Family Travel Guide to Gatlinburg (Updated 2026)

Looking for the best things to do in Gatlinburg on your next family vacation? This mountain city is full of family fun and beautiful views!

Gatlinburg is one of the most popular destinations in the USA thanks to its proximity to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. But is it family-friendly?

We’ve had the chance to visit Gatlinburg twice with our kids. The first time was in 2018 when the kids were ages 1, 3, and 5. We just recently got back from our 2nd visit, this time with 4 kids ages 6, 8, 10, and 12.

Now that we’ve had a chance to experience this touristy spot tucked away in the Smoky Mountains with both young children and older kids, I’m happy to share that YES, this is a family-friendly destination with fun activities to do for every age and stage.

There is a great mix of adventure, outdoor activities, and your classic tourist attractions in downtown Gatlinburg.

I’m going to share my favorite things to do with kids in Gatlinburg!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Gatlinburg Convention & Visitors Bureau provided us with a media pass to experience many of these attractions but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

What to Do in Gatlinburg with Kids

Whether you love the great outdoors, adventure and thrills, or shopping, there's something for the entire family in the Gatlinburg area. This gateway city to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a great place to vacation with kids. Here are the best places to take your kids.

Anakeesta

Anakeesta is a new outdoor family adventure amusement park where you could easily spend an entire day! We decided to check it out first thing in the morning, and I'm really glad we did!

2026 UPDATE (directly from the Anakeesta Website): “Buying your ticket online at least one day in advance of your visit saves you money. Purchasing ahead of time will also allow you to skip the ticket line. For visits in Spring of 2026, tickets require a timed-entry arrival window.”

A general admission ticket gets you access to Ridge Rambler rides, Coaster Pass (March-May), AnaVista Observation Tower, Treetop Skywalk, Vista Gardens, TreeVenture Challenge Course, Treehouse Adventure Play Area, and BirdVenture. You can add on the Astra Lumina experience for an additional fee.

If you’re visiting with kids, I would highly recommend buying timed tickets for first thing in the morning or in the evening around sunset to avoid the heat of the day (especially if you’re visiting in summer).

Visitors to Anakeesta must take a gondola to reach the mountaintop or the Ridge Rambler Vehicles. (Although in March through May of 2026 the only way to get to the top will be the Ridge Rambler vehicles while Anakeesta prepares for the updated gondola experience.

There is so much to do at Anakeesta. My husband and I tried the dueling zip lines (under construction in 2026) while my mom watched the kids and got them ice cream. Take note: if you plan to do the zip line, you need enclosed shoes. I was wearing my Tevas (I didn't even pack tennis shoes), so I had to switch shoes with my mom. I was really lucky she was there and we have the same size feet!

Anyway, the zip line is a blast, and there are only three zips to do so it shouldn't take you too long. Kids are welcome and must be at least 7 years old AND 70 lbs to participate. We saw quite a few kids trying it, and while they were a bit nervous to start, by the end they were so excited and so glad they did it! (Our kids went zip lining in Costa Rica, so I know they would also love the one at Anakeesta!)

You can also fly down the mountainside on the Rail Runner mountain coaster which you can ride solo, or tandem if you have young children. Kids ages 3-7 can ride tandem with an adult.

You'll also want to wander through Firefly Village which contains a few restaurants and gift shops, as well as plenty of spots to sit and relax. There's a treehouse playground for kids of all ages and a canopy walk that takes you right under the ziplines and offers a great view of the forest below.

Since our visit in 2018 they’ve added an observation tower, a treetop skywalk, a bird venture playground, and more. We planned to visit Anakeesta on the first day of our 2026 spring break trip, but it happened to be closed that day, and by the time we went to buy tickets for the next day they were sold out, so we missed our chance to see all of the updates!

Gatlinburg Space Needle

Gatlinburg Space Needle is a 400-foot high observation tower with 360º views of Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains.

I wasn't sure at first if the Gatlinburg Space Needle was going to be toddler-friendly. We had a stroller along for our 1-year-old, and my 3-year-old can be fairly unpredictable. I was so pleasantly surprised by how doable this attraction was for little kids.

