Pigeon Forge
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ULTIMATE Guide to Things to Do in Pigeon Forge TN | Attractions, Restaurants, & Lodging

Do you want to visit the Great Smoky Mountains? Whether you’re planning a trip for the first time or looking for the newest things to do in Pigeon Forge, we have you covered.

Pigeon Forge Tennessee, dazzles with a vibrant energy between Sevierville and Gatlinburg. These three cities form a promenade to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Imagine a place that’s a little bit Las Vegas, a dash of Branson Missouri, and a lot of Appalachian tradition — that’s Pigeon Forge.

The best shows of the Smokies are waiting on the Pigeon Forge Parkway among a kaleidoscope of family fun and “loosen-your-belt” restaurants. The only thing higher than the stacks of breakfast flapjacks are the Smokies themselves. Plus, it’s the home of Dollywood, a theme park that celebrates everything Dolly Parton.

So, add these things to do in Pigeon Forge to your itinerary to experience why this mountain town is such a popular destination.

 Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge I Photo Credit: Kevin Ruck / Shutterstock

Getting to Know Pigeon Forge Tennessee

Before Pigeon Forge became a haven for roller coasters and cinnamon bread, it was a fertile hunting ground for the Cherokee people. They followed the Indian Gap Trail through these valleys, a path later used by European settlers.

In the 1740s, Colonel Samuel Wear became one of the first permanent European residents and built a fort for protection against potential conflicts with the Cherokee. Soon, Mordecai Lewis arrived, drawn by a land grant along the Little Pigeon River. His son-in-law, Isaac Love, would forever change the landscape in 1817.

Love established an iron forge by the river, its rhythmic clang echoing through the mountains. The area, already named for the flocks of passenger pigeons that dotted the skies, adopted the name “Pigeon Forge,” a testament to nature’s abundance and human ingenuity.

From humble beginnings as a hunting ground and forge, Pigeon Forge blossomed into a bustling town. When Great Smoky Mountain National Park was designated in the 1930s, the tourism corridor sprung to life with Pigeon Forge center stage.

How Many People Visit the Smokies?

It can be hard to wrap your head around the numbers if you haven’t been here before. In 2022, nearly 13 million people visited the national park — almost three times more than Grand Canyon visitors — while 10 million people visited Pigeon Forge. Those tourists spent $2.1 billion throughout the region.

Pigeon Forge Weather & Seasons

Each season brings a new filter to Pigeon Forge. As you pack for your trip, remember that many activities are geared toward being outside.

Blooming Springs

The season of renewal brings highs climbing to 60 degrees Fahrenheit by April and lows around 40 degrees. Warm, drizzly days (4 to 5 inches a month) alternate with sunshine. Wildflowers bloom from late March through May.

Sunny Summers

By June, the humidity makes its presence known — sun-kissed days peak at 82 degrees, with nights dipping to 64 degrees. Humidity rises during this time, averaging 70%, while afternoon thunderstorms can rumble (5 to 6 inches a month). You’ll be thankful for all the water parks and swimming holes when the humidity peaks in July and August. Pack clothing that can handle a lot of sweat.

Colorful Falls

Foliage explodes in a riot of orange, red, and gold during the fall. Mild days average 68-degree highs and 48-degree lows. Rain eases to 4 inches a month, making for picture-perfect hikes. With abundant fall festivals, plan to spend a lot of time outside. The scenic drives should be snow-free well into December.

Snowy Winters

Plan for crisp temperatures during the winter, averaging 38-degree highs and 22-degree lows. Snow isn’t frequent, but light flurries can dust the landscape in December and January. Rain is more common, bringing around 4 inches a month. Since most activities are geared toward the outdoors, bring layers and comfortable walking shoes.

National Park: Since the Smokies are higher, roads are more prone to winter weather. Always check the park conditions before you go.

Christmas at Dollywood - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Christmas at Dollywood | photo via @christyleigha

Outdoor Things to Do in Pigeon Forge TN

We’ve only scratched the surface of things to do in Pigeon Forge, and Dollywood leaves big…shoes to fill.

Dollywood Theme Park, Water Park, & More

You could make your whole Smoky Mountains getaway out of Dollywood because there’s so much to see! The Dollywood brand offers more than just a theme park. I was a little confused on my first trip, so let me break it down for you.

Dollywood Theme Park

This 160-acre amusement mecca is good old-fashioned family fun. Your entrance ticket gets you onto all the rides, into all the shows, and into the annual park festivals throughout spring, summer, and fall. And as of 2024, explore The Dolly Parton Experience, an immersive museum unlike anything else you’ve seen.

