Play Mini Golf in Gatlinburg Like a Local

There are five mini golf courses in Gatlinburg along the Parkway, and their brochures sound very similar. But they don't deliver the same thing.

One takes you up a mountain on a tram. Two are fully indoors. One locks in your price for the whole week. 

Knowing which fits your group before you leave the cabin is the difference between a great evening and a frustrating one.

So let’s take a look at them in detail below.

Four Things That'll Save You a Headache on the Parkway

• Price range: Currently $10 for adults at the low end (Circus Golf) to $18.99 for adults at the high end (Ripley's Davy Crockett). Verify current rates at each venue before visiting.
• Stroller warning: Hillbilly Golf does not allow strollers or pets on the tram. A baby carrier works better for young children on this terrain.
• Free game opportunity: A hole-in-one on the 18th hole at Ripley's Davy Crockett currently earns a free game voucher. Confirm this policy is still active before visiting.
• Rain plan: Treasure Quest and Circus Golf are both fully climate-controlled and open in any weather.

Your Gatlinburg Mini Golf Roadmap

1. Five Courses, One Table: Pick Before You Putt
2. One Clear Answer: Which Course Actually Fits Your Trip
3. Hillbilly Golf: The Tram Ride, the Terrain, and What Families Need to Know
4. Ripley's Davy Crockett: The Most Stroller-Friendly Outdoor Course on the Parkway
5. Gatlin's Mini Golf: 45 Holes and a Deal That Pays for Itself
6. Treasure Quest: The Best Indoor Course for Rainy Days and Hot Afternoons
7. Circus Golf: The Right Call for Young Kids and Tight Budgets
8. Timing, Passes, and What to Wear on the Parkway
9. Mini Golf in Pigeon Forge: Is the Drive Worth It?
10. Everything You Wondered Before Teeing Off

Five Courses, One Table: Pick Before You Putt

Here are all five miniature golf courses side by side so you can pick before you head to the Parkway.

Prices are current and subject to change. Verify with each venue before your visit.

One Clear Answer: Which Course Actually Fits Your Trip

Ripley’s Davy Crockett Mini-Golf - photo by Lyle Scott, via Flickr

Find your group type below for the best mini golf match, then skip to that section for the full details.

• Toddlers and strollers: Ripley's Davy Crockett. Flat paths, tree shade, and the most stroller-friendly outdoor course on the Parkway.
• Teenagers and active adults: Hillbilly Golf. The tram ride and mountain terrain are the whole point.
• Mixed mobility, multi-generational group: Ripley's outdoor or Gatlin's indoor course. Both are flat and manageable for grandparents and young children together.
• Families on a full-week stay: Gatlin's Unlimited Golf Pass. Pay once, come back every evening.
• Rainy afternoon or hot midday: Treasure Quest for older kids and adults, Circus Golf for young children.
• Tight budget, evening entertainment: Circus Golf. Lowest published children's rate on the Parkway, with a golf-and-maze combo available.

Hillbilly Golf: The Tram Ride, the Terrain, and What Families Need to Know

Getting to Hillbilly Golf in Gatlinburg is part of the experience. A funicular tram carries you 300 feet up the mountain before a single hole is played.

Above, the terrain is pure Appalachian. Farm tractors, covered wagons, moonshine stills, outhouse obstacles.

One standout hole requires you to use your putter handle like a pool cue to shoot the ball down a gravity-fed Plinko-style ramp.

The Catch

• Strollers and pets are not allowed on the tram (plan ahead if you're staying at a pet-friendly Gatlinburg cabin). A baby carrier works better than a stroller for young children on this terrain.
• The course closes during thunderstorms. Rain checks are currently available.
• The terrain is steep and stepped throughout. Guests with limited mobility will find a flat course more comfortable.

Best For: Teens, adults and couples wanting a genuine Appalachian experience.

Hours 

• March through November: 9 AM to 10 PM daily (11 PM on select evenings).
• December: Friday through Sunday, approximately 10 AM to 6 PM.
• January and February: Closed.

Hours are weather permitting. For sudden closures during storms, on-site signage at the tram entrance is the fastest update.

Price:

• Adults (12+): $14.50 plus tax
• Children (4-12): $10.50 plus tax
• Children 3 and under: Free
• Locals, seniors, first responders, and military: $12.50 plus tax

Second Game: Currently $6.50 with a signed scorecard, valid within three days.

Courses

Two 18‑hole mini golf courses, for a total of 36 holes.

Insider's Tip: Use the restroom at the base before boarding the tram. There is nothing up there.

Location: 340 Parkway.

Ripley's Davy Crockett: The Most Stroller-Friendly Outdoor Course on the Parkway

After Hillbilly Golf's stepped terrain, Ripley's is a flat contrast. Wide paths, a dense tree canopy, and real shade through the warmest months.

