×

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

There’s nothing like an enchanting road trip to Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains—once you reach the iconic area, you’ll be treated to twisting mountain vistas, epic scenic highways, and lots of small mountain towns with plenty of charm, but none as popular as Gatlinburg, Tennessee! Our lovely town has often been referred to as the “Gateway” to the Smokies and is an excellent home base for exploring all the mountains have to offer. Gatlinburg also offers tons of old-fashioned and modern family fun, and even a selection of restaurants and entertainment that could make for a romantic weekend away. Whether you’re coming from near or far, if you’re considering an epic road trip to the Great Smokies and Gatlinburg, we’ve made a post with some advice and information that will let you plan the spring road trip of a lifetime!

Exciting Destinations on Your Journey

Visiting the Smokies is a terrific time to make it the ultimate Tennesse road trip and add on iconic stops such as Nashville, where you can visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and grab some famous BBQ, as well as take in the glitzy lights of downtown. If you’re coming from further west, make Memphis your first stop, and visit Graceland, the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, and the National Civil Rights Museum. Knoxville lies not too far outside of Gatlinburg and offers both city activities like the Knoxville Museum of Art, and nature activities like the University of Tennessee Gardens. With such a diverse collection of cities and rich history, Tennessee is a great state for a road trip!

Getting Ready for Your Trip to Gatlinburg

Of course, before you leave, you’ll want to make sure of a few things for a safe and efficient road trip to Gatlinburg! Make sure you know your car is in good condition for a longer journey, whether it’s taking it to your local mechanic or just getting a fresh oil change and air check. Especially being in the mountains at times, it’s a great idea to download the maps area of where you’ll be traveling ahead of time, or to check the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s website, where you can order an official transportation map, view road closures, construction, locations of rest areas and, welcome centers, and look at vacation information. For those traveling with kids, this can be a helpful resource, as you can effectively plan some of your stops to make the experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible, as well as giving the kids something to look forward to on the journey.

Explore the Smoky Mountains at Your Leisure

One of the best things about road-tripping to the Smoky Mountains is the freedom to plot your own course through the mountains. Want to wake up early and drive to make the Rainbow Falls hike, or take in sunset from the Chimney Tops trail? It’s your pick when you have your own vehicle to explore the park with. The National Park Service website has a wealth of helpful information on exploring the park, and has advice for planning your visit, detailed overviews of trails, recent alerts, road conditions, ranger led programs, and so much more! They even have links to approved horseback riding stables in the park, such as Sugarlands Riding Stables, which can be beautiful as things begin to bloom in late spring. With so much freedom when you take a road trip, you can plan your trip to a tee, or not at all!

See More Activities Here!

Discover the Fun of Gatlinburg

Another great thing about having a car is that you can stay at a cabin in the mountains if you’d like, while never being far from the action in Gatlinburg—or vice versa! Gatlinburg offers a wealth of fun activities perfect for families, from the arcade at the bottom of the Space Needle, to the observatory itself, which offers 360-degree views of Gatlinburg and the surrounding mountain scenery. Taking the SkyLift up to the jaw-dropping Gatlinburg Sky Bridge is always a great adventure, and the ride itself is full of great photo opportunities. Gatlinburg offers a variety of restaurants to be enjoyed, as well as unique attractions like the Iris Theater, home to traveling magic shows, and museums like Ripley’s Believe it Or Not for the kids. In short, Gatlinburg is a must-visit destination for a road trip!

Reserve Your Vacation Rental for Your Gatlinburg Spring Road Trip Today

From cozy cabin getaways to massive mountain lodges, we have a variety of properties, whether your spring road trip to Gatlinburg is a family getaway, romantic trip, or a vacation with your best friends. With great locations and an authentic Smoky Mountains feel, our properties offer the best of mountain living. If you’re ready to start planning your trip, give us a call today!