
3 Day Gatlinburg Travel Guide
After a long road trip, it’s best to start with an activity that will stretch your legs. Thankfully, there’s quite a bit to do in downtown Gatlinburg. There are a few hotels located downtown, but we preferred an Airbnb a short distance away so we had plenty of room to spread out, plus it offered free parking. This is the way to go if you want to save a little money as parking downtown is $20 for each visit! You can also save by using the free Trolley transportation.Gatlinburg Travel Day 1:
At the top of my family’s wishlist was Gatlinburg’s Skylift Park. The entrance is located downtown so you can easily walk to it. The line to enter may be long, but it moves quickly! At Skylift Park you can ride the iconic yellow SkyLift chairs 1,800 feet above sea level. At the top, you can take in the serene views of the Smoky Mountains as well as all of downtown Gatlinburg. Things to do at Gatlinburg Skylift Park include the SkyTrail, multi-story Tulip Tower, and walk across the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America SkyBridge. The SkyTrail is a leisurely stroll with panoramic views. Along the trail, you will come across Tulip Tower, a 70′ steel tower accessible by two rope bridges. At the other end of the trail is SkyBridge – a bucket list for many! Want to know what it’s like to walk it? Check out our video!

Gatlinburg Travel Day 2:
Ober Gatlinburg opened its slopes for the winter season in January 2022′. You can take the aerial tramway up to the mountain playground to enjoy activities like skiing and snowboarding, ice skating, snow tubing, ski mountain coaster, alpine slide, and much more. If visiting Gatlinburg during warmer months you can still enjoy the many attractions available year-round except skiing and snowboarding. OR Anakeesta is Gatlinburg’s newest theme park with everything from coaster mountain rides to ziplining, gem mining, shopping, several dining and beverage options, and more gorgeous views! OR If you’re looking for something slower-paced and less crowded, take a hike at the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. An entrance to the park is located at the end of the downtown parkway. You’ll need your vehicle for this activity, however, it’s completely free to enter and park.

Gatlinburg Travel Day 3:
Depending on how much time you have before heading home, there are a few options we recommend. Dollywood theme park/splash park is another adventure option if you’re family is up for it. We’ve been told by the locals it has short lines year-round (unlike popular Disney theme parks). Another option is strolling downtown Gatlinburg for the many other attractions you may have missed on day 1. You can try free samples of taffy, cookies, and fresh fudge. Lastly, you can head over to nearby Sevierville to visit the famous Apple Barn and Cider Mill which serves up southern favorites in addition to having a general store with loads of souvenirs.
Deanna says
Such a great guide!
Jenn says
Skylift Park looks awesome. So glad yall had a good time. Thanks for sharinf.
Jolene Tucker says
We spent 12/30-1/3 in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge! We had SO much fun! Glad you had a good time!
Jennifer says
I saw that! You even saw snow. All we got was ice. LOL! Looks like y’all had fun too. 🙂