Keep in mind that you’ll pay for food, souvenirs, and add-ons — like time-saver passes for the rides. Also, Dollywood closes in from January through early March.

Dollywood’s Splash Country

Whether you want your water rides fast and furious or lazy and luxurious, Dollywood’s Splash Country is next to the theme park. It’s open from May through September. Traditional lounge chairs are mixed with cabana retreats, and there are water activities for even the youngest kids.

Annual Festivals & Events

Each season brings a new festival, and Dollywood knows how to celebrate a theme. These annual events bring smiles to everyone’s faces:

  • I Will Always Love You Music Festival in March and April
  • Flower & Food Festival from April to June
  • Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration from June to August
  • Harvest Festivals in September and October
  • Smoky Mountain Christmas from early November through early January

Dollywood Resorts

If Dollywood is the main draw for you, there are many benefits to staying at the nearby resorts. Two options are under the brand’s umbrella. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa offers upscale Southern hospitality that doesn’t feel snooty.

The newest addition to the Dollywood family is HeartSong Lodge & Resort, which opened in late 2023. You’ll find that it has a more rustic, Appalachian outdoor vibe.

The Island

You’ll see The Island from miles away with the 200-foot-tall Great Smoky Mountain Wheel awaiting your arrival. While it’s not really an island, it’s surrounded by Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville restaurants and hotels. You’ll find restaurants, thrill rides, shopping, and arcades here.

TIP: This area is dog-friendly (to an extent).

Outdoor Gravity Park

This one-of-a-kind experience centers around Zorbing, which is when you climb inside a giant inflatable ball called a “zorb” and then roll down a hill! (It looks like a giant hamster wheel.) You can choose to zorb 1,000 feet downhill or try to outrun a zorb chasing you. Water zorbing is available throughout the year, including especially warm water in the winter.

Rowdy Bear’s Smoky Mountain Snowpark

Spring, summer, or winter — it doesn’t matter at the Smoky Mountain Snowpark! This outdoor slide and glide park offers snow tubing or water slides, depending on the season. You can ride the country’s first Alpine Flyer (think ski lift/roller coaster combo) — a popular mountain coaster that allows you to control the speed, like a go-kart on a roller coaster track. It’s a rowdy good time for all!

Bluff Mountain Adventures

When you want to escape the glitzy Parkway, head to Bluff Mountain Adventures to get a little dirty. Guided ATV tours take you through the heart of Smoky Mountain beauty for about 90 minutes.

Smoky Mountain Ziplines

While you’ll find many zip line options in the Smokies, this one stands out with its sheer size. Seven zip lines cover 4,200 feet of cable through a forest canopy. Rides average two hours with plenty of treetop platform stops along the way. The highest points are 800 feet above ground, but you should expect at least a 150-foot drop. Guides help you every stretch of the ride.

Goats on the Roof

This eclectic attraction is a little off the beaten path and well worth the side trip. The Goat Coaster rolls day and night, while gem mining and mini-golf activities offer a slower pace. Animated dinosaurs are the newest addition, giving the goats a run for their feed. Of course, as the name suggests, there are goats on the roof, and you can give them handfuls of grub.

Titanic Christmas and Winter Celebration - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Titanic Museum | photo via @urkwsince1988

Indoor Things to Do in Pigeon Forge TN

Pigeon Forge has a slew of museums in the Smoky Mountain tourism corridor if you’re looking for indoor activities. Or, you could always go snow tubing indoors.

Titanic Museum Attraction

Cue Celine Dion for a quick tour of the Titanic Museum. As soon as you walk in, you’re given a boarding pass with the name and class of a real Titanic passenger. You’ll explore interactive exhibits, learn the truth about Titanic myths, and take an underwater tour of the wreckage. Before you leave, you’ll find out if you survived the ship sinking.

NOTE: Exhibits are updated throughout the year, and reservations are strongly recommended.

Hollywood Wax Museum Entertainment Center

Like most things to do in Pigeon Forge Tennessee, this is much more than a famous wax museum. For starters, explore the wax figure icons and trending celebrities in a selfie showcase. Those who purchase an all-access pass can also visit the Castle of Chaos, a five-dimensional ride. Then, save a princess in Hannah’s Maze of Mirrors, followed by a ghostly jaunt through Outbreak: Dread the Undead.

Pigeon Forge Snow

While the only ski resort in the Smokies is in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge found a way to offer a ski attraction — INSIDE! Pigeon Forge Snow calls itself “America’s First Indoor Snow Park.” Snow is made daily for the row of tubing slides, but the temperature inside is still warm enough that you won’t need a winter coat.

