Top Gatlinburg How to Get Around

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.

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.

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.

Experience one of the most peaceful hikes in the Smoky Mountains on a guided, family-friendly adventure. Follow a wide, winding forest trail alongside a rushing mountain creek, cross gentle streams, and explore historic remnants tucked deep in the woods. Perfect for beginners, families, and groups, this relaxing hike offers an immersive introduction to the beauty, sounds, and serenity of the Smokies—without steep climbs or crowded overlooks. Please note that, while we do our best to follow the itinerary listed, we may need to pivot due to road closures or events outside of our control.

Discover the enchanting world of rare synchronous fireflies in the Great Smoky Mountains during a guided night hike. As twilight descends, witness the mesmerizing light show of these unique creatures as they synchronize their flashes in a pulsating rhythm. Along the way, enjoy the soothing sights and sounds of rivers and rapids and learn from a certified Wilderness First Responder with over a decade of experience. Settle in with provided chairs and headlamps for an unforgettable evening under the stars, where you have the opportunity to see rare synchronous fireflies and capture stunning time-lapse photos. Don't miss this unique opportunity to connect with nature.

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.

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.

Discover City of Gatlinburg from a different perspective on a self-guided walking tour and scavenger hunt of the city. Solve riddles and clues that lead to the next location, showing all the city highlights. Solve interesting puzzles, have fun and learn new things about City of Gatlinburg. Explore the city and find hidden gems at your own pace. Try a new type of experience with your smartphone, the perfect mix between a walking tour, sightseeing, and a scavenger hunt. Enjoy the tour in English.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Uncover the haunted history of Gatlinburg on this family-friendly 90-minute walking tour through one of the most storied corners of the Smoky Mountains. Perfect for all ages, the Ghosts of Gatlinburg tour weaves together spine-tingling legends, historical hauntings, and eerie encounters drawn from local lore. You’ll visit some of the city’s most iconic and mysterious locations!

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Discover the sights around Gatlinburg, Tennessee without the need for a tour guide with this app-led scavenger hunt. The objective of the game is to solve challenges and perform tasks to gain points and win the hunt. Each item you find awards you points and a remote host is on standby to help you with any questions.

A walking tour is a good way to explore a new city but kick it up a notch with this app-led zombie scavenger hunt. Explore Gatlinburg, Tennessee, find survival objects, and complete zombie-themed tasks all in one go. Collect as many points as you can and compete with other teams around the country to get to the number one ranking.

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.