Snow Tubing in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg: Complete Guide

The Smoky Mountains has two genuinely different snow tubing options — an outdoor mountaintop hill at Ober Gatlinburg that runs when the season allows, and an indoor year-round facility in Pigeon Forge that's open every day regardless of weather. Here's everything you need to know about both.

Outdoor Snow Tubing at Ober Gatlinburg

1339 Ski Mountain Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 | (865) 436-5423 | obermountain.com
Season: approximately Thanksgiving through Easter, conditions permitting

Ober Gatlinburg's outdoor tubing hill sits at 3,340 feet above sea level on the mountaintop above Gatlinburg — accessible by car up Ski Mountain Road or by the aerial tramway from 1001 Parkway downtown. The hill is 350 feet long with a 50-foot drop, served by a Magic Carpet conveyor lift that carries riders and their tubes back to the top after each run. No hiking, no hauling — just ride down, step on the carpet, and go again.

Sessions are 90 minutes. The hill uses SnowMagic technology and tower-mounted snow guns to maintain reliable snow conditions independent of natural snowfall, which is what allows it to operate consistently through a Southern winter.

Pricing (current season):

Day sessions: $48 for ages 5 and up on non-holiday weekdays; $53 on weekends; $63 during Christmas and New Year's week. Ages 3–4 are free with a paying adult (plus a $3 RFID card fee). Ages 2 and under are not permitted.

Early Bird session (9 AM–11 AM): Lower rate than standard day sessions — check obermountain.com for current Early Bird pricing. The freshest groomed lanes and shortest waits of the day.

Cosmic Tubing (evening): Available on select dates — colorful lights and music as darkness falls. Check obermountain.com for current evening session availability and pricing.

Age and height requirements: Ages 3 and up. Ages 3–5 (or under 42 inches tall) must ride with a paid adult (18+). Ages 6 and up (42 inches or taller) may ride alone. Ages 2 and under are not permitted.

⚠️ Waivers required before arrival. Tickets cannot be scanned until all required waivers are signed. Each adult must complete their own waiver; the purchasing adult signs for themselves and all minors. Waivers are emailed after ticket purchase — complete them before leaving the cabin to avoid check-in delays that eat into your 90-minute session.

Tips for Ober Gatlinburg tubing:

Buy tickets online in advance. Sessions sell out on peak winter weekends and holiday periods. Same-day walk-up tickets may not be available. Purchase at obermountain.com.

Dress for the summit, not the valley. Temperatures at Ober Gatlinburg run 10–15°F colder than Gatlinburg's valley floor, with wind chill making it feel colder still. Layers, waterproof gloves, a warm hat, and closed-toe shoes are required. Sandals and open-toe footwear are not permitted.

The tram is not included. Aerial tramway admission is separate from the tubing ticket. You can drive up Ski Mountain Road instead.

Arrive early for the Early Bird session. Sessions are 90 minutes and cannot be changed or rescheduled. No refunds.

Indoor Snow Tubing at Pigeon Forge Snow

Pigeon Forge | pigeonforgeshow.com | Open year-round, every day
Temperature: 60–70°F indoors | Real snow, no synthetics

America's first year-round indoor snow facility — a 35,000-square-foot building with real snow produced entirely from water, maintained at a comfortable 60–70°F regardless of the outdoor season. You can go snow tubing in July in shorts. You can come in out of August heat and be in real snow within minutes of parking. No weather dependence, no seasonal availability, no layers required.

The facility has 12 lanes of downhill tubing on a 225-foot run at speeds up to 30 mph, served by a conveyor lift back to the top. A separate snow play area allows guests to build snowmen, make snow angels, and throw snowballs — specifically designed for younger children who aren't old enough or tall enough for the tubing lanes. A viewing balcony lets parents watch while kids play. A snack bar serves hot chocolate, coffee, and snacks.

Age and height requirements: Tubers must be at least 3 years old and 38 inches tall. No maximum age limit. The snow play area is open to all ages with no height requirement.

Pricing: Check pigeonforgeshow.com for current ticket pricing before your visit — rates update seasonally. Combo tickets (tubing + snow play) are typically available at a discount over separate purchases.

Tips for Pigeon Forge Snow:

No reservation required. Walk-up tickets are available — just show up. On busy days the wait can be meaningful, so arriving when they open gives you the shortest lines.

Dress appropriately. At 60–70°F, you don't need a winter coat — regular clothes work fine. Closed-toe shoes are required; flip flops are not permitted. The snow is real, so shoes will get wet.

Best for all seasons. This is the option when it's July, when you're visiting in October during fall foliage, or when natural snow conditions at Ober Gatlinburg are uncertain. If outdoor tubing is your goal, Ober Gatlinburg delivers a more authentic mountain experience. If all-season reliability and a warm indoor environment are priorities, Pigeon Forge Snow is the better choice.

Ober Gatlinburg vs. Pigeon Forge Snow: Which Is Right for Your Group?

Choose Ober Gatlinburg if: You're visiting between November and March, you want the full outdoor mountaintop snow experience, you have older children or adults who want a faster and longer hill, or you want to combine tubing with other Ober Gatlinburg activities (skiing, ice skating, mountain coaster, Wildlife Habitat).

Choose Pigeon Forge Snow if: You're visiting outside of winter, you have very young children (ages 3+) who need a gentle introduction to snow, you want guaranteed availability regardless of weather, or you want a warmer, indoor experience where regular clothes are appropriate.

Both have: Magic carpet conveyor lifts, minimum age of 3, and real snow. The main differences are setting (outdoor mountaintop vs. indoor facility), season (winter only vs. year-round), temperature (cold vs. 60–70°F), and hill size (350-foot outdoor vs. 225-foot indoor).

Frequently asked questions

Is snow tubing available year-round in the Smoky Mountains?

Yes — through Pigeon Forge Snow's year-round indoor facility. Ober Gatlinburg's outdoor tubing hill is seasonal, typically Thanksgiving through Easter, conditions permitting.

How old do you have to be for snow tubing?

Ages 3 and up at both facilities. At Ober Gatlinburg, ages 3–5 (or under 42 inches) must ride with an adult. At Pigeon Forge Snow, tubers must be at least 38 inches tall; the snow play area has no height minimum.

Do I need to buy Ober Gatlinburg tubing tickets in advance?

Yes — strongly recommended. Sessions sell out on peak winter weekends and holidays. Purchase at obermountain.com and complete your waivers before arriving to avoid check-in delays.

What is the Early Bird session at Ober Gatlinburg?

A 9–11 AM morning session at a reduced rate from the standard day session — the freshest groomed lanes and shortest wait times of the day. Check obermountain.com for current Early Bird pricing and availability.

Can I get a refund if Ober Gatlinburg closes due to weather?

No — Ober Gatlinburg tubing tickets are non-refundable, non-transferable, and cannot be rescheduled. Check current operating conditions at obermountain.com before purchasing.

What should I wear for snow tubing?

For Ober Gatlinburg: warm layers, waterproof gloves, a hat, and closed-toe shoes. The summit is 10–15°F colder than Gatlinburg's valley floor. For Pigeon Forge Snow: regular clothes work fine at 60–70°F indoors. Closed-toe shoes required at both.