Things to Keep in Mind When You're Visiting Gatlinburg During "Hell Week"

This may be a foreign concept to you, but the week from Christmas to the New Year is aptly named “Hell Week,” for good reason(s). I just want to let everyone who is planning on enjoying the holidays in Gatlinburg that you are now being fair-warned. This is the busiest, craziest, gridlocked, and most crowded you will see in this town. There, you can’t say I didn’t warn you, because plenty of you will think, “oh, let’s spend Christmas in Gatlinburg. It’ll be great.” As long as you know how insane it’ll be—or maybe you enjoy this scene—you may not have a problem, but I know some of you will never want to come to Gatlinburg again as a result of visiting this week. Here’s what you can expect.

This year, “Hell Week” is arriving a tad early and lasting a bit longer. Why? Well, Christmas is on a Monday, so that means two full weekends of crowds at the beginning and end of a Monday through Friday surge in foot and car traffic. Prepare your cheeks for a full 10 days of craziness from December 22nd until the start of the new year. For those of you who live here—like myself—this will be a daily struggle, but I’m expecting it so I won’t be caught off guard.

As for the rest of you who are visiting Gatlinburg during this time, I’d like you all to follow a few reasonable expectations to prepare you for the fun you hope to get out of a trip to this wonderful place. These are pretty obvious and simple, but I’m amazed at how many people aren’t mindful of such common sense practices. Here are my recommendations and tips.

Pack Patience

I’ve already warned you that this is the busiest, craziest time of year, so please pack your patience when visiting this tourist town. The traffic will be horrendous, the lines will be long, and you may think you’re being extremely inconvenienced. Well, tens of thousands others had the same idea as you did. This may be a bit harsh, but you have to deal with it. I know, this may not seem like the nicest advice, but it’s true. When we visited in 2019 during this time, we did just that. Take a look around and see all the illuminating displays and count your lucky stars places like this exist.

Don’t Be A Cheapskate

I’m not saying you should be an excellent tipper when you go out to eat in Gatlinburg. Your server is most likely going to treat you well, and if your food isn’t what you hoped in terms of quality, don’t stiff your server who’s doing their best. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from being a local here in Gatlinburg, it’s that most of them are doing a damn good job. Give them what they deserve. It’s not easy making peanuts on the hour and relying on tips to merely survive. If you ask me, I think 25% should be a minimum for these hard-working people. I’ve really taken their side recently because of how I’ve been treated as a guest. Please don’t be a cheapskate if they’re being fair and reasonable. If you have a problem with the food, request a manager. They will make it right…as long as you are fair with them, which leads me to my next point.

Be Kind

Some people are incapable of projecting this attitude toward others, and I truly feel sorry for them. In life, I believe you get what you give, and I know from personal experience, this is the best way to live your life. Being on vacation doesn’t mean you should shun all accepted societal behaviors. You should treat others with respect and kindness, because with all of today’s fractured and misguided viewpoints, a little positivity and kindness will only help you receive the things you want in life.

Take It All In

For goodness sake, Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains are both beautiful places to be. Heck, I live here now, and I’m still not jaded. Count your lucky stars you are able to visit this mountain paradise, just like my family felt from the numerous times we visited before taking the leap of faith. If it becomes a one and done for you, I sincerely hope you are able to find happiness with another vacation location. Life is fragile, and we could all use a little escape from our problems. We do deserve it.

I hope these four simple rules are reasonable and doable for you if you are planning to visit during the most wonderful time of the year. If this isn’t your cup of tea, I recommend visiting during weekdays, or if at possible, making a return trip in January or February. These are the months that introverts and penny pinchers like myself would love. They are the cheapest for accommodations and the slowest for visitors. That means fewer waits (if any at all), more walking space, and certainly fewer people to bump into or walk around. For those who have been visiting for many years, it may remind you of “old” Gatlinburg, even if it doesn’t look that way anymore.

I hope I didn’t offend any of you who love visiting during this time. I’m preparing for it but loving the whole Christmas season working here in Gatlinburg. I want all of you to love this tourist town, but I know it won’t resonate with everyone. Please be a good human and treat all of us service industry workers the way you want to be treated yourself. Let’s be better than what others are telling us to behave. Love conquers all hate. Good guys shouldn’t and don’t always finish last.

Thank you all for following, reading, and subscribing to my publication. I am loving life in Gatlinburg, and I hope you are benefiting from my passion, which is living, working, and writing about our travails here in this beautiful East Tennessee area. I hope you keep following my life story, and I’m grateful you found and took time out of your day to read about the place I continue to love. You are the best!