Weekend Itineraries: What to Do in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg This October

Make the most of October in the Smoky Mountains! With these three weekend itineraries, you can experience the best of autumn in just two days. 

A Family Itinerary

Saturday: Fall Festivals 

• Smoky Mountain Fall Festival at Ober Mountain offers music, local and German beers, food, family movies, and more. Enjoy Ober’s wildlife center and rides, too.
• The Bear-Varian Festival at Anakeesta features beer tastings, all-ages entertainment, and all of Anakeesta’s rides, shops, and outdoor adventures.

Sunday: Dolly and Paula, Southern Queens

• Dollywood boasts 50 rides, shows, artisans at work, and an interactive museum about Dolly Parton’s remarkable life. Stay until dark, when thousands of pumpkins glow in towering displays.
• For dinner, feast on Southern dishes at Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen.
• Ride the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel for nighttime views from 200 feet in the air. 

Itinerary for a Mellow Weekend

Saturday: Scenic Drive and Farm Fun

• Cruise the Foothills Parkway. Autumn foliage peaks in October, so you’ll get colorful views along this uncrowded drive. 
• Visit Kyker Farms to explore corn mazes, hayrides, and a pumpkin patch.
• You’ll have an appetite after a day in the fresh air! Dine at Local Goat, popular for burgers, steaks and salads.

Sunday: Trails and Traditions

• Rise and hike! For a level, easy stroll, hit the Gatlinburg Trail. For a moderately difficult hike, take Trillium Gap Trail to Grotto Falls. 
• In the afternoon, experience a local tradition, the Fall Crafts Festival in Pigeon Forge’s Patriot Park. 
• End the day with dinner and a show at Dolly Parton’s Stampede or Pirates Voyage. 

Romantic Fun Itinerary for a Couple

Saturday: Wine and Dine

• Skip the long lines at pancake houses! Breakfast at Elvira’s Cafe. Try the “Tennessee Haystack” for a hearty start.
• Explore the Rocky Top Wine Trail. Download a self-guided driving tour of five wineries and buy your favorite wines to drink at your cabin.
• Share small plates of tapas-style foods with your sweetheart, at LeConte Tapas and Grill. 

Sunday: Action and Appalachia  

• Start with adrenaline-pumping fun: Roll downhill together inside a huge, inflatable ball at Outdoor Gravity Park!
• Slow the pace at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, a village of restored historic buildings.
• Continue the heritage theme with dinner at Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro.

Make a cabin your home base and you’ll spend less time on the road and more time having fun. Reserve a Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge cabin now.