Where to Stay in Gatlinburg

[ATTurtle]

Three of us will be spending a night in Gatlinburg and are wondering about a good place to spend the night? Any suggestions?

Bob Shroy

[Lone Wolf]

The Grand Prix Motel.

[Doctari]

The Grand Prix Motel.

Ditto!!!!!!

[Footslogger]

YUP ...Grand Prix. Just down the street from the Happy Hiker Outfitter.

'Slogger

[papa john]

down the street

Well, geographically, UP the street, if you know what I mean...

[mingo]

grand prix is a dump. never understood why anybody goes there. shows the damn herd mentality of thru-hikers. just across the street, the marvelous fambly inn is the same low price and you get a spacious balcony overlooking the burbling creek. some rooms also have hot tubs and fireplaces.

[CaptChaos]

Hi All:

Well, when I do stay in a hotel in the Smokies I only go two places.

1) If I am going to stay in Gatlinburg then I go to Carr's Northside which is off the main drag by the intersection across from "Beneath the Smoke store". It is old but they have always taken care of me and my family and I like the stream behind the buildings.

2) If I am going to lurk around the Townsend, TN area then for years I have rented a cabin in Wear's Valley thru Wear's Valley Real Estate and it has been very nice. A little costly but then when I go to Wears Valley I ususally have the whole family, at one time there was 11 of us, and that is where we go.

After about 8 years of backpacking in the Smokies and about 29 years overall of going to the Smokies at least once a year this is about the best that I can offer (based on my likes).

While staying in Gatlinburg, you might want to go down the stree a few blocks to the Brass laterin and have some of their Smokey Mtn Trout. I don't really care for fish but I go there every trip.

Capt Chaos

[Wonder]

I have stayed in both the Grand Prix, and the Family Inn.....I think that I'd return to The Inn if given a choice............that is if I choose to return to Gaitlenberg! It's like Atlantic City, sans the casinos, in the middle of the Smokies! Really strange to me....

[Alligator]

I have stayed in both the Grand Prix, and the Family Inn.....I think that I'd return to The Inn if given a choice............that is if I choose to return to Gaitlenberg! It's like Atlantic City, sans the casinos, in the middle of the Smokies! Really strange to me....

Definitely Wildwood.

[Wonder]

Yeah, Wildwood with quickie weddings!

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

I live close to Gatlinburg and try not to get roped into going there ever, but it does happen when out-of-town company insists on seeing the blight-in-the-Smokies. Wildwood with quickie weddings is an excellent description.

The Grand Prix has new owners who are said to be very hiker friendly. They now offer a Hiker Shuttle from Clingman's Dome or Newfound Gap for $1/mile per person. Personally, I think the Family Inn has nicer facilities, but but the Grand Prix is a friendly, more relxed place. Their rates are virtually identical.

[berninbush]

2) If I am going to lurk around the Townsend, TN area then for years I have rented a cabin in Wear's Valley thru Wear's Valley Real Estate and it has been very nice. A little costly but then when I go to Wears Valley I ususally have the whole family, at one time there was 11 of us, and that is where we go.

I love Townsend!!! Gatlinburg is sort of fun to visit for a day if you feel like being a tourist-geek, but I'd much rather stay in Townsend which is lovely and unspoiled. We stay in the Wright Cabins, across the road from the little Appalachian instruments store. (Forget the name of that place, but I love visiting there too.) We've rented one this year for July 7-15. :-)

But if you're thru-hiking, those cabins may not work for you, as they require a minimum one-week rental for the summer. Still, there are some decent motels and campgrounds in town, by the Little River. If you're truly tired of the wilderness and want a flashy good time, go to Gatlinburg. If you still prefer peace and quiet, stay in Townsend.

[grrickar]

Umm...the GP Motel is not a dump. It is an older motor lodge type hotel, but I have stayed in much worse and paid much more. Gatlingburg is not cheap, and the GP is reasonable for hikers on a budget.

Reef and I stayed there in 2004 and spent $25 each for a double room. They had inet to send emails (to harass my coworkers slaving in the cube farm) and hot coffee, tea and cocoa in the office. We grabbed some hot choc packets before we left. They had doughnuts too. There is a coin-op laundry there as well.

Would I stay there for a week with the family? Maybe not. Would I spend a night there to get a hot bath and some rest - absolutely. It may not be 5-star, but when you have been sleeping shoulder to shoulder with other stinky hikers in mice infested shelters you can learn to get used to it.

[grrickar]

BTW, we rolled into Gatlingburg after hitching from Clingmans and found ourselves in the middle of town on a Friday night. We seemed to be alien to the people dressed nicely for their night on the town. The Days Inn wanted $110 for a double room. We asked if they had cheaper, they said no. We pulled out the guidebook and saw the Hiker Inn stated they were hiker friendly and had $50 rooms. The guys at the Days Inn laughed and said 'you won't find a $50 room in Gatl tonight - it's Friday.' A quick phone call later and we thanked the Days Inn desk clerk and slapped down $50 for a room at the GP, did laundry and ordered pizza.

[1happyhiker]

the stop that ripleys is on. take that street, there will be a hotel on the left almost next the place with the SUPER bangin breakfast.

NEVER STAY THERE. there were drug dealers in and out throughout the nite, last nite there i was talking with the nite mgr. apparently there had been a shooting, either a single or double murder!!!!

will see if i can find some pics from that trip.

-hh

[ShakeyLeggs]

The only redeeming feature I remember from my stay in Gatlinburg was the Smokey Mountain Brewery.

[Brushy Sage]

The Grand Prix gave me reasonable rates, and the Happy Hiker Outfitters gave me a ride back up to the AT.

[mrc237]

"When you close your eyes at night every hotel room is the same''. Tom Bodet Motel 6

[1happyhiker]

The only redeeming feature I remember from my stay in Gatlinburg was the Smokey Mountain Brewery.

x2, its not dogfish head or esp, not too shabby. brewmaster was cool, we talked brewing for a good hour or more.

-hh

[stumpy]

x2, its not dogfish head or esp, not too shabby. brewmaster was cool, we talked brewing for a good hour or more.

-hh

I have stayed in both the Grand Prix, and the Family Inn.....I think that I'd return to The Inn if given a choice............that is if I choose to return to Gaitlenberg! It's like Atlantic City, sans the casinos, in the middle of the Smokies! Really strange to me....

I grew up in East Tennessee and Gatlinburg used to be a really cool place. There were some small, family owned motor lodges, and some campgrounds. My grandparents used to spend a month up there every summer, and they camped (on 441, the main drag)! It was much fun, and not very crowded. Peigon Forge was almost not there. It had a few waterslides, built into the side of the mountain, and a few places to eat and shop. The area has really, taken a turn for the worst. However, I still get back there from time to time. Just for good ole times sake!