The glass elevators that take you to the top have plenty of room for a stroller. The observation deck is very spacious and wide, so kids can walk around and explore. The 360° panoramic view was absolutely stunning, and we all stayed up there for quite a while just marveling at God's beautiful creation.

Definitely be prepared to take plenty of Instagram photos at the top of this attraction. This was one of our very first stops the afternoon we arrived, and I think it really helped us get oriented since we could see where everything in downtown Gatlinburg was.

Right when you walk in before you take the elevator to the top, there is a game room with a large selection of arcade games you can play, too!

Check out the Gatlinburg Space Needle website here

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

Listen. We've become sort of experts on aquariums. We've been to 4 in the past 2 months, so we know what we're talking about. That means you can trust me when I say that this aquarium was absolutely INCREDIBLE.

I'll preface by saying that there are two levels to Ripley's Aquarium, a playground for kids, an entire penguin exhibit, and so many opportunities to interact with the animals. You could easily spend a few hours there.

My three-year-old son was incredibly excited about Shark Lagoon, and he couldn't wait to walk through the underwater tunnel filled with sharks, sawfish, eels, tarpon, and sea turtles. He did have a little bit of a shock when a sand tiger shark swam right up to him and "smiled," sending my little toddler running into my arms. I don't think he realized just how many teeth, and just how sharp of teeth sharks had.

Despite that small incident, we loved the tunnel and spent so much time gaping at the giant sea creatures swimming above us.

The other memorable portion of Ripley's Aquarium was the Penguin Playhouse. Kids could crawl through a tunnel to pop up to a window that looked right into the penguin's beach. Our kids went through that tunnel over and over until we finally had to lead them away. So fun for little ones. Definitely check this out.

Visit Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies Website here

Ripley’s Motion Blaster

Ripley’s Motion Blaster is an immersive game and motion simulator ride. You’re in a movie theater but the seats move to make you feel like you’re moving with the action on the screen. There are different themes like zombie, ninja, and carnival. We did the Banditos game, and our job was to defeat a mad scientist and his cowboy army

Really interactive and super fun to do especially with older kids. It was a little scary for our younger kids, so I would say ages 7 and up is perfect, but just know your child. They keep score, and at the end you get to see who was the winner!

Ripley's Attractions

There are quite a few Ripley’s attractions to do in Gatlinburg!

Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!
Ripley’s Haunted Adventure
Mirror Maze: we had so much fun doing this! We let our 5-year-old lead the way, and she did great! Your stroller won't fit (if you have one), so just leave it outside. It only took a few minutes to do, but the whole family loved it.
Ripley’s Moving Theater
Ripley’s Mountain Coaster
Ripley’s Super Fun Zone

If you want to visit more than 1 Ripley's Attraction, I would suggest getting Combo Passes to save money.

Circus Golf - In Black Light 3-D

This was a fun experience. It was basically glow-in-the-dark mini golf with the option to use 3-D glasses. We had my mom walk around with the baby while we took the older 2 kids to mini golf. They loved it for the first few holes before our 3-year-old got a little scared.

It does get pretty dark, and there are some circus displays that could be a little scary to small children, so keep that in mind. With children who are elementary school age, though, this would be a blast!

Circus Gold In Black Light 3D Website

Ober Mountain

At Ober Mountain, you can take the aerial tramway to the mountaintop adventure park where you can ride an alpine slide, ride a ski mountain coaster, or go summer tubing.

This popular attraction is open year-round, and it turns into a ski resort in winter where you can go ice skating or do ice bumper cars in addition to skiing.

We did the alpine slide, which they call the Smoky Mountain Bobsled, because the wait time for the mountain coaster was an hour and a half, and we had so much fun! If you have kids 7 and under they can ride with a parent.

They also have Ice Bumper Cars, ice skating, a carousel, chair swings, and a wildlife habitat. You could easily spend all day at Ober Gatlinburg! I would suggest getting there early before lines get too long.

Gatlinburg SkyPark

Gatlinburg SkyPark has the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America with incredible views of the area. You can take the yellow skylift chairs to the SkyBrige, walk the trails there, and take in the view from the SkyDeck. It's a great spot for views of the city and the mountains, so bring your camera!

