September 2023: Our 5-Day Gatlinburg, TN Itinerary 🐻
Another year, another trip to Gatlinburg! This is me and my husband’s second time in Gatlinburg together. My family was able to join us on our little trip this time around, and we had the best time!
There’s so much to do and see while in Gatlinburg. Plus, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is right there! Basically, our trip consisted of hiking, eating, moonshine/wine tastings, and a few fun touristy attractions.
If you’re planning a trip to Gatlinburg in the near future, then read along and learn more about our 5-day Gatlinburg, TN itinerary! Maybe it will give you some great ideas for your trip whether you’re going solo, with a significant other, or with family. Gatlinburg and the Great Smokies has everything for everybody!
Planning a trip to Gatlinburg, TN but don’t know where to begin? Look no further! My Ultimate Guide to Visiting Gatlinburg, TN will provide you with all the information you need to plan an awesome trip!
This guide also goes into detail about visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you are looking for outdoor adventures but also want to do all the touristy Gatlinburg things, this guide is perfect for you!
3- and 5-day itineraries included!
Day 1: Check-in & Dinner
My husband and I have been a month-long road trip from California to North Carolina. One of the last stops along the way was in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. We have been here before and loved it so much that we decided to return again. This is one of the few super touristy places we actually enjoy.
We booked a room at Motel 6 which is walking distance from downtown Gatlinburg. The price and location were perfect! My parents and brother checked into a different hotel across the street.
My family decided to join us on our adventures in Gatlinburg for a few days. It was pretty late when we all arrived in Gatlinburg, so we went straight to dinner at Mellow Mushroom. Can’t go wrong with pizza!
After dinner we walked around for a little bit. We even did a moonshine tasting because… why not. Then we walked back to our motel/hotel to rest up for a big day tomorrow!
Day 2: Cades Cove & Abrams Falls
My husband and I woke up (somewhat) bright and early to get ready for the day! We hit up the free breakfast at our motel. It was simple and full of ultra processed breakfast foods. We had our fill then met up with my family at their hotel.
We hopped in the car and drove to Sugarlands Visitor Center to purchase a parking tag. After we got the parking tag, we drove straight to Cades Cove. My husband and I were here in 2022 for the first time together, and I have been here many times before with my family. It’s a beautiful place to check out!
The major downside to driving to Cades Cove (especially in the peak season) is the amount of emissions that are released from the cars. Sometimes you might be sitting there waiting in line as other people slowly make their way along the loop. That means lots of idling.
I think some cars automatically turn off if stopped in traffic, so that helps. But not all vehicles, especially older ones, have that feature. It’s a popular destination for people visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so expect lots of traffic and wait time.
This time we were not planning to stop of every single historical building and lookout spot. Our main objective was to hike Abrams Falls! My husband and I skipped this hike last time we were here, so we were excited to finally do this one together.
The parking lot was already pretty full. Thankfully, we were still able to find a parking spot. Right beside the stinky bathrooms.
This hike is not too long (2.5 miles one-way) and is rated as moderate. However, the heat was rising, and the humidity was very high that day. The trail was beautiful though! Well-maintained and flourishing with greenery and flowers.
We eventually made it to Abrams Falls! There were lots of people there hanging out. A few older men were swimming in the water (away from the waterfall). There is a sign right before reaching the waterfall that warns people against swimming near the waterfall due to strong currents. Be careful out there people!
We relaxed for a bit and took some pictures of the magnificent waterfall. It’s a short one but the flow was strong! The whole area was super pretty.
We made our way back to the car. A few minutes after leaving Abrams Falls parking area, we saw a mama bear and her three cubs! They made their way through the open field, through the woods, and across the road right in front of our car. It was an amazing sight to see!
We freshened up at our respective motel and hotel then met up for dinner. We ate at Loco Burro Fresh Mex Catina. I had nachos… they were bomb.
My parents were tapped out. Me, my husband, and my brother stayed a little bit longer in downtown. We went for one moonshine tasting experience then called it night.
Day 3: Fun Attractions in Gatlinburg
My husband and I decided to get a late start to the morning. My parents were already sitting at a pancake house by the time we got out the door. We honestly had no idea where they were, but we happened to pass a very popular pancake house and saw them sitting at a table by the window.
They waved for us to come in, but we didn’t want to fight the GIANT crowd. Plus, who knows how long they’ll have to wait for their food to come out. We went our separate ways that morning for breakfast but planned to meet up later.
We found a Starbucks and got us a few warm drinks. Terrible idea actually… it was really hot outside. Anyway, our next task was to find somewhere to eat. By that time, it was around 11 AM. Instead of finding a breakfast spot, we found an awesome Mexican restaurant for lunch.
It was a good choice. Prices were great. Food was great. Service was great. Overall, great experience.
Now, time to have some fun with the fam! My husband and I met back up with my parents and brother. My brother wanted to ride a mountain coaster. My dad hopped in as well. Everyone else sat out… mostly because it was a bit costly.
I wanted to save our money for the next activities. My brother and dad had a good time on the mountain coaster! They went several times. I almost regret my decision to opt out. Maybe next time I’ll splurge a bit and ride a mountain coaster!
This time I chose the next activity. It’s something my husband and I did last year. It was so much fun I wanted to do it again. We hit up the “infamous” mirror maze and mini golf place! I feel like it’s not one of the most popular spots in Gatlinburg, but for some reason, we always have the best time!
