Cabins USA Logo
Loading Page
RESERVATIONS
(800) 583-6168
Cabins USA Availability Search Icon Availability Search Small Icon


How To Plan a Smoky Mountain Vacation | Cabins USA

Blog Home : Category Posts : Plan Your Smoky Mountain Vacation

Planning a vacation can be a little overwhelming if you don't know enough about your destination.

Luckily, our Smoky Mountain vacation guide has 5 easy steps for planning your getaway to the mountains of Tennessee!

Step 1: Pick Your "Must See" Attractions

Fountain At The Island in Pigeon Forge

Visitors should know this: there's so much to see and do in the Smoky Mountains area. It's practically impossible to enjoy everything that this beautiful region has to offer in one trip.

So rather than trying to do everything in a few short days, it's a good idea to pick your top sights you'd like to see. Here are just a few of the biggest attractions that draw vacationers to the Smokies:

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park – If you love hiking, nature, wildlife, and historic sights, this destination is for you. Celebrated as "America's Most Visited National Park," the Smokies are a national treasure spanning over 800 square miles of some of the most rugged landscapes in the Eastern US. Cades Cove, Newfound Gap, and Clingmans Dome are some of the most stunning areas in the park.

Dollywood Theme Park – The popular creation of country star Dolly Parton, this family-friendly theme park is known for its exceptional atmosphere, top-notch roller coasters, authentic Smoky Mountain crafts, and excellent music shows.

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies – Voted America's #1 Aquarium on Tripadvisor, this excellent aquarium in Gatlinburg wins more fans every year with excellent exhibits like the "Penguin Playhouse" and the unforgettable "Shark Tunnel."

Theaters and Dinner Shows – Pigeon Forge, TN is home to some excellent country music revues and dinner shows including feuding lumberjacks, equestrian feats, and even an interactive murder mystery show.

Ober Ski Mountain – Tennessee's only ski resort is on Mt. Harrison in the Smoky Mountains with 9 ski slopes, a terrain park, and many other year-round attractions like ice skating and a mountain coaster.

Additionally, by finding lodging where you'd most like to stay, it makes it easy to prioritize what city or area you'd most like to stay in.

At the same time, where you stay doesn't set your trip itinerary in stone. The communities of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Wears Valley are no more than a 20 minute drive from each other, so it's easy to see a variety of sights during your trip.

Step 2: Where Do You Want To Stay?

Here's a quick breakdown of the highlights of different cities in the Smoky Mountains:

  • Pigeon Forge – This dynamic town is home to mile after mile of shops, attractions, dinner shows, mini golf courses, go kart tracks, and laser tag arenas. Pigeon Forge is also home to major sights like Dollywood and the historic Old Mill. This wide variety options makes Pigeon Forge a popular choice for family vacations.
  • Gatlinburg – Styled after a alpine ski village, Gatlinburg is a mountain town with old-world charm. Known as "the gateway to the Smokies," Gatlinburg is home to several entrances to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors also enjoy strolling the scenic downtown, visiting the Aquarium, and skiing at Ober Gatlinburg.
  • Wears Valley – This charming mountain community is part of the "the quiet side of the Smokies," a lovely valley with farm country and scenic mountain views. Old-fashioned mom and pop restaurants and a lesser known entrance to the national park make Wears Valley a nice place to enjoy an authentic Appalachian retreats.
  • Sevierville – Located just outside of Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, TN is only minutes away from the biggest sights in the Smokies. Better yet, Sevierville features lots of excellent cabin rentals with beautiful mountain views and resort amenities.

While its nice to stay in any of these towns, vacationers also have the option of booking a secluded cabin in the surrounding mountains. These vacation rental properties are a great choice for anyone who wants to enjoy the peace and quiet that the Smokies can offer.

Step 3: What's Your Budget?

Planning on treating yourself during your vacation or are you hoping to keep your expenses down?

Luckily, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are some of the most affordable destinations in America. In fact, one of the best sights, The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is entirely free to enjoy.

At the same time, if you want to enjoy a luxurious vacation filled with fun experiences like skiing, helicopter tours, horseback rides, and entertaining dinner shows, the Smokies are a perfect place to enjoy a getaway to the fullest!

In either case, reserving a Smoky Mountain cabin is a great way to save on your trip since you can save on food costs by using your rental's kitchen. Additionally, cabins come with features like game rooms, theater rooms, and pools that can help keep your entertainment costs low.

There are several ways to save on your Pigeon Forge vacation:

Booking A Smaller Cabin – There are hundreds of romantic honeymoon retreats in the Smoky Mountains that are as affordable as a modest hotel room. While many of these cabin rentals cost under $100 a night, they come more features like hot tubs, decks, and pool tables to enjoy. Many 1-bedroom properties sleep up to 4 guests, just the right size for a small family getaway.

