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Nature · Great Smoky Mountains

Smoky Mountains Adventure: 5 Days

A kids’ nature walk, Cades Cove and Dollywood, from one walkable Gatlinburg base, with the aquarium and Anakeesta as optional add-ons.

  • 5 days / 4 nights
  • Based in Gatlinburg, TN
  • Self-drive
Green Smoky Mountain ridges under a blue sky near Gatlinburg

Attractions

What you will see as you travel the route, day by day, and how to make the most of each stop.

3sights on the route
1national park
1guided family nature walk
1day at Dollywood
GatlinburgSugarlandsCades CovePigeon ForgeGatlinburg
1Day 1

Arrive in Gatlinburg

Arrive and settle in

Optional add-on

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies Tickets

Sharks, penguins and the underwater tunnel at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, a short walk from your hotel in Gatlinburg.

$70 per person

Optional. Not included in the trip price.

2Day 2

Guided family nature walk + Cades Cove

Nature walk and Cades Cove

Exploring Nature with Children

Why it is worth itAn easy guided walk of about 2 hours with A Walk in the Woods, starting at Sugarlands Visitor Center in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Insider tipBring water and snacks; it is under a mile, so little legs can manage it.

Cades Cove Loop Road

On your own

Why it is worth itAn 11-mile one-way loop through a valley with historic log buildings and churches, known for deer and black bears.

Insider tipStay in the car or keep well back if you see a bear.

3Day 3

Dollywood

Dollywood

Why it is worth itDolly Parton’s theme park in Pigeon Forge, with rides, shows and crafts.

Insider tipCheck the show times when you arrive and plan around them.

4Day 4

A slow day, or Anakeesta

A slow day

Optional add-on

Anakeesta Tickets

The Chondola ride up to Anakeesta, then the treetop skywalk and mountain views above Gatlinburg.

$65 per person

Optional. Not included in the trip price.

The order of stops can shift with the weather, and access to some sites can change with the season or local conditions. See Day by day for the full plan.

Why this trip

This is the family trip for anyone who wants mountains without the planning headache. You stay four nights at Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg, right on the Parkway with a waterslide pool, a walk from the aquarium and Anakeesta. Your trip includes a kid-friendly guided nature walk in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the scenic Cades Cove loop and a full day at Dollywood, with room left for ice cream and pool time. Ripley's Aquarium and Anakeesta are optional add-ons.

  • Guided family nature walk + Cades CoveMeet your guide from A Walk in the Woods at Sugarlands Visitor Center for "Exploring Nature with Children" (about 2 hours, easy, under a mile).
  • DollywoodA full day at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, about 30 minutes away (park parking paid on site).
  • A slow day, or AnakeestaA slow morning, or add Anakeesta (Chondola ride up, treetop skywalk, mountain views; optional add-on).

Trip at a glance

Length
5 days / 4 nights
Starts / ends
Gatlinburg, TN (nearest airport TYS)
Getting around
Self-drive; short drives
Pace
One base, one plan a day
Best time to go
June to October
Great for
Families with kids about 4 to 12
Accommodations
Comfort Plus
Flights
Not included. You book; timing tips in your pre-trip guide

Day by day

Day 1 and day 5 are travel days. The order of the days in between is flexible and can shift with the weather.

Day 1Arrive in Gatlinburg
Check in to Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg (free self-parking). Walk the Parkway, or add Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies for sharks, penguins and the underwater tunnel (optional add-on). Dinner on the Parkway.
Day 2Guided family nature walk + Cades Cove
Meet your guide from A Walk in the Woods at Sugarlands Visitor Center for "Exploring Nature with Children" (about 2 hours, easy, under a mile). Afternoon: drive the Cades Cove Loop Road, watching for deer and black bears from the car. Note: the loop is closed to cars on Wednesdays in the warmer months (vehicle-free days), so the plan works around it.
Day 3Dollywood
A full day at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, about 30 minutes away (park parking paid on site).
Day 4A slow day, or Anakeesta
A slow morning, or add Anakeesta (Chondola ride up, treetop skywalk, mountain views; optional add-on). Free time: the pool, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail (seasonal), or downtown Gatlinburg.
Day 5Head home
Check out. TYS is about an hour's drive.

What’s included

Included

  • 4 nights at Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg (Double Queen room, sleeps up to 4)
  • A Walk in the Woods "Exploring Nature with Children" guided walk (private for your family, up to 4)
  • Dollywood 1-day tickets
  • A day-by-day plan and one point of contact from booking to home

Not included

  • Flights
  • Car or rental car, fuel, Dollywood parking, and the National Park parking tag ($5 day / $15 week)
  • Meals (hotel breakfast is extra)
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal spending and optional add-ons

Optional add-ons: Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies Tickets ($70 per person), Anakeesta Tickets ($65 per person). Add them in the booking box or in Attractions.

Your hotels, experiences, transfers and guides are booked for you. Flights and rental cars are up to you, and your pre-trip guide includes timing tips.

Questions

What if I need to cancel?
Plans change. If you need to cancel, you'll receive trip credit toward another itsTripEasy trip: within 24 hours of payment, 100% trip credit, so you can swap to a different destination; 60 or more days before travel, 50% trip credit; less than 60 days before travel, no trip credit. Trip credits never expire. To cancel or change your dates, use the cancellation request form. For a date change, choose the reason "I'd like to change my dates".
Do I need a car?
Yes, this is a self-drive trip. You book your own car or rental car, and you receive a full day-by-day itinerary with every drive mapped out, so you always know where to go, plus driving-safety tips in your pre-trip guide.
Are flights included?
Flights and rental cars are up to you, and your pre-trip guide includes timing tips so your arrival and departure fit the plan.
Can the trip be customized?
Yes, right in the booking box: add up to 3 extra nights at the start or end of your trip and choose how many travelers share each room.

Good to know

  • Weather and nature. Weather, road and natural conditions are outside anyone’s control and can change quickly. They may change the plan, close roads, or delay, shorten or cancel tours and activities, and the order of days may shift.
  • Your choices. You are responsible for your own decisions, safety and choices while traveling, including how and when you drive, which activities you take part in, and following local guidance, posted warnings and your guides’ instructions.
  • Photos. Photos on this page are for inspiration. They may not show the exact location, hotel, season or conditions of your trip.
  • Not included. Flights and rental cars aren’t included; you book those yourself.
$4,498
2 travelers · 5 days / 4 nights
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