Gatlinburg is known as the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains. This charming eastern Tennessee mountain town borders the most-visited national park in the United States and offers the biggest variety of lodging nearby.
With three different entrances to the national park, Gatlinburg is a great jumping-off point for hiking and winter sports. Plus, the mountain town has a lot of dining and shopping options, as well as attractions and events, to pique the interest of every visitor.
Holiday Inn Club Vacations Smoky Mountain Resort, an IHG Hotel
A stay at the Holiday Inn Club Vacations Smoky Mountain Resort means enjoying a guest room with a fireplace to keep cozy on a cool evening and taking in the famous morning fog coming over the mountains from a private balcony or patio.
The resort is equipped with an arcade room, both indoor and outdoor spa tubs and pools, and a small, indoor waterpark complete with waterslides. The centrally located hotel offers beautiful multiroom villas to make you feel right at home and is near favorite attractions like Arcadia and the Gatlinburg Space Needle, and is less than a half mile from the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park.
The Park Vista DoubleTree
Nestled in the lush hills of the Great Smoky Mountains is the Park Vista DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. A private drive with a “Park Vista” sign greets you as you make your way up to this cylindrical-shaped hotel that is elevated above and tucked away from the rest of Gatlinburg.
The Park Vista has cozy rooms that offer stunning eye-level and aerial views of mountain foliage. You can also pass time in the hotel in an indoor pool, which features magnificent natural lighting and a waterslide that encircles a tree. The hotel also boasts two restaurants and 24-hour room service. A stay here feels peaceful and concealed in the mountains, even though this four-star hotel provides very quick and easy access to the national park.
Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg
Get the best of both worlds when you stay at Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg. This hotel resort, while located in the mountains, features contemporary rooms that provide an island vibe. This four-star hotel greets you from the outside with a yellow and blue facade (and a giant blue sandal) With the decor spanning different shades of bright blues and greens, along with light-colored woodworking, you get the feeling you’re in a tropical paradise. The plush rooms offer premium bedding, 50-inch LCD televisions, and showers equipped with rainfall showerheads.
Grab a bite to eat at one of the hotel’s two restaurants, which keep in line with the island vibe, or stay in the room and take advantage of 24-hour room service. Other hotel activities could include pampering yourself with a visit to the spa, which offers massages, body treatments,
and facials. Recreational opportunities include both an indoor and outdoor pool, which has a waterslide.
Margaritaville features a prime location about a half mile from both the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park and the Gatlinburg Space Needle.
River Terrace Resort & Convention Center
A stay at the River Terrace & Convention Center puts the emphasis on the outdoors. Snug between a tree-topped hillside and a river, this hotel’s interior and exterior match the aura of the area. The main lobby makes you feel that you’re in nature with its wood and stone finishing, while the rooms are cozy and modern.
This resort hotel is in the heart of it all, as it’s just a four-minute walk from Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, 15-minutes on foot from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and less than a half-mile from Gatlinburg SkyLift Park.
Baymont by Wyndham Gatlinburg On The River
The Baymont by Wyndham Gatlinburg On The River is true to its name, as one side of the hotel sits on the banks of and overlooks a river, along with lush tree-topped mountain sides both near and in the distance. Rooms feature balconies or patios from which to admire the view.
Inside the lodge-like hotel, you’ll find an indoor pool, a sauna, and a fitness center. This hotel also offers a complimentary breakfast buffet that is served each morning.
The Baymont is within a five-minute drive of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.
Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg
Make yourself right at home in the heart of Gatlinburg with a familiar hotel brand. The Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg, a 10-minute walk to the national park, is a modern hotel with cozy, comfortable, and beautiful rooms, some of which have a fireplace and balcony.
The hotel features plenty of places to relax, including an indoor pool, hot tub, and fitness center. Grab a bite to eat at the Garden Grille, a hotel restaurant that features a bar/lounge, or stay within the comforts of your own guest room and take advantage of room service (during limited hours).
Glenstone Lodge
The exterior of the Glenstone Lodge embraces Gatlinburg’s mountain theme, while the interior offers modern comforts. The lodge offers an outdoor pool, but the spectacular indoor pool area is the selling point. Adorned with lush greenery, natural lighting, high-rise ceilings, and several pools and waterfalls, the pool draws visitors year-round.
Glenstone Lodge is centrally located in Gatlinburg along the Historic Nature Trail and within a five-minute drive of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Gatlinburg SkyLift Park.
Country Inn & Suites
The Country Inn & Suites by Radisson in Gatlinburg is a chic and smartly decorated yet very affordable hotel that’s great for travelers looking to visit the Great Smoky Mountains on a budget. Breakfast is even included in the low rate.
In addition to comfortable rooms and a cheap price tag, the Country Inn’s location is excellent. It is less than five minutes on foot from both the Historic Nature Trail and the Gatlinburg SkyBridge, and a 12-minute walk from the national park.
Courtyard by Marriott Gatlinburg Downtown
Staying at the Courtyard by Marriott Gatlinburg Downtown offers a short commute to some of the most important attractions in the area, as you’ll be within a 15-minute walk of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Gatlinburg SkyLift Park. The hotel’s main areas encapsulate the aura of a national park, as it almost resembles a lodge, and the rooms themselves are warm and comfy.
Among included perks are an indoor pool, a spa tub, and a 24-hour fitness center. Enjoy a meal at the hotel restaurant, snacks in the coffee shop/cafe, or room service if you want to stay put.
Clarion Pointe Downtown Gatlinburg
Want to really relax after a long day of hiking? Book one of the rooms at the Clarion Pointe Downtown Gatlinburg hotel that feature private jacuzzis.
The hotel is less than a five-minute walk from the Anakeesta theme park and just over a mile from the national park. A 24-hour fitness center, seasonal outdoor pool, and daily breakfast is included in the rate.
Sidney James Mountain Lodge
Located on the Historic Nature Trail, the Sidney James Mountain Lodge is the perfect spot for those looking for an affordable, quaint, cozy lodge that is very close to the national park. It’s also just 20 minutes on foot from the start of the famous Gatlinburg Trail.
Guests of the lodge can dip into one of the two outdoor swimming pools or unwind in the sauna. The lodge’s Poolside Cafe provides a convenient, on-site place to grab a bite to eat.
River Edge Inn
Whether you’re in the mood for enjoying mountain air from your balcony at the River Edge Inn, or traveling a short distance to enjoy the national park, this hotel has you covered. Located under a half mile from the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park, the Gatlinburg Trail, and the national park, this modern, comfy hotel is perfectly located for those really looking to explore the area.
A complimentary grab-and-go breakfast is perfect for hikers looking to get started at sunrise.
In fall and winter, be sure to book one of the guest rooms with stone fireplaces to complete the cozy aesthetic.
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