We all went into the mirror maze first. My dad sat out on this one. We all had a great time laughing our way to the end of the maze. Then we jumped right into mini golf. Everyone participated in this one.
It’s circus-themed and quite old looking. Almost a bit spooky. Maybe that’s why I like it so much! Weird, I know. Anyway, we played a whole round of 18 holes. The final hole was outside and consisted of three slots with a bump the golf ball had to get over.
The middle slot was the “hole-in-one” slot. My brother went first and made it. My mom went second and made it. My dad went third and made it. My husband went fourth… and made it.
I went last and…
I missed. That one hurt.
But we all had fun! Even though I was lowkey mad I was the only one to miss the last hole.
Moving on to the next fun thing! The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar. If you know me, you know I LOVE ice-cream. It’s my favorite dessert of all time.
Our milkshakes came in cute mason jars which we were able to keep afterwards as souvenirs! My parents were once again… tapped out. It was now only me, my husband, and my brother.
So, what do three young adults do in Gatlinburg? Moonshine tastings!! Plus, a wine tasting just because.
After all those shenanigans, we stopped by the best restaurant in Gatlinburg to refuel. We were planning to call it a night after eating dinner, but I saw something else that looked interesting.
I saw what looked to be a haunted house. Like a fun Halloween attraction. It wasn’t quite October yet, but they were open. So, we decided to stop by and see what it was all about.
Long story short… we wasted a decent bit of money. It wasn’t remotely scary. Maybe because it wasn’t Halloween time yet. The reviews on Google were all so good! We were confused and disappointed.
After that we called it a night. My husband and I still had an amazing time spending the entire day in Gatlinburg with my family!
Day 4: Rest Day
We said goodbye to my family. They had to return back home and get back to “reality” (aka the 9-5 grind). My husband and I had a little bit more time before we had to get back to reality ourselves. We are very grateful for the lifestyle we currently get to live, but I can’t wait to be full-time travelers!
After saying goodbye to my family, we returned back to our motel. Today was 100% a rest day. The only time we left the motel room was to grab take-out from the Chinese restaurant. We had been traveling a lot lately and doing a ton of awesome things. A full rest day was very much needed!
Days 5: Hiking & More Fun in Gatlinburg
After a full day of rest, we decided to get up super early to catch sunrise at a really awesome spot. Catching sunrise at the highest peak in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a challenge. There’s a reason they call them the “smoky” mountains.
Clingmans Dome is a popular destination. It is a short but extremely steep walk to an observation tower on top of Clingmans Dome which is the highest point in the Great Smokies.
We attempted to watch sunrise from Clingmans Dome in 2022, and it turned out pretty good. We saw a little bit of colors, but the clouds still rolled through a covered most of the sun while it was rising.
This time… the cloud coverage was worse. It was also VERY cold and windy at the top. Not the best sunrise watching experience. But we gave it a shot anyway. Maybe one day we’ll be able to watch a sunrise from Clingmans Dome with clear skies (or at least partly cloudy conditions).
We hiked in the dense fog back to our car and headed to our next hiking spot. Thankfully, the sky started to clear up a little bit. Our next hike was the famous Chimney Tops! This is another very popular destination in the Great Smokies.
However, due to a massive wildfire in 2016, the last 0.25 miles of the trail (the best part) is currently closed. It’s a bummer, but understandable if it means better regrowth of plants and trees, and to keep the public safe.
It was still a fun and challenging hike. If you plan to do this hike, be prepared to tackle a lot of steps!! It will get your heartrate going!
The overlook at the end was pretty cool, too. I hope one day the rock scrambling portion can be re-opened!
Onward to the next hike! We drove onto the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, but at the time, we had no idea what road we were on. We were just following the map to reach the trailhead to Grotto Falls.
We were very confused as to why the speed limit was a measly 5-10 miles per hour. We had no idea it was a scenic loop road. Everyone in the vehicles in front of us kept stopping like they were trying to see any signs of wildlife in the forest.
Unfortunately, we didn’t see anything. Not even any deer! Anyway, we eventually reached the trailhead. The parking lot was very small with limited parking spots. We were lucky to find an open spot!
We made our way to Grotto Falls. It is a unique waterfall because you can walk behind! The waterfall didn’t have much water flow, so it didn’t look very full. But its unique feature of being able to stand and walk behind it makes it very popular.
We left as more and more people came rolling in. We aren’t the biggest fans of crowds. If you’re the same way, you might want to check out this guide on how to avoid crowds in popular places!
We returned to our motel room to freshen up and get ready for another fun night in downtown Gatlinburg. Before we could actually participate in fun activities, we had to get our grub on! Can you guess where we ate? Here’s a hint… it’s our favorite place to eat in Gatlinburg.
Got your answer??
*drum roll* North China Chinese Restaurant for the win!!
We can’t get enough.
After our delicious lunch/dinner (I don’t remember what time we ate), we decided to hit up as many wine tasting spots as possible. We started from one side of Gatlinburg and made our way to the other side. We definitely did not get to all of them because… it’s a lot.
Plus, we wanted to try more moonshine. We were pretty done after all that. 🤪
Don’t worry, giant pizza slices from an arcade saved the night. At the time, that slice of pizza tasted like heaven. It was probably the best pizza slice I’ve ever had. Maybe not… but I thought so in the moment!
That was the end of our 5 days in Gatlinburg. We had a lot of fun!! If our personal itinerary inspires you in some way shape or form, let us know in the comments! Although Gatlinburg is a touristy place, it’s still worth a visit in our opinion.