Pitching in On A Large Cabin – Large cabin rentals routinely sleep over 10 guests. This allows one rental property to comfortably accommodate several families or a large group of friends. As a result, planning a group vacation to Pigeon Forge is incredibly affordable because you can easily split your lodging costs on a large cabin.

Visiting in the Off-Season – While a vacation in Pigeon Forge is affordable year-round, you're likely to find even better deals on lodging during the off-season that runs from New Years Day to May.

Step 4: How To Get To The Smoky Mountains and Pigeon Forge?

Planning how you'll get to the Smoky Mountains is also important. Most visitors arrive in Pigeon Forge by car, as public transportation in this region isn't well developed.

Luckily, the Smoky Mountains are within a 5 hours drive of many major cities in the southeast:

  • Louisville, KY – 4.5 Hours
  • Lexington, KY – 3.5 Hours
  • Atlanta, GA – 4 Hours
  • Asheville, NC – 2 Hours
  • Charlotte NC – 3.5 Hours
  • Nashville, TN – 3.5 Hours
  • Chattanooga, TN 2.5 Hours
  • Birmingham, AL – 4.5 Hours

For vacationers traveling longer distances, Tyson McGee Airport in Knoxville is only 1 hour from Pigeon Forge. There are no shuttles from the airport to Pigeon Forge, but there are rental car companies nearby.

For visiting the Smokies, the best way to get around is to have a vehicle. Though there are trolleys that run throughout Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, a car gives you more flexibility to reach the attractions you want to see.

If you're visiting during a busy time of year, check out our guide for dodging traffic in Pigeon Forge, TN.

Step 5: Reserve Your Getaway

When it comes to booking your vacation in the Smoky Mountains, the earlier the better. Here are just a few of the reasons planning your trip far in advance can help you make the most of your trip.

Better Rental Rates – Cabin rental companies love guests who plan far in advance. To reward vacationers, they often provide better rates for cabins with demand is lower.

More Time To Plan – The more time you have to research the better. Every season in the Smokies features different highlights, so knowing what you'd most like to see on your trip can help you make the most of your experience.

Better Selection of Lodging and Attractions – The earlier you reserve your attraction tickets and lodging, the more likely you are to find exactly what you're looking for. During popular times of year like the holidays and the busy summer season, its not uncommon for rentals and attractions to be fully booked, so start reserving early to have the best selection!

Large Cabin in Pigeon Forge

Final Thoughts

If you have any questions about how to make the most of your trip, don't hesitate to contact our reservations staff. We'd be glad to help you find the right attractions, activities, and lodging for your Smoky Mountain getaway!

Also, vacationers should know that Cabins USA provides a 15% discount rate on all of our Pigeon Forge cabin rentals in the Smoky Mountains area.

Written by

Recent Articles

Vacation Tips: Best Places To Get Drinks In Pigeon Forge

Top 9 Places to Get Drinks in Pigeon Forge and Sevierville

Up your Pigeon Forge vacation experience with your favorite people by checking out our picks for the top 9 places to get drinks in Pigeon Forge.
Vacation Tips: Best Family Restaurants In Pigeon Forge

Best Family Restaurants in Pigeon Forge, TN

Enjoy quality time with the family on your next vacation in Pigeon Forge by adding our picks of the best family restaurants in Pigeon Forge to your travel plans.
Fun Spring Break Ideas For Families In Pigeon Forge To Enjoy

Spring Break Ideas For Families in Pigeon Forge, TN

Maximize your kids' spring break by getting away from simple routine and check out these fun spring break ideas for families in Pigeon Forge. Create fun memories and have a blast on your Pigeon Forge spring break vacation with loved ones.

Categories

Fall In The Great Smoky Mountains | Pigeon Forge | Gatlinburg - Blog Post

Fall Activities

Check out the many activities to do in the fall in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Townsend, Wears Valley, and Sevierville.
read more...
Pigeon Forge Happening Now - Blog Post

Pigeon Forge Happening Now

We've got news, events, and tips to make your vacation in Pigeon Forge and the Smoky Mountains better than ever! Check
read more...
Smoky Mountain Vacation Tips - Blog Post

Smoky Mountain Vacation Tips

Tennessee Smoky Mountain vacation tips great for planning your family vacation, honeymoon or group getaway in the Smok
read more...
Smoky Mountains Blog | Whats Happening Now - Blog Post

Smoky Mountains - Happening Now

Smoky Mountains blog posts covering events before and as they happen throughout the Tennessee Smoky Mountains area. S
read more...

Please Note: Cabins USA LLC's, hereinafter referred to as Cabins USA, area information, area events, and blog pages are provided as a public service. Cabins USA does not endorse any of the products, vendors, consultants, or businesses referenced in these web pages. Any mention of vendors, products, businesses, or services on the Cabins USA web site is for informational purposes only. Users of this web site are responsible for checking the accuracy, completeness, currency and/or suitability of all information. The inclusion of this information does not imply endorsement by Cabins USA. Furthermore, specific questions regarding any content should be directed to the appropriate organization and not necessarily to Cabins USA.

