Pigeon forge/ Gatlinburg

You can walk around Gatlinburg and see just about everything. However, if you want to check out Smokey mountains park, get a car for a day and drive it. Quite beautiful!

Gatlinburg is a walking town... It has a slow hill to go down walking but of course you to go up hill to get back haha... Have to park in a parking lot for a fee haha... There is only one main drag and everyone walks up and down both sides of the street...

Pigeon Forge is much larger and everything has a parking spot close by...

We always camp out inside the SMOKY Natl Park at ELKMONT camp and most of the time just go down to the small town of TOWNSEND for groceries and things...

Both Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge is way too busy for us haha... COLEMAN STORE does have a corner in the local MALL at Pigeon Forge that we like to go to...

Have never used the trolley service...

People sure likes to walk up and down the streets at Gatlinburg. We have gone through there at 2-3AM in the morning and they are still doing it haha...

We found BENNETs BBQ place in Gatlinburg had the best self serve breakfast bar. Its on the Natl Park side so not all the crowded...

All of our roads go through Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge - perfect spot for us to spend a couple of nights in our few long distance travel outings...

Roy Ken

Personally, we wouldn't want to do the area without a car. Gatlinburg is a walking town, but Pigeon Forge is quite spread out, and getting into the scenic areas of the mountains definitely takes a car. I'd suggest you'd be missing a lot by trying to limit your transportation.

Pigeon Forge - cheesy road side attractions, chain motels, and every chain restaurant you can think of. It makes the Wisconsin Dells look classy.

Gatlinburg - As said you can easily walk the length of Gatlinburg. It's interesting mix of cheesy attractions, unique shops, locally owned restaurants, and moon shine tasting. Also far more attractive looking than the 6 lane boulevard through PF. Lots of little allys and walkways with shops behind the main drag. There is a decent brewpub (Smoky Mountain Brewery) on the west end of town.

If you take a car to Gatlinburg there is a by-the-hour city owned parking structure on the east end of town. Far cheaper to park there then in one of the commercial lots on the middle of the strip. Not to mention the traffic through there can get really heavy.

Trolly without a doubt.

We stayed, if I remember at the River Edge campground in Pigeon Forge. We took the trolley one time and hated it. No matter how many people is on it, they stop at every stop. Took forever to get back to campground, and the kids were done. I would walk Gatlinburg, much easier and you will see more things other than tail lights.

Campfire Time wrote:
Pigeon Forge - cheesy road side attractions, chain motels, and every chain restaurant you can think of. It makes the Wisconsin Dells look classy.

X10!

We like Creekside RV Campground in Pigeon Forge. It is our Wares Valley Road. We will be there this weekend. To see everything you do need a car.

I live outside of Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge and a car is a definite need to get into the park and explore the entire area!

Wow!! Sounds like my town. Branson. Guess the best thing is to sit in the smokey mountain brew pub or a moonshine tavern. Thanks. I got it figured out.