Smoky Mountains Cabins & Day Trips
Prices & schedules checked October 18, 2026
Picking a base for a cabin stay
Most visitors rent a cabin or condo rather than a hotel. Our cabin rentals guide compares the areas in more detail and links to rentals on Vrbo. Here’s how the main bases compare for the tours on this site:
- Gatlinburg: closest to the park’s main entrance. Several guided park tours (the “Classic”, High Points and Cades Cove heritage tours) meet at the Gatlinburg Welcome Center on Banner Road.
- Pigeon Forge: the Parkway’s shows, coasters and ziplines, and the Jeep tour companies (Pink Jeep at 2611 Parkway; Smoky Mountains Jeep Tours on Community Center Drive).
- Townsend: the “Peaceful Side of the Smokies”, on the way to Cades Cove — handy if the cove is your priority.
If you’ll drive into the park, remember the parking tag (below), and that some roads close for winter — see our Winterfest guide.
Day trips and half-days worth booking
We may earn a commission when you book through our links, at no extra cost to you. Details
Dolly Parton backroads & Sevierville tour (Photo Fast Tours)
- Price From $135 on Viator (as listed Oct 2026); lunch and ice cream not included
- What Dolly-related sites around Sevierville; the operator says it’s the only tour that goes to the cabin on Locust Ridge near where she was born
- Starts 9:00 a.m. at the Country Tonite Theater, 129 Showplace Blvd, Pigeon Forge (near traffic light #1)
- Cancellation Non-refundable on Viator; the operator mentions credit toward a future tour if you miss it
Elkmont Historic District by Pink Jeep
- Price From $118 on GetYourGuide (as listed Oct 2026)
- Route Wears Valley and Metcalf Bottoms to Elkmont: a guided walk through the renovated Daisy Town cabins, the Appalachian Club and the Wonderland Hotel site, Mt. Le Conte from the Gatlinburg overlook, then a 4x4 ride on private land
- Group Up to 8; not for children under 2 or pregnant guests (4x4 portion)
- Cancellation Free up to 2 days ahead (GetYourGuide listing)
Moonshine and wine tastings
- Wine, Shine & Bourbon walking tour (Gatlinburg) 3.5 hours on foot from 520 Parkway; wine, moonshine, whiskey and bourbon tastings plus a cocktail at Sugarlands Spirits Bar; about 0.7 miles of walking; parking extra (the listing says the nearby garage is typically $15/day). From $52 on Viator (as listed Oct 2026); free cancellation up to 24 hours.
- Smokies distillery crawl (Pigeon Forge) 4–5 hours by air-conditioned vehicle from Blake Jones Fun Center, 2891 Parkway; basic tasting fees included; up to 16 people. From $99.99 on Viator (as listed Oct 2026); free cancellation up to 24 hours.
2-hour Ghost and Haunt Tour of Gatlinburg
- Price From $40 on Viator (as listed Oct 2026)
- When 9:00 p.m.; about 2 hours; runs in all weather
- Meets Log Cabin Pancake House parking lot, 327 Historic Nature Trail (turn at light 8 off the Parkway)
- Minimum 4 reservations, or the tour may be cancelled
Driving yourself into the park? A Great Smoky Mountains parking tag is required to park anywhere in the park for more than 15 minutes: $5 daily, $15 weekly or $40 annual (NPS). Tags must show the license plate of the car they’re in, so with a rental car buy yours in person once you know the plate. NPS fees page.
Sources
- Viator — Smoky Mountain Sevierville Dolly Tour (price, 6–8 hours, meeting point, non-refundable)
- GetYourGuide — Great Smoky Mountains: Elkmont Historic District Tour (price, route, 2-day cancellation)
- GetYourGuide — Cades Cove Tour in a Pink Panorama Van (Townsend, “Peaceful Side of the Smokies”)
- Viator — The Ultimate Wine, Shine & Bourbon Experience (price, inclusions, parking)
- Viator — Tennessee Smokies Distillery Tour and Tastings (price, meeting point)
- Viator — 2 hour Extended Ghost and Haunt Tour of Gatlinburg (price, 9 p.m., meeting point)
- NPS — Fees & passes (parking tags)