People's Top 3 Pet Peeves Pertaining to Gatlinburg...And Helpful Tips

There’s never a dull moment no matter what I post on Facebook. I receive a healthy amount of positivity in response to my posts, but I’m always walking a tightrope with the negativity. People are free to express their opinions, and as long as it doesn’t get too personal, I don’t delete comments or ban users. I admit, the hostility is disappointing when I view it, I try to educate my followers the best way possible, in the hopes people will follow my advice and turn that frown upside down. Here’s what I’ve encountered directly.

Traffic

You would be 100% correct that most people’s beef with the town is the traffic. Sometimes I get it, but the more I think about it, the more it’s a bit bewildering. Yes, traffic can back all the way back to the spur when it’s a busy weekend. It moves, though. Don’t come at me with your pitchforks now. I believe it’s a whole 2 miles from one end to the other. Pigeon Forge is a longer stretch with more cars. It doesn’t seem as bad, because it’s spread out.

I give people tips when I can. Here are a few:

Book a hotel in Gatlinburg—Parking is not only free, but it also allows you to explore the entire downtown, a hiking trail, and a few parks without your car

Take the Trolley—There’s the ability to park your car at the Welcome Center and take the trolley into various points in Gatlinburg. Both parking here and the trolley ride are both FREE!

Vacation in January, February, or during weekdays—Easier said than done for some people, and that’s understandable. But these are the least busy times, and you’ll find traffic to be quite tolerable during these times.

R-E-L-A-X—You’re on vacation—most of you anyway. It would serve you well to roll with the punches and not get into a tizzy over something as minor as Gatlinburg traffic. I mean it!

Parking

This one might even rank above traffic, but they both go hand in hand in people’s heads. It doesn’t have to be this difficult. I always advise first-timers to do their research. And yes, there’s a lot to discover, but finding parking should be a priority, especially if you’re staying out of town.

For starters, the McMahon and Aquarium garages are on opposite sides of the road in the same vicinity. They will fill up on busy weekends, but if you’re spending a day in Gatlinburg, you should easily find a spot before mid-afternoon for $10. There’s also plenty, and I mean plenty of open-air lots down from the Space Needle for the same price, with a few exceptions of maybe $15. You should never have to park in one of the $20 lots unless you’re arriving late. These are the absolute worst ones to get in and out because of their location downtown. Trust me! Don’t do it! You can thank me later.

Yes there is free parking in Gatlinburg, but there's a catch to them all. You’re allowed to park on the Parkway, but only until 9 in the morning every day. There’s free parking behind Calhoun’s Village as long as you eat at one of the restaurants or make a purchase in the shops. Parking is free on River Road, but you must get there early. It fills up fast. And there’s no charge at the lots at N.O.C., Park Grill, and Crockett’s Breakfast Camp, and Log Cabin Pancake House, as long as you leave when you’re finished at each. Don’t tempt fate! Big Brother is watching.

Moonshine

If you don’t agree with the proliferation of moonshine in Gatlinburg and surrounding areas, you’ve probably already given up on trips to the area. There are no signs of them going away. You could probably throw in the wineries too. So it’s a little unfair to put all the blame on the hooch. At least the moonshine comes with a charge, and at Sugarlands (and others?), you’re limited to one tasting a day, with the exception of doing a Roaming Man flight on top of the regular lineup.

Ole Smoky was just the kid in town when we first started visiting, and it’s amazing how the entire county exploded with moonshine distillers. As long as it’s a money-maker with visitors, it will continue to thrive, despite some of the potential trouble it may bring. Until the wineries start tightening the screws a little, any conflicts that arise will cause the moonshine places to be the scapegoats. It’s already caused the Big 3 in town to charge a fee.

I hope that I’ve at least made you aware of these issues when you come to Gatlinburg, and how to best rectify or endure them. Visiting the area requires a vast amount of planning and research. It should not be disregarded if you want to get the most out of your important vacation. That’s what I hope to do, in addition to everything we will be and have been experiencing from this scenic place. I hope you enjoy, and subscribe to get the full benefit of being one of the first people in-the-know!