Two animatronics stand out. A raccoon pops up from a rustic log cabin on a successful putt, and a bear nods in acknowledgment.

The Village Course also has heckling crow animatronics perched in the trees. They mock your putting as you play through.

Best For: Multi-generational families and parents with toddlers. A family cabin in Gatlinburg is the right base for a group like this.

Hours:

• January through February: Friday through Monday, 10 AM to 6 PM. Closed Tuesday through Thursday.
• March through Memorial Day: 10 AM to 9 PM. Friday and Saturday during Spring Break often extend to 10 PM or 11 PM.
• Memorial Day through Labor Day: 10 AM to 11 PM. Weekend nights sometimes run until midnight.
• Labor Day through New Year's Day: 10 AM to 8 PM. October weekends may see extended hours.

Hours can vary. Verify on Ripley's official site before your visit.

Price:

• Adults (12+): $18.99 plus tax
• Children (3-11): $11.99 plus tax
• Children under 2: Free

Verify before your visit.

Combo Value: The Ripley's Combo Save is currently available. Purchase your Aquarium of the Smokies ticket first, then add Davy Crockett Mini-Golf as a discounted attraction. Savings typically run $5 to $10 per person compared to gate prices. Verify before your visit.

Courses: Two 18-hole options. One is relaxed and straightforward. The other features tighter angles, sloped greens, and water elements that actively alter ball speed. A hole-in-one on the 18th hole currently earns a free game voucher for a future visit, limited to one per group per day. Confirm this is still active before your visit.

Location: 188 Parkway, near Traffic Light #1 at the northern end of the Parkway.

Gatlin's Mini Golf: 45 Holes and a Deal That Pays for Itself

Most courses give you one round. Gatlin's gives you the week.

The outdoor courses run beneath a 100-year-old native hardwood oak canopy. Gatlin's has earned Best Attraction in Landscaping from the City of Gatlinburg.

When the weather turns, the indoor blacklight 9-hole course is right there on the same property. It takes you through an underwater scene with a pirate ship, a mermaid, and glowing sea creatures.

Best For: Large groups and families on week-long stays. Longtime Smokies visitors may know this place as Fort Fun.

Hours: Open daily. Doors typically open at 9 AM, shifting to 10 AM in deep winter. Closing times range from 9 PM in the off-season to midnight during peak summer and holiday weekends. Check gatlinsfuncenter.com or call ahead to confirm.

Pricing: 

• Single Activity Ticket: ~$19.99 per person (36 outdoor holes or blacklight golf)

Verify current rates at gatlinsfuncenter.com/pricing and see different combo options.

Courses: 

Two themed 18‑hole outdoor courses plus a 9‑hole indoor blacklight course, for 45 holes total. Educational placards at each tee box tell the story of Gatlinburg's early settlers.

Location: Reagan Terrace Mall, 716 Parkway.

Treasure Quest: The Best Indoor Course for Rainy Days and Hot Afternoons

Plan this course before you leave the cabin. Afternoon thunderstorms in June through August are predictable across the Smokies, and outdoor courses get uncomfortable fast by midday.

Treasure Quest is fully air-conditioned and Indiana Jones-themed.

It's the better indoor mini golf option for older kids and adults looking for rainy day options beyond a basic blacklight round.

Theme: Indiana Jones-style jungle and temple exploration. Egyptian sarcophagi, shark jaws, and skeleton pirates are placed throughout the course. Some guests find the decor cheesy. Most agree it adds to the fun.

Blacklight Holes: Five of the 18 holes play under blacklight. Depth perception shifts on these holes, so expect a different kind of challenge on that stretch.

Difficulty: Medium. No steep inclines or punishing geometry. Kids stay engaged without getting frustrated. The scorecard also includes a scavenger hunt. Find the listed objects on each hole and redeem at the counter for a prize.

Hours: Open daily, but hours vary significantly by day of the week. Typical off-peak hours run 11 AM to 8 PM, extending to 11 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Call (865) 436-3972 to confirm the exact schedule for your travel dates.

Price: Currently ~$10-14 per person. No official site exists to confirm this figure. Call to verify the current rate before your visit.

Courses: 

18‑hole indoor “adventure” course themed like an ancient jungle temple with strong Indiana Jones–style and pirate/treasure‑hunt vibes.

Address: 653 Parkway.

Circus Golf: The Right Call for Young Kids and Tight Budgets

Circus Golf is the lowest-difficulty course on the Parkway, built for young children. The website rate is also the lowest published price among all five courses.

The setting is a blacklight 3D circus funhouse. Animatronics, optical illusions, and custom sound design throughout.

Theme and Designed For: Built for young children and sensory-engaged kids. Older teens looking for a real challenge will find this one too easy.

Hole 18 Detail: The final putt triggers a celebration song. 

