Where to Stay in the Smoky Mountains – Pigeon Forge vs. Gatlinburg vs. Cherokee
Choosing where to stay in the Smoky Mountains can make a big difference in the type of vacation you have. Between Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Cherokee there are benefits and downfalls to each spot. Here we’ll lay out which towns are best depending on how you want your vacation the Smoky Mountains to go!
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The Overview: Pigeon Forge vs. Gatlinburg vs. Cherokee
One of the most important things to know before visiting the Smoky Mountains is where you’re going to stay! These spots are all great, but have really different vibes, so you’ll want to make sure you choose the hub that makes the most sense for your family.
Staying in Pigeon Forge
LOTS of kid friendly activities and options for family friendly resorts. Many of the activities here cost money and it’s not as pretty or outdoor focused as Gatlinburg or Cherokee. You’ll also have to drive 20-40 minutes one way to get into the National Park.
Staying in Gatlinburg
Gatlinburg is the most common place to stay in the Smoky Mountains and for good reason. It has so many fun activities, good restaurants, and beautiful places to stay. It’s also really close to the park entrance. However, it can be crowded and a bit congested with traffic.
The Pros & Cons of Staying in Gatlinburg
Staying in Cherokee
Cherokee is where you’ll want to be if you are looking to escape from the commercialized area and people! It’s much more low key and has easy access to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Keep in mind that you won’t have access to many restaurants or a huge variety of places to stay because it’s much less touristy.
Where to Stay in Pigeon Forge
PROs of Staying in Pigeon Forge
- There are lots of kid friendly activities in Pigeon Forge
- It’s slightly less busy than Gatlinburg
- There are a lot of options for hotels
- It’s closer to the Knoxville Airport compared to Gatlinburg
CONs of Staying in Pigeon Forge
- It’s farther away from the National Park so it will add drive time if you plan on visiting the park daily
- It’s pretty touristy and a lot of the activities are expensive
- There can be pretty bad traffic between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg
Pigeon Forge is generally considered the most family friendly town to stay in near the Smoky Mountains. There are a ton of activities that you can take your kids to in Pigeon Forge like Dollywood, The Island at Pigeon Forge, Dolly Parton’s Stampede, The Old Mill and so much more.
It’s definitely a more commercialized vacation if you stay in Pigeon Forge, so keep that in mind when you’re deciding where to stay in the Smoky Mountains. It’s absolutely possible to stay in Pigeon Forge and still explore the National Park, but be aware that it will add 20-40 minutes of driving time one way to get to the park, depending on traffic.
If you’re looking for more commercial activities and fun kid friendly resorts, this can be a great place to stay. It does have less for mountains and nature so if you’re looking for more of an outdoor adventure in the Smokies, you’ll probably want to choose Gatlinburg or Cherokee.
Hotels in Pigeon Forge
- Margaritaville Island Hotel – a fun family friendly hotel with ALL the amenities and a fun pool
- Country Cascades Waterpark Resort – super kid friendly for families who love playing in the water!
- Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort – so many family friendly amenities including a pool, arcade, and more!
- Creekstone Inn – budget hotel option centrally located in Pigeon Forge
Vacation Rentals in Pigeon Forge
- Treetop Village – beautiful cabin in the trees that sleeps 6 and has a hot tub
- Cozy Cabin – affordable cabin that sleeps 4 less than a mile from downtown Pigeon Forge
- Beautifully Decorated Cabin – Sleeps 6 and has a hot tub, outdoor pool, and a cozy fireplace
Camping Near Pigeon Forge
- Creekside RV Park
- Appalachian Springs
- Camp Margaritaville RV Resort
- Under Canvas Smoky Mountains (located in Seiverville)
Highlights of Pigeon Forge:
One of our favorite parts of Pigeon Forge was the Island at Pigeon Forge which is free to enter and you can watch a free light show. There are several rides and attractions you can pay for inside.
We also loved visiting the Old Mill. We got to watch a blacksmith make tools, eat at the Old Mill Pottery House Cafe (very tasty!) and have a free moonshine tasting at the Old Forge Moonshine Distillery.
Dollywood is another favorite activity in Pigeon Forge if you’re looking for a fun theme park experience. We haven’t made it there yet, but I’ve only heard great things.
Where to Stay in Gatlinburg
PROs of Staying in Gatlinburg
- You can find a ton of good restaurants and activities here
- It’s really close to the Sugarlands National Park entrance
- You can see black bears even in town
- There are a lot of amazing places to stay here
- Quick access to a lot of easy hikes in the Smokies
CONs of Staying in Gatlinburg
- Traffic can be really bad
- Sugarlands area is the busiest section of the park
- Parking downtown can be expensive
- It’s way more touristy and less of a wilderness experience
Gatlinburg is the most popular place to stay for people visiting the Smoky Mountains. It’s located just outside of the Sugarlands entrance to the park with easy access to the Smoky Mountain scenic drives and trails. Because it’s such a popular place to stay in the Smokies, it’s tough to escape the crowds in town. Parking can be tough (but you can skip paying for parking if you avoid these mistakes!) and you’ll usually experience long waits for restaurants especially for breakfast and dinner.
