Gatlinburg or Gatlinberg? The Correct Spelling (And Why It Matters)
Published Feb 23, 2026
If you've been typing "Gatlinberg" into your search bar and wondering why the results look slightly off — you're not alone. It's one of the most common misspellings in the entire Southeast tourism market, and it happens for a very understandable reason. Here's the answer, the history behind the name, and everything worth knowing about the correctly spelled city waiting for you in the Smoky Mountains.
The correct spelling is Gatlinburg
G-A-T-L-I-N-B-U-R-G. The "u" before the "rg" is the detail that trips people up. Not Gatlinberg, not Gattlinburg, not Gattenburgh — Gatlinburg. If you're searching for cabin rentals, restaurant recommendations, attraction tickets, or hiking trails, always use the correct spelling to make sure you're finding accurate, current information for the right city.
Why do so many people write "Gatlinberg"?
Two reasons, and both make complete sense.
Pronunciation
When spoken at a natural conversational pace — especially by people who've heard the name but never seen it written — "Gatlinburg" can come out sounding like "Gatlinberg." The distinction between the "u" and "e" sounds collapses in casual speech.
The "berg" pattern
Hundreds of American cities end in "berg" — Harrisburg, Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, Heidelberg. The "berg" ending is deeply familiar, borrowed from the German word for mountain or hill. Gatlinburg ends in "burg" — the same German root, similar meaning, different vowel — and for people whose brains are pattern-matching against those other city names, "berg" feels like the natural completion.
Other common misspellings spotted in search data: Gattlinburg, Gatlenburgh, Gattlinberg, Gatlinberg, Gatlinbug. All wrong. All Gatlinburg.
The history behind the name
Gatlinburg wasn't always called Gatlinburg. The original settlement in this part of the Smoky Mountains was known as White Oak Flats — named for the white oak trees that covered the valley floor when the first European settlers arrived in the late 1700s.
The name Gatlinburg came from Radford Gatlin, a storekeeper and postmaster who established a general store in the community in the 1850s. Gatlin was a figure of some controversy — local accounts suggest he was eventually run out of the community over his sympathies during the Civil War — but his name stuck to the town long after he left. The post office officially adopted the name Gatlinburg, and it has remained unchanged ever since.
The "burg" suffix is straightforwardly Germanic in origin, meaning "town" or "fortified place" — the same root found in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and Gettysburg. It's a common ending in American place names with German-influenced or Scots-Irish heritage, which fits the Appalachian settlement pattern of the Smoky Mountains well.
What makes Gatlinburg worth visiting (however you spell it)
Now that the spelling is settled, here's why millions search for Gatlinburg every year.
The national park at the doorstep
Gatlinburg sits literally at the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park — the most visited national park in America. In under 10 minutes from downtown, you're in old-growth forest with 800+ miles of hiking trails, waterfalls, and one of the most biodiverse temperate ecosystems on the planet.
Year-round mountain town energy
Unlike many mountain destinations that feel like seasonal ghost towns off-peak, Gatlinburg is genuinely alive every month. Winter brings holiday lights and Ober Gatlinburg skiing; spring brings wildflower season and Dollywood's opening; summer fills the Parkway with street performers, candy stores, and evening energy; fall brings the most anticipated foliage in the Eastern United States.
The Parkway itself
The Gatlinburg Parkway — "the Strip" — is two miles of walkable entertainment: Ripley's Aquarium, the SkyPark chairlift, Anakeesta, Ole Smoky Moonshine, the Space Needle, candy stores that have been pulling taffy since the 1930s, and restaurants ranging from pancake houses to fine dining, most of it free to browse. See our full Gatlinburg Strip guide.
The Arts & Crafts Community
Eight miles of independent artisan studios and galleries just east of downtown — the largest collection of independent artisans in North America. Pottery, blown glass, hand-forged knives, woodworking, quilts, and paintings, all made by the people selling them.
Distilleries and live music
Ole Smoky Moonshine offers free tastings and live bluegrass daily; Sugarlands Distilling has award-winning craft spirits and weekend live music; and Blake Shelton's Ole Red and Jason Aldean's rooftop bar bring Nashville energy to the Parkway every night.
Gatlinburg quick facts
- Location: Sevier County, Tennessee, at the northern entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Elevation: ~1,289 feet at the Parkway; surrounding mountains rise to 6,643 feet at Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome)
- Distance from Pigeon Forge: ~8 miles south — about 15 minutes by car
- Distance from Knoxville: ~45 miles — about 50 minutes by car
- Annual visitors: More than 12 million visit the surrounding national park each year
- Named after: Radford Gatlin, a merchant and postmaster in the community in the 1850s
- Original name: White Oak Flats
Frequently asked questions
Is it Gatlinburg or Gatlinberg?
Gatlinburg — always. The correct spelling ends in "burg," not "berg." The city is named after Radford Gatlin, an early settler, and the "burg" suffix means town or fortified place.
Why do people misspell Gatlinburg?
The most common reason is that "berg" appears in hundreds of other American city names (Harrisburg, Gettysburg, etc.), making it a natural default for people who've heard the name but haven't seen it written. "Burg" and "berg" also sound similar when spoken quickly.
Where is Gatlinburg, Tennessee?
Gatlinburg sits at the northern entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Sevier County, Tennessee — about 8 miles south of Pigeon Forge and roughly 45 miles southeast of Knoxville.
What is Gatlinburg known for?
National park access, the Gatlinburg Parkway (the Strip), Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, Anakeesta, Gatlinburg SkyPark, Ole Smoky Moonshine, the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, and some of the best cabin-rental scenery in the Eastern United States.
How do you pronounce Gatlinburg?
GAT-lin-burg — three syllables, emphasis on the first. The "burg" rhymes with "berg" in casual speech, which is part of why the misspelling is so common.
What was Gatlinburg called before?
White Oak Flats — named for the white oak trees in the valley. The name changed to Gatlinburg in the mid-1800s after Radford Gatlin established a store and post office in the community.
Now that you have the spelling down, start planning. Browse Colonial Properties' Gatlinburg cabin rentals — mountain-view decks, private hot tubs, and the national park right outside the door. For more on the town's story, see our surprising facts about Gatlinburg.
