Introduction to Accommodations
When planning your adventure to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you’ll find a wide variety of accommodations to suit every traveler’s style and budget. Whether you’re dreaming of a cozy cabin tucked away in the woods, a charming lodge with mountain views, or a family-friendly resort packed with amenities, the Smokies have it all. The national park and its surrounding towns offer everything from rustic campsites to luxurious cabins, making it easy to find the perfect home base for your stay.
The beauty of the Smoky Mountains isn’t just in the scenery, it’s in the diversity of places to stay. Couples can enjoy a romantic escape in a secluded cabin, families can spread out in spacious lodges, and solo adventurers can find affordable rooms or unique bed-and-breakfasts. With so many options, planning your trip is half the fun. Whether you want to wake up to the sound of birds in the middle of the forest or be steps away from bustling mountain towns, the Smokies are ready to welcome you.
No matter the length of your stay or the size of your group, you’ll find accommodations that make you feel right at home. From the moment you check in, you’ll be surrounded by the natural beauty and warm hospitality that make the Smoky Mountains a top destination for travelers year after year.
It’s no wonder the Great Smoky Mountains National Park draws millions of visitors every year. Spanning 500,000 acres of mountain peaks, lush forests, and diverse wildlife across the Tennessee and North Carolina border, it consistently ranks as one of the most-visited national parks in the country.
But with such an expansive landscape, deciding where to stay in the Smoky Mountains can be difficult.
The only options to stay inside the Smokies are camping and a single lodge, LeConte Lodge, which is only accessible by hiking. Luckily, you don’t have to camp to experience that “in the national park” feeling.
Whether you stay in a cabin for a large group or with your furry friend in a pet-friendly cabin, these nearby Smoky Mountain towns are perfect for your crew, whether that’s family or friends, combining nature with the creature comforts of home. From nature-filled Gatlinburg to leisurely Townsend and Maggie Valley, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Check out our Google Map to see our full list of towns and nearby entrances.
Not sure which town fits your trip? The table below lays out all seven gateway towns at a glance. Each entry shows how far you are from the nearest park entrance and what kind of traveler that town suits best, so you can match your stay to your itinerary before you book.
Gatlinburg is one of the best places to stay in the Smoky Mountains. Located in eastern Tennessee, and with three park entrances directly in town, Gatlinburg offers easy access to the Smokies. It also hosts a variety of shops, restaurants, and fun attractions for all ages. Hotels in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge often include pools, on-site dining, and proximity to local attractions. There are also a few airports near Gatlinburg in case you plan to fly.
Gatlinburg is home to plenty of holiday parades and festivals, making it ideal for Christmas activities in Gatlinburg. During winter, the Trolley Ride of Lights showcases the town’s festive celebration with millions of lights throughout the city. Gatlinburg is also one of the few places to spot synchronized fireflies in the Smoky Mountains between late May and early June, a window widely considered the best time to visit the Smokies.
From museums and mini-golf to the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America, there’s no shortage of family fun in this charming mountain town.
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Sorry, Cabins can’t be previewed in the block editor. You can instead save this post as a draft to preview before publishing.
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Pigeon Forge is another eastern Tennessee town known as one of the best places to stay in the Smoky Mountains. In addition to being a short drive from the main entrance of the park, Pigeon Forge has a variety of activities, live dinner shows, horseback riding tours, and mountain coaster rides among them.
A big draw for visitors in Pigeon Forge is the one and only Dollywood Amusement Park, which offers a variety of attractions and fun for all ages. If you’re trying to decide between staying in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg, consider the type of amenities and activities you want to enjoy during your trip.
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Sorry, Cabins can’t be previewed in the block editor. You can instead save this post as a draft to preview before publishing.
.cabin-results-meta, .cabin-results-pagination { display: none; } .preview-warning { display: none; padding: 20px; background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #9d9d9d; text-align: center; } .acf-block-preview .preview-warning { display: block; } [data-results] { padding: 20px 0; } .cabin-teaser-grid { justify-content: start; overflow-x: scroll; padding: 0 20px 20px; margin-left: -20px; margin-right: -20px; grid-template-columns: repeat(4, 340px); } .dynamic-loader { margin: 0; } .cabin-teaser { box-shadow: 0 5px 20px 0 rgba(119, 119, 119, .2); } .cabins-cta { font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; font-weight: 500; color: #fff !important; background-color: #435a43; border-radius: 24px; text-transform: none; border: none; padding: 12px 32px; letter-spacing: 0; transition: all 150ms ease; } .cabins-cta:hover { opacity: 0.7; } document.addEventListener(‘DOMContentLoaded’, () => { const wrapper = document.getElementById(‘cabins-block_73589bdcc7a0427a9133ba0c941fa69f’); const initialize = setInterval(() => { if (typeof Cabins === “undefined”) return; if (typeof Cabins.search !== “function”) return; clearInterval(initialize); /* begin duplicate logic from svelte */ const initialParams = new URLSearchParams(); const serverParamString = ‘locations%5B0%5D=15’; serverParamString .split(‘&’) .map((part) => decodeURIComponent(part)) .forEach((part) => { if (part.includes(‘[‘)) { const name = part.substring(0, part.indexOf(‘[‘)); const value = part.substring(part.indexOf(‘=’) + 1, part.length); initialParams.append(name, value); } else { const [name, value] = part.split(‘=’); initialParams.append(name, value); } }); let bedrooms = initialParams.get(‘bedrooms’) ?? null; let occupancy = initialParams.get(‘occupancy’) ? parseInt(initialParams.get(‘occupancy’)) : 0; let types = initialParams.getAll(‘types’) ?? []; let locations = initialParams.getAll(‘locations’) ?? []; let amenities = initialParams.getAll(‘amenities’) ?? []; const filterUrlString = Object.entries({ …(bedrooms ? { elk_bedrooms: bedrooms } : {}), …(occupancy ? { elk_occupancy: occupancy } : {}), …(types?.length ? { elk_types: types.join(‘+’) } : {}), …(locations?.length ? { elk_locations: locations.join(‘+’) } : {}), …(amenities?.length ? { elk_amenities: amenities.join(‘+’) } : {}), }) .map(([k, v]) => `${k}=${v}`) .join(‘&’); /* end duplicated from svelte */ /* And use this modified format of filter string in the “see more” button */ const button = wrapper.querySelector(‘.cabins-block-footer a’); if (button && filterUrlString && !button.hasAttribute(‘data-no-filters’)) button.href += `?${filterUrlString}`; /* Perform search */ Cabins.search( `force_pg_size=4${filterUrlString ? “&”+filterUrlString : “”}`, { history: false, paginate: false, noAbort: true, wrapper } ).then((data) => { if (!data) throw new Error(“Could not retrieve weekend cabins”); if (data.raw?.cabins?.length === 0) throw new Error(“No cabins available this weekend”); // success, rendering is handled within Cabins.search function wrapper.querySelector(‘.cabins-block-footer’).style.display = “flex”; }).catch((error) => { // cabin search error or cabin search empty console.warn(error.message); wrapper.remove(); }); }, 100); })
If you’re looking for the best Smoky Mountain towns for a peaceful vacation while still being close to a Smoky Mountain entrance, Townsend, Tennessee offers all the essentials for a comfortable stay. Located in southeastern Appalachia along the Tuckaleechee Cove, this relaxing town has been dubbed “The Peaceful Side of the Smokies” and offers a relaxed atmosphere with convenient access to Cades Cove.
One of the main reasons people choose to stay in Townsend is its proximity to <a target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener” href=”https://www.nps.gov/grs
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