Best Places to Stay in Gatlinburg → Guide with Prices and Tips

Hi there! Welcome to Gatlinburg, your getaway to the Great Smoky Mountains! Today, we talk about the best places to stay in Gatlinburg!

As a lifelong lover of America’s mountain resorts, I did my research and carefully checked ALL the hotels, cabins, and lodges in Gatlinburg! I cherry-picked the top-rated ones that I’d personally stay in with my family and made sure to offer enough options for all budgets!

But why stop there? I also share some insider tips on activities and things to do, and I also have a special bonus on the best family-friendly places to stay in Gatlinburg! I know a lot of you are coming with the little ones!

Whether you’re visiting in the summer, for the fall foliage, or for Christmas, the area is beautiful all year long! But choosing the right type of accommodation makes the experience so much better, and that’s where this read comes in handy!

Oh, and a quick reminder about 2 most important things: pack some comfy walking shoes and book your hotel in advance!

Quick Picks for Your Stay

Check out my quick selection of the 3 best places to stay in Gatlinburg sorted by budget:

Overview of the best areas to stay in Gatlinburg

To be honest, you can feel the coziness and charm of Gatlinburg all over the place. Where exactly you should stay comes down to personal preference – would you rather be downtown, just steps from the restaurants and artisan shops? Or in a secluded cabin with a private jacuzzi?

Here are your 3 best options:

• Parkway (Downtown) – This is where all the fun, shops, and eateries are; the downtown area of Gatlinburg has all of the major attractions and even some nightlife! Most of the hotels, inns, motels, and B&Bs are here. Locals also refer to this area as The Strip!
• iver Road – Tucked in behind Parkway, River Road runs along the West Prong Little Pigeon River. It’s ideal for families or anyone who wants to just jump out of their hotel and go on casual strolls by the river, all within walking distance of the action. Plenty of 2- and 3-star hotels are available here.
• Ski Mountain Road – Your getaway to the Ober Mountain (map) with plenty of lodges and cabins on the way, as well as easy biking and hiking access all year long.

Gatlinburg has a free trolley that operates throughout the city, so regardless of where you stay (within its range, here’s a map), you can just hop on and explore the downtown without worrying about parking!

Types of accommodation in Gatlinburg

Gatlinburg and its surroundings have tons of accommodation options! Here’s a quick overview: 

	Features	Best for	Average price range	Recommendation
Hotels	Central location, seasonal pools, flexible pricing & rooms	Couples, families	US$100 and up	Margaritaville Resort
Cabins & chalets	Seclusion, privacy, luxury	Big groups, luxury seekers	US$150 and up	Elk Springs Resort
Inns & motels	Simple rooms, small properties, central location	Budget travelers	US$100	Gatlinburg Inn
Camping	Tents, RVs, trailers, treehouses	Independent travelers	From US$25 to US$200	Camp LeConte

Hotels

Most Gatlinburg hotels are centrally located along Parkway and River Road. Naturally, hotels cater to the broadest type of travelers, so you’ll find budget to mid-range options for couples as well as family-friendly hotels with tons of amenities for kids.

Top recommendation: Margaritaville Resort

Vacation rentals (cabins and chalets)

Ideal for large groups and families, cabins and chalets are literally all over the place in the area, but naturally a bit outside of the city center. There are dozens of cabin rental agencies where you can choose options for all budgets or ask for specific amenities like private home theater rooms, hot tubs, etc.

Top recommendation: Elk Springs Resort

Inns and Bed & Breakfast

Small properties like inns and bed & breakfast are also widely available in Gatlinburg, and they mostly cater to budget and mid-range travelers. They’re widely available in the central areas around Parkway. Motels are also available if you’re looking for really cheap accommodation.

Top recommendation: Gatlinburg Inn

Camping

The Smoky Mountain area is a paradise for campers, and there are plenty of places to stay all around Gatlinburg. The highest concentration of camping grounds is in Pigeon Forge, just a 10-minute drive North of Gatlinburg.

