Top Gatlinburg Day Trips

No need to sidle up to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park visitor center at 9am to catch that ranger-led tour—with this self-paced audio guide, you have your own expert at your disposal, right on your phone. As you drive through the park, stories, tips, and more automatically play, getting you the most out of your Smoky Mountain adventure.

Since you’re probably not traveling with a park ranger in your car, this private audio tour of Great Smoky Mountains National Park lets you discover the history of spots like Cades Cove, plus get intel on the best hiking trails, overlooks, and waterfalls. Use it only when you need, traveling at your pace—with a pro in your pocket.

If you’re looking for an adventure that puts you high in the sky with 360-degree views of the Great Smoky Mountains, this Gatlinburg Mountaintop Zipline and Sky Bridge Experience is just for you. Along with six opportunities to zipline high above the treetops, you’ll also get to go on four sky bridges and rappel onto the end platform. Plus, an ATV ride to the top of the mountain is included to make for an easy and fun time.

Combine the convenience of a guided tour with the freedom of independent travel with this self-guided driving tour of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Download the tour onto your phone and learn about Cherokee history and legends, Appalachian life, and more. See several of the park's best spots, such as Clingman's Dome and Rainbow Falls. Note: does not include entrance to the park or attractions.

Discover the history and culture of Appalachia as you tour the Great Smoky Mountains from Gatlinburg. Join a small group and explore along one of the mightiest rivers while learning about the lives of loggers and pioneers. Drive along the scenic Newfound Gap Road and stop to take in views of valleys, mountains, and the Appalachian Trail.

Uncover the sordid past of Gatlinburg, Tennessee during a ghost tour of the mountain town. Listen to stories of tragic deaths, cannibalism, and witchcraft as you stop at famous landmarks including the Gatlinburg Space Needle, White Oak Flats Cemetery, and Mysterious Mansion. As you explore, keep your eyes peeled for any paranormal activity that may be lurking in the area.

This tour focuses on Cades Cove and the 11-mile loop road that circles the valley. Along the way we'll stop at several historic buildings and scenic vistas as we learn about the mountaineers and moonshiners that called this place home. Historic buildings include a cabin built in 1822, a cemetery with the graves of Revolutionary War and War of 1812 veterans, and a working grist mill. And of course we'll keep our eyes open for wildlife including deer, turkeys, bears, and coyotes. Most stops on the tour require limited or no walking, but two stops include a half mile walk on pavement. Bring lunch or buy lunches through Smoky Mountain Guides

This tour travels over the crest of the Smokies from Tennessee into North Carolina. Along the way we'll experience one of the most scenic roads in the Southeast along with several panoramic mountain vistas. When we arrive in the Oconaluftee Valley we'll visit historic structures learning about the culture of the native Cherokee and European-descended mountaineers. While exploring this historic valley, we'll keep an eye out for elk. The largest animal in the Smokies, they were reintroduced by the park service in 2001.

Discover a different side of Gatlinburg on this haunted ghost walking tour. Learn all about the spooky history of this town during this nighttime tour, during which you’ll look for supernatural spirits and possibly communicate with the local "residents" yourself using ghost hunting equipment.