Top 50 Things to Do in Gatlinburg, TN | Westgate Resorts top things to do list

50 Things to Do in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Greg Nelson Gatlinburg, Guides & Tips

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  • Adventure
  • Water Fun
  • Museums
  • Attractions
  • Nature
  • Theater & Live Entertainment
  • Family Fun
  • Moonshine & More

Located in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, Gatlinburg is the gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The quaint mountain village boasts a population of less than 5,000. But you’ll never know that by the number of visitors that keeps the town bustling throughout the year.

In addition to the nation’s most visited national park, Gatlinburg offers dozens of extraordinary attractions, a ski resort, intriguing shops and galleries, and plenty of restaurants.


Make the most of your Smoky Mountains vacation with this guide to food, drinks, culture, entertainment and the best things to do in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.



Here are 50 Things to Do in Gatlinburg, Tennessee:

Adventure

Ober Gatlinburg | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

Image Source: obergatlinburg

#1. Ober Gatlinburg

Enjoy a mountain of fun with a theme park, ski resort, snow tubing, indoor skating rink, aerial tram, scenic chairlifts, wildlife encounter, alpine slide, ice bumper cars, mountain coaster and more at Ober Gatlinburg.

 

  • Amusement Park, Ski Resort



    Dollywood |Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #2. Dollywood

    Enjoy more than 40 rides, thrills and attractions, high-energy entertainment, unique annual festivals and events, award-winning dining, craftsmen, live shows and more at Dollywood.

     

  • Amusement Park, Must Do



    Moonshine Mountain Coaster |Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #3. Moonshine Mountain Coaster

    This mountain thrill ride puts you in the driver’s seat – enjoy single or double rider cars that coast down the mountainside on a specially-designed silent track at Moonshine Mountain Coaster.

     

  • Thrill Ride, Must Do



    Earthquake the Ride | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    Image Source: smokymountainreviewer

    #4. Earthquake the Ride

    Experience a heart-pounding subway ride – a catastrophic, live action adventure with gut-wrenching special effects as a massive earthquake shakes the world around you at Earthquake the Ride.

     

  • Thrill Ride



    Rowdy Bear Mountain | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    Image Source: emmgeeeee

    #5. Rowdy Bear Mountain Coaster

    Check out an adventure park featuring the world’s first mountain glider that sends riders soaring through the treetops AND North America's first alpine mountain coaster that hits speeds up to 35 mph at Rowdy Bear Mountain Coaster.

     

  • Thrill Ride



    Rocky Top Mountain Coaster | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    Image Source: rockytopmountaincoaster

    #6. Rocky Top Mountain Coaster

    With four uplifts and four drops, this mountain coaster even offers special nighttime runs under magnificent lighting. The 9-minute ride features tunnels, curves and hairpin turns at Rocky Top Mountain Coaster.

     

  • Thrill Ride



    Smoky Mountain Riding Stables | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    Image Source: miss_mishmash

    #7. Sugarlands Riding Stables

    Hop aboard a beautiful horse and take a spectacular ride through Great Smoky Mountain National Park and past wooded scenery and mountain streams with Sugarlands Riding Stables.

     

  • Horse Riding Adventure



     Smoky Mountain Ziplines | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #8. Smoky Mountain Ziplines

    This incredible outdoor adventure features seven exciting ziplines and a treetop canopy tour creating the ultimate scenic mountain adventure. Zip across heights of over 150 feet at Smoky Mountain Ziplines.

     

  • Thrills, Adventure



    Alpine Axe House | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #9. Alpine Axe House

    Throw like a pro and get excited for one of the best axe throwing experiences in Gatlinburg at Alpine Axe House.

     

  • Adventure



    Gatlins Rugged Ropes Adventure | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #10. Gatlin's Amazing Ropes Adventure Course

    Experience adventure on the high ropes course where you’ll climb three stories to face 38 challenges, such as rickety bridges, suspended ropes and obstacles at Gatlin's Amazing Ropes Adventure Course.

