Free Things to Do in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

It’s easy to spend some serious cash in Gatlinburg; the city that serves as the “Gateway to the Smokies” is populated with amusement parks and museums and dotted with souvenir shops and enticing restaurants. However, the Tennessee town’s primary appeal lies in its proximity to the 500,000-acre Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which, much to the delight of budget travelers, is free to explore.

Whether you want to grab a backpack, a tent, and spend your low-cost holiday in the woods or you’re drawn to the lights and sights of downtown Gatlinburg, there’s a wallet-friendly option here for every type of traveler. Therefore, here’s our pick of the best free activities to enjoy in and around this charming city.

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

This popular 5.5-mile one-way driving trail is a free and accessible way to see the Smokies (provided you have your own car). You’ll slowly—due to the speed limit and the winding nature of the road—make your way around this paved loop road, which is, somewhat ironically, named after a fast-flowing mountain stream that curves through this part of the Smoky Mountains.

Throughout your drive, you’ll have opportunities to pull over to take hikes, such as the 5.4-mile trail to Rainbow Falls and back. On a sunny day, you’ll see the rainbows in the water that give the waterfall its name. For a shorter option, the hike to Grotto Falls is about 2.6 miles in total, yet just as picturesque.

As long as water levels are high enough, you can also catch waterfall action at Place of a Thousand Drips, near the end of the loop. Consequently, there’s an opportunity to appreciate the scenery from a nearby overlook or even from the car itself.

Ely’s Mill

Located at the end of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Ely’s Mill offers a peek at what agricultural life was like for those who lived in these mountains long ago. Built in 1925, it is still run by the family of its original owner, Old Man Ely, an attorney who constructed this place after his wife died and he wanted to flee city life.

A few small buildings are scattered throughout the site. Park in the ample lot and wander. First up, you’ll see the old mill. Although it’s not currently working, hopes are to restore the waterwheel in the future, and even if it isn’t turning, its picturesque setting by the creek is worth seeing. Most popular is the shop in the old mill building, stocked with locally made crafts.

Outbuildings showcase blacksmithing and other demonstrations, plus amenities such as bathrooms, which may be a welcome feature if you have spent a lot of time in the woods. For those who want to delve deeper into the history of Ely’s Mill, consider staying in one of the cabins available for overnight guests.

Mountain Farm Museum and Mingus Mill

Technically over the North Carolina border, about 30 miles from Gatlinburg inside Smoky Mountain National Park, Mountain Farm Museum and Mingus Mill feature a collection of historical buildings, some of which are over 100 years old.

Stroll down the walking trails, check out an apple orchard, smokehouse, and more. As is the case in much of the Smokies, there’s a chance to spot local wildlife here, including elk, salamanders, and black bears.

Cades Cove

Another popular stop in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cades Cove Loop Road is an 11-mile, one-way driving route. Historically, Cherokee and other Native Americans traversed Cades Cove to hunt deer, elk, and other wildlife long before it became a national park.

In the 1820s, white farmers established a settler community in Cades Cove. At its peak, nearly 700 people lived here, and it supported a post office, schools, and more. Today, visitors come to explore heritage homesteads from this period and to spot black bears, which are common in the area. Additionally, you’re likely to see wild turkeys, rabbits, river otters, elk, and woodchucks.

While it is best known as a driving loop, on Wednesday and Saturday mornings between May and September, the route is closed to cars allowing visitors to bicycle or walk (rental bikes are available). The visitor center is around the midpoint of the driving loop.

Parkway

The Parkway is the main thoroughfare through Gatlinburg and nearby Pigeon Forge. In downtown Gatlinburg, between Traffic Light 1 and Traffic Light 10 (about three miles long), the road becomes a walkable route that’s perfect for taking in the town’s unique charms.

Along the way, you’ll pass charming shops, including the delightful Village, which features fountains and landscaped grounds. Moreover, you’ll stroll past restaurants, neon attractions, and candy and fudge stalls. Officially, this route is called U.S. Highway 441, but everyone refers to it as The Parkway.

Great Smoky Mountains Arts and Crafts Community

Basket-making, weaving, ceramics, and other arts are integral to the mountain traditions in the Smokies. Meet the artists behind these works and see their creations when you visit their studios and galleries in the Great Smoky Mountains Arts and Crafts Community. The 8-mile loop road is accessible by car, or you can take advantage of the free Gatlinburg Trolley.

With over 100 artists working along the loop, the atmosphere is more secluded than congested. Some studios are grouped in collectives; others operate in freestanding buildings. It’s a good idea to check individual artists’ schedules for classes and workshops.

Gatlinburg Trolley

The combination of Gatlinburg’s popularity and its remote location means that many visitors to this mountain getaway travel by car, which often creates traffic backups on the narrow roads.

Fortunately, there’s a free alternative to sitting in your car. The Gatlinburg Trolley whisks passengers around town on three different routes (blue, purple, and yellow), covering downtown and the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community. This experience provides a free tour of the city, using one of the city’s 20 charming trolley cars.

Distilleries

Gatlinburg is home to several moonshine-makers and wineries. Their establishments are more commercial than the romantic notion of “moonshine shacks” that might come to mind, yet if tasting moonshine or wine interests you, there are various free or low-cost options for sampling. Try Sugarland Cellars or the large Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine, which is one of the most popular moonshine distilleries in the country, to get started.

City Parks

Gatlinburg has three delightful city parks: Mynatt Park, Mills Park, and Herbert Holt Park. Each park offers its unique amenities such as a Storywalk Trail and disc golf at Mills, as well as fishing for kids at Herbert Holt. Nevertheless, they all share the captivating topography of the Smokies with scenic views and lush, green landscapes, as well as fewer crowds than you’ll find in the national park, and all three are free. Children don’t even need a fishing license to cast a line.