Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited National Park in the United States. There are over 800 miles of hiking trails and it is known for its abundance of plant and animal species. The national park sits on the border between Tennessee and North Carolina. There are 2 main entrances to the park on the Tennessee side, in Townsend, TN and Gatlinburg, TN. Entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is free but parking for longer than 15 minutes does require a fee.
Top 12 Best Smoky Mountain Resorts Tennessee
1. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa – Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
🐻 Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa is 10 miles from the Gatlinburg, TN entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa is a fantastic family-friendly resort option located in Pigeon Forge, TN. Guests can jump on the complimentary trolley for transportation to the nearby Dollywood theme park, Dollywood’s Splash Country Waterpark, and the new The Dolly Parton Experience, an interactive exhibit that highlights Dolly’s life and inspiration, opens May 2024. This resort is located just next door to the Dollywood Heartsong Lodge and Resort.
Family-friendly amenities that guests will enjoy include indoor and outdoor pools, a full-service spa, and kid-friendly Camp DW activities on the property. There are multiple delicious dining options on-site, like Song and Hearth serving southern comfort foods for breakfast and dinner, a seasonal poolside bar and grill, a lobby lounge with craft cocktails and tasty bites, and a casual grab-and-go style cafe. With the variety of dining options, there really is something for everyone to enjoy!
What we love most about it:
- Outdoor resort pool with cascading waterfalls
- Camp DW kids’ club activities that change weekly
- A trolley ride away from Dollywood theme park
📍Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa – 2525 DreamMore Wy, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
2. Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort and Water Park – Gatlinburg, Tennessee
🐻 Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort and Water Park is 3 miles from the Gatlinburg, TN entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort and Water Park is a great family-friendly destination in Gatlinburg, TN. The big attraction here is the massive heated indoor water park, complete with water slides, a multi-level treehouse splash fort, and a lazy river. Other resort amenities families will enjoy include an outdoor pool, zip lining, mini golf, a game room, and full-service spa.
Accommodation options are perfect for families looking for a “home away from home” with spacious villas ranging from studio to 5-bedrooms that include full kitchens. We love not having to eat every meal out while on vacation! However, there are a few restaurants conveniently located on the property to choose from. There is a restaurant serving southern comfort cuisine, a fast casual option, and a grab-and-go style market.
What we love most about it:
- Floating on the lazy river at the indoor water park
- Perfect combination of adventure and relaxation with family-friendly amenities and mountain views
- Spacious accommodations with full kitchens
📍Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort and Water Park – 915 Westgate Resorts Road Gatlinburg, TN 37738
3. Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg – Gatlinburg, Tennessee
🐻 Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg is 1 mile from the Gatlinburg, TN entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg is a tropical themed, laid-back resort in the heart of the Smoky Mountains in Gatlinburg, TN. The resort has guest rooms and suites with modern comforts and balconies with mountain views. Guest can enjoy dining at one of the on-site options, including a signature “Margaritaville” restaurant serving island-inspired cuisine that would make Jimmy Buffet proud.
Hotel amenities include an outdoor resort pool with a water slide, kids pool with splash features, hot tub, fitness center, and a full-service spa. There is another Margaritaville Island Resort located in nearby Pigeon Forge, but in our opinion the Gatlinburg Resorts is larger and has a better resort pool situation. The Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg is a great pick for a fun and relaxing getaway – it’s 5 o’clock somewhere!
What we love most about it:
- Outdoor resort pool with a tanning step and water slide
- Relaxing in a hammock with a tropical drink in hand
- Enjoying a rejuvenating spa treatment at St. Somewhere Spa … I mean, it is vacation, right??
📍Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg – 539 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
4. The Resort at Governor’s Crossing – Sevierville, Tennessee
🐻 The Resort at Governor’s Crossing is 13 miles from the Gatlinburg, TN entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Resort at Governor’s Crossing is a fantastic family-friendly resort option in Sevierville, TN. Spacious accommodations are perfect for families with up to 3-bedroom condos, each with a fully equipped kitchen. The resort is fun year-round with an indoor water park and seasonal outdoor water park with multiple pools, a splash fort, water slides, and a lazy river ensuring endless hours of fun… and tired kids! Other amenities both kids and parents will enjoy include a playground, an arcade room, put putt golf, and fun scheduled family activities like outdoor movie night!
