The Smoky Mountain area is known for having a little bit of the “small town” environment, even though the entire area has grown into a vacation destination. These are the towns that make the Smoky Mountains so great. Have you visited all 5 Smoky Mountain towns?
1. Gatlinburg
There’s no place in the world quite like it. Offering exciting adventures at every turn, our mountain village has a special attraction for everyone… and all within easy walking distance. As you already know, Gatlinburg is a mountain town with an entrance straight into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Popular Things to Do in Gatlinburg
- Entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Ripley’s Aquarium
- Gatlinburg Space Needle
- Ober Gatlinburg
- Sugarlands Distilling Company
- Sugarland Cellars Winery
- Gatlinburg Sky Lift
- The Village Shop
- Gatlinburg Trail
- Riple’s Believe It or Not
2. Pigeon Forge
If you’ve ever been to the Smoky Mountains, chances are you’ve been to Pigeon Forge, too. It’s home to Dollywood, the most popular amusement park in the area. The Pigeon Forge Parkway is also walkable, and it’s filled with hundreds of shops, restaurants and attractions to visit, too.
Popular Things to Do in Pigeon Forge
- Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country
- The Island in Pigeon Forge
- Titanic Museum
- Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede
- Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Show
- Parrot Mountain & Garden
- WonderWorks
- Rockin’ Raceway Arcade
- The Old Mill
- Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine
3. Sevierville
Sevierville is a small town that borders Pigeon Forge and many people overlook it because they think it’s Pigeon Forge. Sevierville is where you’ll find the popular Dolly Parton statue and the Sevier County Courthouse.
Popular Things to Do in Sevierville
- Dolly Parton Statue
- Adventure Park Ziplines and Riding Stables
- Tennessee Museum of Aviation
- Rainforest Adventure Zoo
- Tennessee Legend Distillery
- Tanger Outlets
- Forbidden Caverns
- Nascar SpeedPark
- Apple Barn Winery
- Harrisburg Covered Bridge
4. Wears Valley
Things to Do in Wears Valley – Great Smoky Mountains. Wears Valley is a magnificent vacation area. This beautiful mountain valley, located on the border of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is situated between action-packed Pigeon Forge and Townsend, “The Peaceful Side of the Smokies.”
Popular Things to Do in Wears Valley
- Entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster
- Goats on the Roof
5. Pittman Center
Pittman Center is a small town in the Smoky Mountain area. There’s only a local population of about 500 people and the town is only about 6 square miles. It’s a beautiful place to visit if you want peace, quiet and mountain views.
Popular Things to Do in Pittman Center
- Visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Pittman Center is just north of Greenbrier)
- Bent Creek Golf Course in nearby Gatlinburg
6. Townsend
Townsend is a very small Smoky Mountain town with a local population of only about 500 people. Townsend has one of the 3 official entrances to the national park, but it’s the least busy entrance. The Townsend area is known for being quiet and fairly low-key. Generally people who visit Townsend are looking to spend a lot of time outdoors, hiking, fishing, horseback riding and more.
Popular Things to Do in Townsend
- Entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center
- Smoky Mountain River Rat Tubing
- Tuckaleechee Caverns
- Foothills Parkway
- The Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum
- Dark Island Swinging Bridge
- Lee Roberson Art Gallery
- Shadows of the Past Hiking/Biking Trail
- Horseback Riding Tour
7. Cades Cove
Cades Cove is an isolated valley located in the Tennessee section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA. The valley was home to numerous settlers before the formation of the national park.
Popular Things to Do in Cades Cove
- Cades Cove Motor Nature Trail
- Cades Cove Historical Buildings
- Hiking Trails Around Cades Cove
- Horseback Riding in Cades Cove
Via visitmysmokies
