6 Smoky Mountain Towns You Need to Visit Before the Year is Over
The Smoky Mountain area is known for having a little bit of the “small town” environment, even though the entire area has grown into a vacation destination. These are the towns that make the Smoky Mountains so great. Have you visited all 5 Smoky Mountain towns?
1. Gatlinburg
As you already know, Gatlinburg is a mountain town with an entrance straight into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Gatlinburg is filled with so many fun things to do and places to visit. Of
course, the Gatlinburg Parkway is a walkable roadway lined with attractions, restaurants, shopping and more. There’s really no place quite like Gatlinburg!
Popular Things to Do in Gatlinburg
- Entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Ripley’s Aquarium
- Gatlinburg Space Needle
- Ober Gatlinburg
Click here to learn more about Gatlinburg, TN.
2. Pigeon Forge
If you’ve ever been to the Smoky Mountains, chances are you’ve been to Pigeon Forge, too. It’s home to Dollywood, the most popular amusement park in the area. The Pigeon Forge Parkway is also walkable, and it’s filled with hundreds of shops, restaurants and attractions to visit, too. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are both quickly growing, so every time you visit, there will be something new to see or do!
Popular Things to Do in Pigeon Forge
- Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country
- The Island in Pigeon Forge
- Titanic Museum
- Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede
- Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Show
Click here to learn more about Pigeon Forge, TN.
3. Sevierville
Sevierville is a small town that borders Pigeon Forge and many people overlook it because they think it’s Pigeon Forge. Sevierville is where you’ll find the popular Dolly Parton statue and the Sevier County Courthouse. This is actually the Smoky Mountain town where Dolly was born and raised!
Popular Things to Do in Sevierville
- Dolly Parton Statue
- Adventure Park Ziplines and Riding Stables
- Tennessee Museum of Aviation
- Rainforest Adventure Zoo
Click here to learn more about Sevierville, TN.
How did Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville get their names?
We’re sure you’ve probably visited all 3 of those towns, but do you know how they got their names?
4. Wears Valley
Wears Valley is a quiet community in the Smoky Mountains. Wears Valley got its name from a Revolutionary War veteran, Samuel Wear, who built a 
fort near the entrance to the valley – which is now Pigeon Forge. This community has basically built itself into a small town with its own attractions, hole-in-the-wall type of restaurants and shops. Wears Valley also has its own entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, even though it’s not an official entrance – it’s known as the “secret entrance to the national park.” It’s a great place to stay and visit when you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the larger towns like Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
Popular Things to Do in Wears Valley
- Entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster
- Goats on the Roof
Click here to learn more about Wears Valley, TN.
5. Pittman Center
Pittman Center is a small town in the Smoky Mountain area. There’s only a local population of about 500 people and the town is only about 6 square miles. It’s a beautiful place to visit if you want peace, quiet and mountain views.
Popular Things to Do in Pittman Center
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- Visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Pittman Center is just north of Greenbrier)
- Bent Creek Golf Course in nearby Gatlinburg
6. Townsend
Townsend is a very small Smoky Mountain town with a local population of only about 500 people. Townsend 
has one of the 3 official entrances to the national park, but it’s the least busy entrance. The Townsend area is known for being quiet and fairly low-key. Generally people who visit Townsend are looking to spend a lot of time outdoors, hiking, fishing, horseback riding and more. There are several inexpensive restaurants and businesses in the Townsend area as well as a lot of fun outdoor things to do.
Popular Things to Do in Townsend
- Entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center
- Smoky Mountain River Rat Tubing
- Tuckaleechee Caverns
To find out about all of the great things to do in all of these Smoky Mountain towns, click here to look at all of our favorite Smoky Mountain attractions.
