Our most recommended things to do in Smoky Mountains

Pigeon Forge: Titanic Museum Advance Purchase Ticket

1. Pigeon Forge: Titanic Museum Advance Purchase Ticket

Step aboard the popular Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge, experience the largest display of Titanic artifacts anywhere in the world, and interact with exhibits that appeal to all ages. Listen to an audio tour that brings the Titanic's story to life. Enter the Museum through a half-scale model of the exterior of the Titanic. Get your passenger boarding ticket, featuring the name of an actual Titanic passenger or crew member. Follow them throughout the ship, enter the Memorial Room, and discover the fate of your assigned person. Stand in awe of the grand staircase, valued at one million dollars. Touch an authentic iceberg, shovel “coal” in the Titanic’s Boiler Room, and learn how to send an SOS distress signal. Get your whole family involved with this living classroom’s hands-on opportunities to motivate, educate and inspire. Every child receives a boarding pass profiling a youngster who sailed on the Titanic and can listen to a special audio tour just for kids. Don’t miss the onboard scavenger hunt. New in 2023: The Titanic Museum honors the 135 children aboard the RMS Titanic, who ranged from 9 weeks to 15 years, each with a story to tell. New displays. New stories.  A moment in time all guests can pay tribute to these young lives.

Dollywood Theme Parks 1 or 2-Day Entry Ticket

2. Dollywood Theme Parks 1 or 2-Day Entry Ticket

Experience the thrill of a lifetime with a 1- or 2-day ticket to Dollywood Theme Park and Dollywood's Splash Country, two of the most popular attractions in the Great Smoky Mountains in Pigeon Forge. Choose between the 1-day ticket to discover Dollywood Theme Park only or the 2-day 2-park ticket for an immersive experience into Dollywood Theme Park and Dollywood's Splash Country. Explore Dollywood, a 150-acre park home to roller coasters, live shows, and interactive activities with the 1-day ticket. Discover Wildwood Grove, a land of adventure featuring 11 themed attractions, including a suspended family roller coaster, a treetop tower, and the world's fastest wooden coaster. With the 2-day, 2-park ticket, get access to Dollywood's Splash Country, a 35-acre outdoor water park with high-speed water slides, lazy rivers, splash pools, and wave pools. Enjoy various water slides and attractions, from the TailSpin Racer to the RiverRush, Tennessee's first water coaster. Use your 2-day ticket to explore both parks and spread your adventure out over 2 days. Hop between Dollywood and Dollywood's Splash Country with ease via the complimentary parking lot trams. At the end of your adventure, leave with unforgettable memories and stories to share. Continue exploring the Smoky Mountains or head back to your hotel.

Pigeon Forge: Rocky Top Mountain Coaster Ride

3. Pigeon Forge: Rocky Top Mountain Coaster Ride

Take a thrilling ride on the Rocky Top Mountain Coaster — the longest coaster in east Tennessee and the first one in the world with four uplifts. Travel through stunning Smoky Mountain scenery, 360-degree turns, and several tunnels on over 20 acres of property. Control your own speed through tunnels, curves, and thrilling hairpin turns on a single cart that can go up to 30 miles per hour. The coaster is fun for all ages, with riders ranging from 3 to 90 years old. For an extra unique experience, visit after nightfall where the colorful lights will guide you through a beautiful night ride.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour

4. Great Smoky Mountains National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour

Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which will function as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map. Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! NOTE: This 47-mile-long tour covers the essentials of the Great Smoky Mountains in 5-6 hours. Explore the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and discover why it’s the most visited National Park in the country. Buckle up and prepare for a deep dive into the most famous stretch of the Appalachians. Enjoy a flexible route that allows you to take all the time you need to admire the timeless wonders of the mountains. Drive through the scenic mountains and hear all about parts of Cherokee history, like the ancient Cherokee monarchy and the revolutionaries who fought against it. Get detailed accounts of Cherokee ancestral legends, from the great buzzard who shaped the Smoky Mountains from clay to the witch whose droplets of blood bloom into stalks of corn. Experience animated videos allowing you to visualize what you cannot see, such as snapshots from different centuries or interior rooms. Be pointed towards some of the most awe-inspiring sights in the park. Gaze at the majestic Rainbow Falls, the breath-taking 360-degree views atop Clingmans Dome, and hear about the deep-rooted history of the Elys Mill. Learn about the complex flora and fauna which call the mountains home. Get to know the creatures of Cades Cove and learn how wildfires form an integral part of the vast and interconnected ecosystem. As you drive, audio stories will automatically pop up and start playing, allowing you to keep your attention on the natural beauty of the Smoky Mountains.

