Best town to live in smoky mountains.16 Best Smoky Mountain Small Towns in Tennessee & North Carolina
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Best town to live in smoky mountainsGreat Smoky Mountains Small Towns, North Carolina - Gatlinburg
With its signature blue mist and rugged landscape, the Smoky Mountains are a true gem in the South. But hidden throughout this beautiful landscape are dozens of quaint mountainside towns that are perfect for quick trips and weekend getaways. Where: Pigeon Forge is nestled against the foothills on the northern side of the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. Why: The splendor of the nearby Smoky Mountains transformed this once quaint mountain town into a popular tourist destination.
Popular attractions include the Old Mill , which is a nationally registered historic place and has been in the area since the early s. This water-powered mill once played a pivotal role in the daily lives of early Pigeon Forge settlers. The Old Mill is now a popular tourist attraction with a restaurant and cafe.
With its original historic touches, visitors can get a genuine historical experience as they dine and visit its shops. The town hosts an annual Winterfest Kickoff Festival , which features shopping, live entertainment, and twinkling holiday lights.
When it comes to Smoky Mountains towns, Pigeon Forge is the perfect place to rent a mountain cabin with your family for a quick trip to enjoy all that this area has to offer.
Where: Gatlinburg is just about six miles away from Pigeon Forge in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, but this town has enough character to stand on its own. Thanks to the National Park, this town also fosters an small outdoorsy scene, which attracts hikers and campers from all over. Like in Pigeon Forge, many visitors opt to rent a cabin in Gatlinburg and experience the town as it should be experienced — like a local.
You can find mountain cabins in Gatlinburg appropriate for any budget, and they allow vacationers to truly immerse themselves in the beautiful mountain setting. As far as Smoky Mountains towns go, Gatlinburg offers some great dining options, including fine dining and classic steakhouses.
In addition to the nearby Smokies, entertainment and recreation in Gatlinburg including moonshine distillery tours, a scenic aerial tramway, museums, and souvenir shops. For visitors considering Smoky Mountains towns for their next trip, Gatlinburg is a great option. Where: Sevierville is located a bit north of Pigeon Forge, where the foothills meet the Tennessee Valley.
Why: Often overlooked for other Smoky Mountains towns, the small town of Sevierville is a hidden gem situated at the border of Pigeon Forge. Whether you enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, or hunting, Sevierville is also a great way to enjoy the great outdoors. Why: Out of all of the Smoky Mountains towns, Townsend is one of the smallest. This tiny outpost has just around residents, which is part of its charm. Because of its close proximity to the Smokies, visitors often use Townsend as a home base for hiking expeditions.
Likewise, this has made Townsend a popular town for adventure seekers and lovers of the outdoors. What Townsend lacks in shopping and entertainment it makes up for in pristine mountain views and outdoor activities. Why: Once touted as the Moonshine Capital of the World, this unincorportated town now tops out at just about 5, people. Cosby is just down Highway Hit the less-traveled Foothills Parkway for breathtaking views of the Appalachian Trail, which traverses the state lines of Tennessee and neighboring North Carolina.
Because of its easy access to the Smokies, visitors to Cosby can enjoy quick day trips for casual hiking. Use the Cosby Campground as a home base for camping or long-haul hikes. If you want to beat the crowds while still enjoying the beauty of the Smokies, Cosby is the place to do it.
Wears Valley is brimming with scenic drives, tranquil views, and the kind of friendly faces that make this town so special.
With its small-town mountain charm, Wears Valley is the perfect place to visit when you want to trade city skylines for mountain vistas. Why: Cherokee is rich with culture, arts, crafts, and outdoor activities.
The area is abundant with wildlife and offers native elk herd viewing, birding, and fishing. Visitors can also go horseback riding on scenic trails, or ride motorcycles through dramatic scenery. Rich in Native American culture, you can see a variety of traditional crafts and reenactments. Since it serves as base camp for hikers, Cherokee has an abundance of outdoor activities, like camping, boating, tubing, golf, and more.
For visitors looking for entertainment, Cherokee has got you covered. Quaint cafes, galleries, museums, and charming shops line the streets of this bustling little town. Where: The former vacation town of Elkmont is right next to the Elkmont campground, about a minute drive from Gatlinburg.
Elkmont was once home to the burgeoning national park movement in the s, and the land eventually became the property of the National Park Service.
Walking through this town recalls visions of another time. See two still-standing graveyards, abandoned cottages and chalets, and buildings that are starting to be reclaimed by nature. These buildings are rotting fast and can be hazardous if you venture inside. Where: Maryville is a peaceful college town located northwest of Townsend in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains.
Why: Maryville is away from the hustle and bustle of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. While Maryville is less touristy than some of the more popular Smoky Mountains towns, the area has a perfect blend of mountain town life and tranquility.