     

  • Local Attraction


    Promoted Vacation Deals

    Water Fun

     Whitewater Rafting and Kayak Trips | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #11. Whitewater Rafting and Kayak Trips

    Choose from four rivers and multiple sections offering easy moving waters to thrilling white water thrills with steep drops and dramatic class III and IV rapids with Whitewater Rafting and Kayak Trips.

     

  • Rafting, Outdoor Adventure



    Dollywood's Splash Country | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #12. Dollywood's Splash Country

    Cool down in this (seasonal) mountain oasis adjacent to Dollywood theme park. Enjoy 35 acres of water slides, lazy rivers, wave pools and thrilling water attractions for all at Dollywood's Splash Country.

     

  • Theme Park, Water Park



    Smoky Mountain River Rat Main Tubing Outpost | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #13. Smoky Mountain River Rat Main Tubing Outpost

    Paddle, splash and play in mother nature’s amazing water parks. Enjoy tubing or rafting down some of the prettiest rivers in the Smokies at Smoky Mountain River Rat Main Tubing Outpost.

     

  • Tubing, Outdoor Adventure



    Wild Bear Falls Indoor Water Park | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #14. Wild Bear Falls Indoor Water Park

    Enjoy a 60,000-square-foot, indoor water park that pays homage to the national park with attractions like Cades Cove Lazy River, Clingman’s Dome water slide and Laurel Falls tube slide at Wild Bear Falls Indoor Water Park.

     

  • Indoor Water Park, Must Do


    Museums

    Hollywood Stars Car Museum | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #15. Hollywood Stars Car Museum

    See cars from some of the most famous movies and TV shows of the last 50 years including Ghostbusters, The Dukes of Hazzard, 2 Batmobiles, Back to the Future, Fast & Furious and more at Hollywood Stars Car Museum.

     

  • Museum, Local Attraction



    Salt & Pepper Shaker Museum | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #16. Salt & Pepper Shaker Museum

    Discover more than 20,000 sets of salt & pepper shakers from around the world, plus a huge peppermill collection. $3 admission goes toward any salt n pepper shaker purchase at Salt & Pepper Shaker Museum.

     

  • Museum, Local Attraction



    Chasing Rainbows Museum | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    Image Source: DollyParton.com

    #17. Chasing Rainbows Museum

    A special place to share the results of her dreaming, and inspire others, Dolly Parton offers interactive and behind-the-scenes collections, stories, and memorabilia from her life and career at Chasing Rainbows Museum.

     

  • Theme Park, Museum, Must Do



    Alcatraz East Crime Museum | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #18. Alcatraz East Crime Museum

    True crime fans will learn about the most notorious scandals in history with real museum collections at the interesting and interactive Alcatraz East Crime Museum.

     

  • Museum, Local Attraction



    Titanic Museum Attraction | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #19. Titanic Museum Attraction

    A museum celebrating the famous ship, its passengers and crew – experience the hallways, parlors, cabins and Grand Staircase along with 400 artifacts from the ship at Titanic Museum Attraction.

     

  • Museum, Local Attraction



    Cooter's Place | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #20. Cooter's Place

    Cooter’s in the Smokies is the official museum of the Dukes of Hazzard. Get your photo with the General Lee, or see a replica of the interior of Cooter’s Hazzard County Garage at Cooter's Place.

     

  • Museum, Local Attraction



    Gatlinburg Pinball Museum | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #21. Gatlinburg Pinball Museum

    Be the pinball wizard in this interactive museum where you can play more than 100 pinball machines, including rare and limited edition machines, plus other retro arcade games at Gatlinburg Pinball Museum.

     

  • Museum, Arcade



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    Attractions

    Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #22. Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

    Explore the seas with exhibits including ocean realm, shark lagoon, touch a ray bay, tropical rainforest, coral reef, gallery of the seas, stingray bay and penguin playhouse at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies .

     

  • Aquarium, Must Do



    Ripley's Believe or Not! Odditorium | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #23. Ripley's Believe or Not! Odditorium

    Check out the weirdest place in Gatlinburg - 500 exhibits and artifacts, in 16 themed galleries – oddities from shrunken heads to a 19th century vampire killing kit at Ripley's Believe or Not! Odditorium .

