When planning a trip, the first thought that probably comes is what the places to stay

Rightfully so, because you wouldn’t want to waste even a second of your time worrying about your staying arrangements when you visit this beautiful and unique place.

19 Places To Stay In Tennessee

Home to the Grand Ole Opry, Tennessee, is the heart of country music. It is a perfect combination of rush cities and countryside areas, making it an ideal vacation destination.

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1. Hot Springs Resort Spa

People have been coming to Hot Springs for hundreds of years to soak in the mineral springs that sit exactly at the confluence of the French Broad River and Spring Creek. The springs, which The Hot Springs Resort Spa manages, are North Carolina’s only naturally hot mineral springs, making it one of the best places to stay in the Tennessee mountains.

This place includes all the luxury and fun of being near the Smoky Mountains and being able to let loose in the natural springs, the best of both worlds!

Tent and RV campsites, cottages, holiday rentals, and suites with private mineral spas are all available at the resort. The hotel features include 12 outdoor mineral baths, each with its own privacy, set in contemporary Jacuzzi-style indoor pools and outdoor pools.

The temperature of the baths ranges from 100 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, and each pool is drained, cleaned, and refilled after each usage. Massage services are also available to provide you with the best lodging experience.

2. Pigeon Forge

Town Pigeon Forge, located in a large valley along the way to the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, is a popular family holiday resort. This place is considered a natural beauty.

The Pigeon Forge Parkway, the city’s major thoroughfare, is lined with attractions, shops, and wonderful restaurants for miles located within walking distance or a short drive. 

Mini golf, go-kart racing, and laser tag are just a few of the fun attractions available in this area. Wonderworks and the Titanic Museum are two interactive museums that are popular with families. Dinner performances are a popular evening entertainment option.

Dollywood theme park, a world-class theme park with Smoky Mountain charm and downhome warmth, is the most popular destination of all.

3. Park Vista

The Park Vista, one of the most popular hotels, perched high on a hill near the border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, provides breathtaking mountain views. 

The rooms are spacious and pleasant, featuring a flat-screen TV, a mini-fridge, a coffee machine, and high-speed internet.

In addition, each accommodation includes a balcony with views of downtown Gatlinburg or the Smoky Mountains. Choose a room with a westward view to see the sunset over Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains foothills and enjoy the hiking trails as a fun activity.

The Park Vista features an exercise facility, a multi-level indoor pool with a water slide, and a gaming area to keep the youngsters entertained, in addition to its pleasant rooms and gorgeous views.

The Vista Grill, the hotel’s on-site restaurant, serves great Southern cooking all day. 

After a day of hiking in the park, Firefly’s Patio Lounge is the ideal location to unwind with a beverage. The Park Vista is also on the Gatlinburg trolley line, so getting into town is as simple as taking the trolley down the hill.

4. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort

Dollywood’s DreamMore is one of the ideal places to stay if you intend to visit Dollywood during your trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. You won’t have to worry about finding parking or standing in line to get into Dollywood because the hotel provides a door-to-door shuttle service.

Also, visit the property that lets you play 18 holes of golf along with relaxing; properties like Bent Creek Golf Village in Gatlinburg are an excellent choice.

In addition, children will enjoy the indoor and seasonal outdoor pool, as well as the family splash pad, playground, and game room. Adults may unwind at the full-service salon, fitness center, and spa on site after taking a walk in the hiking trails of the Smoky Mountains. A seasonal hot tub and a fire pit are also available for use by the entire family.

The rooms are big, pleasant, and designed with families in mind. And the friendly staff can assist you with everything you require throughout your stay. There’s no need to leave the resort for meals, snacks, or souvenirs unless you want to; there are restaurants, snack stores, and a gift shop on-site to buy souvenirs to remind you of the great Smoky Mountains.

5. Fairfield Inn & Suites

The Fairfield Inn & Suites is a beautiful, modern hotel near downtown Gatlinburg. Away from the crowds, but you will still be able to get a feel of the Great Smoky Mountains. 

The rooms are spacious, with modest décor and super-comfy mattresses. You’ll never want to get out of the comfortable bed after you’ve gotten into it!

If you prefer a contemporary hotel with every luxury at your fingertips, this is one of the best places to stay. You’ll also have access to an outdoor pool, a hot tub, and a cutting-edge fitness facility. It’s possible that you’ll never want to leave the hotel to see the Smoky Mountains!

6. Wyndham Great Smokies Lodge

If you enjoy adventure and having a good time, then Wyndham Great Smokies Lodge is one of the best places to stay for a few nights. It features two massive on-site waterparks with exhilarating water slides with easy access!