There are a ton of choices for beautiful and fun accommodations whether you’re looking for hotels, vacation rentals, or camping. And you’ll have so many fun experiences to choose from as well as delicious restaurants.
Just keep in mind that lots of other people will be staying and exploring here, so if you’re looking to avoid crowds, this might not be the spot for you – unless you take off and spend all day everyday in the National Park (also a great choice!)
Family Friendly Hotels in Gatlinburg
- The Greystone Lodge on the River – Fun hotel with a waterslide and located downtown so it’s easy to walk to popular restaurants and attractions
- Hotel Indigo Gatlinburg – beautiful modern hotel in downtown Gatlinburg with stunning rooftop views!
- Bearskin Lodge on the River – family friendly hotel with a lazy river!
Best Vacation Rentals in Gatlinburg
- Cozy Cabin – Sleeps 6 and has a hot tub!
- Riverside Cabin – Close to town and sleeps 6
- Downtown Vacation Home – affordable, sleeps 8, and is walkable!
Camping Near Gatlinburg
- Elkmont Campground (inside the National Park)
- Twin Creek RV Resort
- Camp LeConte
Highlights of Gatlinburg:
One of the main highlights of Gatlinburg for us was visiting Anakeesta! It was a great family friendly experience and definitely worth the money. We also loved eating at the Pancake Pantry, seeing black bears in town, and getting ice cream at Smoky Mountain Coffee & Creamery.
We also loved being so close to the park so we could get an early start in the National Park to escape the crowds. If you only have one day in the Smoky Mountains, I would suggest staying in Cherokee or Gatlinburg so you can get an early start into the park.
Where to Stay in Cherokee
PROs of Staying in Cherokee
- It’s MUCH less busy compared to Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge
- It’s way less touristy and more peaceful
- It’s cheaper than Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge
- You’ll have easy access to the Blue Ridge Parkway
CONs of Staying in Cherokee
- Much less choice for restaurants and commercial activities
- Not nearly as many choices for accommodations
- Less park infrastructure here like Visitor Centers, etc.
Cherokee is a bit of an underrated place to stay in the Smoky Mountains. It’s much less commercialized compared to the first two options, and can be a great option if you’re looking to explore the Blue Ridge Parkway or have a little more of an outdoorsy quiet experience in the Smokies.
With it being so much less touristy, you’ll also get less choice of fun places to stay, restaurants, gift shops, etc. We encountered so many less people during the time we spent in Cherokee and our hikes felt very peaceful and we loved it!
It’s also quite a bit farther from Knoxville, so depending on whether you flew or drove to the Smoky Mountains, this may add some travel time to your trip. Another benefit is that you can save some money by choosing to stay in Cherokee.
Hotels in Cherokee
- Great Smokies Inn Cherokee – Rustic hotel with excellent reviews, a pool, and mountain views
- Harrah’s Cherokee – a mountain hotel with 20 restaurants near a casino, has a game room for kids and an indoor pool
- Stonebrook Lodge Cherokee – seasonal pool, continental breakfast, and hot tub
Vacation Rentals in Cherokee
- Affordable Cozy Cabin – sleeps 4 and has a gas fireplace and fishing access
- Appaloosa Cabins – right near downtown Cherokee, sleeps 4
- River View Cabin – sleeps 6 with a hot tub and fireplace
Camping Near Cherokee
- Cherokee KOA
- Bradley’s Campground and Cabins
- River Valley Campground
Highlights of Cherokee:
Our favorite parts of being in Cherokee was hiking to Mingo Falls, driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and exploring the Oconaluftee area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
Our Choice for Best Places to Stay in the Smokies?
Personally, we would recommend splitting your trip into two and staying in two different areas so you can have the best of both worlds. If you only have two days in the Smokies I would probably stay in one spot, but more than that you could split it up!. It’s so hard to choose and each spot has benefits and are so fun to explore. There are so many incredible things to do in the Smoky Mountains no matter which area you choose to focus on.
It’s also possible to stay in other small towns around the edge of the Smoky Mountains and there are some really cool vacation rentals around the park. Just make sure to look where the nearest entrance station is so that you don’t end up driving extra to get into the park.
I hope this guide was helpful for choosing where to stay in the Smoky Mountains! We love Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Cherokee so you really can’t go wrong. Enjoy the beautiful Smoky Mountains with your family and learn more with our ultimate guide to the Smokies!!
