Vacations are a great time to rest and relax. However, some vacations can cost a large amount of money. You can choose to set a budget for your vacation in order to limit your expenses and not drain your bank account. There are many wonderful places to visit on your next vacation, and one of these places is Gatlinburg, TN.
Vacations can be expensive, but there are ways you can make your trip less expensive. Some ways you can do this on a trip to Gatlinburg are to visit more public and free attractions as well as choosing to stay more outdoors rather than in the busy city.
Continue reading to learn 8 tips that can help you plan a fun trip to Gatlinburg on a budget. Also, continue reading to learn what attractions you can expect to see in Gatlinburg as well as how much money you should expect to spend on your trip.
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What Is the Cheapest Way To Go To Gatlinburg?
When it comes to making a budget for a trip, you want to keep in mind the cost of getting to the location and back. When it comes to figuring out how much it will cost to get to Gatlinburg, you have to determine which method of travel is best for you.
If you live in states closer to Tennessee, such as Georgia or Alabama, it is much cheaper to drive your car to Gatlinburg. On the other hand, if you live in states further away from Tennessee, such as California or Maine, it is likely to be a cheaper trip if you choose to fly on a plane.
Despite which method you choose to travel, it is important to take the cost of getting to Gatlinburg into account when planning your trip, as if you spend your entire budget just on travel, you may not be able to visit any of the main attractions you wish to visit.
How Much Spending Money Do I Need For Gatlinburg?
When figuring out how much money you should budget for your trip, there are some expenses that must be taken into account in order to plan successfully.
Some expenses you should account for include:
- Hotel room/lodging
- Food
- Transportation around the city
- Prices of tickets for attractions
Each of these can vary depending on where you choose to stay, where you plan on going, and what you plan on eating while on your vacation. On average, a vacation in Gatlinburg can cost a single person $1,066 for one week.
The average price of a hotel room in Gatlinburg, Tennessee for a couple is approximately $128. It is possible to find hotel rooms cheaper than this by doing some searching through different booking sites, such as booking.com. If you click here, you can see some of the hotel listings in Gatlinburg, TN on booking.com.
Meal prices are another factor that can go into determining your budget for a trip to Gatlinburg. On average, people will spend approximately $68 per day on food. If you choose to fly to Gatlinburg rather than take your own vehicle, you may want to look into the pricing of transportation around the city.
On average, a taxi can cost approximately $28 per person. However, if you have your own vehicle, you will need to account for gas prices.
What Can You Do For Free In Gatlinburg TN?
While there are attractions in Gatlinburg, TN, that cost money in order to visit, there are others in which you do not have to pay money. Some of these include:
Taking A Stroll Through the Gatlinburg Arts & Crafts Community
The Gatlinburg Arts & Crafts Community is the largest independent organization of artisans in the United States. When visiting the community, you can speak with the artists who will discuss the history of their craft. You can find many carvers, weavers, potters, soap makers, and other artisans demonstrating their abilities. It can be reached by using the Yellow Trolley from Downtown Gatlinburg.
Visiting Cades Cove
Cades Cove is one of the most visited areas in The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Similar to the rest of the national park, Cades Cove offers the opportunity to watch the wildlife that inhabits the Great Smoky Mountains while they are in their natural habitat.
It takes approximately two to four hours to tour Cades Cove, although if you choose to walk some of the trails it may take a little longer.
Having A Picnic
Gatlinburg is located in the scenic Smoky Mountains. This scenery provides a beautiful landscape in which you can sit outside and enjoy the surroundings. One of the ways to do so is by having a picnic. Two popular picnic areas are Mynatt Park and Mills Park.
Riding The Gatlinburg Trolley
The Gatlinburg Trolley gives free rides throughout the city of Gatlinburg. It is the fifth-largest mass transit system in Tennessee. It consists of over 20 trolleys that service the Gatlinburg area.
Traversing Newfound Gap Road
Newfound Gap is the lowest pass through the Great Smoky Mountains. Often compared to the drive from Georgia to Maine in terms of forest ecosystem variety, Newfound Gap Road has travelers climb approximately 3,000 feet through cove hardwood, northern hardwood, and pine-oak forest. You can start traveling down this road from either Gatlinburg, Tennessee, or Cherokee, North Carolina.
