Gatlinburg Attractions
Gatlinburg packs a lot into a small town. These are the attractions worth your afternoon, from the ridgeline parks to the aquarium to the Arts & Crafts loop just outside downtown.
Anakeesta
Plan your Anakeesta visit at 576 Parkway in Gatlinburg: hours, parking, how to get to the top, what admission includes, and Astra Lumina tips.
Arcadia
Arcadia is a Gatlinburg arcade at the base of the Space Needle, with 100+ games, a prize center, Slice Pizza and late hours. Fun for kids and grown-ups.
CLIMB Works
CLIMB Works in Gatlinburg: a guided two-hour mountaintop zipline tour with six side-by-side ziplines, sky bridges, a rappel and a UTV ride up.
Downtown Gatlinburg
Plan your day in downtown Gatlinburg: shops along the Parkway, parking, the trolley, seasonal events, and the national park entrance, all within walking distance.
Fannie Farkle's
Fannie Farkle's Arcade and Restaurant on the Gatlinburg Parkway has served the Ogle Dog since 1981. Foot-long corn dogs, arcade games and prizes.
Gatlinburg Live Webcams
Check live Gatlinburg webcams from Anakeesta, SkyPark and the Space Needle, plus national park cams at Kuwohi and Newfound Gap. Weather, crowds and views.
Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook
The Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook on the Gatlinburg Bypass offers sweeping views of downtown and the Smokies. Best at sunrise, in fall, and after dark.
Gatlinburg SkyPark
Gatlinburg SkyPark features the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America, a scenic yellow chairlift, mountaintop trails, and dining with panoramic Smoky Mountain views.
Gatlinburg Space Needle
Ride the glass elevator up the 407-foot Gatlinburg Space Needle for 360-degree views of the Smokies, then play at Arcadia and grab pizza at the base.
Gatlinburg Trolley
The Gatlinburg Trolley is free and runs year-round. See the routes, the free Park N' Ride at the Welcome Center, the tracker app and tips for riding.
Hillbilly Golf
Hillbilly Golf in Gatlinburg: ride an incline 300 feet up the mountain to two 18-hole mini golf courses with outhouses, stills and views. Since 1971.
Hollywood Star Cars
See 50+ famous movie and TV cars, from the 1966 Batmobile to the Ecto-1, at the Hollywood Star Cars Museum on the Gatlinburg Parkway. Tickets and tips.
Moonshine Mountain Coaster
Ride the Moonshine Mountain Coaster on the Gatlinburg Parkway: control your own speed, ride day or night, and see rider rules, tickets and tips.
Mysterious Mansion
Mysterious Mansion is a self-guided haunted house in Gatlinburg: three floors of a Victorian mansion with live actors and dark halls. Open since 1980.
Ober Gatlinburg
Ober Gatlinburg is a mountaintop ski area and adventure park above downtown, reached by aerial tram. Skiing, snow tubing, ice skating, coasters and more.
Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tram
Ride the Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway about two miles from downtown Gatlinburg up to Ober Gatlinburg, with mountain views all the way. Tickets and tips.
Ripley's Aquarium
Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg: a 340-foot shark tunnel, penguins, a stingray touch pool and more. Tickets, hours and tips for your visit.
Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Ripley's Believe It or Not! in Gatlinburg: three floors of odd-but-true artifacts, illusions and interactive exhibits on the Parkway. Tickets, hours and tips.
Ripley's Haunted Adventure
Ripley's Haunted Adventure is a year-round haunted house on the Gatlinburg Parkway with live actors and dark, themed rooms. Ages 6 and up. Tickets and tips.
Rocky Top Sports World
Rocky Top Sports World is an 80-acre sports complex in Gatlinburg with 7 fields and The Rock indoor arena. Location, facilities, and where to stay nearby.
Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum
The Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum in Gatlinburg holds 20,000+ sets from around the world, plus a pepper mill collection. Kids 12 and under get in free.
The Village Shops
The Village Shops in Gatlinburg is a cobblestone courtyard of more than two dozen boutiques, cafes and treats at 634 Parkway, next to Pancake Pantry.
