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Tucked into the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Pigeon Forge is a playground promising adventure. Whether visiting one of the many theme parks in the area, enjoying a dinner show, or searching for cascading waterfalls in the national park, families can wake up each day and choose a new adventure. There are so many unforgettable things to do in Pigeon Forge with kids – here are some of our favorites!
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Amusement Parks in Pigeon Forge
As a popular destination for the entire family to have a good time, there is no shortage of theme parks or amusement parks in Pigeon Forge, no matter your kids’ ages.
Dollywood Theme Park
No trip to Pigeon Forge is complete without a visit to Dollywood Theme Park, one of the top things to do for families in the Smoky Mountain area. With rides for all thrill levels, a water park, live music, entertaining shows, and even hands-on exhibits like crafts in Craftsman’s Valley, Dollywood is packed with adventure. Don’t miss the treetop skywalk, one of the most unique experiences in the park.
Wet and dry fun for kids (and adults!) of all ages! Photo courtesy of Dollywood
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Pigeon Forge Snow
At Pigeon Forge Snow, kids can race down snowy slopes on inner tubes, indoors! With real snow made fresh daily, it’s a great place to enjoy your typical snowy day outdoor activities without actually being outdoors. The snow play area is perfect for making snow angels or having a friendly snowball fight!
The Island
Some fun things to do here include an escape room, mirror maze, three-story ropes course, and laser tag.
From coasters and kiddie rides to mirror mazes and escape rooms, the whole family will have fun at the Island!
Photo by Chris Slupski on Unsplash
Stop by the Island Tiki General Store for souvenirs or visit the Alcatraz East Crime Museum inside the park. Families can see things like Ted Bundy’s VW Beetle or the Ford Bronco that O.J. rode in during his televised police chase.
The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel
At The Island amusement park, take a ride on the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel for non-hiking views of the park. Families travel 200 feet in the air in enclosed glass gondolas, roomy enough for the whole family to sit inside, for incredible views of the Smoky Mountains.
Families have an incredible viewpoint from so high up!
Photo by Steve Shreve on Unsplash
Rowdy Bear’s Smoky Mountain Snowpark
Rowdy Bear’s Smoky Mountain Snowpark is the perfect place for kids of all ages to experience snow tubing year-round, even when it’s 90 degrees outside. Families can also ride on fun coasters, the thrilling pendulum ride, or engage in friendly competition with outdoor axe throwers.
Other Can’t-Miss Activities in Pigeon Forge with Kids
Besides all the incredible family-friendly theme parks, there are also indoor and outdoor attractions galore!
Take in a Dinner Show
For a perfect way to cap off a day of adventure, check out one of the city’s lively dinner shows. From the lumberjack feats at Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud to the swashbuckling action at Pirates Voyage Dinner, every entertaining show comes packed with incredible stunts, live music, and hearty Southern meals — a real highlight of any family vacation.
Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Show offers endless eats and a unique dinner show experience!
Credit: Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Show
Play a Round of Mini Golf
Mini golf courses are scattered all across Pigeon Forge and are a fun activity for the whole family. Places like Crave Golf Club even offer candy-themed courses, making it one of the best things to do, especially with younger kids who enjoy a little friendly competition.
Wonder Works
At WonderWorks, interactive exhibits and hands-on activities through different wonder zones make learning fun for kids of all ages. This upside-down adventure is packed with science experiments, a laser tag arena, and even a dark indoor ropes course, offering a great way to blend education and excitement during your trip.
Fox Fire Adventure Park
Craving some high-flying adventures? Older kids and parents will have a great time climbing the 60-foot rock wall, ziplining through the Smokies, and tackling the aerial adventure course at Fox Fire Adventure Park. The 150-acre park also has a gem mining area, tons of hiking trails, a scenic waterfall, and a food truck area where families can stop by if they get hungry.
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Visit the Titanic Museum Attraction
The Titanic Museum Attraction gives families an up-close look at one of history’s most famous ships through immersive, interactive exhibits. Kids can walk a replica Grand Staircase, shovel coal in the boiler room, and touch a real iceberg. It’s a great thing to do for animal lovers, too — don’t miss the exhibit on the pets aboard the Titanic!
Touch a real iceberg at the Titanic Museum attraction!
