Best Places to Stay in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Looking for the best places to stay in Great Smoky Mountains National Park? There are many areas to choose from, and the best place for you really depends on what you are looking for and what your travel style is!
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Are you wanting to stay as close as possible to the park? Do you want tons of other attractions, or maybe you want some peace and quiet? All these options are possible, and luckily none of them leaves you with a long drive to the park.
Between charming towns in North Carolina, tourist areas in Tennessee or quaint towns on the west side of the park, we can find the just-right spot for your family to make it the perfect vacation to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
I’ll give you some hotel and cabin/rental suggestions in addition to info on each area.
If you’re wondering where to stay in the Great Smoky Mountains, this will help you decide and find the perfect place!
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Why do I use hotels.com?
Short answer, because I get rewards for free stays and they have given me GREAT customer service for 10+ years.
Longer answer:
I’ve tried another popular booking company and it was a disaster. They did not care in the least when a booking was messed up on their end. The hotel didn’t care. I was in a pickle.
However, during covid, I used hotels.com and was also in a pickle when we were flying to Mexico and no one knew if the hotel we were going to was actually open or not. I called hotels.com and they put us up in another hotel (and upgrade! That’s how we experienced Royal Haciendas!)
Another time our car broke down on the way to our destination. Since I was within 24 hours, I couldn’t get a refund from the hotel. I reached out to hotels.com and, maybe because I was a gold member, they refunded it themselves.
I’m not saying to expect those results for everyone and every time. It’s not policy to upgrade or refund when something happens. I’m just saying their service is WAY better than other sites I’ve used.
Plus, every time I book, I can earn OneKey Cash, which combines with VRBO and Expedia (I use them for rental cars) for rewards money towards any future trip.
Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge is the most popular area to stay in at Great Smoky Mountains. It’s about 11 miles from town to the Newfound Gap Rd entrance of the park by Sugarlands Visitor Center. The nice thing is that there is a bypass from Pigeon Forge to Great Smoky Mountains that avoids making you drive through Gatlinburg. This really saves drive time from being stuck in traffic.
Pigeon Forge is loaded with attractions. If you’ve ever been to Branson, Missouri, Pigeon Forge is similar. In fact these two towns share a lot of the same attractions (like the Titanic museum, WonderWorks, Behind the Lens, Hollywood Wax Museum).
It also has Dollywood, the popular amusement park; all-seasons snow tubing, and an outdoor gravity park for a unique family experience.
The town also has lots of fun family-friendly shows. Our schedule was full, but the Pirates Voyage show looked amazing. They also offer magic shows, comedy shows, lumberjacks, and the Dolly Parton Stampede.
👉🏼Where to Stay in Pigeon Forge
Best Option:
HeartSong Lodge is a top-rated, great place to stay in Pigeon Forge. You’ll get a seasonal outdoor pool (with a great kids area) and year-round indoor pool. Rooms can sleep up to 6 and there is a restaurant on site for convenience.
The downside is, because it is a nicer and larger hotel, you’ll have to pay for breakfast and parking. But guests loved the convenient location to attractions like Dollywood (and reviews mention that fast-passes for Dollywood are included in your stay, making your visit to the park much better.)
Pigeon Forge Budget Option
La Quinta Inn and Suites is a great option for those on a budget. You’ll get a great indoor pool area, free daily breakfast, and free parking. It’s located within walking distance to plenty of shops, restaurants, and attractions like Dolly Parton’s lumberjack show.
Pigeon Forge Cabin
This cabin really takes you away with incredible views, an awesome kitchen, plenty of space, a hot tub and great balconies to enjoy the views.
Sleep 6 people comfortably across 3 bedrooms, enjoy the community indoor heated pool, and escape to nature, while still being within 10 minutes of many big attractions in Pigeon Forge.
Gatlinburg
Gatlinburg is a great place to stay when visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s kind of like Pigeon Forge, but slightly smaller. You’ll get tons of big attractions like Ankeesta where you can walk among the trees on bridge walkways, Moonshine mountain coaster, and Ripley’s aquarium. The town also boasts plenty of mini golf and a scenic tram.
Gatlinburg hosts plenty of hotels and restaurants, but also gives quick access to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The south side of town is the Newfound Gap entrance and just a few minutes from Sugarlands Visitor Center. A few minutes to the other side is the entrance to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail where you could spend an entire day exploring (lots of waterfalls over here).
👉🏼 Where to Stay in Gatlinburg
Best Option
Margaritaville is a top place to stay in Gatlinburg, bringing beachy vibes and an incredible outdoor pool area which includes a waterslide and dedicated kids splash area.
Rooms can sleep up to 6 if you use the sofa bed, or you can request an adjoining room for more space. Enjoy the on-site spa and on-site restaurant. The downside is breakfast is not included. But whether you pay for breakfast here or go to one of the so very many pancake places in town, you’ll eat well!
Another Great Option in Gatlinburg
The Glenstone Lodge is located in the heart of Gatlinburg. The hotel is nice and can sleep up to 4 in a room. But the kids will love this place thanks to the huge indoor pool so weather doesn’t have to ruin pool time. If the weather is nice, you can also use the outdoor pool.
You can walk to many local attractions, like the Ober Mountain tram, Gatlinburg Space Needle, Sky Park, Convention Center, and Ripley’s Aquarium.
Gatlinburg Budget Option
SureStay is where we stayed in Gatlinburg, and it worked perfect. We didn’t have a fancy pool (just a small normal one), but we did have a huge room for the 6 of us. It came with a normal size mini-fridge and microwave, plus free daily breakfast.
