City Information

Gatlinburg, Tennessee, gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, offers groups a one-stop destination to enjoy four-season fun. Located within a day's drive of two-thirds of the American population east of the Mississippi River, Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains feature a beautiful spot of pampered civilization nestled in one of the last tracts of unspoiled wilderness in the eastern United States.

Explore the new 1.3 million gallon Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, ride the country's largest aerial tram to the top of Ober Gatlinburg, shop at over 400 unique shops, galleries and boutiques or travel the 8-mile loop of the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, the largest gathering of independent artisans in the country.

Gatlinburg...the place that puts the smile on your face.

Coming to the mountains? It just makes sense to stay in the mountains of Gatlinburg! The community of Gatlinburg is only two miles long by five miles wide, with just over 3,500 people who call the mountain burg home . The adjacent Great Smoky Mountains National Park , now boasting over nine million visitors annually, has transformed Gatlinburg into a mountain resort destination, packed with accommodations of every sort, dozens of local-to-national restaurants, and attractions galore! Surrounded on three sides by the natural beauty of the National Park, Gatlinburg prides itself in its mountain heritage, and the arts, crafts, and retail shops of the area reflect that heritage to a large extent.

Gatlinburg is a walking community, especially along the Downtown Parkway , which runs from one end of town to the other with hundreds of things to see and do in between. The river walk along River Road echoes the wistful sounds of the Little Pigeon River, with gazebos and benches along the walkway. Outside the Downtown Parkway and connecting side streets, the East Parkway at traffic light marked #3 is dotted with shops and restaurants for about three miles, and includes two supermarkets and the post office.

At the corner of East Parkway and Glades Road , at traffic light marked #3A, you'll find the Glades entrance to the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community. Home to over ninety craftspeople and artists along the eight-mile loop, it's the largest gathering of its kind in North America , and inevitably you'll find a one-of-a-kind craft or work of art being crafted while you're visiting the numerous shops. Stop and chat along the way with a painter or potter, or let a broom maker show you how it's done. There's just so much to see, you can easily spend an entire day soaking it in!

Once the sun sets, there's plenty of fine dining and entertainment to select from! From family-fare to filet mignon and everything in between, the area's restaurants are fixin' up something special to please you. Then, take a trip back in time to the slapstick vaudeville comedy of Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre for family-style entertainment that will have you holding your sides, or Lou Vuto's Reflections Theater and a tribute to the King of Rock 'n Roll, Elvis Presley… Thank you very much.

There are some pretty awesome outlet malls and theme parks nearby, just about fifteen minutes away from your home base of Gatlinburg. After all, if you're coming to the mountains, it just makes sense to stay in the mountains of Gatlinburg, where you'll find unparalleled vistas from a mountainside chalet, cabin, or condo, or be in the center of it all in a downtown hotel or nearby bed & breakfast or lodge.