What we love most about it:
- Both indoor and outdoor water parks for year-round family fun
- A variety of water slides perfect for guests of every age
- Family-friendly resort amenities like playgrounds, arcade games, and family activities
📍The Resort at Governor’s Crossing- 225 Collier Dr, Sevierville, TN 37862
5. Dollywood’s Heartsong Lodge and Resort – Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
🐻 Dollywood’s Heartsong Lodge and Resort is 13 miles from the Gatlinburg, TN entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
HeartSong Resort and Lodge is a charming Smoky Mountain resort located in Pigeon Forge, TN. It is just next door to the Dollywood DreamMore Resort and Spa (#2 on the list) and a short complimentary trolley ride from Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country Water Park. Guests of the Dollywood properties also enjoy Priority Park Access and a complimentary TimeSaver Pass. Families will appreciate accommodations designed for a comfortable stay in either a guest room or a more spacious suite with Smoky Mountain views.
Guests will enjoy swimming at the outdoor pool with cascading waterfalls, the relaxing hot tub with mountain views, the fitness center on site, and the family-friendly game room. There are multiple dining options on site, including the more upscale Ember & Elm, the more casual High Note, a seasonal poolside option, and a grab-and-go market, ensuring something for everyone to enjoy!
What we love most about it:
- Enjoying Southern cuisine favorites at one of the restaurants on the property
- Relaxing at the outdoor pool with a Smoky Mountain view
- A stones throw from Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country Water Park
📍Dollywood’s Heartsong Lodge and Resort – 1210 Dollywood Resorts Blvd, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
6. Club Wyndham Great Smokies Lodge – Sevierville, Tennessee
🐻 Club Wyndham Great Smoky Mountains is 18 miles from the Gatlinburg, TN entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Club Wyndham Great Smoky Mountains is nestled in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains in Sevierville, TN. This resort is a timeshare so you may have to sit through a sales pitch, but in our opinion, it’s well worth it to stay in a spacious one to three bedroom condo with a full kitchen and washer and dryer during your stay!
This resort is great for families looking for fun-filled adventure with spacious accommodations surrounded by nature. There is an indoor/outdoor water park with thrilling water slides, splash forts, and multiple pools for kids (and adults!) of all ages to enjoy. There is also a golf course, fitness center, game room, and playground on the property. Truly a great place to make some core families memories in eastern Tennessee!
What we love most about it:
- Is it even a question… the indoor/outdoor water park!
- Nice onsite dining options
- Spacious condo accommodations with a full kitchen and washer/dryer in the unit
📍Club Wyndham Great Smokies Lodge- 1425 Old Knoxville Hwy, Sevierville, TN 37876
7. Riverstone Resort and Spa – Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
🐻 Riverstone Resort and Spa is 10 miles from the Gatlinburg, TN entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
RiverStone Resort and Spa is a riverside getaway in the heart of Pigeon Forge, TN. This resort features spacious accommodations ranging from one-bedroom condos to three-bedroom villas, many offering private balconies or patios with mountain or river views. Each unit has a full kitchen making it easy to prepare homemade meals, or opt for the on-site casual restaurant (I mean… vacation, right?) Resort amenities that will appeal to families include indoor and outdoor pools, a hot tub, golf course, fitness center, game room, playground, and a full-service spa offering a range of treatments.
What we love most about it:
- Stunning golf course with mountain views
- Relaxing in the indoor/outdoor resort pools
- Spacious accommodations perfect for a family getaway
📍Riverstone Resort and Spa – 212 Dollywood Ln, Pigeon Forge, TN 37868
8. Margaritaville Island Hotel – Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
🐻 Margaritaville Island Hotel and Spa is 11 miles from the Gatlinburg, TN entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Margaritaville Island Hotel is a family-friendly hotel option that brings a taste of the tropics to the heart of the Smoky Mountains (an unlikely combination, but it works!) in Pigeon Forge, TN. It is conveniently located near The Island, making it an ideal “home base” for exploring the fun rides, shops, dining options, and entertainment in the area. Families will enjoy relaxing by the rooftop pool, the live entertainment, and delicious dining options at the hotel. Psst – there is another Jimmy Buffet-inspired resort just down the road in Gatlinburg, Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg.
