The Smoky Mountains is so beautiful during the autumn season! We are so blessed to live in a location that has all 4 seasons. Each season is so pretty but I think Fall is a favorite for many! From the crisp cool air, the changing of the trees, warm cozy sweaters and fun activities that come with it, we are all ready!
Hi! Thanks for coming to our blog! We are Sarah and Stephanie. We are two local moms who have lived in the Beautiful Smoky Mountains for most of our lives. We love to find things to do in the area with our kids and have a good time. We hope you will follow along with us.
Ok, so back to the Bucket List of ideas. We love to make lists and love to go out and enjoy everything the Smokies has to offer especially this time of year, so be sure you save this list for your next Fall Smoky Mountain Vacation.
Ride the Ober Mountain Ariel Tram
Going to Ober Mountain in the fall is one of my favorite times to go. Now there is 2 different ways to get to the top. You can drive to the top or ride the Ariel tram. That is a beautiful way to get to the top especially during peak season. There can be a huge line to get on so I would recommend if you can to avoid going in the middle of the day, we like to go early in the morning when they first open and on a weekday. You can purchase just the Ariel Tram alone if you don’t want to do anything else, but they also have wristbands available so you can so a lot of their actives while up there.
Visit The Space Needle
The Space Needle is in downtown Gatlinburg and has beautiful 360 degree views of the mountains from every direction. It is beautiful to see. They have benches up there to sit and to enjoy and tickets include for you to come back at night as well.
Take a Helicopter Ride
Taking a helicopter ride in the Smoky Mountains during the fall is definitely a bucket List thing to do. The views are incredible.
Drive Through Cades Cove
Going to Cades Cove is pretty all year long, but going during the fall is spectacular. Again, I would not go on a weekend if you can help it and go very early in the morning. Traffic can be insane and make for a terrible experience. Bring plenty of snacks, a full tank of gas and don’t be in a hurry or have plans because you don’t have cell phone service out there and can get stuck. I say that because I was stuck in traffic for over 6 hours.
Have a Picnic at Chimney Tops
Chimney Tops is a beautiful location to have a picnic and listen to the rushing water. It is so peaceful and beautiful.
Walk the Gatlinburg Strip
The Gatlinburg strip is full of fun decor for the fall. You can try to fun restaurants while walking, do some shopping and eat some yummy treats!
Go to the Sky Park Boo Bash
During the month of October, Gatlinburg Sky Park will turn their sky park will have lots of fall decor up as well as enjoying all the beautiful fall foliage. This location is a great place to see all the trees from up high and walk around among the trees.
Attend the Gatlinburg Craftsman’s Fair
The Gatlinburg Craftsman Fair starts Oct 3rd. There are over 200 venues of there and fill up the entire 150,000 square foot Gatlinburg Convention Center. You can find so much there. Get a head start on your Christmas shopping! It is only $10 to enter and Children 17 and younger are free.
Get Scared at Ripley’s Fright Nights
Ripley’s Haunted Adventure is a great place to get a good scare! They offer haunted houses all year long but the month of October they add more fun to it.
Explore Anakeesta’s Bear-Varian Festival and Walk the Bridge
Starting Sept 13th all the way until the end of October you can go to Anakeesta and experience their Bearvarian Festival. Try German beer and food, Fall decor all around the park as well as live entertainment. Anakeesta has some of the most unique views in the Smoky Mountains. We love going to walk the sky walk bridge through the trees and enjoying the views.
Get Lost At Kyker’s Korn Maze
Kyker Korn Maze opens September 28th all the way to the end of October. This place Is so much fun for the whole family. They have hay rides, pumpkin picking, Tri cycle riding. air bags, petting zoo and of course the corn maze! You can spend many hours here!
Eat Pumpkin Flavor Fudge and Kettle Corn
Eating Fudge when visiting the Smokies should be on everyone’s to do list, at least once!! There are so many places to grab fudge. They are literally everywhere. Try some fall flavor fudge and kettle corn and grab a coffee as well.
Ride Horses
Riding a horse in the woods during fall is so peaceful and unique. Check out, Goldrush Stables, Five Oaks Riding Stables, Big Rock Dude Ranch or Jayell Ranch
Eat at The Applewood Farmhouse
The Applewood Farm House and The Farmhouse Grill is such a classic place you have to eat at even if it isn’t fall! They have some amazing food and so much apple flavored items. I have always called this place “The Apple Barn”
This place is 2 restaurants on the same property and owned by the same people. The Original Applewood Farmhouse and the Applewood Grill. Both serve similar items.
Ride a Haunted Mountain Coaster
We love to ride a fun mountain coaster all year long, but take on the “haunted” mountain coaster in the month of October. If you aren’t into that, just taking a ride through the trees is so much fun.
