Lodging In The Tennessee Smokies
More than nine million people a year come to visit the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, making it a favorite vacation destination. They come to hike in the mountains, shop in the outlet malls, play at Dollywood, have fun on the go-cart tracks, see a show, explore the gift shops and artist galleries or just to relax. Where do all these people stay while they’re here? The answer is as varied as the activities they come here to enjoy.
Four main elements come into play when choosing a place to stay: price, amenities, ambience and location. How much are you willing to spend? How comfortable do you want to be? What kind of surroundings are you looking for? What do you want to be close to? It’s amazing how many things there are to think about when choosing a place to stay.
Price is the most straightforward and may vary with the season or day of the week. The least expensive option is camping. Hotels and motels come in all price ranges from economy to luxury prices. Cabins and chalets may cost more per night than a hotel room would, but many actually cost less per person, especially for small groups of people. Bed and breakfasts tend to be similar in price to your upper-range motels.
Ambience also plays a role when it comes to price. You may just be looking for comfortable and clean, or you may want a hotel with a mountain lodge feel or an elegant hotel decorated with antique furniture and crystal chandeliers. You’ll find all levels of comfort here in the Smokies. The more you pay, the more amenities you’re likely to receive. If you can’t live without an indoor pool or fitness room, be sure to research the hotel beforehand.
Cabins, chalets, condos and timeshare units may or may not have all the amenities of a modern hotel, but their greatest attraction is that they’ll get you away from town and out into the mountains themselves. You’ll enjoy privacy, forest seclusion or mountain vistas and possibly your own hot tub out on the deck. These “homes away from home” provide a place to hang out and relax when you’re not out and about. They also provide a kitchen and all the accessories for you to cook your own meals.
Many people like to go camping. There are the luxury campers—those people who travel in the comfort and convenience of their recreational vehicle, and there are the primitive campers—those who like to rough it with just a tent and a sleeping bag. The four communities, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Sevierville and Townsend, together have over 3,000 campground sites. In addition, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has 10 campgrounds with almost 1,000 campground sites.
If you’re planning on staying for more than a week, why not look for a rental? Houses or apartments for rent have all the traditional amenities of home, including, of course, a kitchen. The area has over 6,000 rental homes for people to choose from, ranging from log cabins, to mountain chalets, to condos and timeshare units.
Everyone may be on vacation, but not everyone wants the same vacation experience. The active family may want to be close to the area’s many attractions. The honeymoon couple may want the seclusion of a cabin. Others may be looking for the camaraderie found in a bed and breakfast or at a campground. The city resident may want to get close to nature either by camping out in the woods or retreating to a mountain chalet. Whatever it is you’re looking for, you’ll find it here in the Great Smoky Mountains.