Pigeon Forge: French Broad River Helicopter Tour

5. Pigeon Forge: French Broad River Helicopter Tour

Two options allow you to choose the perfect flight: The Lake View flight extends past the French Broad River and takes you out to Douglas Lake. Douglas Lake is a 33,000 acre man-made lake with over 450 miles of shoreline. This flight will get you up to 1,500 feet in altitude, allowing you a superb view of the Great Smoky Mountains towards the south. Along the route, you will see areas of farmland and quilt-like patterns of pastures. As you get closer to Douglas Lake you will fly next to Douglas Dam. Lake view is a 6-minute flight covering 12 miles. The most popular option, Extended Lake flight, takes you even further. You will fly directly over Douglas Dam, and then proceed over the lake. In the summer take in astonishing sun-glistening views of the water and the people enjoying their time on the lake. In the winter the water level is lowered, so expect majestic views of exposed islands and coves. As well as the beautiful lake, you will see the Great Smoky Mountains towards the southwest. On this option, you climb to a slightly higher altitude than on the Lake View flight, allowing for better visibility of the National Park. Extended Lake is an 8-minute flight over 16 miles.

Sevierville: Tour to 3 Pigeon Forge Wineries with Tastings

6. Sevierville: Tour to 3 Pigeon Forge Wineries with Tastings

Take your taste buds on a Tennessee adventure with this winery tour from Sevierville. Discover mountain views of Pigeon Forge on your way to 3 unique wineries, each specializing in their own flavors. Sample a range of flavors with a guided wine tasting session with staff at each winery.  Head to the centrally-located meeting point in Sevierville visit the Apple Barn Winery for a tasting before boarding a comfortable and climate controlled coach. Have plenty of space for you and the wine purchases that you are sure to make with the 10% discount included in your tour.  Relax on the drive between wineries with stunning views of the surrounding countryside and rolling vineyards. Explore apple-based wine to more traditional grape wines. Staff at each location will guide your palate through a journey of flavor and craftsmanship.  Visit the Mountain Valley Winery for an exquisite tasting experience and stop at Hillside Winery for some high-quality flavors. Return to your starting point in Sevierville at the end of your tour. Take home a Rocky top wine trail glass as a souvenir. 

From Hartford: Upper Pigeon River White Water Rafting Tour

7. From Hartford: Upper Pigeon River White Water Rafting Tour

Go rafting on the Upper Pigeon River and combine whitewater action with epic mountain scenery, great for visitors looking to get outdoors. This guided adventure from Hartford is an accessible option for guests staying in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, or the national park in Eastern Tennessee. Meet the guide at NOC's Pigeon River Outpost in Hartford. After a brief orientation and video, get geared up with a life jacket and paddles and load onto the big blue bus to shuttle to the river put in. Once in the raft, an experienced guide explains the rafting lingo and what to expect. Then go down the river, paddling through bouncy waves, cool mountain water, and fun rapids. With nearly continuous Class II-III+ rapids like Lost Guide and Accelerator and views into Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Upper Pigeon is a truly memorable experience.

Cades Cove: Self-Guided Sightseeing and Driving Audio Tour

8. Cades Cove: Self-Guided Sightseeing and Driving Audio Tour

Drive on the Cades Cove Loop Road with a phone app that works as a guide, an audio tour, and a map all in one. Navigate with ease through the wooded areas of the Smoky Mountains, visit historic churches, see the Elijah Oliver Cabin, stop by the Cades Cove Grist Mill, and go on the Abram Falls trail. Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app that will function as your personal guide, audio tour, and map all in one. Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! Note: This 25+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Cades Cove in 3-5 hours. Begin the tour just west of Gatlinburg, by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Library. From there, continue west toward the scenic loop. As you drive, hear about the Cherokee who once lived here, and the clashes between them and the first European settlers to arrive. Using your audio guide, get familiar with some of the wildlife that makes the Smoky Mountains so special. Stop at the first major landmark, the John Oliver Place, once home to some of the first homesteaders to make a living here in Cades Cove. Next, get to the Primitive Baptist Church, one of three churches in the cove dating back to the 1800s. As you visit the next 2—the Methodist Church and the Missionary Baptist Church—learn about the devastating impact of the Civil War on the community, and where these churches stood in the conflict. Then it’s on to the Elijah Oliver Place, a beautifully-preserved homestead offering an authentic look at early pioneer life in the Smokies. After that, you have the option to hike to Abrams Falls, a secluded waterfall. Next up is the John Cable Grist Mill, a still-working mill from the 1800s where you can buy cornmeal ground up on-site. Then, reach Tipton Place, home to not only a Revolutionary War veteran, but a Civil War veteran as well. Finally, arrive at the Carter Shields Cabin, another idyllic homestead from a bygone era. Continue on toward the start of the loop as you hear about the last family to call Cades Cove home. Conclude the drive near the start of the Cades Cove Scenic Loop.