The indoor water park and the seasonal outdoor water park, as well as the miniature golf course, are available for your enjoyment so the whole family can have a good time.

The Wyndham’s rooms are actually fully equipped flats with plenty of space. You’ll have access to your own kitchen, which comes equipped with everything you’ll need to prepare family dinners and modern conveniences such as a balcony to view the amazing Smoky Mountains.

The beds are really comfy, and you’ll have your own seating and dining room, so you’ll never feel claustrophobic.

7. Courtyard by Marriot

The Courtyard by Marriott Gatlinburg Downtown Hotel near the Great Smoky Mountains features large rooms with comfortable beds with contemporary furnishings for the whole family to stay. Marriott facilities are known for having incredible amenities, the nicest personnel, and immaculate cleanliness.

Make use of the on-site restaurant as well as the spacious fitness facility. On a chilly evening, the lobby’s huge fireplace and the fire pit on the outside terrace are ideal places to relax with a drink of wine by the Smoky Mountains.

Each accommodation has its own balcony, which favors it being one of the most worthwhile places to stay in Mountains. The property lies in the heart of Gatlinburg, just six miles from the Great Smoky Mountain National Park’s entrance, and is the epitome of a perfect vacation.

8. Margaritaville Resort

The Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg’s enormous outdoor swimming pool with a fantastic water slide will delight the kids, while the large, well-equipped suites will delight you! Enjoy a huge television, complimentary amenities, and rooms decorated in a lovely beachy style.

You’ll have the impression that you’re staying on a Hawaiian beach and still be able to enjoy the Smoky Mountains on the Tennessee side. While the children are having fun in the indoor and outdoor pool, you may relax in the spa or work out at the huge fitness facility. You may also relax in the hot tub.

The Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg lies in the middle of town, adjacent to the Aquarium of the Smokies and the Space Needle, and other notable Gatlinburg attractions.

9. Smoky Mountain National Park

Smoky Mountain lodgings provide a tranquil setting for individuals wishing to escape the real world and view the Great Smoky Mountains in all their glory because they are a little distance from the noise and activity of Gatlinburg. Although the dining options are limited, getting into town is not difficult.

Many campers can hit the hiking trail as soon as they put on their hiking boots, thanks to the abundance of recreational activities.

The National Register of Historic Places lists the Hermitage Hotel as one of Nashville’s remaining old-world hotels, and the five-star, five-diamond resort are one of the city’s final old-world best hotels. It is an aesthetically spectacular structure with a very posh-looking lobby, designed in the Beaux-Arts style.

Elegant and opulent rooms and suites may be found here. They’re decorated in historical style, with heavy curtains and brightly colored upholstered furnishings, hot tubs, and swimming pools, but they also have modern conveniences like giant flat-screen TVs and Wi-Fi, combining luxury and the rustic great Smoky mountain adventure.

A spa and a gym are among the amenities. The Capital Grille, an on-site restaurant, provides Southern classics with fresh, locally sourced ingredients to get a taste of the Smoky Mountains lifestyle

10. The Ridge

From glamping tents to HGTV-worthy tiny-house cottages to five-star RVing comforts, there’s something for everyone. 

The Ridge’s glamping tents can accommodate up to six people and have toilets and kitchens; the cabins are sophisticated, romantic escapes for two in the Great Smoky Mountains. With any setup, you can use their mountain of amenities, from pickleball courts to walking paths to the zero-entry swimming pools.

Two murals in town are worth seeing: Wings of Wander features a pair of monarch butterfly wings that evoke all of the emotions from the song “Love Is Like a Butterfly.” A 1950’s-style counter in Red’s Café, where a little girl is enjoying a burger, is a must-see in the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

Wilderness in the Smokies, home to Tennessee’s largest indoor waterpark, the Wild WaterDome, could as well be a national park for kids.

11. Wilderness at Smokies

There’s also a three-story ropes course, a 25,000-square-foot Adventure Forest, multi-level laser tag, blacklight mini-golf, and a giant arcade in addition to the one-of-a-kind waterslides. 

You may stay either overnight here – in a suite or villa, dining at one of the many on-site restaurants — or get a day pass to enjoy this larger-than-life paradise.

The water fun never ends in this corner of the woods; across the street from Wilderness at the Smoky mountains is Soaky Mountain Waterpark, a new 50-acre splash zone. There are plenty of water slides, thrill coasters, and even kid-friendly alternatives. Make a reservation for a cabana to get the additional “Islands in the Stream” VIP treatment you deserve, and keep in mind that guests staying in Wilderness get reduced admission.

12. East Fork Farm

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to live on a farm. East Fork Farm by the Smoky Mountains is one of the most popular places, and it offers four cabins to stay in while you enjoy the barn life and the lifestyle of the Smoky Mountains.

