A Weekend Itinerary for Gatlinburg

Looking for a fun-filled weekend? Head for Gatlinburg, where there’s something for everyone! Try these three days of Smoky Mountains delights.

Friday: Adventures Indoors and Outdoors

Roll out of the comfy bed in your Gatlinburg cabin rental. Hit The Donut Friar for fresh donuts and coffee.

Hang out with sharks and mermaids

Start at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. Pet rays and see penguins paint. Book a ride on a glass-bottomed boat over the shark pool, if you dare!

Soar over the treetops on a zipline

Head outside for adrenaline-pumping fun at Smoky Mountain Ziplines, where you can fly on seven lines, at up to 25 miles per hour. 

Try a “mountain coaster” 

If you prefer sticking closer to the ground, ride a mountain coaster. Control your own speed as you glide downhill. Mountain coasters abound, including coasters at nearby Anakeesta. 

Dine at your cozy cabin

Cook in your cabin’s fully equipped kitchen. Grab some moonshine for a nightcap.

Saturday: Appalachian Artistry

Make a mug at Fowler’s Clay Works

Handcrafted pottery is an Appalachian tradition. Spend one to two hours creating a unique mug, with the guidance of an expert potter.

Watch artisans in the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community

Spend the afternoon watching weavers, jewelers, woodworkers, leatherworkers and other artisans. More than 100 workshops line a leafy loop road. Grab coffee or lunch–the community has a tavern, an old-fashioned soda shop, and more. 

Dine Out on steak or BBQ

Treat yourself to dinner on the way to your cabin. The Greenbrier serves steaks in a gorgeous mountain lodge. Prefer a casual eatery? Try down-home Delauders BBQ.

Sunday: Walks, Both Scenic and Haunted

Hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Spend the morning at Cades Cove, a valley brimming with wildlife and historic settlements. After a picnic, try any of the trails near Gatlinburg listed here.

Enjoy a scenic drive

As dusk falls, ramble along the Foothills Parkway or Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Daring drivers might prefer The Tail of the Dragon–11 miles of crazy curves! 

Take a ghost tour

For an unforgettable (and chilling) evening, discover the city’s haunted past with Ghost Walk of Gatlinburg or Gatlinburg GhostWalks.

Head back to your Gatlinburg cabin rental and kick back with a movie or board game. Your perfect weekend is ending, but you can always return!