The Smokies are home to dozens of charming mountain towns nestled between breathtaking vistas, each offering their own unique blend of natural beauty, culture, and attractions. Whether you’re looking for bustling areas filled with activities or quiet trails to relax in nature, this list of best Smoky Mountain towns has something for everyone.
No matter where you stay in the Smoky Mountains, you’ll find adventure, local favorites, and outdoor activities to remember your trip for years to come.
| Town | Best for | Top attraction | Nearest park entrance | Miles to nearest entrance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gatlinburg | Family vacations and outdoor adventures | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Gatlinburg | 2 miles |
| Pigeon Forge | Family vacations and entertainment | Dollywood | Gatlinburg | 8 miles |
| Townsend | Peaceful nature retreats and outdoor enthusiasts | Cades Cove | Townsend | 2 miles |
| Cherokee | Cultural experiences and outdoor activities | Museum of the Cherokee Indian | Cherokee | 2 miles |
| Bryson City | Outdoor adventures and family trips | Great Smoky Mountains Railroad | Cherokee | 17 miles |
| Waynesville | Couples getaways and arts and culture trips | Downtown Art Walk | Cherokee | 28 miles |
| Sevierville | Family vacations and shopping trips | Tanger Outlets | Gatlinburg | 13 miles |
| Maggie Valley | Peaceful mountain escapes and outdoor adventures | Wheels Through Time Museum | Cherokee | 20 miles |
| Asheville | Arts, culture, and dining | Biltmore Estate | Cherokee | 53 miles |
| Maryville | Family trips and outdoor enthusiasts | Bicentennial Greenbelt Park | Townsend | 17 miles |
| Wears Valley | Secluded mountain cabins and scenery | Metcalf Bottoms | Townsend | 10 miles |
Gatlinburg, Tennessee is one of the best Smoky Mountain towns to visit and dubbed for being the “gateway to the Smokies.” With three entrances just minutes from downtown, Gatlinburg offers easy access to scenic hiking trails and iconic views like Clingmans Dome, the highest point in Tennessee, perfect to watch the leaves change during peak visitor season in the Smokies.
The town has seemingly endless activities, from the aerial views at Ober Gatlinburg to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, along with plenty of shops, restaurants, and museums.
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Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is near Gatlinburg and is known for iconic Dollywood, a theme park and water park with rides, live shows, and seasonal events. Like Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge has a variety of attractions and activities for the whole family.
Outdoor adventurers can find hiking, mountain biking, and white water rafting in Pigeon Forge. Families can also enjoy mini-golf and dinner shows. With the Gatlinburg Smoky Mountain National Park entrance only 15-20 minutes away, it’s easy to balance outdoor adventures with the conveniences of being in town like a Pigeon Forge cabin loaded with luxury amenities.
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Townsend is a small town near Gatlinburg, TN, known as the “Peaceful Side of the Smokies.” While there are no large amusement parks, you’ll find plenty of outdoor activities to try on your visit, including hiking, fishing, and tubing.
The Townsend Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance is just minutes from downtown. This entrance is the best access point to Cades Cove, a scenic valley known for its historic sites and wildlife sightings.
The town is also home to Tuckaleechee Caverns, a 20-30 million-year-old cave system with the tallest underground waterfall in the United States, a 210-foot drop.
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Cherokee, North Carolina, is a Smoky Mountain town known for its Native American history. As home to the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, the Museum of the Cherokee People and the Oconaluftee Indian Village offer a rich place to learn about Native American history.
One of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s main entrances is in Cherokee at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Visitors can use this entrance to access scenic hikes and drives, including Newfound Gap Road and the beginning and end of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
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Bryson City, North Carolina, is a notable town near the Smoky Mountains National Park that you should add to your itinerary. Just a five-minute drive from the Deep Creek entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this area is known for its three waterfalls, which you can see on the 2.4-mile round-trip Waterfall Loop Trail.
The town has countless outdoor activities, including whitewater rafting, fishing, and ziplining along the Nantahala River. One of the most popular reasons to come to Bryson City is to ride the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, which offers year-round scenic train rides through the mountains.
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Waynesville is nestled between the Great Smoky and the Blue Ridge Mountains and is a popular stop on the North Carolina side of the Smokies. Its downtown is known for its arts and crafts community, with restaurants, specialty shops, and galleries to explore.
The town hosts seasonal events like the Folkmoot International Festival and the Apple Harvest Festival, which celebrate the area’s culture and agricultural heritage. Waynesville is about a 30-40-minute drive from the Cherokee entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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Sevierville, Tennessee, is another town near the Smoky Mountains National Park that features outdoor activities, family-friendly attractions, and popular shopping destinations. Many visitors make a point to stay in a cabin near Sevierville to visit the birthplace of Dolly Parton and get a photo with her statue downtown.
Visitors can also enjoy ziplining, local wildlife attractions, and touring the historic downtown area. Seivierville is about 20 minutes from the Gatlinburg entrance to the national park, providing easy access to hiking trails, scenic drives, and other outdoor adventures.
Reasons to visit:
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Maggie Valley highlights the Smoky Mountain panoramic mountain views, waterfall hikes, and wildlife spotting. Visitors often stop in Maggie Valley on their way to visit the Cataloochee Valley, a remote part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and one of the best places to see elk, about 20 miles from town.
Maggie Valley is also about 20 miles from the Cherokee Entrance to the park, which you can use to access Cades Cove. Other popular outdoor activities in the area include visiting Soco and Mingo Falls. When you’re ready for a nature break, the Wheels Through Time Museum is a must-see for anyone interested in motorcycles and automobiles.
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While a bit of a drive from the nearest Smoky Mountain National Park entrance, nearby Asheville, North Carolina, is known for its walkable downtown, farm-to-table food scene, and views of the Blue Ridge mountains in every direction.
Popular attractions include visiting the Biltmore Estate, the largest privately owned home in the U.S., and the River Arts District, a collection of galleries and studios of local artists. Asheville is about an hour from the Cherokee entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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Maryville is a small town in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains with beautiful parks, a historic downtown, and a great restaurant and brewery scene. It is a 20-minute drive from the Townsend entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which allows visitors to access Cades Cove.
This historic town also has a few museums worth visiting, including the Cades Cove Museum and the Sam Houston Historic Schoolhouse. Guests also stop in Maryville due to its proximity to the Foothills Parkway, a scenic drive with great views of the Smokies.
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If you’re looking for small towns near Gatlinburg, TN, Wears Valley is a quiet, scenic place between Pigeon Forge and Townsend. It offers easy access to everything the region offers and quiet cabins for cozy nights.
There are plenty of things to do in Wears Valley, and it’s only a 10-minute dive from the Metcalf Bottoms entrance to the Great Smokies. This entrance also has a picnic and outdoor recreation area on the Little River. Adventurers will also enjoy the proximity to trails, with the Townsend entrance only 20-25 minutes away.
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From bustling towns full of attractions to peaceful mountain escapes, it’s easy to see why visitors return to the best Smoky Mountain towns time and time again. Once you’re here, booking a luxury cabin as your home base makes exploring these unique Smoky Mountain towns even more enjoyable.
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