{"id":4736,"date":"2018-04-04T12:00:17","date_gmt":"2018-04-04T16:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cabinsforyou.com\/blog\/?p=4736"},"modified":"2026-04-28T11:12:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T11:12:20","slug":"smoky-mountain-fun-every-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cabinsforyou.com\/blog\/attractions\/smoky-mountain-fun-every-budget.htm","title":{"rendered":"10 Smoky Mountain Summer Ideas & Family Fun for Every Budget"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cabins for YOU<\/strong> is a family-owned business, a family who happens to have a lot of kids. So, we know just how expensive summer vacations can get, no matter where you go! The awesome thing about a summer vacation in the Smoky Mountains is the wide array of options for entertainment suitable for every budget! Plan your vacation with another family or a group of families from your kids\u2019 athletic team, church friends, or long-time family friends and split the cost of a large group cabin<\/a>, making your lodging even more affordable. Plus, the more the merrier!<\/p>\n

There are tons of fun things to do while staying in a Gatlinburg<\/a> or Pigeon Forge<\/a> cabin this summer, even if you\u2019re vacationing on a budget. Here are our top 10 to fit any budget<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Sightseeing Explorations through the Woods | FREE<\/strong>
    \nHundreds of miles of trails sprawl through the Smoky Mountain landscapes, offering some of the most incredible views and gratifying experiences. Take the short, paved trail to the 80-foot Laurel Falls (2.6 miles roundtrip) or spend half the day exploring along rivers and giant rock formations to Alum Cave (4.5 miles roundtrip)! Andrew\u2019s Bald (3.6 miles roundtrip) is a picturesque field high in the mountains perfect for a family picnic or relaxing with some of the best views in the Smokies!<\/p>\n

    Why We Love It:<\/strong>
    \nHiking is great exercise and a good way to disconnect the kids from all their electronic devices! Tell your teens the pictures they post will get tons of Instagram likes\u2026 Bond as a family and experience the breathtaking natural beauty of the Smoky Mountains!<\/em><\/li>\n

  2. River Rapid Expeditions | <$50 per person<\/strong>
    \nSightseeing and thrills all in one adventure! Whitewater rafting is a popular sport in the Smoky Mountains, with so many prime rivers racing through serene mountains and gorgeous forestry. Find the right whitewater rafting experience for you and the whole family on the Upper or Lower Pigeon River with     Wild Water Rafting<\/a>!<\/p>\n

    Why We Love It:<\/strong>
    \nBesides the obvious excitement and beautiful scenery, whitewater rafting works up quite an appetite! Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy under the pavilions or hit up The Old Mill, where they serve up delicious, generous portions of Southern goodness! After rafting and eating, your kids will take the best nap ever back at the cabin, giving you some moments of peace, as well!<\/em><\/li>\n

  3. In-Cabin Amusements | FREE<\/strong>
    \nBring your favorite games from home and pick up snacks from the local shops for good, cheap fun in the cabin. Many of our cabins include indoor pools, arcade games, home theaters, and tons of other amenities to entertain the whole family.<\/p>\n

    Why We Love It:<\/strong>
    \nNot only is staying in the cabin cheap fun, but it\u2019s also great bonding time with family without busy schedules interrupting. <\/em><\/li>\n

  4. Day at Dollywood\u2019s Splash Country | $45-$50 per person<\/strong>
    \nAs one of the U.S.\u2019s Top Ten Water Parks (TripAdvisor), Dollywood Splash Country is 35-acres of premier water rides, dining, and great scenery while you soak up some sun!<\/p>\n

    Why We Love It:<\/strong>
    \nEvery member of the family can easily enjoy an entire day in Dollywood\u2019s Splash Country with thrilling water slides, relaxing poolside canopies, lazy \u201criver\u201d tubing, and beautiful Smoky Mountain scenery!<\/em><\/li>\n

  5. Summer Nights in Downtown Gatlinburg | FREE<\/strong>
    \nMake your way to downtown Gatlinburg and be treated to Smoky Mountain storytellers, musicians, and street performers along the sidewalks for Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales! Get to know the rich Southern culture beginning at 6 p.m. every night from June 10 through July 30.<\/p>\n

    Why We Love It:<\/strong>
    \nThe Smoky Mountains have a whole lot of personality!<\/em><\/li>\n