Go through Mysterious Mansion
Mysterios Mansion has been open for over 40 years and is a classic place to get scared. They have lots going on during the month of October but also open year round.
Go to Evanswood Magic Mansion
Terry Evanswood is one of the longest shows in the Smokies. He is a magician and has a wonderful Halloween themed show but also offers fun haunted house tours. They aren’t bloody but think classic haunted houses with fun jump scares. He does tours of his home all year long but for a short period of time he makes them more haunted! Click HERE to see our recent tour of his house
Drive Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
This one lane road is 5 and a half miles. It has some beautiful scenic overlooks of the mountains, waterfalls and cabins to explore. It is a beautiful scenic drive all year long but with the trees changing, it is so magical. This road closes to the public at the end of November for the winter season due to it’s steep hills.
Explore The Foothills Parkways
The Foothills parkway is a wonderful way to see the Smoky Mountains. The road is really long at a total of 72 miles but parts of it is not all connected but the drive is well worth it and a great way to get over the mountains for stunning views.
Take Photos at Oak Haven
Oak Haven has a HUGE Award Winning Fall decor set up right before you go through their gate to get to their cabins. We love stopping there every year taking photos. They also encourage it with all their signage up front telling you to tag them in your photos. They have had some great set ups in the past and I can’t wait to see what they continue to do.
They are located at 1947 Old Knoxville Highway in Sevierville. The set up is right before you go through their gates to the cabins.
Drive to Clingman’s Dome
This is another scenic drive that is so beautiful. You will pass so many colorful trees and have some pull overs to stop at as you see the mountains from a high elevation.
Go to the Fall Rod Runs
If you are into vintage cars, plan to see the old car all along the Parkway in Pigeon Forge. The event starts on Sept 12th-14th on the weekend but people start arriving DAYS early so we like to walk around before it officially starts. More info HERE
Go to the Island Chalk Fest
This is a fun tradition we like to do with the kids. It is free to attend and so neat to see all the artists make some creative art out of chalk. Anyone can participate and sign up if you would like to join the fun. You also get to vote on your favorite after you look around. This year’s event will be on Sunday, Oct 6th. Check out more information by clicking HERE
Take a Tour on Pink Jeep
Pink Jeep offers lots of places you can go see in their fun Pink Jeep. Want to take the pressure off driving and fighting traffic then this is something you may love. They offer lots of information about the area you are visiting and afterwards you get to do a super fun off road course before they take you back.
Try some seasonal drinks
Pumpkin spice coffees, apple flavored wine or Carmel moonshine! There are all kinds of fun seasonal drinks to try all around Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.
Do a Haunted Escape Game
Escape Games are absolutely every where here in the Smoky Mountains so pick a good scary one and see if you can escape!
Visit Dollywood’s Lumni Nights
Going to Dollywood during the Fall Season is my favorite time to go! We love looking at all the haunted decor, seeing the lights and riding rides at night! They also have some delicious food perfect for the season that we love to try!
Go On A Nature Hike
Going on a hike is fun year round but it is definitely something we all should try to do during the fall season. The Smoky Mountains has so many different hikes ranging from short to long, east to hard and different views along the way!
Stay at a Cabin at and Rent a Hot Tug Boat
Stay overnight at Creekside Hideaway. They have cute little cabins or Cottages right on the water with beautiful views then have a super unique experience in one of their own Hot Tug Boats. They only rent the tug boats out to overnight guests but how fun would that be! So relaxing with the gentle boat ride and soaking in a hot tub with a beautiful view! This looks to be so much fun!
Fly Through the Trees and Zipline in the fall
Going Ziplining is do much fun but doing it in the Fall has to be even better!! You will have some amazing views along the way and make some great memories as well.
Go to the Farmer’s Markets
Go to downtown Sevierville from May-October from 7am-noon to check out all the local vendors and their amazing food and local crafts. More information here on this site.
Eat Chili at the Chili Cook Off
To end this fun Fall season come and try all kinds of amazing Chili at the Gatlinburg Chili Cook Off. Tickets are required and available for purchase at the gate but more information is HERE
Go To Muddy Creek Light Show
This is such a fun and unique place to go and watch a fun Halloween light show. You know how we always go and watch synchronized light shows at Christmas time, well this is just like that but this is all set to fun Halloween music and every day music. It is amazing. This is not in the Smoky Mountains but I wanted to include it in the list because it is so fun. Usually this is around an hour or so drive from the Smoky Mountains.
Last year he was rented a space at Loco Drive Inn that is located in Loudon, TN but he hasn’t announced yet where he will be set up yet for this year. Go follow him on Facebook to see where he will be set up for Halloween and then it is changed over to the Christmas Season.