Top recommendation: Camp LeConte

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Best accommodation in Gatlinburg

Luxury hotels (US$200 and up)

• Margaritaville Resort – Welcome to Gatlinburg’s most upscale mountain resort with 3 swimming pools, a fitness center, spacious family rooms, and a perfect location to enjoy all of Gatlinburg on foot! Check out Jimmy’s Hideaway for the ultimate luxury experience in your own bungalow! Or if you’re limited with budget, they also have mid-range options.
• Historic Rocky Waters Inn – A 4-star inn very close to luxury with cozy rooms with a balcony, a scenic location by the river, and just steps from the free Gatlinburg tram stop. 
• Berry Springs Lodge – Located slightly outside of Gatlinburg (a 20-minute drive), the Berry Springs Lodge is the ultimate place for comfort and relaxation. Enjoy lovely decor, rooms with a balcony, fireplace, and a hot tub, plus water park access!

Luxury vacation rentals (cabins, chalets)

• Elk Springs Firefly Lodge – Firefly Lodge is my personal favorite luxury cabin from Elk Springs Resort (it comes with your own theater room, a hot tub, and a wooden interior). They have tons of other luxury cabins. Feel free to explore them in detail!
• Mountain Laurel Cabins – I’ve never seen so much elegance in mountainside cabins! This cabin rental resort is among the top-rated ones for a reason! Animal lovers – there’s a wild animal road just next to the cabins, so be ready for some amazing bear sightings!

Mid-range hotels (from $150 to $200)

• Gatlinburg Inn – The oldest inn in town dating from 1937, located in the middle of everything! Enjoy the nice pool, cozy interior, and adorable vintage feel! They serve free breakfast, too.
• Greystone Lodge on the River – An iconic hotel with a seasonal outdoor pool, a gym, spacious family rooms, and a central location right next to the strip! Plus, it’s one of the many places where you can see bears from your balcony! How cool is that?
• The Park Vista – Another popular hotel with lovely views, a multi-level indoor pool with slides for kids, and a restaurant serving delicious Southern fare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Fairfield Inn & Suites – Book early for amazing deals in this 3-star hotel with a delicious breakfast, amazing staff, and super clean premises. Celebrating an anniversary or birthday? Tell the staff in advance and they may just create the most memorable bed décor for the occasion!

Budget hotels (up to $150)

• Marshall’s Creek Rest Motel – This 2-star motel offers everything you need for a pleasant stay: comfy beds, a seasonal outdoor pool, free parking and Wi-Fi, and a quiet location walkable to the strip.
• Carr’s Northside Hotel and Cottages – Possibly the best value for money in Gatlinburg, this hotel has cozy, budget-friendly Queen rooms, a children’s playground, and huge beds! The scenery is amazing and bear sightings are quite common!

Tips and things to know for your stay in Gatlinburg

Here are some practical tips and things to know that’ll help you thoroughly plan your trip:

• Most hotels and lodges have free parking, so you won’t have to worry about spending extra on parking fees.
• Use the free tram to get around Downtown. 
• Bears roam around the area, and you may see one from your hotel room! Also, there may be bugs and spiderwebs everywhere. But even as someone who can’t stand insects, I say just accept it, as it’s all part of the experience! Hotel staff will always help you enjoy bear sightings all while staying safe!
• Book your hotel as early as possible to secure the best room or lodge type at the best prices.
• You can visit Gatlinburg all year long, but the highest season is during the summer break (naturally). September and October are the most beautiful times of the year to plan your visit due to all the fall foliage.
• Traffic can be pretty bad in Gatlinburg from 10 AM to 8 PM. Do most of your driving during the slow hours.
• If you’re visiting in the winter when there’s snow, get an ice scraper for the windshield and fill up on gas. Also, if you have the choice, drive in the lane farther from the edge of a mountain or the river.

Best things to do in Gatlinburg

Now, you may be thinking that Gatlinburg is just a convenient stop for exploring the Smoky Mountains National Park because it’s located near its main entrances. But did you know there are also tons of fun things to do in the actual city?

