Why Should Your Family Visit the Smokies in the Winter?

Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and the Smoky Mountains are very popular vacation destinations for families during the summer and holiday seasons, but are there perks for visiting during the somewhat “off-season”? Absolutely! The Smokies in the winter offers tons of fun things to do with your family, and you’ll most likely encounter less traffic too. Keep reading to find out why you should plan a winter vacation!

Affordable Accommodations

Renting a condo or cabin in the Smoky Mountains is already quite affordable, especially when you take advantage of cabin deals and special offers, but you can find even lower rates in the off-season. No matter what size cabin you need, there are plenty of beautiful rentals to choose from, with mountain views, indoor pools, game rooms, hot tubs, and more! Plus, many cabin rental companies offer free attraction tickets, not to mention our own selection of Smoky Mountain coupons, so you can save even more money on your vacation. 

Less Crowded

One of the best things about the Smokies in the winter is less traffic and crowds, especially once the holidays have passed. You may notice shorter wait times for restaurants and fewer crowds along popular trailheads in the national park such as Laurel Falls. Winter is a great time to cross off a few things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park that may be on your bucket list, like hiking to Mount LeConte or the Mount Cammerer Fire Tower or taking the time to explore one of the Smoky Mountain visitor centers.

Seasonal Activities 

If you’re planning a holiday getaway to the Smokies, you’ll find plenty of festive ways to celebrate the season, from Christmas dinner shows to SkyPark’s Lights Over Gatlinburg event. While Christmas festivals like Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas and Anakeesta’s Enchanted Christmas wrap up the first week of January, there are still plenty of Smoky Mountain winter activities to enjoy, such as:

• Touring the Winterfest light displays
• Winter sports at Ober Mountain
• Outdoor snow tubing at Rowdy Bear’s Smoky Mountain SnowPark
• Indoor snow tubing at Pigeon Forge Snow

Additionally, SkyLand Ranch in Sevierville runs the Festival of Lights event until the end of January, so don’t miss the chance to experience their incredible holiday lights! The Island in Pigeon Forge is another great place to experience beautiful lights, exciting rides, unique shops, and delicious food and drinks. 

Snow Covered Mountains

Whether you admire the snow-capped mountains from the comfort of your cabin rental or high above in the national park, at the Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook, the Gatlinburg SkyBridge, or on the Ober Aerial Tramway, there’s nothing more beautiful than snow in the Smokies! A couple more of the best places to see snow in the Smoky Mountains include the Cades Cove and the Alum Cave Trail. Before you head out to explore, be sure to check for seasonal road closures and pay attention to what’s open and closed in the national park during the winter!

We hope this has convinced you to visit the Smokies in the winter! Stay up to date on the latest Smoky Mountain weather information and road conditions so you can be prepared for your winter vacation.