Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Gatlinburg is a town of about 4,000 on the edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in eastern Tennessee. Because of the mountainous terrain that surrounds it, Gatlinburg is home to the only ski resort in Tennessee and one of the southernmost ski resorts in the United States. Gatlinburg receives plenty of visitors in the off-season, however, because of its year-round man-made and natural attractions that can be enjoyed on a budget.
The best time to travel to Gatlinburg is during the off-season, which is any time the ski resort is closed. Gatlinburg gets plenty of visitors year-round, but prices should be lowest during the summer, especially for lodging.
Lodging in Gatlinburg tends to be on the expensive side, but comfortable accommodations can be found for as little as $69 per night during the summer at local establishments, such as the Rocky Waters Motor Inn. If you are the outdoors type, bring a tent and camp for anywhere from $18 to $27 per night at such places as Camping in the Smokies just outside of town. You also can bring picnic food, camp in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park for as little as $14, and rent a picnic pavilion inside the park for even less.
One way to enjoy the Gatlinburg area without spending a lot of money is to focus on natural rather than man-made attractions during fair weather (most of the time except during the winter). Gatlinburg is situated right near the main entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and admission to the park is free. The 3.8-mile round-trip Gatlinburg Trail runs between the Sugarlands Visitor Center and Gatlinburg and is an easy hike. For hardier souls, the four-mile, moderately difficult Laurel Falls Trail begins not far from the Sugarlands Visitor Center and will take you to a beautiful waterfall. The Rainbow Falls Trail takes about six hours to complete, and runs to Mt. LeConte after gaining about 4,000 feet in elevation.
Many attractions in downtown Gatlinburg can be enjoyed without spending a lot of money. For example, if you are bringing children along, the Gatlinburg Haunted Ghost Tour lasts 90 minutes and can be booked for as little as $11 per child and $20 per adult (apparently Gatlinburg is home to many haunted buildings).
Shopping is also fun. Many of the shops are deliberately picturesque, designed to attract tourists, making simple window-shopping an enjoyable option. Smoky Mountain candy, especially the delicious local specialty taffy, is a reasonably priced option for souvenirs.
Whitewater rafting as well as more leisurely floats are available on the Pigeon River for as little as $30 per person. Most of these trips are suitable for children as young as 8, and some are suitable for children as young as 4.