviews as well. Swimming pools, complementary breakfast , spas, valet parking are just some of the sought out options available. Hotels vary from budget to luxury, with all the options.
Cabins are a wonderful way to escape the crowds during your adventure. Cabins are generally in quiet, more secluded areas. Perfect for your couples getaway or for big groups. The options are endless with cabins: indoor pools, hot tubs, arcade games, theater rooms, grills, just to name a few. Another perk to renting a cabin is having a full kitchen during your stay. There are many different ways to rent cabins including local cabin rental companies and travel websites such as Airbnb or VRBO.
If you love the outdoors, camping is your way to go. There are tons of campgrounds to chose from, some places even within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Playgrounds, swimming pools, and activities are just a few amenities that you will find at most. Safari tents are a great way to stay at a campground if you don’t own a RV, or there is always the option of renting an RV or tent camping. Who doesn’t love a good campfire? Don’t forget the smores!
Final thoughts
Honestly, all of these options are the best places to stay in the Smoky Mountains. It just depends on your family preferences as to which is the best fit for your trip. Only occasionally do we stay in the same place twice, there are so many unique places to stay in the Smoky mountains. Another thing to consider when planning your trip is the potential weather. For example, planning a camping trip in the middle of Winter may not be the best experience. When surrounded by the Smoky Mountains, there really isn’t a bad place to stay. Happy planning!
Here are some links to some of our favorite places to stay:
https://theridgeoutdoorresort.com/