5 Tips for Planning the Perfect Smoky Mountain Cabin Trip

Your cabin trip can be the perfect vacation with advanced planning. Use these five tips to create your ideal stay:

1. Know Where You Want to Stay

Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge: How do you decide which is right for you? First, they’re close neighbors. Staying in one town doesn’t prevent you from enjoying the other! Second, think about walkability. Gatlinburg’s attractions are clustered together. Pigeon Forge stretches along the Parkway, so it’s more of a “car town.” Gatlinburg is the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and home to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies and Ober Mountain. Pigeon Forge is famed for Dollywood, the Titanic Museum Attraction, and dinner shows.

2. Determine the Size of Cabin You'll Need

Search for a cabin based on the number of guests. Many cabins have sleeping areas like lofts that aren’t listed as bedrooms. Generally, a getaway for two calls for a cozy one-bedroom cabin. Figure on one-bedroom or sleeping area per couple for a group trip. Some cabins offer bunk rooms sleeping several kids or teens. For large groups, check out our cabins that sleep up to 24 or more guests, or consider renting a couple of neighboring cabins.

3. Choose a Cabin with the Right Amenities

What do you consider a luxury? Search cabin listings for game rooms, pool tables, or arcade games. Some cabins have movie theaters. Seek a dream cabin with access to a community pool, or a private pool inside the cabin. Love the outdoors? Find a cabin with a fire pit or a cabin next to a stream. Want to gaze at the Smokies? Search for cabins based on the view they offer.

4. Set a Budget

Budget for travel, cabin rental, dining, attractions, and souvenirs. Scope out attraction costs in advance. Are you eligible for discounts as a veteran, public servant, AAA, or AARP member? What bucket list items are worth a splurge? Decide how often you want to eat out. Cooking saves money, but eating out saves time. What balance works for you?

5. Create a Vacation Itinerary

Why not be impulsive and see where your whims take you? That sounds adventurous but can waste precious time if you end up in ticket lines. Or you might miss great attractions you just didn’t know existed. An itinerary ensures you see what most interests you! Experiences like winery tours or massages usually require reservations. Many shows offer same-day seats, but you can get a better view with advance booking. With an itinerary of what you’ll see each day, you can buy tickets in advance. Your cabin trip will be stress-free when you don’t have to plan on the go.

Reserve your perfect cabin trip with us today!