Hours: Open year-round. Regular hours run 9 AM to 10:30 PM. Summer hours extend to midnight. Verify before your visit.

Price:

• Adults: $10
• Children (ages 2-9): $7.95

Verify current rates on mirrormazegatlinburg.com before your visit.

Combo Deals:

• Mini golf + Amazing Mirror Maze: currently $12.00 per person
• Three-attraction combo adding Shoot 'Em Up Cinema: currently $16.00 per person

Verify both combos before your visit.

Courses: 

18‑hole indoor blacklight mini golf course that is half circus funhouse and half mini‑golf.

Address: 919 Parkway, near Traffic Light #8, directly across from the Gatlinburg Convention Center.

Timing, Passes, and What to Wear on the Parkway

Best Time to Play Outdoor Courses: Right at opening or after 5 PM are the two practical windows. Gatlinburg in summer gets hot, and July midday on Hillbilly Golf’s unshaded incline feels genuinely uncomfortable.

How Long Does It Take: One 18-hole round takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour. Two adjacent courses in a single day are realistic if you start early.

Combo Deals Worth Knowing: Three passes are worth knowing before you leave the cabin. Ripley's Combo Save, Gatlin's Unlimited Mini Golf Pass at ~$21.99 valid for up to 10 days, and Circus Golf with Mirror Maze at $12.00. See each course's section above for full terms.

What to Wear: Closed-toe walking shoes are non-negotiable for Hillbilly Golf. Any comfortable footwear works for the flat courses.

Advance Booking, Parking, and Transit: Most Parkway courses are walk-up.

Street parking fills quickly in summer. The city runs paid garages and a free Park-and-Ride at the Welcome Center.

The trolley is currently fare-free with color-coded routes serving the Parkway. Check the trolley route map on the official Gatlinburg site before your visit.

Mini Golf in Pigeon Forge: Is the Drive Worth It?

The 7-mile drive from Gatlinburg to Pigeon Forge can stretch to 45-60 minutes each way on peak summer afternoons and July holiday weekends.

If you're already heading to Pigeon Forge, Crave Golf Club offers a 19-hole indoor course and a 19-hole rooftop course, currently ~$19.99 for adults covering both. Verify on the official Crave site before your visit.

Professor Hacker's Lost Treasure Golf adds a mining train ride to the round.

For travelers exploring the broader Smoky Mountain area, Ripley's Old MacDonald's Farm in Sevierville is a 54-hole barnyard complex spread across three 18-hole courses.

It is a longer commitment, but worth knowing if your group is already staying in a Pigeon Forge cabin and wants more than one day of putting.

Everything You Wondered Before Teeing Off

Which Gatlinburg mini golf courses are indoors?

Treasure Quest and Circus Golf are fully indoors and climate-controlled. Gatlin's also has a 9-hole indoor blacklight course on the same property as its outdoor courses.

Is Hillbilly Golf suitable for families with young children?

The course has steep stairs, no strollers allowed on the tram, and no bathrooms above the base. Ripley's Davy Crockett is the best mini golf option in Gatlinburg for families with young children. See Gatlinburg with kids for more age-appropriate stops.

What is the cheapest mini golf in Gatlinburg?

Circus Golf adults are currently $10, with children ages 2-9 at $7.95. The golf and mirror maze combo runs $12.00 per person. Verify rates before visiting.

Is there a way to play mini golf in Gatlinburg for free?

A hole-in-one on the 18th hole at Ripley's Davy Crockett currently earns a free game voucher for a future visit, limited to one per group per day. Confirm before your round.

How long does a round of mini golf take in Gatlinburg?

One 18-hole round takes approximately 45 minutes to one hour. Playing two courses in one day is realistic if you start early. See how mini golf fits into a 3-day Gatlinburg itinerary.

Can you play multiple mini golf courses in one day?

Yes, especially courses clustered along the Parkway. Hillbilly Golf and Gatlin's are close enough to pair in one outing if you start at opening time.

Does Hillbilly Golf close when it rains?

Hillbilly Golf closes during thunderstorms and reopens when conditions clear. Rain checks are currently provided. On-site signage at the tram entrance updates faster than social media during sudden mountain storms.

Do I need to book mini golf in Gatlinburg in advance?

Most Parkway courses are walk-up, no reservation needed. Ripley's Combo Save may carry a discount when purchased online. Your Gatlinburg vacation guide covers everything else worth booking before you arrive.

Is there parking near the mini golf courses on the Parkway?

Street parking fills quickly in summer. The city runs paid garages and a free Park-and-Ride at the Welcome Center. The trolley is currently fare-free.

The Greens Are Set. Cap the Night Right.

The best evenings playing mini golf in Gatlinburg follow a simple rhythm. A round on the Parkway, a walk back through town, and back to the cabin while the ridge lights up behind you.

Browse our cabins near downtown Gatlinburg and see what's available for your dates.