Is it cheaper to stay and Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge or Sevierville?

Q: Which is better for couples Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge?

If youre planning a great date night dinner or just want to grab a bite at one of the best steakhouses, Gatlinburg makes a better option for high-end food. Pigeon Forge offers great dining options as well. In town, youll find a few more family friendly options too.

Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are two of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States. Although they are located right next to each other, each city provides a totally unique experience for visitors to East Tennessee. Many people pit Pigeon Forge vs Gatlinburg, but both cities are great options to visit! We know you just want to pick the best spot for you. To help you decide which Smoky Mountain city is right for you, we’ve put together a guide about what you can expect when you stay at our Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge cabins.

Table of Contents Show

Downtown Gatlinburg: Walkable and Charming
The Pigeon Forge Parkway: Overflowing With Fantastic Entertainment
Gatlinburg: Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Pigeon Forge: Home to Dollywood
Pigeon Forge vs Gatlinburg
How Far is Pigeon Forge from Gatlinburg?
1. Affordable Rates
2. Fewer Crowds and Traffic Congestion
3. Attractions and Restaurants Within Walking Distance
4. Spacious Hotel Rooms
Is it better to stay in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg?
Which is better for couples Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge?
How much does it cost to stay in a cabin in Gatlinburg?
What's the difference between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg?

Downtown Gatlinburg: Walkable and Charming

The city of Gatlinburg can feel like a quaint German town transplanted in Tennessee. Surrounded by the Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg is home to a thriving arts and crafts community, one of the area’s only ski resorts, and a charming downtown area. Not bad for a city that is only two miles long by five miles wide!

Staying in a cabin close to downtown Gatlinburg is ideal for vacationers who like to walk around and explore. Once you park you car in one of the numerous lots in Gatlinburg’s city center, you’ll be able to spend hours checking out all the shops, restaurants, and attractions packed into this compact city. During the summer and winter months, visitors will frequently be serenaded by talented musicians as part of Gatlinburg’s annual Tunes and Tales festival.

The Pigeon Forge Parkway: Overflowing With Fantastic Entertainment

In 1907, Pigeon Forge had just 154 residents. Today, millions of people flock to a city that has become a hub of quality family entertainment in the South. Unlike Gatlinburg, which has an easily walkable downtown, Pigeon Forge is best explored by motor vehicle. The centerpiece of this vacation destination is the Parkway.

Along the Parkway (part of Highway 411), visitors will encounter an endless parade of attractions, including dinner theaters, museums, wineries, and so much more. Your children will be delighted when they see an enormous replica of the Titanic, King Kong climbing the Empire State Building at the Hollywood Wax Museum, the upside down house WonderWorks attraction, and a huge ferris wheel at The Island.

Gatlinburg: Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Gatlinburg boasts some of the main entrances into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Smokies is the most visited national park in the United States because there’s no entrance fee! When you stay in Gatlinburg, you’ll be minutes away from over 500,000 acres of unspoiled Appalachian wilderness. If you love spending time hiking, fishing, or horseback riding, a Gatlinburg based vacation might be right for you.

Pigeon Forge: Home to Dollywood

Pigeon Forge is home to the South’s favorite theme park! Dollywood is the brainchild of music superstar Dolly Parton, a Sevier County native who has given so much back to her community. At Dollywood, guests will enjoy awesome rides, musical shows, and seasonal festivals that bring talented performers from all around the world right to Pigeon Forge. During the summer, vacationers can visit Dollywood’s Splash Country for some wet and wild water park fun.

Pigeon Forge vs Gatlinburg

Staying in Gatlinburg is best for people who love:

A small town feel with plenty of entertainment
Walking around and exploring
Being close to the national park

Staying in Pigeon Forge is best for people who love:

Fantastic family entertainment
Driving to attractions and taking in the sights
Being close to Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country

How Far is Pigeon Forge from Gatlinburg?

