If you’re looking for the best things to do in Townsend, TN, this is where you go when Gatlinburg starts to feel like a lot. Townsend is smaller, quieter, and way less crowded, but you still have plenty to do. You get the Smoky Mountains without sitting in traffic or weaving through packed sidewalks—which, after a day or two in Gatlinburg, sounds pretty ideal.
If you have time, I’d do both. Stay in Gatlinburg if you want more restaurant options and things to do at night, but plan at least one full day (or two) in Townsend so you can slow down a bit.
If you’re figuring out where to stay nearby, I usually browse options like hotels near Townsend here— makes it easy to compare locations all in one place.
The tour at Tuckaleechee Caverns is guided, so you’re walking through with a group while they explain what you’re seeing—which helps because otherwise you’d just be staring at rocks wondering what you’re looking at.
It’s also a good option if you want something different from hiking or need a break from being outside all day.
If you’re planning to go, see my full review of Tuckaleechee Caverns for what to expect, timing, and how the tour works.
Peaceful Side Social sits right off the main road, so you’re not going out of your way to find it—which matters after a full morning of exploring.
They’re known for wood-fired pizza and craft beer, but the goat cheese fritters and beer cheese were the standouts for me. The pizza was also super good, but I’d go back just for those appetizers (and probably order both again).
It’s casual, easy, and one of the best places to eat in Townsend without needing a reservation.
You can check out my full review of Peaceful Side Social for what to order and how it compares to other spots nearby.
Middle Prong Trail starts near the Tremont area, and the drive alone is worth it. You’ll follow a gravel road for a bit, but it’s manageable in a normal car—you don’t need anything special. The trail runs alongside the river almost the entire time, with constant small waterfalls and stream views. You don’t have to hike far to feel like you’ve seen something good.
We did about a mile, turned around, and called it a day. It felt like enough without trying to make it a whole thing. If you want more details on parking and what the trail looks like, learn more in my post about Middle Prong Trail.
Tubing on the Little River is one of the most popular things to do in Townsend, especially in the summer.
River Rat offers a few different options depending on how relaxed or adventurous you want your float to be. Some sections are calm, others have a few small rapids—nothing intense, but enough to keep it interesting.
It’s one of the easiest ways to spend a few hours outside without putting in much effort (which, mid-summer, is the goal).
Cades Cove is about a 25-minute drive from Townsend and is one of the most well-known areas in the Smokies.
It’s an 11-mile loop where you’ll see:
Wildlife
Historic cabins and churches
Open mountain views
It can get backed up fast, especially in peak season, so going early in the morning or later in the day makes a big difference. Sitting in a line of cars kind of defeats the purpose of coming to Townsend in the first place. Biking the loop is another good option if you want to skip the traffic.
If you’re flying into the area, I usually check flights through Skyscanner to compare prices, then plan a rental—renting a car makes all of this much easier since everything is spread out. If you’d rather not drive it yourself, you can book this guided Cades Cove scenic loop tour here—it’s an easy way to see everything without worrying about traffic or navigating the loop.
Near the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, there are several quieter trails that don’t get as much traffic.
This area feels more tucked away, which is part of the appeal. You’re still in the Smokies, just without as many people.
It’s in the same Tremont area as Middle Prong Trail, so you can easily do both in one trip without driving all over the place.
There are multiple pull-offs along the Little River where you can just stop, get out, and sit by the water.
No planning, no timing, no structure—you just find a spot and hang out.
You can walk along the rocks, put your feet in the water, or stay a while if the weather’s good. It ends up being one of the best parts of the day without trying to be.
If you’re out here for a while, this is the float I like to use—it’s easy to pack, quick to inflate, and makes it simple to just get in the water wherever you stop. If you want to be out of the water a little more then I like this one.
Even just driving around Townsend is part of the experience.
Between the mountain views, the river, and the quieter roads, it’s one of those places where you don’t feel rushed to get anywhere.
Driving toward Tremont or heading into Cades Cove are both good options if you want something scenic without planning out every stop.
Townsend works well if you want a slower pace.
It’s great for:
Families
Couples
Anyone who wants the Smoky Mountains without the crowds
If you like having space, not waiting in lines, and not feeling rushed all day, you’ll probably enjoy Townsend more than Gatlinburg.
These two feel completely different.
Gatlinburg has more restaurants, attractions, and things to do overall. It’s busy, walkable, and packed most of the time.
