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I am planning a road trip to the Gatlinburg area in May. I would like to stay in a nice cabin in the mountains for either 4 or 5 nights. I prefer to take the C8 but I am concerned that with the steep inclines this could be a problem. Does anybody have any recommendations for great cabins that are easy to drive up to? Also what other recommendations are out there for things to see and places to eat in the area? Thanks in advance, I sure appreciate it. Sam
Go the the Cherokee Grill in Gatlinburg and order the Prosperity Steak! I’ve had many high end steaks…anything from St Elmo’s in Indy, to Ruth’s Chris, to several great steaks in TX at local eateries but the Prosperity Steak in Gatlinburg is my favorite! It’s not even expensive!
…when I’m in the area and feel Mexican, No Way Jose is a fun Mexican restaurant…
1) Climb Works Zip Line, an incredible zip line experience
2) Blue Ridge Parkway-87 miles toward Asheville
3) Caves like Tuckaleechee and others
4) Good hiking trails as close as in the middle of town, very good nature driving trail in town too
5) Smoky Mountain Knife Works, a HUGE knife store and do yourself a favor and visit the bottom floor where dinosaurs to Celtic armament are for sale
Go the the Cherokee Grill in Gatlinburg and order the Prosperity Steak! I’ve had many high end steaks…anything from St Elmo’s in Indy, to Ruth’s Chris, to several great steaks in TX at local eateries but the Prosperity Steak in Gatlinburg is my favorite! It’s not even expensive!
…when I’m in the area and feel Mexican, No Way Jose is a fun Mexican restaurant…
Cherokee Grill = Best steak I've ever had in my life, which is many. Incredible.
Lots of good places to eat in Gatlinburg and even better places to drive that C8 in warmer months. Head to the Sugarland parking area, take a right and head to Townsend. It’s a great drive and you can hit the Foothills parkway after that and hit the Dragons Tail.
It is a great area to visit. We generally stay in the Pigeon Forge or Sevierville area and rent our place(s) through VRBO. We just like being closer to Pigeon Forge for the restaurants and entertainment. All great areas.
When you contact the property owner/manager, ask about parking and confirm it is on a paved road and you will be fine. They are used to this question. Also in many of the pictures of the property you can see pictures of the parking. For us we also throw in taking a trailer for either the Harley's or the Corvette so that is also a question for us. Has never been an issue.
I would also suggest stopping by the Harley Davidson dealership and pick up a riding map. They will give you ideas of the best places to drive.
This was our fall run last year.... When running the Dragon, keep track of your time you go through so it is easier to find your pictures that evening on the photographers sites.
Don't be afraid to drive there. The roads are great and you will enjoy the Tail of the Dragon. I have stayed in nearby towns to avoid the traffic congestion that happens on the main drag between Sevierville and Gatlinburg.
I got hit head on while on a motorcycle by another motorcycle that went left of center…. A LOT while on the dragon with a group of 7 Harleys. That accident is how I ended up with a corvette, but enough about me. I love staying up in the cabins but I haven’t taken the vette because where I stay there’s no way it would make it. There are some that are low and closer to Gatlinburg or Pigeon forge. I’ve used American patriot getaways and have had great luck with them. I highly recommend a secluded cabin but would definitely ask the rental company or person about roads access before renting. There are a lot of cabins right between both towns and the lower portion of the roads should be ok. Some of the driveways are steep though. Good luck on your search! https://patriotgetaways.com
make sure when your booking a cabin you ask them if their car/bike friendly and ask for driveway pictures. On one of our trips in 2020 one of the guys in the group we went with didnt understand this and booked a cabin with a 45 degree slope driveway off the road which was also a 45 degree incline. It made it almost impossible to get the cars in and out, the first day we had to get 2x4s and finagle everything up, once we realized that wasn't going to work we ended up finding a place to park the cars and shuttled everyone in the 2 trucks... It was a bit of a nightmare. I personally would recommend something in wears Valley off of one of the mountains. Plenty of nice cabins that you dont have to climb a cliff for.
Like the others have said, def hit the Dragon and Foothill Parkway. Cherahola and Moonshiner 28 are also great drives. Just be super aware of what your doing and dont cross the double yellow. Tons of motorcycle traffic on the weekends. If you go to the Dragon make sure you check out Tapaco Lodge and get the Trout Tacos.... amazing.
My last drive through there I did almost 700 miles in the mountains. Devils Triangle, Tail of the Dragon, Cherohala, Moonshiner 28, Wayah Twister... You can literally drive all day and never get bored... Probably some of the best driving roads in the country.
Also ProTip: if you buy photos from Killboy of your car you get an 80% discount if you sign up for his patreon.
Last edited by StayinStock; 01-22-2024 at 07:34 AM.
I think everyone has covered this pretty well for you. We also did a trip to Gatlinburg, TN and stayed at a cabin at the top of one of the mountains in Gatlinburg and the C5 had no issues getting up there or with any of the roads in the area. Definitely take the C8 and take a trip down the Dragon. I would recommend going to the Dragon mid-week around 10 or 11 am. That's what we did and very little traffic during that time.
I had to do a double take. I thought I was on a RV forum at first.
I love the Smokies from cades cove to Cherokee. i went to GB once, only just because, and thought I was on I-Drive in Orlando, only it was even worse!
Driving the Smokies in a C8 is on my list It includes the BR Pkwy and the Dragon! I'd just never go within 30 miles of GB for anything!
Yeah worth noting Gatlinburg is kind of a nightmare to park in. Pigeon Forge offers most of what Gatlinburg has without the Congestion... on the days we venture that direction we usually leave the cars at the cabin and pile in the truck. Theres like 2 or 3 pay to park areas but their extremely tight and over crowded.
Pigeon Forge is a sad tourist trap. Drive thru only.
Curious why you would say that? It is FULL of restaurants, shows, and entertainment of every type. Then throw in the scenery (Both natural and human) and you have a total package. I will agree on a busy weekends the traffic is heavy and cumbersome, but that is when you do your drives outside the area. Too each their own, but to say it is garbage is truly an opinion most of us would not agree with.
Curious why you would say that? It is FULL of restaurants, shows, and entertainment of every type. Then throw in the scenery (Both natural and human) and you have a total package. I will agree on a busy weekends the traffic is heavy and cumbersome, but that is when you do your drives outside the area. Too each their own, but to say it is garbage is truly an opinion most of us would not agree with.
You said it was garbage, not I. Read carefully. I said it was a tourist trap. The main drag has a fast food restaurant every 20 feet. If you like that type of town, please enjoy.
01-21-2024, 12:14 PM
Gatlinburg Trip Recommendation