Great Smoky Mountains NP & Cades Cove Self-Guided Tour

9. Great Smoky Mountains NP & Cades Cove Self-Guided Tour

Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which will function as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map. Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! Note: This 72+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Great Smoky and Cades Cove Bundle in 4-5 hours. Explore the Great Smoky Mountains at your own pace with a self-guided and self-driving tour. Hike to Alum Cave, enjoy a panoramic view from Charles Overlook, and discover Cades Coves from the comfort of your own car. Drive to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center to start your journey. After exploring the Visitor Center, head past the Mingus Mill, a remnant of a once-thriving town. As you drive to Beech Flats Quiet Walkway, hear accounts of the Cherokee people who once lived here. Learn about their legends and their struggle to hold onto their land. Once you arrive, enjoy a meditative stroll through nature. Hop back into your car and head to Charles Webb Overlook, which offers a panoramic view of the park. Once you’ve snapped some stunning photos, continue toward Clingman’s Dome, the highest peak in the Smokies, for more unparalleled views of the mountains. Continue to the trail for Alum Cave, one of the most popular hikes in the park. If you wish, take the moderate 4.4-mile roundtrip trail for beautiful panoramas and fascinating rock formations. After your hike, drive to Chimney Tops Overlook, offering more stunning mountain views. Next, enjoy an easy wilderness walk at Balsam Point. As you continue past yet another incredible vista and another secluded walkway, hear little-known park history. Jump back in your car and drive towards Gatlinburg, stopping on the way to check out the pristine Cataract Falls. In Gatlinburg, pass the famous Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Drive past Ogle Place, an old-timey homestead dating back to the 1800s, before arriving at Rainbow Falls. Continue your drive past several more waterfalls and the historic cabins of Ephraim Bales and Reagan Tub, offering a fascinating glimpse into the past. Finally, finish your Great Smoky National Park tour with a visit to the old Ely’s Mill, which is still in operation today. Start the second part of your combination tour, discovering Cades Coves, just west of Gatlinburg. From there, continue west toward the scenic loop. The first landmark on your route is John Oliver Place, once home to some of the first homesteaders to make a living here. After that, pass 3 churches dating back to the 1800s and uncover the devastating impact of the Civil War on this community. Drive to Elijah Oliver Place, a beautifully-preserved homestead offering an authentic look at early pioneer life. If you wish to stretch your legs, hike to Abrams Falls, a secluded, powerful waterfall. Next, drive to Tipton Place. Finally, reach the Carter Shields Cabin, another idyllic homestead from a bygone era. Finish your tour at the start of the loop as you hear about the last family to call the cove home.

Blue Ridge Parkway Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

10. Blue Ridge Parkway Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which will function as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map all in one. Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! Note: This 550+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Blue Ridge Parkway in 5+ hours. Once downloaded, your tour can begin at any of the following locations: Cherokee, NC; Asheville, NC; Roanoke, VA; Afton, VA. From there, you can drive in either direction. If you want to see the whole parkway, from Great Smoky Mountains National Park all the way to Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive, you can do so! But if you’d rather break your trip up into smaller pieces and explore at different times, that’s also absolutely an option. Once you buy this tour, it’s yours for life, so you can explore the Blue Ridge Parkway entirely on your own schedule. While driving, you’ll have the opportunity to stop at countless jaw-dropping overlooks revealing the majesty and beauty of the Appalachian Mountains. Some of these also feature incredible hiking trails for travelers looking to stretch their legs and get up close and personal with this lush wilderness landscape. Along these trails, you’ll find mountain views, waterfalls, plentiful wildlife, and more scenery than you can shake a stick at. As you drive, you’ll also get acquainted with the Native tribes of the region, such as the Cherokee. You’ll hear plenty of history and legends belonging to these people and revisit dark yet important periods of time like the infamous Trail of Tears. Along the way, get ready to pass plenty of small, historic towns as well. Looking out across those distant villages, you’ll learn about the history of industry in the Appalachians—the rise, the fall, and the persistence of the hardy residents of these towns. Whether you’re looking to enhance a scenic drive or really dive into the weeds and explore, this tour gives you the tools to do it. So what are you waiting for? Buckle up and hit the road!

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What people are saying about Smoky Mountains

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 724 reviews

We loved it! It was beautiful and very well organized. I know it stated there was not allowed to be pictures taken on the first floor. Some people were taking pictures and hogging the display. It was not fair to other people. Overall, we loved it and plan to suggest it to others!

Found out alot that I didn't know! Love the idea of boarding passes, we found our characters & they happened to survive! Highlight are the blind person playing the piano, feel the temp room & the outstanding Lego titanic & of course the infamous grand staircase! Loved it!

It was amazing we did it twice the view was beautiful don’t leave too late you will miss out a lot. It’s most definitely a two hour ride

So simple using the app. We went right in at our time. We got to pass the big line and walked right in.

It was great! Many things I did not know about the Titanic & much to see.