A Smokies vacation doesn’t have to drain the wallet. The national park next door charges no entrance fee, and some of the best evenings in Pigeon Forge cost nothing at all. Here’s our list of free things to do in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, with every “free” checked against the park’s or venue’s own website.
A few spots below are cheap rather than free, and we’ve said so where that’s the case.
Photo at top: Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Photo by Sarah Stierch, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
About Parking Tags
There’s no entrance fee for the Smokies, but you do need a parking tag to park anywhere in the park for more than 15 minutes (NPS fees). Driving through without stopping, or pulling over for a few minutes, doesn’t need one.
- Prices: $5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year, for any vehicle.
- Where to buy: online at Recreation.gov (print it at home), at Sugarlands Visitor Center, the Gatlinburg Welcome Center on Banner Road, the REI in Pigeon Forge, or at parking tag machines around the park.
- Good to know: America the Beautiful passes, including the Senior Pass, don’t count as a parking tag. Vehicles with a state disability placard or plate don’t need one.
- Free days: the park doesn’t require tags on national park free entrance days. The two left in 2026 are Oct. 27 and Nov. 11.
Sugarlands Visitor Center
The park’s main visitor center near Gatlinburg has natural history exhibits and a free 20-minute park film, and rangers can help plan a hike (NPS). Ranger talks are offered regularly from June through October.
Gatlinburg Trail
This easy riverside walk runs 1.9 miles each way between Sugarlands Visitor Center and the edge of Gatlinburg, about 4 miles round trip. It follows the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River past old stone chimneys from homesites that were here before the park (NPS).
Cades Cove
Cades Cove is a wide valley ringed by mountains, with an 11-mile, one-way loop road past log homes and old churches, plus a good chance of spotting wildlife. Cable Mill, the working gristmill at the midpoint, is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Nov. 29 in 2026 (NPS).
Roadside Waterfalls and Scenic Drives
You can see a lot of the park without leaving the car. On Little River Road, The Sinks and Meigs Falls are roadside waterfalls about 12 and 13 miles west of Sugarlands. Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) is open year-round, weather permitting, and climbs from Gatlinburg toward the North Carolina line.
Free Things to Do in Pigeon Forge
The Island in Pigeon Forge
There’s no admission charge to walk around The Island, and parking is always free in its lots. The show fountain plays every 30 minutes from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., on the hour and half hour, with water and lights set to music (The Island). The Island’s events calendar lists live music too.
The Old Mill Area
The Old Mill has stood on the Little Pigeon River since 1830 and still grinds with water power. Strolling the grounds is free, and so are the daily pottery demonstrations. You can also watch candy and jelly being made. Next door, Old Forge Distillery offers free moonshine tastings for anyone 21 or older (The Old Mill).
Patriot Park and the Riverwalk Greenway
Patriot Park honors Sevier County veterans, with a half-mile walking path along the river, flags from all 50 states and a Patriot missile at its center (Pigeon Forge Tourism). From there, the Riverwalk Greenway runs more than 4 miles along the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River, through The Island and around the old City Park behind the Community Center (City of Pigeon Forge).
Wear Farm City Park and the StoryWalk
Pigeon Forge’s main city park has two playgrounds, including the Discovery Playground that’s fully accessible for kids with special needs, plus walking trails and a StoryWalk Trail (City of Pigeon Forge).
Winterfest Lights
Pigeon Forge’s Winterfest puts up more than 6 million lights from Nov. 6, 2026 through Jan. 31, 2027 (Pigeon Forge Tourism). The Wonders of Light Walking Trail along the Riverwalk is free, pet-friendly and wheelchair-friendly, with more than 45 nature-themed displays. You can also see the lights from your car on the Winterfest Driving Tour of Lights down the Parkway.
Free Things to Do in Gatlinburg
Ride the Gatlinburg Trolley
There’s no fare to ride the Gatlinburg Trolley, and it runs 365 days a year (Gatlinburg Trolley). All routes stop at the Mass Transit Center at Ripley’s Aquarium. From May through October trolleys run 8:30 a.m. to midnight, and from Nov. 1 through April 30 they run 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community
This 8-mile loop on Glades Road, Buckhorn Road and U.S. 321 is home to more than 80 artists and craftspeople, and many of them will happily talk about their work while you browse (Arts & Crafts Community). Looking costs nothing, and each shop has free parking.
Winter Magic Lights
Every winter Gatlinburg strings millions of lights on displays all over town, a tradition that goes back more than 30 years. You can drive through or walk the Parkway, and the free Visit Gatlinburg app has a self-guided lights tour and a snowpeople scavenger hunt (Visit Gatlinburg).
Almost Free
These aren’t free, but they’re cheap enough to mention.
- Ole Smoky Moonshine Holler: tastings are $5 and come with a $5-off coupon, or $8 for the premium tasting. You must be 21 or older with a valid ID (Ole Smoky). 903 Parkway, Suite 128, Gatlinburg.
- Pigeon Forge trolley: $1 a ride on most routes, $3 for an all-day pass, and free for kids 3 and under (City of Pigeon Forge).
For more ideas, see our things to do in Gatlinburg and things to do in Pigeon Forge pages. If the weather turns, our rainy day guide lists indoor spots in both towns.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Great Smoky Mountains National Park free?
There’s no entrance fee, but you need a parking tag to park anywhere in the park for more than 15 minutes. Tags are $5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year, and the park doesn’t require them on national park free entrance days.
What are some free things to do in Pigeon Forge at night?
Walk The Island and watch the show fountain, which plays every 30 minutes until 11:30 p.m. with no admission charge and free parking. From Nov. 6 through Jan. 31, the Winterfest Wonders of Light Walking Trail along the Riverwalk is free too.
Is the Gatlinburg Trolley free?
Yes. There are no fares on Gatlinburg’s trolleys, and they run 365 days a year. The Pigeon Forge trolley is a separate system that costs $1 a ride on most routes.
Are moonshine tastings free in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge?
Some are. Old Forge Distillery at The Old Mill in Pigeon Forge offers free tastings, while Ole Smoky Moonshine Holler in Gatlinburg charges $5 for a regular tasting. You must be 21 or older for either.
When is Cades Cove closed to cars?
Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to vehicles on Wednesdays, typically from May through September, so people can walk and bike it. The rest of the time it’s open to cars from sunrise to sunset.