Watching The Wildlife
The area surrounding the city of Gatlinburg contains a wide variety of wildlife that one can observe while on vacation there. The Great Smoky Mountains are home to a variety of wildlife one can see, such as white-tailed deer, turkeys, and black bears.
Visiting The Mountain Farm Museum and Mingus Mill
The Mountain Farm Museum is a collection of historic log buildings that were gathered throughout the Great Smoky Mountains. These buildings were relocated and are preserved on this site. Most of these structures were built in the 19th century.
Another location near the Mountain Farm Museum that you can visit is the Mingus Mill. The Mingus Mill is a historic grist mill that uses a water-powered turbine. Some features of the mill include:
- A working cast iron turbine
- A miller who demonstrates the process of grinding corn into cornmeal
- Mill-related items and cornmeal are available for purchase
Now, let’s move on to the next section.
How Many Days Do You Need To See Gatlinburg?
A trip to see Gatlinburg can be done over the course of three days. If you are in a rush, you only need two days to see the sites of the city. Three days does not seem like a long enough time to be able to see the city, but you can cover most of the city and the attractions over the three-day period.
If you choose to stay longer than three days, you may want to extend the area of your vacation to include Pigeon Forge. Pigeon Forge is an area located near Gatlinburg that includes many other sites you can visit.
8 Tips For Visiting Gatlinburg On A Budget
Now that we have covered the basics of what you can see in Gatlinburg for free as well as what you should take into account when making your budget and how long you should plan your trip. Here are 8 tips for visiting Gatlinburg on a budget.
Tip 1
The biggest tip for visiting Gatlinburg on a budget is to take advantage of the free attractions. As previously stated, there are many places to see and things to do that cost little to no money. When you have a set budget, you want to incorporate as many of these attractions into your itinerary as possible. This allows for you to experience the city and have fun at a low price.
Tip 2
Keep in mind the prices of lodging, food, as well as the prices of travel. These three are needed more than remembering how much you should have for visiting the various attractions. If you do not include these three, you will not be able to see as much of the city of Gatlinburg as you would like.
Tip 3
Take the trolley. The Gatlinburg trolley offers free rides around the city of Gatlinburg. Each of the trolley routes will take you to different parts of the city where you will find the attractions you want to see. The trolley serves as better transport than a taxi, especially due to the fact the trolley is free to ride.
Tip 4
Choose to spend more time enjoying the outdoors. Gatlinburg is a very scenic area. With an abundance of wildlife as well as beautiful forests, you can choose to spend your vacation camping rather than staying in a hotel. Not only is this cheaper, but you also get to experience the scenery of Gatlinburg without the noises and lights of the city.
Tip 5
Take some time to just watch people-watch. People watching is a very simple activity. Just find a bench in a park or very frequented area, and enjoy watching people go about their various activities. You can also create some of your own comments about them, just don’t let them know what you’re doing.
Tip 6
Explore the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. At the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, you can hike, fish, and observe the various forms of wildlife that encompass the Great Smoky Mountains. Here you can enjoy the scenery and explore the wilderness without spending money.
Tip 7
Aim to participate in activities that do not cost much money, such as mini-golf. While you may want to look toward more expensive attractions, you are able to do more if you plan on doing activities that do not cost much money.
Tip 8
Use coupons and discounts. A quick search on the Internet can help you find discounts and coupons that can make your trip cheaper. Take advantage of these as they will help you to stick to your budget and make your money stretch a little farther.
Final Thoughts
Gatlinburg, Tennessee is an amazing spot to go on vacation. Although vacations can be expensive, you can take some steps to keep to a limited budget and still have a good time exploring the area and partaking in many different activities. On average, a single person will likely spend $1,066 a week in Gatlinburg.
Some tips that can help make the trip cheaper are to look for coupons and discounts, aim to partake in the various free activities in Gatlinburg and use the trolley system to get around the city.
One can also plan trip Visiting Yellowstone National Park to see lush greens and other nature beauties.