I wish we had visited this in the evening because it would have been the perfect spot to watch the sun set over the Smoky Mountains. They have restaurants and beer on tap with plenty of seating on the SkyDeck.

Free and Cheap Things to Do in Gatlinburg

While Gatlinburg certainly has many paid attractions, if you're like our family and you're on a budget, here are some free things to do around town - and a few nearly-free things, too.

Shop

Ok, this is only free or cheap depending on your spending habits, but you could easily walk around and browse through stores for hours. Sure, there are some kitschy souvenir shops, but there are also some really cute boutiques and stores to enjoy. I even picked up a few early stocking stuffers for the kids at the gift shop when they weren't looking.

Make sure to find The Village Shops - it's tucked away off the main street, but feels like a haven from the hustle and bustle.

Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen

You can either visit the original candy shop on the parkway, or duck back into the Village Shops to find the second location, but if your kids love candy, this is a must-do. Their taffy logs are a hit, so this is a cheap way to buy some souvenirs (albeit ones that will get eaten fairly quickly).

The first of these two candy shops was founded in 1950 and is reminiscent of simpler times. Their homemade candy is delicious, and honestly, the whole thing is just a fun experience.

Great Smoky Mountain National Park

I mean, this is a no-brainer. One of the great things about Gatlinburg is that it's a gateway city to one of the most amazing and FREE national parks, so definitely take advantage of it!

You can take the scenic drive from the main parkway in Gatlinburg straight up the mountain into Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Take the road about 15 miles until you get to a parking lot with a lookout point. We enjoyed being able to walk around and enjoy the views with three little kids in tow.

If you have more time, I would suggest looking into some easier hiking trails in the park. If your kids are a little older, I've heard Clingman's Dome is an amazing view and the highest point in the park. Cades Cove is another great spot to take kids with possible wildlife viewing and many hiking trails.

Gatlinburg Trolley

Ever since we took the trolley tour in Savannah, my kids have been obsessed with trolleys. We saw them driving up and down the main street the entire weekend we were there, so we finally gave in to their begging and bought some very cheap trolley tickets. (I believe they were either $1 or 50 cents).

It was the perfect little ride up and down the main road in Gatlinburg, and it was nice to rest and enjoy the views. Perfect for kids and adults of any age.

Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales

This only applies if you're visiting in June or July, but Tunes and Tales is simply free and fun entertainment in the form of sidewalk performers singing, dancing, playing instruments, and telling stories. The live music is what helped calm my toddler down after the mildly scary black light mini-golf experience. It's a lovely little taste of Appalachian culture!

Where to Eat in Gatlinburg with Kids

So something you should know about us is that we are huge fans of packing a PB&J sandwich or a protein bar or shake to save money (and eat a little healthier while on the road). We also made use of the continental breakfast at our hotel (more on that in a bit). So I'm definitely not the best resource for places to eat, but I do have a few suggestions for you.

Best Italian

You must have dinner here where you're in Gatlinburg. The food was incredible, especially the garlic knots they bring each table before the meal. We went nice and early in the evening (embarrassingly I think it was like 4:30 p.m.), but we didn't have to wait for a table, and we had plenty of time to walk around and burn off the amazing Italian food we feasted on.

We shared a few pizzas, and they were top-notch. Greasy? Yes. Cheesy? Yes. Delicious? You bet. You really can't go wrong eating here, especially with kids.

UPDATE 2026: We ate at this spot again on our trip in 2026 and it holds up! A VERY reasonably priced meal for our big family, very filling, and delicious.

The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar

Our neighbors visited Gatlinburg last year and they recommended we visit this ice cream spot. The ice cream creations are insane, and so Instagrammable!

In additions to a milkshake in a mason jar, each shake comes with extra sweets on top. Some examples include an entire donut, a piece of cake, a cookie, a waffle, candy, and more.

We tried the Gatlinburg signature shake “Meet Me in the Mountains” which was a salted caramel shake with chocolate Teddy Grahams, a Rice Krispy Treat on top in the shape of a mountain, a moon pie, and whipped cream. It was insane, and 2 of us couldn’t even finish it.

As a family of 6 we split 3 milkshakes and came close to finishing them, but not quite. We also tried Crazy Cookie Dreams and Have Your Cake & Eat It Too, and both were delicious.