Here are some of my absolute recommendations:

Stroll down the Parkway

Parkway is the ultimate spot for shopping, dining, and sightseeing in Gatlinburg! From the iconic Needle (map) and its observation deck to the scenic Little Pigeon River where you can walk (map), the area is filled with attractions. And with all the bars, pubs, and wineries around, you’re guaranteed to never be hungry or thirsty!

Explore the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community

This gorgeous 8-mile strip is the ultimate place to be if you want to shop for some unique gifts for friends and family (and why not for you!). The Great Smoky Arts and Crafts community awaits with unique wood crafting shops, pottery, jewelry, soaps, but also fresh jams, spirits, and other delicacies!

FUN FACT: The Great Smoky Arts and Crafts is the largest independent artisan community in the nation!

Take the kids to the main attractions and theme parks 

There are tons of attractions for kids visiting Gatlinburg! From the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies (map) to the Anakeesta (map) adventure park to the unique Salt & Pepper Shaker Museum (map), you can keep the small ones entertained for days. Oh, and don’t forget the 

Gatlinburg SkyPark bridge (map) for the ultimate adrenaline release!

Go wine tasting in the state’s oldest winery

A local favorite and the state’s oldest, Smoky Mountain Winery (map) is the place for couples on their romantic getaways! Go wine tasting in a pleasant atmosphere and explore a variety of tastes, and maybe even get a nice souvenir from their gift shop!

For wine lovers, there’s plenty to explore in the area!

👑 Luxury price:	US$250
🏨 Mid Range:	US$150
🛏️ Budget:	US$100
🛎️ Best luxury hotel:	Margaritaville Resort
🧳 Best mid-range hotel:	Gatlinburg Inn
👛 Best budget hotel:	Marshall’s Creek

BONUS: Best family-friendly places to stay in Gatlinburg

Gatlinburg is such a popular destination for families, I’m sure you’ll want to read more about accommodation that specifically caters to them! Well, to give you a quick glimpse, I cherry-picked the 3 BEST family-friendly stays, one for every budget:

• The Magnolia in Treehouse Grove ($$$) – A unique place to stay in Gatlinburg, your very own luxury treehouse! The cabins come with hot tubs, a fire pit, and are located near the popular theme parks that the kids will certainly enjoy!
• Embassy Suites by Hilton ($$) – Mid-range to luxury experience with their signature 2-room suites ideal for families with older kids! And don’t get me started on the pool area; it is definitely the highlight of this mountain resort!
• Carr’s Northside Hotel and Cottages ($) – I already mentioned this one in the main part of the text, but here I’d like to highlight that they also have an on-site mini market, a picnic area, and vending machines with snacks and drinks that’ll all come in handy when staying with the little ones!

I’d also like to say that almost all of the accommodations I recommend in the main part of the article are also very family-friendly! What can I say, Gatlinburg is a prime destination for family vacations, and most of its hospitality infrastructure caters to them!

And since pets are also part of the family, I’m happy to tell you there are over 270 pet-friendly properties in Gatlinburg!

FAQs about the best places to stay in Gatlinburg

Final thoughts

That’s all, dear adventurer! By now, you should be ready for your Gatlinburg adventures! If you ask me, nothing beats a wooden cabin when you’re out in nature, but the town has so many accommodation options I’m sure you’ll find the best place to stay in Gatlinburg for you!

And if you’re still indecisive, these are my favorite lodges in the area:

• Berry Springs Lodge – balcony hot tub with mountain views, giant fireplace, and lovely rooms with wooden elements? I’m all in!
• Greystone Lodge on the River – this one’s an absolute classic but with freshly redone rooms, and you can never go wrong with that!

Oh, and a final reminder to book your hotels in Gatlinburg in advance! The best spots sell out quickly!

Enjoy your time in Gatlinburg and let me know if you have any other suggestions or questions! Just drop a comment below, and me and my team will be happy to help!

Happy travels,

Darija

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