     

  • Local Attraction



    Mysterious Mansion of Gatlinburg | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #24. Mysterious Mansion of Gatlinburg

    Gatlinburg’s most terrifying attraction. Step inside a once grand mansion with secret passages, eerie corridors, winding stairs, chilling chambers and rotting residents at Mysterious Mansion of Gatlinburg.

     

  • Adventure, Local Attraction



    Tennessee Museum of Aviation | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #25. Tennessee Museum of Aviation

    Experience the history of aviation come to life as you take flight and explore an exhibit gallery full of artifacts and memorabilia at Tennessee Museum of Aviation.

     

  • Local Attraction



    Ripley's Marvelous Mirror Maze & Candy Factory | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #26. Ripley's Marvelous Mirror Maze & Candy Factory

    Experience an infinite number of reflections as you try to find the one way out of this labyrinth of mirrors and LED lights at Ripley's Marvelous Mirror Maze & Candy Factory.

     

  • Local Attraction



    WonderWorks | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #27. WonderWorks

    An indoor amusement park for the mind combining education and entertainment with more than 100 hands-on exhibits and spark the imagination. Explore 6 amazing wonder zones, laser tag & ropes courses, simulator ride and more at WonderWorks.

     

  • Local Attraction


    Nature

    #28. Gatlinburg Space Needle

    Ride glass elevators to the top of a 407-foot tall observation tower where you’ll find spectacular, panoramic 360-degree views of the Great Smoky Mountains from the observation deck at Gatlinburg Space Needle.

     

  • Scenic, Local Attraction



    Gatlinburg SkyLift Park | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #29. Gatlinburg SkyLift Park

    Explore Gatlinburg’s best views from the Gatlinburg SkyBridge, the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America and the SkyDeck overlooking Gatlinburg at Gatlinburg SkyLift Park .

     

  • Scenic, Local Attraction



    Anakeesta | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #30. Anakeesta

    Experience an outdoor mountaintop adventure for the entire family with the only single-rail mountain coaster in the US, a treetop skywalk, garden trails, a chondola, dueling ziplines & more at Anakeesta.

     

  • Scenic, Theme Park, Must Do



    Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    Image Source: mirandaescobosa

    #31. Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook

    Discover magnificent views of downtown Gatlinburg with the majestic Great Smoky Mountains in the background. The Overlook is located on the Gatlinburg Bypass at Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook.

     

  • Scenic, Local Attraction


    Theater & Live Entertainment

    Ripley's Moving Theater | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #32. Ripley's Moving Theater

    Strap yourself in for a bumpy ride at this state of the art 5-D Moving Theater experience with digital effects and motion seats that make you feel like you’re in the movie at Ripley's Moving Theater.

     

  • Theater, Local Attraction



    Paula Deen's Lumberjack Feud | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #33. Paula Deen's Lumberjack Feud

    Enjoy the exciting lumberjack competition featuring 13 events – axe throwing, chopping, sawing and more – and check out the lumberjack adventure park at Paula Deen's Lumberjack Feud.

     

  • Live Entertainment, Local Attraction



    Impossibilities Magic Show | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #34. Impossibilities Magic Show

    Enjoy an astounding evening of comedy, magic and mindreading along with some hilarious mayhem with comedian Chris Collins and master mentalist Erik Dobell at Impossibilities Magic Show.

     

  • Live Entertainment, Local Attraction



    The Grand Majestic Dinner Theater | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #35. The Grand Majestic Dinner Theater

    Choose from three incredible musical dinner shows – Soul of Motown, Hit Parade or Hazzard Hoedown – for some amazing music and a delicious all you can eat buffet at The Grand Majestic Dinner Theater.

     

  • Live Entertainment, Local Attraction



    Fannie Farkles | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #36. Fannie Farkles

    Enjoy new and classic games, never-ending fun and legendary eats with this innovative entertainment and food company at Fannie Farkles.