Cabins USA Official Logo
star star star star star
2140 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN  37863
(865) 429-4121

VLS #157
Pigeon Forge Cabins
Guest Reservations
(800) 583-6168
2 Night Minimum

























































Cabins USA Help Icon
Copyright 2013-2024, Cabins USA LLC, Pigeon Forge, TN

Welcome to Cabins USA! We hope you enjoy your stay with us and look forward to helping you make incredible vacation memories. To help you navigate your Guest User account, we've provided a helpful guide to walk you through the process.

Creating an Account

Creating a guest account is as simple as submitting your email and creating a password. Keep in mind the email used to create your guest account must match the email provided on your reservation.

If a different email is on your reservation, you'll need to create a guest account with that email to manage the reservation.

When finished, an email will be sent to confirm your email address. Follow the steps in the email to complete the creation of your account.

Note: If you need to change the email address on your reservation, please contact the reservations office for further assistance.

Managing Your Account

Once your account is created, you can start managing your reservations. Your guest reservations will show as follows:

Click on the view button to get more details about each reservation. Within the reservation, you'll be able to do three things, which are:

Submit a Trouble Ticket

Click the report issue button for maintenance needs or other concerns during your stay. Briefly describe your issue, provide contact information, and submit up to 3 photos detailing your situation if applicable.

Submit Cancellation Request

This must be done before check-in and per our policies. Within the request, provide a reason for cancellation and click submit. After submitting your request, one of our reservationists must complete the cancellation process before your reservation is canceled.

Make a Payment

For future stays with a balance open, you can make credit card payments from $50 up to the total cost of the reservation.

Additional Information

If you have a future reservation and haven't completed the Express Check-In, please send your confirmation number and email used for the reservation to reservations@cabinsusa.com to request an invitation to complete the process.

After you've signed all reservation documents and paid the balance in full, you'll receive an email with your active stay information 8 hours prior to arrival, which includes the following:

Note: If the reservation documents have not been signed electronically and/or the balance has not been paid three days prior to arrival via the credit card on file, you must check in at our 2140 Parkway office. Our office hours are currently 8:00am - 10:00pm, Monday thru Sunday.

Contact Us

Didn't find the information you needed? Contact Us for further assistance with your reservation or guest account.

Thank you for choosing us for your Smoky Mountain vacation! We look forward to helping you make your dream vacation a reality!

Warm regards,

Cabins USA

Interested in receiving our newsletter? Simply provide your full name and email address in these fields to begin receiving information. By doing so, you can learn about special promotions and events in the Smoky Mountains!

We respect our customer's privacy and feel it is disrespectful to bombard anyone with emails. We treat all information that customers share with us as private and confidential. Cabins USA never shares this information with third party sites.

Arrival Date: Mandatory, select or enter date you will arrive (MM/DD/YYYY)

Nights: Mandatory, select or enter the number of Nights you will be staying with us

Promotional Code: Must enter a valid code

Optional Search Items: (Amenties, Cities, etc)
Below are several boxes in which you can either select from a drop down list or click on a check box to the left of an item to select.

Changing the contents of any drop down list or selecting/deselecting a check box will broaden or narrow the number of properties displayed by your search. You don't have to wait until the search completes to select/deselect items for your perfect search.

You must hit the SEARCH button to start your first search. It is unnecessary to hit the SEARCH button after doing your first search, unless you changed to another web page, changed the Arrival Date or number of Nights.

Add to Favorites: As you visit individual property pages or pages with listings of several properties on them, you have the option to click on the "+ Favorites" for each particular property, which automatically adds the property to your list of Favorites for consideration. The number next to the Favorites tab, left sidebar, will increase up to 99 possible Favorites. When ready, click on the Favorites tab to view a list of your selected Favorites.

Remove from Favorites: You may de-select (remove) properties from your Favorites you no longer wish to consider by either clicking on the minus icon to the right or by clicking on the "- Favorites" displayed on property list pages and each property details page for properties listed in your Favorites.

Compare Favorites: Click in the check boxes to the left of the property name, in your Favorites, you wish to compare. No more than 3 boxes may be selected at one time. When ready, hit the Compare button for a comparison of the 3 selected properties.

Follow the above "Remove from Favorites" instructions to remove a property from the comparison and your Favorites.

To add another property from your Favorites list for comparison, click the check box to the left of the property name in your Favorites and hit the Compare button.

Repeat the above steps to find your ultimate vacation accommodations. Need assistance or have questions, please give us a call so we may better serve you!

View List: Displays a full list of all your Favorites with some details.

Remove All: Clears all properties from your Favorites so you may start over.