From cafes to local restaurants and chains, Maryville has plenty of dining options to keep you satisfied, and like many Smoky Mountains towns, the area boasts many options for outdoor activities. If you liked this post, be sure to check out all of our local vacation guides.
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Gateway Towns for Great Smoky Mountains National Park
These towns and cities near Smoky Mountains National Park range from buzzing tourist hot spots to quiet communities in Tennessee and North Carolina. Creekside cabins, glamping tents, resort hotels — you can find them all in the best Smoky Mountain towns. The national park on the Tennessee and North Carolina border is the most popular in the country, so picking the right best town to live in smoky mountains to stay in the Smokies can mean the difference between traffic and bright lights or the sounds of birds chirping and streams rushing.
This best town to live in smoky mountains of cities and towns near Smoky Mountains National Park includes a wide variety of options, including larger hubs with airports and chain hotels as well as is indian considered south asian - is indian considered south asian towns in the Smoky Mountains with mom-and-pop shops and elk for neighbors.
Keep scrolling for Smoky Mountains cities and villages best town to live in smoky mountains should consider on your next vacation. These towns near Smoky Mountains National Park include gateway hubs like Gatlinburg, cities with airports like Knoxville, and small communities nearby best town to live in smoky mountains Waynesville in North Best town to live in smoky mountains and Townsend in Tennessee. Park campgrounds have running water and flush toilets, but no shower facilities or water and electrical hookups.
There are also several campgrounds on the outskirts of the park around Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Cherokee. Typically these options will have hookups for Great Smoky Mountains RV camping, shower facilities, and even resort-style amenities like swimming pools and sport courts. Gatlinburg and Great Smoky Mountains have long been synonymous, as the gateway town in Tennessee is just minutes top gun vs top gun maverick actors a visitor center and several waterfall hikes in the national park.
Aside from the outdoor activities nearby, Gatlinburg is packed with kitschy tourist attractions, including the Gatlinburg Space Needle and a sky lift for elevated views, mini golf and laser tag for family fun, and adventure parks with activities like zip lining and mountain coasters nearby. With all these amenities comes best town to live in smoky mountains, though. This means inflated pricing on hotels, crazy amounts of traffic, and long lines at the chain restaurants downtown.
If you want the convenience of staying here without the hassle, look for cabins for rent in Great Smoky Mountains outside the city. Where to Stay in Gatlinburg. Gatlinburg has tons of hotel options in a wide variety of price ranges. These are some of the top-reviewed options on my favorite hotel booking platform. Best known for the Dollywood theme park, the Smoky Mountains city of Pigeon Forge is about 10 miles north of the national park entrance in Tennessee.
Like Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge is set up for action-packed family vacations and is one of the best cities near Gatlinburg for a wide range amenities and activities. The Dollywood resort area is just a couple of miles from downtown.
Where to Stay in Pigeon Forge. Страница Forge has over 14, lodging units, so you can find hotels and rentals in a variety of price ranges, from budget-friendly inns downtown to pricey resorts and lodges with views on the outskirts. A statue of Dolly Parton and her best town to live in smoky mountains sits in the courthouse square of Sevierville, Tennessee, birthplace of the country music legend. The Great Smoky Mountain town is just north of Pigeon Forge and about 30 minutes from the national park.
While there are still a few attractions here, including a waterpark and aviation museum, the city is noticeably less touristy than Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge and has a restored historic best town to live in smoky mountains downtown with local shops and eateries. Where to Stay in Sevierville. Towns around Gatlinburg like Wears Valley offer the convenience of the tourist hotspot best town to live in smoky mountains without the constant noise and activity.
A handful of local eateries and shops are scattered along Wears Valley Road, and accommodation options include RV parks, small hotels and cabin rentals tucked in the woods. Wears Valley is best for those looking for towns in the Smoky Mountains that are less crowded and more connected to the natural surroundings.
Where to Stay in Wears Valley. It still has everything you need for a mountain vacation — best town to live in smoky mountains shops, restaurants, outfitters — but with far less of a kitschy and commercial vibe than Gatlinburg. Where to Stay in Townsend. But, it might be convenient to stay here a night on your way in or out or stop for groceries at one of the bigger markets.
Where to Stay in Maryville and Alcoa. Where to Stay in Knoxville. Located on the south side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cherokee is less than 5 miles from the Oconaluftee entrance and visitor center. Where to Stay in Cherokee. Cherokee has a selection of budget motels and inns, including well-known chains and a few local properties. Aside from the nearby national park attractions, one of the посмотреть больше things to do in Bryson City is a train ride with the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad.