Photo by Edwin Petrus on Unsplash
Family Hiking Trails in the Great Smoky Mountains
We had incredible views of the Smoky Mountains from our Airbnb lodgings, but still explored several hiking trails through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park during the week we visited. Hiking is always one of our favorite things to do – here are a few hikes we explored with kiddos in tow, and a few others families may want to explore. And, for families not up for hiking, take this scenic drive from the Townsend Entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains and see some beautiful views of the park!
Gatlinburg Trail
The Gatlinburg Trail is also accessible near Sugarlands Visitor Center, being about 4 miles round-trip. Our boys loved crossing the huge bridge that goes across the river and listening for rushing water along the path.
Listen for rushing water all along the Gatlinburg Trail!
Photo by Oleh Holodyshyn on Unsplash
Cataract Falls
The Cataract Falls hike is 0.7 miles out and back, has minimal elevation changes, and is perfect for families with younger children or those with less-mobile family members. Park at Sugarlands Visitor Center and follow the Fighting Creek Nature Trail to the falls. It will be most dramatic after a heavy rain.
Waterfalls are impressive any time, but Cataract Falls is especially beautiful after a heavy rain.
Photo by Vlad Sorodoc on Unsplash
Kuwohi Trail
The Kuwohi Trail, previously known as the Clingman’s Dome Trail, leads to the highest lookout point in the park – 6,643 feet in the air. With clear skies, the view goes on for 100 miles! Even though the half-mile-long trail is paved, it does have a steep elevation climb.
Views like these make the hike up Kuwohi very worth it!
Photo by Joshua Burdick on Unsplash
The trailhead is 20 miles from Sugarlands Visitor Center. Take Newfound Gap Road for 13 miles, then turn right. The parking lot will be about 7 miles away. Families visiting from December to April (or when road conditions are dangerous) won’t be able to visit because the road is closed seasonally.
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Andrews Bald
Andrews Bald is another steeper, moderate hike, but my boys (who were 8 and 10 at the time) could manage just fine. It is under 4 miles out and back and offers stunning views from high up in the Smoky Mountain range, with beautiful azaleas along the path in the summer. There’s limited parking here, and it is a more popular spot, so consider a shuttle service when visiting during the busy season.
Laurel Falls
Laurel Falls is 2.6 miles round trip and isn’t especially challenging, but the 80-foot waterfall at the end is an amazing payoff. Colorful rhododendrons are abundant along the trail from May to July, and some areas offer incredible mountain views. This hike is closed for maintenance until 2026.
Look for colorful rhododendrons along this hike!
Photo by hayato togashi on Unsplash
When You Go
Where to Stay in Pigeon Forge
Big Bear Lodge offers condo and cabin lodgings with full kitchens. Visitors also have access to an indoor and outdoor pool, hot tub, fitness area, and game room. The view of the mountains from Big Bear Lodge is also spectacular!
Riverstone Resort & Spa is next to the beautiful Gatlinburg golf course and just a few miles from Dollywood. Families stay in 1-4 bedroom condos or log cabins and have amenities like an indoor pool, outdoor lazy river with waterfalls, and gas fireplaces in the lodgings.
Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort is a good choice for families looking for a kid’s club. There’s also an onsite Southern restaurant, spa, outdoor pools, and a complimentary shuttle service for the Dollywood theme park or water park.
Where to Eat in Pigeon Forge
We had breakfast two different mornings at Wild Bear Tavern. They had something for everyone – I had a build-your-own omelet (and loved that it came with pumpernickel toast!) My partner said the biscuits and gravy were delicious, and our boys loved their pancake breakfast.
The Sunliner Diner has a cute, 50s diner theme. The American Diner-style menu was perfect for my family of picky eaters, and we highly recommend saving room for a hand-spun milkshake.
For me, the best part of visiting Pigeon Forge was the Southern cooking, and Huck Finn’s Catfish is the embodiment of that. I ended up getting the Catfish and Southern Chicken Combo because I couldn’t pick – both were incredible!
Traveling to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, from Los Angeles
Families traveling from Los Angeles will want to fly out of LAX to Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport, which is the best way to reach Pigeon Forge, with an hour’s drive through the beautiful Smoky Mountain area once you land. Renting a car is the best way to explore everything the region has to offer. Most flights have at least one layover and take 6.5+ hours, with flights being offered through Frontier, Spirit, United, Allegiant, and American Airlines.
An excellent discount site for rental cars and flights is Booking! We literally save hundreds using it.
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