Tennessee Itinerary: 5 days in the Smoky Mountains

This trip? Oh, it was a good one. Like, core-memory, heart-happy, "we should do this every year" good. Luke and I planned with our friends and booked it before Christmas, which meant we had prime cabin options. And let me tell you—we got a gem. But more on that later. (Suspense, ooooh!)

Both of our families have been to Tennessee multiple times, so we had the best of both worlds: the thrill of new adventures and the wisdom of seasoned travelers. Our family had never been to this part of Tennessee. We tried to balance nature with touristy fun—aka, bribing the kids with go-karts so they wouldn’t revolt when we made them hike two miles uphill. 😆

The Drive Down: Midnight Snacks & Sunrises

Both families decided to drive down, and since we had just gotten our new truck for our big year-long adventure, we figured this was the perfect chance to put her to the test. Our friends split the trip, staying overnight in Indianapolis. Us? Nah. We’re built different. We hit the road at 3:45 AM (yes, I know) and hiked it in one go.

The kids, despite their “can’t-get-out-of-bed-for-school” energy, woke up like caffeinated daisies. We had everything pre-loaded: a backseat turned into their personal sleep pods, a “passenger princess” setup for me (obviously), and Luke, armed with a full thermos of coffee, a bangin’ playlist, and the knowledge that he’d be the only one awake in 30 minutes. 😴

Road snacks? Prepped. Kids’ favorite gas station drinks? Bought in advance to avoid unnecessary pit stops. And besides a few slowdowns south of Indy, the drive was perfect. Oh, and we got blessed with the most incredible sunrise. Like, “I wish I had my drone out” levels of stunning.

Arrived at the cabin around 6 PM—exhausted, excited, and ready to explore.

The Cabin: Straight Outta a Fairytale

This place was magical. It sat between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg—just 5 minutes from each but hidden away in the woods like a secret hideout. When you turn off the highway, you're greeted by a winding 1.5-lane road with a babbling creek straight out of The Hobbit. Then—BAM!—a hairpin turn and a climb so steep that our 3500 Chevy needed a second to adjust.

The cabins along this road had five-story porches hanging off the mountain. I genuinely considered leashing my children. (Kidding! But also... not?!)

Our cabin was at the top, but luckily on the inner side of the road—so no death-defying yard drops. It had two bedrooms, a loft, two bathrooms, and so much rustic charm you could practically hear an old country song playing in the background. Dolly, is that you? The kids loved their loft setup, and the hot tub on the back porch? Elite. Perfect for soaking after a long day and watching the sunset. I got some killer drone footage right above our cabin.

We ended the night with a walk around our mountain hideaway. My cheeks got an unexpected workout.

📍 Check out our cabin here: Kathy’s Kabin

Day One: The Perfect Start

Started the morning with a quick breakfast (because we had yet to grocery shop), then headed to The Old Mill for shopping. The spring flowers were showstoppers—full Disney-princess-gathering-flowers energy. 🌸

Next up: Rocky Top Mountain Coaster. The kids crushed it waiting in line, and the ride? Absolute blast. If you go, don’t forget—they offer military discounts!

Ended the night with a quiet evening on the porch, just soaking in the mountain air. Perfection.

📍 The Old Mill 📍 Rocky Top Mountain Coaster

Day Two: The Titanic Experience

This was on everyone’s bucket list, so we pre-booked tickets. Lucky we did because it was the only rainy day of the trip.

The museum was incredible—hundreds of original artifacts, including a room with water at the same temperature as that fateful night. Chilling. And in the tribute room for the orchestra, a live pianist played Titanic’s theme song. Cue the tears. 😭

📍 Titanic Museum

Day Three: Adventure Mode

Adult Day! We hiked Chimney Tops Trail in the Smokies—1.8 miles of pure incline.

The kids loved the little river that ran alongside the trail, meaning they were all soaked by the time we got back. Worth it? Absolutely.

Day Four: Sunrise & Magic

Up before dawn to experience Cades Cove at sunrise. If you ever get the chance—do it. It’s a drive-through history lesson where the first settlers lived, and the morning light? Unreal.

That night, we went to Anakeesta in Gatlinburg—an absolute must-do. You take a ski lift to the top of a peak, where you’ll find restaurants, rides, playgrounds, a sky tower, and the coolest tree bridges. Do them at night! Trust me.

📍 Anakeesta

Day Five: Pirates & Go-Karts

Our last full day was a chill one.

We took the kids to the Pirates Voyage Dinner Show, and OH MY WORD. Theatre magic. It was a full-scale production—so worth it.

After, the kids begged for mini-golf... until we saw the price tag. $90?! Nope. We negotiated for a go-kart race and candy instead. Best trade ever.

BUT—the biggest surprise of the trip happened that night. As we were driving back to the cabin, we spotted a huge black bear just a few cabins down from ours. He was massive, casually strolling around like he owned the place. The kids (or maybe just me) were losing their minds, and I was just hoping he didn’t decide to check out our trash cans. It was the perfect way to end our Tennessee adventure! 🐻

The Drive Home: Sleep-Deprived Decisions

We thought about stopping overnight, but Luke, our road warrior, decided to power through. We rolled in at 4 AM, went straight to bed, and woke up wondering if the trip was a dream. (Spoiler: it wasn’t!)

Final Thoughts & Your Turn!

This trip was incredible, and I know we’ll be back. Have you been to any of these spots? Love them? Hate them? Drop your recommendations for next time!