Gatlinburg Breakfast Restaurants
Gatlinburg is a breakfast town, and the line out the door is usually the tell. Here's where our team eats, and roughly when to show up if you'd rather not wait.
Crockett's Breakfast Camp
Crockett's Breakfast Camp on the Gatlinburg Parkway serves giant griddle cakes, fried cinnamon rolls and Appalachian breakfasts, 7 AM to 1 PM daily. Tips and menu.
Flapjack's Pancake Cabin
Flapjack's Pancake Cabin has three Gatlinburg locations serving scratch-made pancakes and Southern breakfasts, with gluten-free pancakes and online ordering.
Log Cabin Pancake House
Log Cabin Pancake House on Airport Road in Gatlinburg serves scratch pancakes, crepes and all-you-can-eat biscuits and gravy. Family-owned since 1976.
Pancake Pantry
Pancake Pantry on the Gatlinburg Parkway has served scratch-made pancakes and crepes since 1960. Hours, wait times, takeout and tips for your visit.
The Donut Friar
The Donut Friar has made fresh donuts and pastries in Gatlinburg's Village Shops since 1969, still run by the Ryan family. Cinnamon rolls, éclairs and coffee.
Breakfast in Gatlinburg
Breakfast in Gatlinburg means pancakes, biscuits and gravy, and plates big enough to carry you through a morning on the trails. The town is known for its pancake houses, several of them family-run for decades, and most sit right on or just off the Parkway. Here's how they compare, plus a few tips for skipping the morning lines.
The best-known breakfast spots
Scratch-made pancakes and crepes on the Parkway since 1960, with more than two dozen kinds of pancakes. Lines form early on busy mornings, so arrive before 8 AM or call ahead for takeout.
Thick griddle cakes, fried cinnamon rolls, and big Appalachian breakfasts in a log-cabin setting near the national park end of town. Join the online waitlist before you head over.
A family-owned log cabin on Airport Road, serving pancakes, crepes, and all-you-can-eat biscuits and gravy, with breakfast served all day.
Three Gatlinburg locations with scratch-made pancakes, including gluten-free stacks, and online ordering for pickup.
Fresh donuts and pastries next to Pancake Pantry in The Village, a quick, early start before a day on the Parkway.
More morning options
Craving something sweet? Pick up donuts at Mad Dog's Creamery & Donuts on East Parkway, or grab a breakfast sandwich and coffee at Tennessee Jed's downtown. For the best pancakes in Gatlinburg in one week, plan a February trip around Gatlinburg Pancake Week.
Tips for breakfast in Gatlinburg
Go early — lines peak between about 8:30 and 10:30 AM on weekends and in busy seasons. Arriving near opening usually means little or no wait.
Use the waitlists — Crockett's and Flapjack's let you get in line online before you leave your cabin.
Try a weekday — weekday mornings are noticeably quieter.
Order to go — several pancake houses offer takeout, and breakfast on the cabin deck is hard to beat.
Mind the hours — most breakfast spots close by early afternoon, so don't plan on pancakes for dinner.
Plan your parking — downtown spots fill fast in the morning. See our tips for parking in downtown Gatlinburg, or ride the Gatlinburg Trolley.
After breakfast
Head into the Great Smoky Mountains for a morning hike, ride the gondola to Anakeesta, or explore downtown Gatlinburg. See all things to do in Gatlinburg and Gatlinburg restaurants for lunch and dinner.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I eat breakfast in Gatlinburg?
Pancake Pantry, Crockett's Breakfast Camp, Log Cabin Pancake House, and Flapjack's Pancake Cabin are the best-known breakfast spots in town.
How long are the breakfast waits?
They're longest between about 8:30 and 10:30 AM on weekends. Arrive near opening or use an online waitlist where available.
Which breakfast spots take online waitlists?
Crockett's Breakfast Camp and Flapjack's Pancake Cabin both offer online waitlists.
Where can I get breakfast all day?
Log Cabin Pancake House serves breakfast all day until it closes in the afternoon.
Are there gluten-free pancakes in Gatlinburg?
Yes. Flapjack's and Pancake Pantry both offer gluten-free pancakes.
Make breakfast a short drive with our Gatlinburg cabins and cabins near downtown Gatlinburg. Book direct and the Stay & Play Pass includes free attraction tickets for every paid night.