Downtown Gatlinburg: Ultimate Guide for Your Visit

This post may contain affiliate links to trusted partners.

Downtown Gatlinburg is the heartbeat of the Smoky Mountains.

It has a charming small town feel amidst its lively streets, unique shops, and vibrant attractions. 

The first time I visited Gatlinburg, I had no idea what to expect.

Questions swirled through my mind: Can you walk around downtown Gatlinburg? Where do you park? Is driving through downtown easy? What is there to do in the heart of the city?

If you’ve wondered the same things, this post has you covered! I’ll break it all down to help you feel prepared and confident about exploring downtown Gatlinburg.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS THAT I EARN A SMALL COMMISSION FROM AT NO COST TO YOU. I ONLY RECOMMEND PRODUCTS THAT I USE OR HAVE USED AND RECOMMEND TO OTHERS.  ALL PRODUCT OPINIONS EXPRESSED HERE ARE MY OWN. 

Where is downtown Gatlinburg?

Downtown Gatlinburg is less than 2 miles from the entrance to Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

In fact, it is often referred to as the Gateway to Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

U.S. Highway 441 passes right through downtown Gatlinburg.

This road is also called the Parkway.

What is it like driving downtown Gatlinburg?

It is very easy to drive downtown Gatlinburg.

At times there can be heavy traffic, but it will be slow moving. 

Besides being in heavy slow traffic, driving through downtown is not stressful at all.

Downtown has many pedestrian crossings and traffic lights so driving through it is always fairly slow.

During the busy season it is advised to avoid driving downtown Gatlinburg simply because you will be sitting in traffic.

There are other roads you can take to get around the area in order to avoid the Parkway. 

Putting your destination into your GPS will take you on the quickest route.

Where is parking for downtown Gatlinburg?

There are two parking garages downtown that are run by the City of Gatlinburg.

Each of these garages has over 300 spaces.

One is the McMahan/Parkway Parking Garage and the other is located at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.

We visited Gatlinburg in March over our Spring Break, and each time we came downtown we were able to park at the McMahan/Parkway garage.

It is conveniently located next to a small Welcome Center which has public restrooms.

Additionally, there are privately owned parking garages and lots around downtown, too. 

We were lucky that we were able to get to downtown Gatlinburg easily with little to medium traffic and find a spot in the McMahan/Parkway Parking garage each time we visited. 

Expert Tip

If you are visiting Gatlinburg during a busy time of year, I suggest mapping out your day ahead of time and if you are planning on spending part or all of the day downtown or at an attraction downtown to get there early.

Gatlinburg Trolly System

Gatlinburg also offers free park and ride lots that utilize the Gatlinburg Trolley System

The Gatlinburg Trolley System is a great method to get around the area, and it is free!

Additionally, the Gatlinburg Trolley operates every day of the year.

If you do not want to drive downtown Gatlinburg and deal with the hassle of traffic and finding a parking spot, you can drive to the Gatlinburg Welcome Center located at 1011 Banner Road to park for free and ride the trolley to downtown.

This ride to downtown less than 2 miles and should take about 8-10 minutes.

All of the trolley routes stop at the Mass Transit Center located at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies which is downtown Gatlinburg.

This is important to know if you want to change to a different route.

Expert Tip

You can board a trolley anywhere you see the Street Trolley sign. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is then where you would change routes if need be.

Is it easy to walk around downtown?

Yes! Downtown Gatlinburg is extremely pedestrian friendly.

Walking downtown should be your main way to get to everywhere you want to go.

There are sidewalks on both sides of the street and many crosswalks.

That said, I will say though that the sidewalks are not super wide.

They are just a normal sidewalk size so walking can become slow and crowded when many people are around.

Also, make sure your kids don’t get too close to the curb as cars will be driving right on the other side of it. 

Finally, I suggest bringing your stroller or wagon especially if you have younger kids.

It will make it easier to keep them safe from walking near the street or in a large crowd.

🌟Join Our Community on Facebook🌟

Looking for more tips, inspiration, and real-life stories from families like yours? Our Facebook group is the perfect place to connect, share, and learn together. Whether you’re dreaming up your next family vacation, planning your next family adventure, or getting ready to go on a trip, you’ll find a supportive community ready to help.

➡️Click here to join now and get connected! Join our Facebook Group!

What is there to do downtown Gatlinburg?

Gatlinburg has so many things to see and do for all ages. You can easily spend a few days enjoying all that downtown has to offer. 

Here is a list of some of the attractions in downtown Gatlinburg:

  • Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
  • Chondola to Anakeesta

DISCOVER ANAKEESTA: Ultimate Guide to Anakeesta

  • Gatlinburg Space Needle
  • Ripley’s Haunted Adventure
  • Ripley’s Marvelous Mirror Maze
  • Ripley’s Believe It or Not
  • Gatlin’s Fun Center
  • SkyBridge
  • Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tram
  • Gatlinburg Pinball Museum

This just scratches the surface of all the great entertainment options, sights, and things to do in Gatlinburg. 

There are also fun shops and distilleries to check out as well!

DISCOVER MORE: Top 10 Free Things to do in Gatlinburg for Families

Are there places to eat downtown?

Downtown Gatlinburg has so many fantastic places to dine.

There is everything from bars to casual restaurants, quick eats, a steakhouse, pancake house, and more.

Downtown has a variety of restaurants that everyone in your family is sure to enjoy!

One of the most iconic Gatlinburg restaurants is the Pancake Pantry located in the Village Shops area of downtown.

Serving breakfast and lunch, the Pancake Pantry is a fantastic dining option for your family.

Crockett’s Breakfast Camp is another excellent restaurant pick for families.

Best Italian is a third option for families that is not in the breakfast food realm.

It has two locations- the original location that has sit-down dining as well as an express location right on the Parkway.

Are there places to stay downtown Gatlinburg?

Downtown Gatlinburg has many great hotel options. Staying downtown has the added bonus of being right in the center of things!

You can park at your hotel and easily walk to all the shops, restaurants, and attractions any time you want!

Additional Tips and Recommendations

  • Plan what you want to do downtown ahead of time and consider making your plans for early in the day. 
  • Get downtown early to find parking and avoid heavy traffic.
  • Consider doing the park and ride Gatlinburg trolley option if you don’t get going early enough.
  • If you plan on eating at a restaurant downtown, think about your timing for that and if you can, make a reservation or put your name in advance and then check something out nearby while you are waiting.
  • Have fun and enjoy all that Gatlinburg has to offer!

FIND OUT MORE: Gatlinburg Family Vacation: Guide to Smoky Mountain Memories

I hope this gives you a good idea of what to expect on your visit to downtown Gatlinburg.

It is an easy place to get around, and there is so much to see and do with your family. 

SAVE and PIN this post for your Gatlinburg travels. May you love your adventure! KW

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *