If you’re searching for the best things to do in Gatlinburg, you’re in the right place! Between the smoky mountain views, the endless food smells drifting down the Parkway, and more fudge shops than you can count, you’ll never run out of things to do. Whether you’re in town for a weekend or just passing through, these are my top five favorite Gatlinburg activities — the ones that actually live up to the hype.
(If you’ve got more than a day, check out my Spend a Week in Gatlinburg and Sevierville itinerary — it’s a full Smoky Mountain deep dive.)
If you’re visiting the Smokies and skip hiking, I’m pretty sure they revoke your visitor pass. Hiking is easily one of the most popular things to do in Gatlinburg, and it’s not hard to see why. Don’t worry — you don’t have to be a hardcore hiker to enjoy it here.
Start with Laurel Falls, an easy 2.6-mile round-trip paved trail that ends at an 80-foot waterfall. The bridge in the middle of the falls is perfect for photos (and for catching your breath while pretending you didn’t get winded).
For something even easier, try Cataract Falls, a quick walk near Sugarlands Visitor Center, or drive up to Clingmans Dome (Kuwohi) — you get brag-worthy 360° views without committing to a full workout.
And if you’re in the mood for more of a challenge, Alum Cave Trail and Chimney Tops will give you all the mountain magic with just enough sweat to make that post-hike dessert feel earned.
Want more hiking options read My Favorite Easy Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains for full trail details.
Just outside of Gatlinburg is River Rat Tubing, and if you’re here in summer, this is a must-do. It’s the kind of day that’s equal parts relaxing and ridiculous — picture yourself drifting down the river with a bunch of friends, tethered together in a lazy-day parade of inner tubes.
They’ve made it super easy: a shuttle picks you up at the end and brings you back so you can do it all over again. There are two options — River A for a calm, scenic float and River B for a little more excitement (aka a few rapids that’ll make you laugh-scream). River A takes about two hours; River B, about one.
A few tips from experience: book in advance so you don’t miss out, fill out your waiver online to save time, and definitely wear water shoes and sunscreen. Parking is free, lockers are available, and if you want photos, bring a GoPro — phones and rivers don’t always mix well.
It’s the perfect blend of sunshine, mountain air, and “I’m not doing anything productive today and that’s fine.”
I’ll be honest — I’m a big shopper. I can (and will) spend hours wandering stores if there’s even a hint of something cute, cozy, or delicious inside, and Gatlinburg is a gold mine for that. Shopping your way through downtown is one of the most fun things to do in Gatlinburg, especially if you love a mix of local charm and good snacks. The downtown strip is packed with everything from local boutiques to souvenir shops and fudge counters, and I swear there’s something new every time I visit.
My favorite spot is The Village, this adorable little cluster of brick walkways, fountains, and boutiques that feels like a European courtyard tucked behind the Parkway. Stop at The Donut Friar for fresh pastries and coffee (the smell alone is worth it), sample olive oils at Zi Olive, and poke around The Honey Pot for whimsical gifts you didn’t know you needed.
The Paula Deen Store is full of southern-style kitchenware and home décor — this place is dangerous in the best possible way, I want one of everything — and Byrd’s Famous Cookies and Goo Goo Cluster are the perfect snack stops for “just one more sample” moments. Shopping here isn’t just an activity; it’s a full experience.
If you like a good tasting, Gatlinburg’s distilleries are calling your name. Sampling local drinks (or treats) is one of the classic things to do in Gatlinburg, whether you’re sipping cider or eating your way down the Parkway. Start with Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery — it’s got live music, a fun crowd, and that classic Gatlinburg energy. Then wander over to Sugarlands Distilling Company for creative flavors and a peek at their behind-the-scenes setup, or stop into Tennessee Legend Distillery for smooth, small-batch spirits.
And don’t skip Tennessee Cider Company — their hard ciders are locally made, deliciously crisp, and perfect if you want something lighter (or just a break from moonshine). It’s a whole experience — even if you don’t know your way around a tasting flight.
But if you don’t drink, you can still join the fun — just turn it into a food crawl instead. Start with BBQ at Calhoun’s, grab a milkshake the size of your head at The Crazy Mason, and finish the night with a Heath Bar caramel apple from Chocolate Monkey. Calories don’t count in Gatlinburg, right?
Top Places to Eat in Gatlinburg for a full list of restaurants.
If you came for views, you’ll want to head up — literally. Anakeesta is a mountaintop adventure park where you can ride a scenic gondola, stroll the Treetop Skywalk, or zipline through the trees if you’re feeling brave. There’s shopping, dining, and even a mountaintop bar with panoramic views that make you want to stay until sunset.
And then there’s the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park, home to the SkyBridge — the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America. Walking across it gives you sweeping Smoky Mountain views and, right in the middle, a few glass panels that let you look straight down 150 feet to the forest below. It’s breathtaking, a little nerve-wracking, and totally worth it.
(Pro tip: go at sunset — the mountain glow over downtown Gatlinburg is one of the best sights in Tennessee.)
Whether you spend your day hiking, floating, eating, shopping, or dangling over a mountain, Gatlinburg is one of those rare towns that gives you everything — small-town charm, big-time adventure, and plenty of stories to take home. No matter which of these things to do in Gatlinburg you pick, you’ll already be planning your next trip before you even leave.
It’s the perfect mix of mountain air, sugar highs, and southern hospitality. No matter how you spend your time here, you’ll already be planning your next trip before you even leave.
Spend a Week in Gatlinburg and Sevierville or Waterfall Hikes in the Smokies for longer trip ideas
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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