Things to do in Gatlinburg, TN
Gatlinburg is a walkable mountain town at the main entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In a single day you can ride a gondola to a mountaintop park, cross a suspension bridge high above the trees, see sharks swim overhead, and still be on a trail in the national park before dinner. Here's how to plan it.
Mountaintop views and adventures
Ride the gondola to Anakeesta for treetop bridges, gardens, and mountain coasters, or head to the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park to ride the chairlift and walk the SkyBridge. Not sure which to choose? See our comparison of Anakeesta vs. the SkyLift Park. The aerial tramway carries you from downtown up to Ober Gatlinburg, with skiing in winter and adventure rides year-round. For a view from downtown, ride to the top of the Gatlinburg Space Needle.
Thrills and adventure
Fly over the forest on a guided zipline tour with CLIMB Works, or control your own speed on the Moonshine Mountain Coaster right on the Parkway. Brave enough for a scare? Try Mysterious Mansion or Ripley's Haunted Adventure. Nervous about heights? See our guide to Gatlinburg attractions for a fear of heights.
Museums and indoor fun
Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies is a downtown favorite, with a shark tunnel, penguins, and touch pools. Nearby, explore oddities at Ripley's Believe It or Not!, see famous movie and TV vehicles at Hollywood Star Cars Museum, or browse thousands of sets at the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum. For games, head to Arcadia or Fannie Farkle's, and for mini golf with a ride up the mountain, try Hillbilly Golf.
Arts, crafts, and the strip
Just outside downtown, the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community is an eight-mile loop of studios where you can watch artists at work and shop for pottery, woodwork, leather, and more. Back downtown, walk the shops and restaurants along the Parkway with our Gatlinburg strip guide, or explore downtown Gatlinburg. For a sip, visit the town's distilleries, wineries, and breweries, or find the hidden door to Alibi Speakeasy.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Gatlinburg sits right at the park entrance, and there's no entrance fee. Drive the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, head up to Newfound Gap and Kuwohi, or spend a day in Cades Cove watching for wildlife. Lace up your boots with our guides to hiking trails and waterfall hikes, and learn more on our Great Smoky Mountains page.
Gatlinburg with kids
Families love the aquarium, the mountain coaster, Hillbilly Golf, and the arcades downtown. For a full day of ideas, see our family adventure day in Gatlinburg. Traveling with a tournament team? Rocky Top Sports World hosts games and events all year.
Free and evening fun
Some of Gatlinburg's best moments cost nothing. Watch the sunrise from the Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook, browse the Arts and Crafts Community, or take a scenic drive in the national park. See our full list of free things to do in Gatlinburg. After dark, check out our guide to things to do in Gatlinburg at night, and in winter, don't miss the Winter Magic lights. See what's coming up on our Gatlinburg events page.
Getting around
Downtown Gatlinburg is made for walking, and the Gatlinburg Trolley connects downtown, the Arts and Crafts Community, and stops near the national park. Driving in? See our tips for parking in downtown Gatlinburg.
Free attraction tickets with every paid night
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Gatlinburg, TN?
Gatlinburg has Anakeesta, the SkyLift Park and SkyBridge, Ripley's Aquarium, Ober Gatlinburg, the Space Needle, mountain coasters, museums, the Arts and Crafts Community, and easy access to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
What can you do in Gatlinburg for free?
Walk downtown, visit the Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook, browse the Arts and Crafts Community, and explore the national park, which has no entrance fee.
What is there to do in Gatlinburg with kids?
Ripley's Aquarium, the mountain coaster, Hillbilly Golf, the arcades, and Anakeesta are all family favorites.
Is Gatlinburg walkable?
Yes. Most downtown attractions, shops, and restaurants are within walking distance, and the Gatlinburg Trolley covers the rest.
How can I get free attraction tickets?
Book your cabin directly with Colonial Properties. The Stay & Play Pass gives your reservation one free ticket to each attraction on the list for every paid night. Tickets are per reservation, not per guest.
Stay close to the action. Browse our Gatlinburg cabins, our cabins near Anakeesta, and our cabins near downtown Gatlinburg. See where to eat with our guide to Gatlinburg restaurants.