The cottages are equipped with all of the necessities and farm items such as fresh farm eggs, handmade jam, and stone-ground cornmeal. Interacting with the animals that live there is also encouraged! You may enjoy discounts on local activities like rafting, horseback riding, and ziplining if you sign up for their “Adventure Package.

There are also a plethora of additional recreational opportunities and eateries in the area.

13. Christmas Place Inn 

Isn’t it true that you wish Christmas could be enjoyed all year? If so, then Christmas Place Inn.

Now you can enjoy both Christmas and the Smoky Mountains all year round. You’ll be surrounded by all of the lovely decorations you know and love, such as garlands and Christmas trees, no matter what time of year you book your stay.

Santa and Mrs. Clause make regular appearances in the lobby of the Christmas place, where Santa is known to sing and play guitar for visitors, and there’s a 95-foot-long water slide beside the pool for the youngsters. And, of course, cookies are served before night. It sounds like all will have a great time in the lovely wintery season of the Smoky Mountains!

14. Under Canvas Great Smoky Mountains

You’ll marvel at how a basic canvas tent can be so wonderful after this “glamping” experience in the Smoky Mountains. With features like king-sized mattresses, wood stoves, showers, sinks, flushing toilets, and outdoor decks to stargaze on for the ultimate star-searching experience, you’ll get the best of both worlds: stunning views of nature and luxurious conveniences.

ATV trips, driving tours, guided hiking, horseback riding, Smoky Mountains biking, ziplining, boat rentals, fly fishing, massages, and whitewater rafting are also available to enjoy the ultimate great Smoky Mountain adventure. 

There’s also a community bonfire where you can cook s’mores before bed, making it one of the ideal places to stay in.

15. Omni Grove Park Inn

If you stay at the Omni Grove Park Inn, you’ll be enjoying the good Smoky Mountains life in the hotel’s comfortable beds. To begin with, there is a fantastic 18-hole mountain golf course, There are three indoor and three outdoor tennis courts if golf isn’t your thing.

There are many restaurants on-site, all with breathtaking mountain views, and an adults-only “Club Floor” with a cocktail lounge and high-speed internet.

The 43,000-square-foot underground spa, though, is the place’s highlight. Mineral-based indoor and outdoor pools, therapeutic waterfall pools, contrast pools, inhalation rooms, saunas, eucalyptus-infused steam rooms, and fireside lounges are among the amenities available at the spa to relax.

16. A Fishing Hole

A Fishing Hole features a view of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which makes it one of the best places to stay. The Great Smoky Mountains are visible, as well as a tiny fishing pond. 

This cottage is secluded from the rest of the world!

So, whether you’re searching for a romantic weekend getaway or some serious family bonding time, this cabin is the place to be! You may go fishing in the pond during the day and watch a gorgeous sunset from your cottage porch at night.

17. Tennessee Treasure No. 4

Tennessee Treasure offers breathtaking vistas of the great smoky mountains throughout the year! From the luxury of your cabin with a view, take in the stunning fall foliage, spring wildflowers, and winter snow. This three-bedroom cottage is one of the ideal places to stay in Mountains.

It not only has panoramic mountain views, but it also has a swimming pool, a video arcade, and a hot tub, all within 2 miles of Dollywood and great reviews.

You can enjoy the views from your big terrace or from within the cabin through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows so as to easily view the great smoky mountain national park! Everything about Tennessee Treasure will appeal to you.

18. Emerald City Lights

Emerald City Lights is one of our most distinctive and nicest cabins with a Gatlinburg view. It features two bedrooms, an excellent Gatlinburg location, with a spectacular mountain view, which makes it one of the best places to stay.

This log cottage with a view was specially designed for honeymoons, anniversaries, small family vacations, and couples getaways. This lovely cottage also provides a lot of natural light and the great smoky mountain views from numerous areas, thanks to its huge windows providing a small-town feel.

19. American Dream

American Dream is one of the most romantic places to stay in the Tennessee Mountains. It boasts a plethora of amenities to ensure that your weekend together is one to remember. 

You can relax in the hot tub outside or in the jacuzzi tub inside. The fully equipped kitchen of your cabin can be used to prepare a delicious meal. You can then enjoy the meal on the porch of your cabin overlooking the mountains. The possibilities are endless!

Closing Thoughts

This is our list of the best places to stay in the Tennessee Mountains when you are out on a vacation or a trip. These are some of the most renowned places offering unique specialties that you should try.

So, if you are planning a trip to the Tennessee Mountains, keep this list at the top of your priorities.

Last Updated on April 2, 2024 by Pragya Chakrapani