Top Gatlinburg How to Get Around in 2026

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.

Skip the hassle of following a map and focus your attention on the sweeping views with this scenic driving tour through the Great Smoky Mountains. Head to the highest elevations as you traverse the Crest of the Smokies with your driver-guide, learning about the area’s history and ecosystem in the North Carolina side of the national park. Stop at the most dazzling overlooks, including Clingmans Dome—the park's highest point.

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.

Discover a bygone era on a 3-hour tour of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Hear stories about the Cherokee people and settlers that lived and worked in the mountains, and learn how they survived off the land. See a small family cemetery, 19th-century barn and an old fashioned spring house, then get a glimpse of settlers’ daily lives in a small restored cabin. Enjoy a relaxed nature walk with a guide that brings the Smoky Mountains’ distinctive wildlife, plants and geology to life at every turn.

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.

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.

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.

Gatlinburg sits at the gateway to the Smokies, but its own story is worth staying in town for. This app-led scavenger hunt takes you through Gatlinburg on foot, using phone-based riddles to guide you from one landmark to the next. No guide, no fixed start time. • Visit the Martha Jane Ogle Cabin, Anakeesta, and the Gatlinburg Space Needle — pioneers, panoramas, and peaks in one walk • Start when you're ready and walk at your own speed through a town packed with character • A fun activity for families, couples, and groups exploring the Smoky Mountain gateway Available in 24 languages including English, French, German, Spanish, Italian — see the full list when booking and choose yours when you start the game in the app. Around 2 hours - any group size. All the altitude, none of the cable car queue.

Step into the shadows of the Smoky Mountains with Grave Intentions, an adults-only walking tour blending haunting true crime, Southern ghost stories, and historical legend. Designed for ages 16 and up, this 90-minute nighttime tour takes you beyond the tourist charm and deep into Gatlinburg’s darker past.

Spend a full day exploring the Smokies your way. Best of the Smokies: Full-Day Private Guided Adventure is customized around your group’s interests, pace, and sense of adventure, making it one of the most flexible ways to experience Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Your day may include waterfalls, mountain views, historic sites, scenic drives, quiet trails, wildflowers, wildlife stories, old-growth forest, or a custom mix of the park’s best experiences. Because this is a private tour, your guide can adapt the day to your group and help you make the most of your time in the Smokies. Transportation and lunches are included. Best for: Private groups, families, couples, photographers, first-time visitors, mixed-interest groups, and guests who want a full-day custom Smoky Mountain experience. Duration: 7-8 Hours | Difficulty: Your Choice | Ages: Your Choice Meeting Location: Sugarlands Visitors Center or Pick-up from Downtown Gatlinburg Location

Experience the Smoky Mountains like never before in a premium street-legal 4-seater Polaris RZR built for scenic adventures around Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Unlike crowded guided tours, self-guided rentals give travelers the freedom to explore at an individual pace, stop for photos, discover hidden mountain roads, and enjoy the beauty of the Smokies with family, friends, or pets. Rentals are beginner-friendly and include a safety orientation, recommended scenic routes, national park parking pass, and local tips to help maximize the adventure. Whether looking for mountain views, peaceful forest drives, or a fun outdoor experience, Smoky Motorsport Rentals delivers a unique and flexible way to explore East Tennessee.

The River Remembers is an easy guided walk in the more quiet section of the Smokies, along a cascading mountain stream where nature and history meet. This relaxed Smoky Mountain tour follows an old roadbed through forest beauty, seasonal wildflowers, historic cabins, old rock walls, a springhouse, and the traces of families who once lived in these mountains. This is more than a history walk. It is a gentle riverside hike with moving water, forest sounds, mountain plants, and meaningful stories woven together by an experienced guide. It’s a strong introduction to the Smokies for guests who want scenery, interpretation, and a relaxed pace. Best for: History lovers, families, seniors, beginners, wildflower lovers, and guests who want an easy Smoky Mountain walk with pristine streams, nature and cultural history. Duration: 3 Hours | Difficulty: Easy | Mileage: 2.5 | Elevation Change: 347' | Ages: All Meeting Location: Greenbrier Parking Area 1, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

Explore the Great Smoky Mountains with a small-group guided van tour that includes hotel pickup. Set out on a sightseeing and nature-themed trip featuring a stroll along the Appalachian Trail. Skip the hassle of driving and learn about the history and wildlife of the Smokies while enjoying mountain views and several photo stops.

The Great Smoky Mountains boast scenic views and this hiking tour takes you on a journey to find them. Join a small group and traverse through the lush landscapes to discover several streams, cascades, and creeks. Each season of the year puts on a different show for hikers so there's always something to enjoy. This is a moderately adventurous hike that gains elevation and climbs over downed trees.

Discover Gatlinburg’s haunted history on a pub-crawl-style adventure that blends moonshine lore, mountain mysteries, and the darker side of this mountain town’s past. Designed for adults 21+ and perfect for all interests, this spooky experience offers fun with a twist as you explore legendary locations and hear tales that linger long after the night ends. It’s a stress-free group celebration—everything is planned for you—so all you need is a valid I.D. and a taste for adventure.

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.

For the curious traveler who wants more from their travels, this fall foliage tour can’t be beat. Following your guide—a biologist, ecologist, or park ranger—you’ll get a deeper understanding of this gorgeous area, walking or hiking through the scenic Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Get ready to learn, have fun, and scout out some brilliant autumn color and incredible Smoky Mountain views.

Discover Gatlinburg distilleries and wineries on this guided moonshine and wine tasting walking tour with a small group. Enjoy VIP treatment and go behind the scenes at a working distillery to learn how moonshine is traditionally distilled. You'll try plenty of samples along the way, too, including a moonshine cocktail, and learn about the history of moonshine.

Embark on the US East National Park Self-Guided Driving and Walking Audio Tours Bundle! Explore Acadia, Asheville, and the Smoky Mountains. Visit Cades Cove, Shenandoah, and Cuyahoga Valley, then experience the Everglades and Hot Springs. Cruise the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway (currently closed temporarily) and hike to Clingmans Dome. This bundle offers a diverse mix of nature, history, and adventure in some of the East's most iconic national parks. Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! After booking, you can check your email before downloading the Tour Guide App by Action, entering your unique password, and accessing your tour. The preceding steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. Simply follow the audio instructions and the route from there. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. This is not an entrance ticket to attractions along the route. Check opening hours before your visit.

Get wet and muddy when exploring the Cosby Picnic area and the Great Smoky Mountains with kids and a nature guide, awakening enthusiasm and reconnecting with mother nature. The aim is to focus attention through games, while soaking up fresh air, looking for salamanders, and just having some good outdoor fun in the forest.

Celebrate the magic of the season this year with Holly Jolly Hunt. Holly Jolly Hunt is an app based scavenger hunt that you can play anywhere of your choosing. Explore the city and look for holiday related items, both traditional and not so traditional. Take a photo through the app to score points for your scavenger hunt team. Perform fun, holiday challenges that will bring laughter to your team. See your score on the leaderboard compared to other teams from all over. Holly Jolly Hunt is guaranteed to provide lasting holiday memories. Whether you play with friends, family, or even co-workers, Holly Jolly will put a smile on your face for the rest of the year!

Solve challenges, score points, and learn all about Gatlinburg as you go on this private city scavenger hunt. You won’t need to stick to a guide or a large tour group. Instead, work with your private party at your own pace to collect objects around town. Know you have an interactive live host for around two hours if you get stuck or have any questions along the way.