MagiQuest

Another entertainment center here puts a magic wand and a clue book in your hands to challenge your mind. Kids of all ages will maneuver through castles, forests, and dungeons to fight a dragon and the Goblin King.

NOTE: This location has an arcade, a mini-golf course, and a mirror maze too.

Alcatraz East Crime Museum

Here’s an offer that you can’t refuse. Alcatraz East brings the most prolific criminals face to face with the lawmen who brought them down. From the Old West to the mafia’s reign to modern serial killers — it’s all on display with rotating exhibits to keep the experience going. This is a must-see for any true crime fanatic.

WonderWorks

You know you’re at the right place when you see a white building with massive columns upside down. It only gets more interesting from there. You can stand inside a hurricane, navigate a glowing ropes course, or ride a virtual roller coaster through a dramatic landscape. Get ready for a trip to space or space out in the optical illusion art galley.

Pigeon Forge TN Performances & Shows

When you want to see a show in the Smokies, Pigeon Forge is the place to be. Many shows are dinner theaters with the ticket covering the show and meals.

Dolly Parton’s Stampede

When Dolly stamps her name on something, you know it’s bound to be good. The show is part circus and part rodeo and four courses of fun. Stadium seating makes every seat a great spot, and every season brings a themed show. Get there early to spend some time mingling with the horses at the stables.

The Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud

It’s a good thing that this show is so entertaining because it’s hard to turn away from the all-you-can-eat dinner buffet. The meal is served family-style while the Hatfields and McCoys continue their ongoing battle. Don’t worry about what time of year you visit because these families are always fighting on stage about something.

Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud

There’s another feud brewing over in Paula Deen’s camp. Get ready for an amphitheater of amped-up lumberjacks ready to compete for your cheers. Globally-renowned lumberjacks compete in nearly a dozen events while onlookers get rowdy. You’ll get a Southern “Supper” but not to the point where it distracts from this high-energy performance.

NOTE: The theater is open year-round — rain, shine, snow or sleet. The seats are in climate control, but you’ll want to bring proper outdoor garb just in case.

The Comedy Barn

This venue doesn’t serve dinner, but you’ll be laughing too hard to swallow anyway. A mix of country, calamity, circus acts, and cute dogs will have you snort-laughing. Like other shows, the performance changes with the season.

The Old Mill Restaurant - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
The Old Mill Restaurant | photo via @stephenschimpf

Restaurants in Pigeon Forge Tennessee

You won’t go home hungry after a stay in Pigeon Forge with numerous restaurants offering bulky breakfasts, late-night snacks, and all the sweets and treats in between that you can imagine.

Breakfast Spots

Big stacks of pancakes, super-sized skillets, and cinnamon rolls as big as your head await in Pigeon Forge, making getting up early well worth it. Just be prepared for the “after church” crowds on Sundays.

  • Reagan’s House Of Pancakes feeds every morning palate with specialty dishes and a full breakfast buffet. I still dream about the banana’s foster French toast. This place is so popular that two locations are within 2 miles of each other.
  • Smoky’s Pancake Cabin and Smoky Mountain Pancake House are separate locations less than a half-mile apart but under the same ownership, so you know they both pack a sweet stack.
  • Brick & Spoon brings a more sophisticated breakfast bounty with a variety of Benedicts, beignets, and spices of cajun spirit throughout the menu.
  • With the same appeal as The Comedy Barn next door, you’ll giggle through your grits at the Frizzle Chicken Cafe. It claims to be the best place for kids, and with dancing animatronic chickens, who are we to argue?

All-Day Dining Spots

One of the crowd favorites for any time of day, The Old Mill serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Another bonus is the circle of shops and atmosphere around this charming restaurant. Housed in an 1830 grist mill, you can stay a while and explore.

Paula Deen brings her special recipes to a family-style service restaurant on The Island in Pigeon Forge. Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen menu is simple — choose two to four main dishes with up to four sides. The food keeps coming, the drinks are bottomless, and everyone gets their own choice of dessert.

Puckett’s is a local tradition dating back to the 1950s when it started as a grocery store. Three meals a day will feed any appetite. It serves the classic Southern “Meat and Three,” which means that you get one meat and three sides, plus other specific dishes.

