The Smokies have no hotels inside the park except the hike-in LeConte Lodge, so the choice is which gateway town. Our exclusive pick is a cabin lodge with an acclaimed bistro in Townsend, near Cades Cove; our accessible pick is a family-run hotel on the river in Gatlinburg, at the main park entrance. Prices are shown as a level, from $ to $$$$: rates move with the season and the room, so check the live price before you plan.
Dancing Bear Lodge & Appalachian Bistro
$$$$
Pick no. 1 · The standoutBoutiqueTownsend, near the park’s Townsend entrance and Cades Cove
Cabin lodge on 38 wooded acres, 31 cabins, villas and cottages
Photos: Dancing Bear Lodge & Appalachian Bistro, official website. Shown courtesy of the property.
Cabins with fireplaces and hot tubs on 38 wooded acres in Townsend, with an acclaimed Appalachian bistro and breakfast included.
We would book it for the Smokies at their quietest. Townsend is the calm side of the park, Cades Cove is close enough to be at the loop at opening, and the evening ends by the fireplace or in the hot tub of your own cabin. Dinner at the Appalachian Bistro is reason enough to stay here, and breakfast is part of every night.
Best for
Couples
Food lovers
Cades Cove early starts
Cabins with fireplaces and private hot tubs on a 38-acre wooded property with two miles of trails
The Appalachian Bistro, with a farm-to-table menu and a wine list recognized by Wine Spectator
A full breakfast included every night, on the “Peaceful Side of the Smokies”, minutes from the Townsend entrance
What the hotel offers
As listed on the hotel’s own website.
Full breakfast includedEvery night: traditional at Apple Valley Cafe or modern at The Dancing Bean coffee house
Appalachian BistroFarm-to-table menu by chef Jeff Carter; Tuesday to Sunday, 5 to 9 pm
Bar at the BearCocktails, and a wine list recognized by Wine Spectator
Private hot tubsOn the porch of many cabins, lofts and cottages
FireplacesWood-burning or gas, depending on the cabin
KitchensFull kitchen or kitchenette in every unit type
Property trailsTwo miles of trails, open year-round
Wi-FiComplimentary, with cable TV
ParkingComplimentary
Dog-friendly cabinsFree-standing cabins only, two dogs maximum, $75 per stay
Family optionsVillas and cottages sleep up to six; free cribs, rollaways $10 a night
The Bearskin Lodge
$$$$
Pick no. 2 · The easy choiceFamilyDowntown Gatlinburg, on the Little Pigeon River near the park entrance
Family-owned riverside hotel at the park entrance in Gatlinburg
Photos: The Bearskin Lodge, official website. Shown courtesy of the property.
A family-owned hotel on the Little Pigeon River at the park entrance, with a lazy river and free breakfast and parking.
We would book it for the location and the family-friendly basics. You can walk to Gatlinburg’s restaurants in the evening and be in the park within minutes in the morning, breakfast and parking are free, and children have the pool and lazy river after a day of hiking. Ask for a balcony over the river.
Best for
Families
First-time visitors
Walking to Gatlinburg’s shops and restaurants
Right at the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a short walk from the Gatlinburg Parkway
Outdoor pool and lazy river, an outdoor fire pit and a free continental breakfast
Balconies over the river or the town, gas fireplaces in most rooms and custom hickory furniture
What the hotel offers
As listed on the hotel’s own website.
Outdoor pool and lazy river
Free continental breakfast
Wi-FiFree
Garage parkingFree for guests
Gas fireplacesIn most rooms
Private balconiesOver the mountain stream or the town, depending on the room
Outdoor fire pitWith a seating area
Fitness room
In-room kitchen basicsMini-fridge, microwave and Keurig coffee maker
24-hour market
Family roomsTwo-queen rooms and suites with a sleeper sofa
Townsend cabins or Gatlinburg convenience: how to choose
Both are at a park entrance, on opposite sides of the Tennessee half of the Smokies, with two very different moods.
Where should I stay for a first visit to the Smoky Mountains?+
Gatlinburg is at the main park entrance and walkable, a good base for Newfound Gap, Clingmans Dome and Alum Cave: The Bearskin Lodge is there. Townsend, the “Peaceful Side of the Smokies”, is quieter and closest to Cades Cove: Dancing Bear Lodge is there. Read our Great Smoky Mountains travel guide
How far ahead should I book?+
Book several months ahead for October, the fall-color peak and the busiest month, and for summer weekends. Spring weekdays and winter are much easier. Use the See prices button of each hotel for live availability.
When is the best time to visit the Smoky Mountains?+
Mid to late October for the fall colors, and late April to May for wildflowers. Summer is warm, humid and busiest; winter is quiet, with snow on the peaks and Clingmans Dome Road closed. When to visit the Great Smoky Mountains
How do I get there, and do I need a car?+
Fly into Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) and rent a car, or drive about 3 h 30 from Nashville. A car is essential: Cades Cove, Clingmans Dome and the trailheads are spread across the park.
Is there an entrance fee, and where do I park?+
There is no entrance fee, but any car parked in the park for more than 15 minutes needs a parking tag: $5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year. Both hotels include free parking at the hotel.
Which of the two hotels suits families?+
The Bearskin Lodge, with its outdoor pool and lazy river, free breakfast, two-queen rooms and suites with a sleeper sofa, within walking distance of Gatlinburg. Dancing Bear Lodge also has two-bedroom cabins and villas that sleep up to six, with free cribs.
Can I book these hotels directly?+
Yes. The See prices button under Dancing Bear Lodge opens the lodge’s official website. For The Bearskin Lodge it opens Trip.com, one of our booking partners. Both open in a new tab.
Picked by Kylian Dev. These are editorial picks: no hotel paid to be here, and we never describe a stay we did not make. Facts come from each hotel’s own website; the Trip.com buttons are partner links (how we make money).