What we love most about it:
- Relaxing at the rooftop resort pool with a tropical drink in hand… it’s 5 o’clock somewhere, right?
- Literally steps away from the family-fun entertainment at The Island in Pigeon Forge
- It’s a tropical-themed resort that quickly puts you in a vacation state of mind
📍Margaritaville Island Hotel – 131 Island Dr, Ste 5118, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
9. The Inn at Christmas Place – Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
🐻 The Inn at Christmas Place is 10 miles from the Gatlinburg, TN entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Inn at Christmas Place, located in Pigeon Forge, TN, is a delightful family-friendly resort where you can experience the magic of Christmas every day of the year! You’ll feel like you’re “home for the holidays” (or at least on a Hallmark movie set) when you walk into the lobby decorated with an impressive collection of festive holiday decor on display. Feel like you’re a kid being taken care of at the holidays again with a complimentary breakfast buffet to start your day. The children will be enchanted by visits from Santa Clause, story times, and other family activities during your stay. There is a heated indoor pool and an outdoor resort pool with lazy river planned to open in late 2024. The Inn at Christmas Place is the perfect spot for a joyful family getaway that childhood dreams are made of!
What we love most about it:
- Experience the magic of Christmas everyday
- Complimentary breakfast buffet included in resort stay
- Heated indoor pool and impressive outdoor resort pool coming soon!
📍The Inn at Christmas Place – 119 Christmas Tree Ln, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
10. Wilderness at the Smokies – Sevierville, Tennessee
🐻 Wilderness at the Smokies is 17 miles from the Gatlinburg, TN entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Wilderness at the Smokies River Lodge Suites located in Sevierville, TN is a wonderful place for fun-filled family memories. A variety of suite sizes can comfortably accommodate families or groups of families with up 17 guests. The big draw for this resort is the massive indoor and outdoor water park with thrilling water slides, lazy river, and splash areas of kids of all ages. Families will also enjoy resort amenities like mini golf, arcade room, and organized resort activities.
What we love most about it:
- Racing water slides at the water park
- Family-friendly mini golf and arcade room
- Multi-story splash fort that is fun for all ages
📍Wilderness at the Smokies – 1424 Old Knoxville Hwy, Sevierville, TN 37876
11. Blackberry Farm – Walland, Tennessee
🐻 The Blackberry Farm is 10 miles from the Townsend, TN entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Blackberry Farm is nestled into a serene piece of land in Walland, Tennessee, about 45 minutes south of Knoxville, the with scenic mountain views with stunning sunrises as the mist clears. Dining and non-alcoholic drinks are included in the nightly rate at this all-inclusive retreat. Outdoor activities like fly fishing, hiking, or a working farm tour are abundant, but not included in the all-inclusive rate. There is a Camp Blackberry childcare program with a 5:1 ratio as well as private babysitting (2 hour minimum) available on site for an additional fee.
What We Love Most About It:
- Serene setting with misty mountain views in the mornings
- All-inclusive rate includes meals and non-alcoholic beverages
- Childcare options if parents want to indulge in a spa treatment or upscale dining at renowned The Barn restaurant
📍Blackberry Farm – 1471 W Millers Cove Rd, Walland, TN 37886
12. The Lodge at Buckberry Creek – Gatlinburg, Tennessee
🐻 The Lodge at Buckberry Creek is 2 miles from the Gatlinburg, TN entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Lodge at Buckberry Creek in Gatlinburg, TN, is a charming family-friendly resort nestled in the Smoky Mountains. This rustic lodge provides spacious cabins with stunning mountain and foliage views from the balconies. There are two 1/2 mile hiking trails maintained by the resort that allows families to explore the natural beauty of the area.
After a devastating fire in 2016, the majority of the buildings at the resort were unfortunately lost. Although there are plans to rebuild, there is currently only one suite building accepting reservations and there is no longer a restaurant on the property. The Lodge at Buckberry Creek has historically been a wonderful place to spend a relaxing Smoky Mountain getaway in Gatlinburg. We wish the resort owners well as they continue to rebuild.
What we love most about it:
- Watching the mountain sunrise from the cozy balcony
- Spacious accommodations with a fire place
- Hiking trails around the resort to reconnect with nature
📍The Lodge at Buckberry Creek – 961 Campbell Lead Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
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