Routes venture into gorges, through tunnels, and to historic mountain towns. A walkable commercial district here has diners and gift shops, and a selection of small inns and chain hotels are scattered around the Smoky Mountain town.
Where to Stay in Bryson City. With the Biltmore Estate, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and tons of waterfalls and parks nearby, Asheville is one of the cities near the Smoky Mountains on the North Carolina side with the most things to do.
Plus, it has a fast-growing regional airport. Downtown Asheville has tons of options for dining and shopping, but with a much more homegrown small business vibe than Gatlinburg. Make sure to stop by the River Arts District for tacos and street art and drive out of town on the the Blue Ridge Parkway for scenic overlooks and waterfall hikes. Where to Stay in Asheville. Asheville has so many amazing places to stay, from modern downtown hotels in walking distance to shops and restaurants, to cozy bed and breakfasts in historic districts.
From Waynesville, it takes about 35 minutes to reach the quiet Cataloochee area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park or 50 minutes to the Oconaluftee entrance. The Blue Ridge Mountains loom over the valley here, and in less than 20 minutes, you can drive up onto the Blue Ridge Parkway to view the towns from above.
The town has a few inns and bed and breakfasts, as well as a small commercial district for dining. This is a great option for a place to stay near the Smoky Mountains for a more relaxed and less crowded vacation.
Where to Stay in Hot Springs. Start Here. Where I've Been. Travel Guides. National Parks. Road Trips. Travel Shop. Gift Guides. May Michelle Joy. This post contains affiliate /5052.txt. If you click on one or buy something, we might receive a commission for telling you about it, at no extra cost to you.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Gatlinburg Gatlinburg and Great Smoky Mountains have long been synonymous, as the gateway town in Tennessee is just minutes from a visitor center and several waterfall hikes in the national park. Where to Stay in Gatlinburg Gatlinburg has tons of hotel options in a wide variety of price ranges. Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg is close to all the downtown attractions and has three swimming pools. Large rooms and suites are available to accommodate families and groups.
The property also has free parking! The Appy Lodge is also convenient to downtown with indoor and outdoor pools, free parking and a complimentary breakfast. Some of the rooms here have mountain views, fireplaces and balconies!
Old Creek Lodge has a cozy feel with a fireplace and balcony in each room. Search for the best town to live in smoky mountains deals in Gatlinburg on Booking. Pigeon Forge Best known продолжить чтение the Dollywood theme park, the Smoky Mountains city of Pigeon Forge is about 10 miles north of the national park entrance in Tennessee.
Where to Stay in Pigeon Forge Pigeon Forge has over 14, lodging units, best town to live in smoky mountains you can find hotels and rentals in a variety of price ranges, from budget-friendly inns downtown to pricey resorts and lodges with views on the outskirts. The Inn at Christmas Place is a highly-rated Bavarian-style resort in downtown Pigeon Forge with an outdoor pool and water slide, breakfast buffet, and singing Santa visits throughout the year. Twin Mountain Inn and Suites has fireplace and balcony rooms on the river, a seasonal pool, and an outdoor fire pit with rocking chairs.
Music Road Resort is perfect for families with an outdoor water park, hot tub, game room and continental breakfast. Find hotel deals in Pigeon Forge on Booking.
Sevierville A statue of Dolly Best town to live in smoky mountains and her guitar sits in the courthouse square of Sevierville, Tennessee, birthplace of the country music legend. You can find a wide variety of budget-friendly hotels in Sevierville or look into the more unique properties below.
Central Hotel is the best place to stay near historic downtown Sevierville. The contemporary property has city views and family rooms and is a short walk to local shops and cafes. Berry Springs Lodge is a lux option outside of town perfect for Smoky Mountains honeymoons or couples getaways. Rooms and suites have private balconies and some feature fireplaces and spa tubs.
Search for cabins and hotels in Sevierville. Wears Valley Towns around Gatlinburg like Wears Valley offer the convenience of the tourist hotspot amenities without the constant noise and activity. Wears Valley is a great place to look for vacation homes and private cabins near the Smoky Mountains. The best ones book up fast so search Booking. Townsend is a quiet spot to find a private cabin near the park.
An on-site restaurant, gardens, dog park and coffee shop are among the amenities. Highland Manor Inn is a budget-friendly option with an outdoor pool, playground and breakfast buffet. Search for deals on cabins in Townsend on Booking. If you need a place to stay near the airport in Alcoa, you best town to live in smoky mountains use the map feature on Booking. Search for deals on rooms in Maryville and Alcoa.
Graduate Knoxville is a brightly decorated contemporary hotel that pays homage to the University of Tennessee. The property has an подробнее на этой странице coffee shop and bar and suites that fit larger groups and families. The Tennessean is a lux property downtown with an on-site restaurant and rooms with views.
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