While you may choose to stay in one city over the other, that doesn’t mean you can’t visit both! Pigeon Forge is just 8.2 miles away from Gatlinburg, and it is a 20-minute drive, making it easy to visit either city!

If you’re still not sure which city to vacation in, don’t worry! Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are just 20 minutes away from each other, so it’s easy to enjoy the best of both worlds. Look through our Smoky Mountain cabins to find the best one for your next trip!

When planning your vacation to the Great Smoky Mountains, avoid the crowds of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg with a stay at the Oak Tree Lodge! Our hotel in Sevierville TN is situated in a peaceful area where you can enjoy a comfortable night of sleep while still being close to the fun attractions of the Smokies! Here are the top 4 reasons why staying in our hotel in Sevierville TN is better than staying in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg:

1. Affordable Rates

There is no need to spend a fortune when staying overnight in the Great Smoky Mountains! The Oak Tree Lodge is delighted to offer affordable rates to our guests, which includes perks such as a complimentary daily breakfast, free wireless internet access and free attraction ticket passes! As if that wasn’t enough, we also feature several awesome Sevierville hotel specials throughout the year where you can take advantage of special discounted rates!

2. Fewer Crowds and Traffic Congestion

One of the fantastic benefits about staying at our hotel in Sevierville TN is that you can avoid the heavy crowds and traffic congestion of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg! If you have experienced the Pigeon Forge Parkway during peak periods, you know that it can be backed up for miles. This is no way to spend your vacation, so enjoy staying at the Oak Tree Lodge where you won’t have to deal with traffic headaches! If you do decide to head down to Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg, we suggest taking a left out of hotel, turning right onto Collier Drive, and right again on Veterans Boulevard to avoid some of the worst traffic congestion.

3. Attractions and Restaurants Within Walking Distance

When you stay at the Oak Tree Lodge in Sevierville, you are lucky enough to be within walking distance to some of the best attractions and restaurants in the Smokies! Our hotel is situated right next door to the Adventure Park Ziplines and Five Oaks Riding Stables for hours of exciting entertainment. After working up an appetite, head just down the street to some of the most tasty restaurants in town, including Outback Steakhouse, Longhorn Steakhouse and Joe’s Crab Shack!

4. Spacious Hotel Rooms

Don’t settle for a cramped hotel room in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg when you can enjoy the spacious hotel rooms at the Oak Tree Lodge! Our beautiful rooms feature convenient amenities such as a refrigerator and microwave, as well as private balconies to relax among the fresh mountain air. If you are celebrating an anniversary, birthday or other special occasion, you can even stay in one of our romantic Jacuzzi suites with a fireplace! From our spacious standard rooms, to our family suite with a living room and a full kitchen, we have just what you need for a wonderful vacation to the Smokies!

Check out all of the rooms at our hotel in Sevierville TN today to find out for yourself why staying in Sevierville is so much better than staying in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg! We hope to see you soon at the Oak Tree Lodge!

Is it better to stay in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg?

All in all, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are both incredible spots to visit. If you're looking to experience the true tourist experience of the Smoky Mountains, you'll want to visit Gatlinburg. If you're looking for an equally thrilling experience, but a little away from the crowds, Pigeon Forge is your answer.

Which is better for couples Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge?

If you're planning a great date night dinner or just want to grab a bite at one of the best steakhouses, Gatlinburg makes a better option for high-end food. Pigeon Forge offers great dining options as well. In town, you'll find a few more family friendly options too.

How much does it cost to stay in a cabin in Gatlinburg?

How much does it typically cost to stay in a cabin in Gatlinburg? The average cost for a holiday cabin in Gatlinburg is $307.

What's the difference between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg?

Overall, Gatlinburg is more compact than Pigeon Forge, which creates a more pedestrian friendly area. There are some downsides to being in a smaller valley. Since there's not much open space or alternative routes, this mountain town tends to get more crowded than Pigeon Forge.