One of the best parts was the location. It sat right along a river, just two blocks from the main street in Gatlinburg, and just a couple blocks from the entrance to Newfound Gap in the national park. If you want to stay close to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this is as close as it gets.
Gatlinburg Rental Pick:
This pick is a little cabin-y on the outside, but pretty modern on the inside. A huge kitchen and living area overlook the incredible mountain views, but you’ll still be pretty close to town.
You’ll get over 3,000 square feet to share with up to 11 people. 3 bedrooms sleep 6 people while the downstairs living area has two futons and a twin bed, sleeping 5 more (great for kids!)
Parking is easy and the walkway is accessible into the house (a nice long ramp to get in, if you need). The deck is huge with plenty of seating to take in the views. You have to see this rental in Gatlinburg!
Townsend
Townsend is a great little town on the north and western side of the park. It’s great for getting to areas like Cade’s Cove and Spruce Flats Falls quickly.
Townsend is also great if you do NOT want all the flashing lights and crowds like Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Staying here will make your drive slightly longer to other areas of the park, but really not that hard to get to.
Townsend has plenty of hotels, a few restaurants, and even a grocery store. This is a great place for a rental since it’s a little more low-key. Hit up the grocery store, make some easy meals at your rental, and enjoy a little extra peace and quiet.
We split our time on where we stayed in Great Smoky Mountains. We spent 3 days in Gatlinburg for quick access to most of the park, and then spent our final day in Townsend to access the western side more quickly. Since we flew into Nashville, this also cut down our drive time slightly on our last night to head back.
👉🏼 Where to Stay in Townsend
Best Place to Stay in Townsend
Dancing Bear Lodge is the best, cutest place to stay in Townsend. This property has both rooms and cabins. I suggest a cabin as that will give your family more space and a kitchen for convenience.Larger cabins can sleep up to 6.
This beautiful property makes you feel like you’ve stepped away to your own oasis, but is conveniently located off the main road just outside of town. Guests have loved
Many guests have rated it 10/10, loving the staff, peace, and free breakfast.
Townsend Budget Option
It may only be 2 stars, but the Tally Ho Inn is loved by guests. The downside is rooms only sleep up to 4. The upside is that as one of the most affordable places to stay in Townsend, 2 rooms still isn’t too bad to pay for.
They’ve done a nice job making it look clean and modern on the interior. On the exterior, guests can enjoy the (seasonal) outdoor saltwater pool, 3 pickleball courts, and a walking trail near the property right along Little River.
Townsend Rental Option
This Mountain Chalet is gorgeous and just a short drive from the park, making it a really great place to stay near Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
One great thing about rentals is that you get more space and can typically sleep more people than a hotel room. This fabulous cabin can sleep up to 9 in actual beds (no sofa sleeping!)
Enjoy privacy and beautiful grounds with 6 acres of space (5 acres of meadow) and a huge deck to take it all in.
When you’re not exploring the park, you can stay entertained at home with games, books, movies, or relaxing in the gazebo by the creek.
Cherokee/Bryson City
Cherokee and Bryson City are located on the southern side of the park. If you’re looking for a quieter place to stay in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this is a great option.
Staying in Cherokee or Bryson City gives you quick access to some great waterfalls, the Mountain Museum, and the Oconaluftee Visitor Center area. Plus, these areas are full of cultural attractions.
Where to Stay in Cherokee/Bryson City
Best Place to Stay
The Stonebrook Lodge in Cherokee is a beautiful place with a seasonal pool and hot tub, included breakfast, and rooms that sleep up to 4.
It’s located just south of Cherokee, giving you a quick drive into the park. Past guests loved how big and clean the rooms were.
To stay in Bryson City, consider the McKinley Edwards Inn, which has received near perfect scores from over 300 guest reviews.
The inn is charming, surrounded by terraces and gardens. Guests can choose a standard room or a larger cottage (with a kitchen) to sleep a family of 6. Either way, the rooms are individually decorated. This is not a cookie-cutter hotel!
Best Rental in Cherokee
This little cabin may not seem like much, but it’s been rated a solid 10 by past guests. It could be the serene location of being right on the river, the ability to comfortably sleep 6 across 3 bedrooms, or the fact that it’s one of the more affordable places to stay in Cherokee.
Cosby/Newport
Cosby and Newport are located on the eastern side of the park. There are great things over here, but it’s definitely the less popular area of the park, so I won’t dive in too deep.
But if you have a long time to spend at Great Smoky Mountains or you’re on a return trip, you might find yourself over in this area to explore farther.
Here are a few of the best places to stay in Great Smoky Mountains National Park over in the Cosby area.
⭐️Best Rental in Cosby– This cabin is crazy awesome. You’ll get an indoor heated pool, theater, pool table, fire pit and seating, hot tub, arcade game, foosball, and more. This home sleeps up to 14 across 4 bedrooms. You have to at least look at this one!
Best Places to Stay in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
You know know a little about each area to stay in when visiting Great Smoky Mountains. Whether you’re looking for a vacation full of fun, lights, and entertainment or you’re wanting something a little more peaceful and quaint, you have plenty of options!
Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge offer full-time fun and attractions, while Townsend and Cherokee offer a laid-back vibe that’s a lot less crowded.
For the best places to stay in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, check out the hotels and rentals above to add a great experience to your vacation to this beautiful area!