Townsend is quieter and more focused on nature. Less traffic, fewer crowds, and a slower pace.
If you can, do both. Stay in Gatlinburg for convenience, then spend a day or two in Townsend to get a different experience.
If you want to keep it simple, this is the easiest way to structure your day:
Start your morning at Tuckaleechee Caverns
Grab lunch at Peaceful Side Social
Spend the afternoon on Middle Prong Trail or by the river
It’s not complicated, but it covers everything—something unique, good food, and time outside without overpacking your schedule.
If you want a step-by-step version of this, check out my guide on how to spend a perfect day in Townsend so you don’t have to think through the timing yourself.
Before heading out, I like to keep a small backpack ready with basics—water, snacks, and something like this lightweight daypack just to keep everything in one place without carrying too much.
A hotel that’s also a free 24-hour contemporary art museum penguins included. We booked a Corner Suite at 21c and it was massive: separate bedroom, living room, dining area, 699 square feet to spread out in. The bathroom alone had a double vanity and custom Rookwood Pottery tile that made getting ready weirdly entertaining.
The location is downtown, two minutes from Fountain Square, walkable to Boca for dinner, and close enough to hop the free streetcar into Over-the-Rhine. If OTR is where most of your plans are, you might want to stay closer to that neighborhood instead downtown worked for us, but we spent more time in OTR than we expected to.
And yes, there’s a recycled-plastic penguin sculpture that will absolutely scare you the first time you open your door and forget it’s there. Link in bio for the full review rooms, parking, walkability, and everything else before you book 🎨
Three neighborhoods, one streetcar, and more Cincinnati specialties than I could finish in one afternoon.
We hit a goetta breakfast sandwich, chocolate chip ice cream from a shop that’s been at it since 1870, a Liège waffle that earned its Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives spot, and Cincinnati chili the way it’s actually meant to be eaten... over a hot dog, buried in shredded cheddar.
$75 got us three and a half hours, a local guide, free streetcar rides, and a genuinely full stomach. Don’t eat breakfast before this one, the portions add up fast.
My third Secret Food Tour in my third city, and it’s still undefeated.
Link in bio for the full review cost, route, parking, and every stop we hit 🥟🌶️
13 creek crossings, a canyon that keeps closing in around you, and a hike I’d genuinely put back on my itinerary, West Fork Trail was the one.
We got to Call of the Canyon at 7:15am and the lot was barely a quarter full. By 12:30 it was 85% full, so if there’s one tip that matters most, it’s this: go early.
The maintained trail is 6.6 miles round trip, mostly flat, mostly shaded, but I kept my regular tennis shoes dry the whole way by hopping across the rocks at each crossing. It’s rated moderate, and honestly that’s about the distance, not the terrain.
Here’s what nobody tells you though ✨ the maintained trail isn’t the end. We changed into water shoes at the official endpoint and kept going another mile straight through the creek, canyon walls narrowing around us the whole time. That extra mile ended up being my favorite part of the entire hike.
5/5 for me. I’d bring the water shoes again in a heartbeat.
Link in bio for the full guide parking, timing, what to pack, and everything I wish I knew before I went 🥾
Two hours, zero regrets. The Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour is hands down one of the most fun things we did in Sedona.
Open-air Jeeps crawling over slickrock, backcountry views you can’t reach on your own, and the famous Road of No Return, steep, thrilling, and somehow completely safe the whole way down.
If you’re picking one paid activity in Sedona, make it this one.
You have to do @pinkjeeptours 🌵🚙 Link in bio for the full review.
Dinner beside Oak Creek at Cress, and yes, it’s a splurge, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat.🤍
Candlelit tables under the trees, the creek running right beside us, a menu that mixes Arizona ingredients with French technique. We ordered a little of everything: the squash and beet salad, milk rolls with three different butters, sweet potato gnocchi that somehow felt light instead of heavy. Then two desserts because we couldn’t decide. The Vanilla Crème Caramel with Manchego cheese completely stole the show, salty and sweet in a way that sounds strange until you taste it.
Plan on $100–250 for two depending on what you order, and this isn’t the spot for a quick casual dinner, it’s slow, intentional, and worth every minute. Book ahead and ask for a creekside table if you can.
If you’re looking for one unforgettable meal in Sedona, this is it. Link in bio for the full review 🍽️
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