Barbecue Joints

When you want to enter the world of BBQ wars, enjoy one of these offerings of smoked delight, serving styles from Eastern Carolina to Kansas City:

Sweet Treats

Grab some homemade fudge at The Fudgery on The Island. There’s also a location at the Sevierville Tanger Outlet Mall. When you want some cinnamon roll with your icing, don’t miss the sweet delights at Cinnaholic.

NOTE: While many restaurants serve a lot of fried food, most will accommodate special requests and food restrictions if you call in advance. That goes for the shows with meals too.

Patio Dining

Pigeon Forge Hotels & Cabins

We mentioned some of the Dollywood resorts earlier, but there are so many other lodging options in Pigeon Forge Tennessee.

Hotels

The Arbors at Island Landing Hotel & Suites is right off the Parkway near The Island with its back to the Little Pigeon River. Rooms range from basic to “Sunday Best” with accommodations for up to 12 people. A breakfast buffet is available for a small fee.

At Country Cascades Waterpark Resort, you’ll find an entertaining array of activities focused on bringing the outdoors indoors. The water park is open from March through October. Look for specialty rooms like the treehouse suite with bunk beds for the kids or the king soaker suite with a giant tub.

You’ll be in a central location to The Island when you stay at Margaritaville Island Inn. I’ve stayed here twice, and Jimmy Buffett’s spirit is everywhere here. You’ll feel like you’re on a beach vacation no matter the time of year. Also, you get great access to Teaster Lane, which avoids the Parkway traffic.

Cabins

When looking for a Smokies cabin, you should always ask about the road to the cabin and the driveway — is it steep, paved, or one lane? Sometimes, a great cabin comes with white-knuckled driving, especially in the winter.

Baby Bear Bungalow

This cabin is just right for small families or couples, with a one-bedroom layout that sleeps four. Enjoy an arcade game inside, or sit on the rocking chairs outside before a night by the fireplace. You’re just two minutes from the Parkway and 1 mile from Dollywood.

A Pine Choice

Enjoy a brand new cabin with two bedrooms and 1.5 baths with a hot tub outside on the deck. No detail has been missed — from the large stone fireplace to the granite countertops to the shuffleboard table. The location feels remote, but you’re close to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge on the Parkway.

Mountain View Lodge

When the view matters, look no further than Mountain View Lodge. We absolutely love that the owners had the wherewithal to put the hot tub on a screened porch to keep the bugs out in summer. We’re sure that there are two bedrooms, two baths, a pool table, and giant stone fireplaces, but we can’t stop looking at photos of the view.

Pigeon Forge vs Gatlingburg vs Sevierville

Once you’re in the Smokies, it’s hard to tell where one town begins and another one ends. However, there are certain distinctions between each one:

  1. Pigeon Forge: The center of it all! The bulk of shows, entertainment, and fan-favorite Dollywood are all here.
  2. Gatlinburg: The biggest of the big attractions are here, right at the entrance to Smoky Mountains National Park.
  3. Sevierville: Just north of Pigeon Forge in the Smokies foothills, this city is blossoming with activities while still holding onto its country charm. Plus, it’s the birthplace of Dolly Parton.

Each location has its pros and cons, but the beauty is that each one is just minutes from the others.

The Island in Pigeon Forge - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
The Island in Pigeon Forge | photo via @margaritavilleislandhotel

FAQs About Pigeon Forge Tennessee

Is visiting Pigeon Forge Tennessee affordable?

With so many free activities, even just walking around Pigeon Forge Tennessee is entertaining. There’s an itinerary for every budget. Ticket discounts or free breakfasts may be offered with your hotel reservation.

How many days do I need to spend in Pigeon Forge Tennessee?

You’ll need at least two days to explore a variety of options comfortably, but tourism numbers show the average stay was anywhere from three days in the winter to four days in the summer. If you plan on visiting Dollywood and hiking the national park, each one will take one full day.

Do I need a car in Pigeon Forge Tennessee?

Ideally, yes. With a car in Pigeon Forge TN, you’ll be able to explore the mountains and neighboring towns without getting too tired. Shuttles are available to help you get around, though.

Discover All that Pigeon Forge & the Smokies Have to Offer

Pigeon Forge Tennessee brings a sensory experience unlike anything you’ve seen before. As someone who has lived near Branson, Las Vegas, and Disney World, I can tell you that Pigeon Forge and the Smokies’ tourist corridor truly stand out from the crowd with its special flair of Appalachia.

If you’re planning to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park while you’re here, be aware that entrance is free, but parking for more than 15 minutes will require a reservation.

Yeah, there’s a lot of traffic, but people here are kind, and you’ll experience the best of Southern hospitality at every turn!

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