  6. Mountaintop Views in Ober Gatlinburg | <$25 – $35 per person <\/strong>
    \nHigh atop Mt. Harrison rests an impressive and unique family-fun attraction overlooking the city of Gatlinburg and the surrounding Smoky Mountains. Blaze down the water rafting ride, find your way through the Amaze\u2019n Maze, and go ice skating year-round on the indoor ice rink. The Wildlife Encounter introduces the family to Smoky Mountain furry and feathered natives, up-close!<\/p>\n

    Why We Love It:<\/strong>
    \nEasily spend a full day in     Ober Gatlinburg<\/a> shopping, eating, and playing with incredible views of the Smokies. Those sporting Ober\u2019s Premium Wristband are afforded unlimited rides on most of the attractions and one session of ice skating!<\/em><\/li>\n

  7. Race Along the Parkway | <$20 per person<\/strong>
    \nGo karts and arcades have been a long-standing family favorite in Pigeon Forge, which is why you see so many tracks and neon lights along the Parkway in downtown!     The Track<\/a> provides fun to every child with four distinct races for kids as little as 3\u2019 tall!<\/p>\n

    Why We Love It:<\/strong>
    \nGo-karts and arcades are an easy way to spend the afternoon after exhilarating days whitewater rafting, ziplining, and hiking. The Track also offers \u201cpoint packages\u201d that save you money and allow you to use the points on go-kart races, water bumper-car rides, kid rides, and the arcade!<\/em><\/li>\n

  8. Anakeesta Adventures in the Tree-Tops | <$20 per person<\/strong>
    \nRide to the summit of     Anakeesta Mountain<\/a> in the Chondola, 600\u2019 to above the city of Gatlinburg, for a magical day of shopping and delicious treats in Firefly Village! After taking in the incredible sights of the surrounding Smoky Mountains, tour the treetops along the bridges of the Tree Canopy Walk.<\/p>\n

    Why We Love It:<\/strong>
    \nThe views and whimsical atmosphere of Anakeesta are incredible! The Children\u2019s Treehouse Village Playground is a great place for your little ones to tire themselves out before heading back to the cabin, giving you time in the hot tub while they nap in the cabin!<\/em><\/li>\n

  9. Foxfire Mountain Fun Outdoors | <$60 per person<\/strong>
    \nTons of adventures await you at the 150-acre family farm converted into an outdoor theme park! The highest and longest zipline, longest swinging bridge, and miles of scenic hiking trails are all located at Foxfire Mountain.<\/p>\n

    Why We Love It:<\/strong>
    \nFoxfire Mountain offers every way to explore the lush forestry of the Smoky Mountains and picture perfect \u201cfront yard\u201d where the family can play cornhole and relax in the rocking chairs with homemade cider from the Wyile Cidery!<\/em><\/li>\n

  10. Lazy Days on the River | <$15 per person<\/strong>
    \nWhile whitewater rafting is a blast, a warm day of soaking up some sun while bobbing down the river is relaxing for you and fun for the kids. Laugh while the kids splash each other and race through stretches of rapids. River Rat offers 2 experiences: the \u201cadventurous\u201d upper river and the calmer lower Little River.<\/p>\n

    Why We Love It:<\/strong>
    \nScenic views, natural swimming holes, a rock jump, and cool waters under warm sunshine make for an exciting day on the river that is great for groups and doesn\u2019t break the bank!<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    For even more family-friendly ideas beyond this list, check out our guide to fun things to do in Gatlinburg \u2014 from attractions and dining to shopping and outdoor adventures.<\/p>\n

    Whatever way you choose to spend your summer vacation in the Smokies, whether it\u2019s movie nights, river rafting, roller coasters, or hiking, you are guaranteed a good time, relaxing moments, and great service with Cabins for YOU! Give us a call and start planning your dream Smoky Mountain vacation, today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Cabins for YOU is a family-owned business, a family who happens to have a lot of kids. So, we know just how expensive summer vacations can get, no matter where you go! The awesome thing about a summer vacation in the Smoky Mountains is the wide array of options for entertainment suitable for every budget! Plan your vacation with another family or a group of families from your kids\u2019 athletic team, church friends, or long-time family friends and split the cost of a large group cabin, making your lodging even more affordable. Plus, the more the merrier! There are tons […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4846,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[289],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4736","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-attractions"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cabinsforyou.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4736","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cabinsforyou.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cabinsforyou.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cabinsforyou.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cabinsforyou.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4736"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.cabinsforyou.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4736\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10131,"href":"https:\/\/www.cabinsforyou.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4736\/revisions\/10131"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cabinsforyou.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4846"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cabinsforyou.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4736"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cabinsforyou.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4736"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cabinsforyou.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4736"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}