Gatlinburg Trolley
Free transit, four routes, 365 days a year
The simplest answer to Gatlinburg's parking problem — park free at the Welcome Center and ride into town at no cost. Four color-coded routes reach the Parkway, Ober Gatlinburg, and the Arts & Crafts Community. Here's how to use it.
The Gatlinburg Trolley is the city's free public trolley system, running 365 days a year on color-coded routes around town. It's the easiest way to skip downtown parking: leave your car at the free Park N' Ride lot at the Welcome Center, ride into town, and hop on and off at stops along the way.
Fare: free on all Gatlinburg routes
Routes: Red, Blue, Purple, and Yellow (Yellow runs seasonally)
Main hub: Mass Transit Center at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
Free parking: Gatlinburg Welcome Center Park N' Ride, 1011 Banner Road
Runs: daily, year-round; hours vary by season
How the Gatlinburg Trolley works
The trolley is run by the City of Gatlinburg. There's no fare and no ticket. Just wait at a marked trolley stop, match the route color to where you're headed, and board. Every route connects at the Mass Transit Center beside Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, so you can switch routes there.
For real-time trolley locations and arrival times, download the city's trolley tracking app or check the live map on gatlinburg.com before you head to a stop.
Gatlinburg Trolley routes
Red Route
The Red Route serves downtown, with stops near many of the attractions along the Parkway. It's the route most visitors use to get around town.
Purple Route
The Purple Route connects the free Park N' Ride lot at the Gatlinburg Welcome Center, on the Spur coming in from Pigeon Forge, with downtown and the Mass Transit Center. If you're parking at the Welcome Center, this is your route.
Blue Route
The Blue Route serves East Parkway, City Hall and its Park N' Ride lot, the Community Center, and Rocky Top Sports World.
Yellow Route
The Yellow Route runs the eight-mile loop through the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community, with stops at studios and shops along the way, including the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum. It runs seasonally and less often than the downtown routes, about once an hour, so plan ahead.
Routes and stops can change, so check the current trolley map on gatlinburg.com or pick one up at the Welcome Center or Mass Transit Center.
Free Park N' Ride
1011 Banner Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Driving in from Pigeon Forge? Park for free at the Welcome Center on the Spur before you reach downtown, then catch the Purple Route into town. It's the simplest way to avoid circling for parking on busy fall and holiday weekends. A second Park N' Ride lot sits next to City Hall on the Blue Route. For other options, see our guide to parking in downtown Gatlinburg.
Hours
The trolley runs every day of the year, with longer hours in the busy spring, summer, and fall seasons and shorter hours on some winter days. Hours can change for holidays and special events, so check gatlinburg.com before you count on a late ride.
Getting to Pigeon Forge
The Gatlinburg Trolley stays in Gatlinburg, but you can connect to the Pigeon Forge trolley at the Gatlinburg Welcome Center. The Pigeon Forge system charges its own fare. See our guide to the Pigeon Forge trolley.
Accessibility
Gatlinburg trolleys are equipped with lifts or ramps for riders with mobility needs.
Tips for riding
Download the tracker app first — knowing when the next trolley is coming beats waiting at the stop.
Park at the Welcome Center — it's free, and you skip downtown traffic entirely.
Ride the Yellow Route to the Arts and Crafts Community — the loop is too long to walk, and the trolley makes it easy to visit several studios.
Plan your last ride — hours vary by season, so check when service ends before a late dinner.
Where the trolley can take you
The trolley reaches most of downtown Gatlinburg, including Anakeesta, the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park, the Space Needle, Ripley's Believe It or Not!, the Ober Gatlinburg tram, and plenty of restaurants. See all things to do in Gatlinburg.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Gatlinburg Trolley free?
Yes. There's no fare to ride any of the Gatlinburg Trolley routes.
Where do I park to ride the trolley?
Park for free at the Gatlinburg Welcome Center Park N' Ride, 1011 Banner Road, and ride the Purple Route into town. There's also a Park N' Ride lot next to City Hall.
Does the trolley run year-round?
Yes. It runs every day, with hours that change by season. The Yellow Route to the Arts and Crafts Community runs seasonally.
How do I track the trolley?
Use the city's trolley tracking app or the live map on gatlinburg.com for real-time locations and arrival times.
Can I take the Gatlinburg Trolley to Pigeon Forge?
Not directly. Ride to the Gatlinburg Welcome Center and transfer to the Pigeon Forge trolley, which charges its own fare.
Is there a Gatlinburg Trolley map?
Yes. Find the current map on gatlinburg.com, or pick one up at the Welcome Center or the Mass Transit Center.
Stay close to downtown with our cabins near the Gatlinburg Convention Center, or browse all of our Gatlinburg cabins. Book direct and the Stay & Play Pass includes free attraction tickets for every paid night.