The Donut Friar

What kind of family travel blogger would I be if I didn't find the best donut shop in the area? In Gatlinburg, that's The Donut Friar. It's the cutest little bakery, and they are known for their cinnamon bread. Don't forget to bring cash! They don't take cards.

The Donut Friar Website

Kilwin's Chocolates

One of the nights we were in Gatlinburg, it began to rain, and we were getting hungry and tired, and couldn't decide where to eat for dinner. We happened to be right outside of Kilwin's Chocolates, and the scent of sweet ice cream and sugar came wafting out to us. We ducked inside and settled on ice cream for dinner. It was a great decision. There were so many incredible flavors to choose from, so everyone in your family will find something they love.

Kilwin's Chocolates Website

Where to Stay in Gatlinburg with Kids

Drury Plaza Hotel Pigeon Forge

We were hosted by the Drury Plaza Hotel Pigeon Forge on this trip. All opinions are my own.

On our most recent trip to Gatlinburg we stayed at the Drury Plaza Hotel Pigeon Forge and it was the perfect home base for exploring.
We love Drury Hotels, and now have stayed at locations in Milwaukee, Nashville, and Louisville in addition to this stay in Pigeon Forge. It’s such a family-friendly hotel brand!

Drury Hotels offer free breakfast, free popcorn in the lobby in the afternoons, AND a free 5:30 p.m. Kickback with hot food, drinks, and snacks. The food they serve at the Kickback is very hearty and can definitely work for dinner. They always have hot dogs, nachos, and soup, in addition to whatever the main dish is for that night, so there’s always something even your pickiest child can eat.

We stayed in connecting rooms so there was plenty of space for our family of 6 to spread out. The location was right in the heart of Pigeon Forge, so if you’re planning to explore Pigeon Forge in addition to Gatlinburg, you’re in luck! We mostly concentrated our time in Gatlinburg and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and it was just a short drive away.

Check current rates here!

The Greystone Lodge on the River

We found the Greystone Lodge to be the perfect place to stay for families with young children. Its location is one of the main draws. Greystone Lodge is right across the street from Anakeesta and next to Ripley's Aquarium and the trolley stop. You would think being surrounded by so many of Gatlinburg's main attractions would make it noisy and crowded, but it somehow manages to feel tucked away from the craziness in its own cozy world.

We loved that our balcony overlooked the river, and we enjoyed having a peaceful cup of coffee there before the day began. As I mentioned above, the Greystone Lodge offers complimentary continental breakfast, so eat up! There is a small pool and a hot tub, so you can spend time relaxing and playing at the hotel in between adventures.

We stayed in a family suite that had a dining table, kitchenette, and bunk beds for the kids, as well as a private room with a king-size bed. It was the perfect size for our family, and we loved having room to spread out and relax.

If you're looking for a little more privacy, you can stay in one of the Greystone Cottages about a mile away. More space, more privacy, and right on the Gatlinburg Trolley Route.

Check current rates at the Greystone Lodge here!

Easy Day Trips from Gatlinburg

Pigeon Forge

Pigeon Forge is only 8 miles away from Gatlinburg, making it a perfect add-on to your trip. There are tons of amazing attractions in Pigeon Forge, but the biggest draw would probably be Dollywood. If you have a Dolly Parton enthusiast in your family, it's definitely worth a day trip to check it out!

Nashville

Our family had so much fun in Music City, and we learned so much about country music while we were there! Nashville is a popular bachelorette party destination, sure. But it's full of family-friendly activities, good food, and incredible hotels. We stayed at the Omni Nashville and it was one of our favorite stays so far! We started our trip with a Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour, and it was a great way to get acquainted with the city and check a few activities off our list.

Read What to Do in Nashville with Kids.

Rock City

Rock City Gardens is an exciting attraction on Lookout Mountain just outside of Chattanooga, TN. We visited with a baby and 3 other young children on our way from Florida up to Wisconsin, and the views were absolutely incredible!

You'll need a few hours to visit here, but it's well worth it. My kids' favorite part was the Fairyland Caverns, while I admired the lookout point where you could see 7 states!

Read: Rock City with Kids - The perfect Road Trip Stop.