Misconceptions About Parking In Downtown Gatlinburg
By Leif Palmer
Posted on July 18, 2019
One comment we've heard frequently from Smoky Mountain visitors over the years is that they sometimes are tempted to avoid visiting downtown Gatlinburg because they're concerned that finding parking will be a big hassle.
That may have been the case once upon a time. It's true that street parking is relatively scarce, and with the exception of hotels and motels, most businesses on the Parkway and other streets like River Rd. and Historic Nature Trail have little to no parking to offer their visitors. It used to be that you had to luck out and snag a space on the street if you were driving into Gatlinburg just for the day.
But these days, parking in Gatlinburg is so much easier, because there are so many more choices of places to park. There are multiple parking lots and garages all along the Parkway that make it simple and affordable to safely park your vehicle for an entire day if you wish.
For example, we have seven different lots located in downtown Gatlinburg, found on either the Parkway, on Reagan Dr. or on Historic Nature Trail. They range in location from the intersection of Parkway and U.S. 321 (East Parkway) on the north end of town to the intersection of Parkway and Ski Mountain Rd. on the south end of town. In between are several lots that provide handy access to the main section of Parkway running through downtown.
Altogether, these seven lots provide more than 1,100 parking spaces, so chances are usually good that we'll have a space waiting for you when you get to town. Even better is our pricing. Prices start at only $5 for an entire day and top out around $10, depending on the location. That's quite a value when you consider that you can leave your vehicle in one spot for the day and easily get to where you want to go in Gatlinburg, either on foot or by trolley.
(Note that rates do go up some during peak visitation periods like holidays and special events like the 4th of July or New Year's Eve.)
So now you can find plenty of parking, at a great price, that allows convenient access to virtually anywhere in downtown that you might want to go. Looking for some cool outdoor gear at NOC Gatlinburg? Park with us. Interested in a full day of entertainment at all the Ripley attractions? Park with us. Hungry for a great meal from the Park Grill or Peddler restaurants? Park with us!
About Leif Palmer
Leif Palmer loves residing in Gatlinburg. He is an avid outdoorsman: rowing for exercise on the lake, trail hiking, and free climbing rocks in the mountains. He indulges his arty side by periodically beating up pieces of marble by sculpting. He is always frustrated by his inability to sink long putts, and hates his curly hair (but his wife loves it). Leif has been known to muster enough courage to change a diaper, and hopes his son will become a chip off the old block.