You may be surprised to learn that not the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, or Yellowstone is America’s most visited national park. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular. This huge mountain range is unique in that half of it is in North Carolina and the other half is in Tennessee. It has many different ecosystems, animals, and historical sites.

If you’re starting to plan a trip to the Smokies, you’ll need to figure out how you’ll get around the national park and where you’ll stay. With this guide to the best places to stay in the Smoky Mountains, you’ll learn how each area is different and get ideas for where to stay.

The call of the mountains!

This beautiful cabin, which is in the mountains near Pigeon Forge, is one of the best places to stay in the mountains. This Tennessee cabin is great for trips to the Great Smoky Mountains in the winter, when the trees have lost their leaves and you can enjoy the amazing view from the hot tub outside.

The Meadow Fork Home, located on the grounds of Boyd Mountain Log Cabins, is a classic and historically significant example of a log cabin. The cabin is near a family-owned Christmas tree farm, fishing ponds, and hiking trails in Waynesville, North Carolina. When you walk in from the porch with rocking chairs, you’ll see how they’ve updated and changed the cabin into a cozy and roomy place to stay with a full dining room, air conditioning, a fire pit and outdoor dining space, and three bedrooms that can sleep up to 8 people.

Want to find something different? This cute treehouse in Bryson City has a huge balcony where you can enjoy the beautiful forest scenery and start a barbecue when the weather is nice. Guests also get a discount at the nearby recreation center, so you can keep up with your workout routine. This place has 3 bedrooms and is a great place for a group of friends to stay together.

Tiny houses are appealing, but if you’re like us, you’re not sure you’d want to live in one, but you’d love to see what it’s like. Gina’s Great Getaways has a wonderful selection of vacation rentals near Bryson City, North Carolina. The name of one of them is Sweet Pea Tiny Home. Even though it only takes up a small amount of space, you’ll be surprised by how much space there is inside. This is a cute place for two people to stay.

Sometimes you want a place to stay with extra services, and this four-star bed and breakfast in Gatlinburg is the best! From the outside, it might look small, but guests can use the swimming pools, sports courts, and a huge gym. There are also three clubhouses where guests can get to know each other.

Even though this isn’t usually where people stay when they visit the Smoky Mountains, it might be worth the detour if you’re looking for a special place to stay. RT Lodge has a lot of southern charm and is great for people who want a place with lots of places to lounge and relax. All stays come with breakfast and as many s’mores as you can eat at the firepit. The RT Lodge restaurant is also a pleasure.

Gatlinburg is by far the most popular city in the area, and most tourists go there to get to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It has the most bars, shops, and places to go out and have fun, so it’s a great choice for first-time visitors.

Officially part of Haywood County, both Waynesville is a small town with a lot of urban charm.

At the base of the Smoky Mountains, Waynesville’s downtown feels like a step back in time, with classic general stores, movie theaters, boutiques, and restaurants lining the main streets. When you look closer, you’ll see that the outside has been kept the same, but inside you’ll find modern shops, handmade goods, and fun places to hang out, like the Boojum Brewery Taproom.

This is more off the beaten path for people visiting the Smoky Mountains, but that’s only because the secret hasn’t gotten out yet!

Just north of Gatlinburg is another popular tourist town called Pigeon Forge. This is where Dollywood is, so families who are in the area should definitely stop by. Dolly Parton’s Theme Park has rides, restaurants, and shows that are fun for the whole family.

If you want a great place to stay near the Smoky Mountains that isn’t too busy, Bryson City is a great choice. This is especially true if you like doing adventurous things and want easy access to the national park.

In addition to the national park, there is the Nantahala National Forest, Cherokee, and Waynesville and Maggie Valley, which are only a short drive away.

Outdoor activities like rafting, climbing, hiking, and camping are all possible from Bryson City.

North of Pigeon Forge, Sevierville is a little bit off the beaten path, but it’s a great choice for those on a budget! Most places to stay are much cheaper here than they are in Gatlinburg, and the restaurants have a more local feel.

Sevierville is the less-known part of the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t think about going there. You’ll prefer the northernmost city in the trio of towns next to the national park since it’s less crowded, has cheaper lodging options, and has a greater concentration of really unique and local dining options.

Sevierville is definitely off the beaten path, but you can get to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in just 30 minutes.