     

  • Games, Food, Local Attraction


    Family Fun

    Hillbilly Golf | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #37. Hillbilly Golf

    – A most unusual mini golf course. Ride the incline 300 feet straight up the mountaintop where you’ll find two 18-hole courses with mountaineer hazards – outhouses, stills, walls and plants at Hillbilly Golf.

     

  • Local Attraction



    Gatlin's Escape Room Games | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #38. Gatlin's Escape Room Games

    Escape rooms featuring props, lighting and sound effects. Solve puzzles, conquer challenges and work through surprises in a race against the clock to escape at Gatlin's Escape Room Games.

     

  • Local Attraction



    Ripley's Davy Crockett Mini-Golf | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #39. Ripley's Davy Crockett Mini-Golf

    Enjoy a Smoky Mountain backdrop while playing mini golf on courses replicating the days of Tennessee hero Davy Crockett, with water features and interactive elements at Ripley's Davy Crockett Mini-Golf.

     

  • Local Attraction



    RainForest Adventures Discovery Zoo | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #40. RainForest Adventures Discovery Zoo

    Set in the heart of the Smokies, this spectacular zoo features more than 600 animals representing more than 130 species from rainforests around the world at RainForest Adventures Discovery Zoo.

     

  • Zoo, Local Attraction



    Arcade City | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #41. Arcade City

    Experience a fun-filled city loaded with your all-time favorite rides, games and prizes. Fun and adventure for all ages at Arcade City.

     

  • Games, Local Attraction



    Ripley's Penguin Playhouse | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #42. Ripley's Penguin Playhouse

    View penguins from above and below the water and get nose-to-beak with this unique penguin encounter that allows you to crawl through clear, underwater tunnels at Ripley's Penguin Playhouse .

     

  • Animals, Local Attraction



    Rafting in the Smokies | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #43. Rafting in the Smokies

    Choose to adventure with a certified and trained river guide as you're escorted down lively whitewater rapids at Rafting in the Smokies, pioneering water exploration on the Pigeon River since 1978.

     

  • Rafting, Outdoor Adventure, Local Attraction



    The Smoky Mountain Angler | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #44. The Smoky Mountain Angler

    Whether you’re a beginner or veteran fly fisherman, let experienced guides show you the best places and techniques for catching wild mountain trout in the Smokies at The Smoky Mountain Angler.

     

  • Outdoor Adventure



    Gatlinburg Farmers Market | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #45. Gatlinburg Farmers Market

    Open mid-May through mid-October, this farmer’s market features locally grown, in-season produce, local products and foods in a friendly, social environment at Gatlinburg Farmers Market .

     

  • Local Attraction


    Moonshine & More

    Sugarlands Distilling Company | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #46. Sugarlands Distilling Company

    Sample award-winning moonshine, tour the stillhouse, and talk with expert distillers and explore the world of the favorite Smoky Mountain beverage at Sugarlands Distilling Company.

     

  • Moonshine, Local Attraction, Bar



    Ole Smoky Moonshine | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #47. Ole Smoky Moonshine

    Enjoy an epic moonshine experience with a tour of an authentic, working moonshine distillery – watch the process, learn the history and lore, or enjoy some moonshine samplings at Ole Smoky Moonshine.

     

  • Moonshine, Local Attraction



    Tennessee Shine Co. | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #48. Tennessee Shine Co.

    Experience an array of flavorful small-batch moonshine and learn the history of moonshine (along with its ties to NASCAR!) with a guided tour at Tennessee Shine Co.

     

  • Moonshine, Local Attraction



    Tennessee Homemade Wines | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #49. Tennessee Homemade Wines

    Enjoy free tastings at this local winery featuring delicious wines made with local fruit, crafted by local folk and served by local friends at Tennessee Homemade Wines.

     

  • Winery, Local Attraction



    Gatlinburg Brewing Company | Things to Do in Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Do List

    #50. Gatlinburg Brewing Company

    Enjoy a locally owned brewery, in the heart of Gatlinburg Tennessee and the breathtaking Smoky mountains. Specializing in craft beer, brewed right on site at Gatlinburg Brewing Company.

     

  • Brewery, Local Attraction


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