The Smoky Mountains are full of free things to do, see, enjoy and explore!
Thanks for coming over and checking out our site. We are Sarah and Stephanie, two moms who live locally in the Smokies. We are all always looking for free and budget friendly things to do with our families and kids. This list is always growing but we have other blog posts about
FREE THINGS TO DO IN PIGEON FORGE
and
FREE THINGS TO DO IN GATLINBURG
If you needing more ideas. Be sure to check around our site and let us know in the comments if we left anything out that you love to do with your families as well.
Greenbriar
The Greeenbriar picnic area is great place to stop for a picnic, explore the area, take some beautiful photos and play in the river. Just use your GSP and type in “Greenbriar Picnic area” and it should take you there. It is located in the Pittman Center area of the Smokies.
Once you get into the Greenbriar area you will see a couple of parking lots on your right to park. The River is on your left. I like to park at the 2nd parking lot and walk over to look at the river. It’s a great place for photos and letting the kids play at the water. Once you keep driving down the road you will see other places to get out and explore and play at the river. There are picnic tables and restrooms to use at the picnic area as well as charcoal grills
Emert’s Cove Covered Bridge
So since you are in the greenbriar area, drive over to visit Emerts Cove Covered Bridge, located on Hills Creek Road in Sevierville TN. This was one of my favorite places to explore. I use to take many photo sessions out here but due to the limited parking it became hard to go to and explore. If you plan to go to the Greenbriar Picnic area then you may just want to drive to it because it is right across the street.
Dark Island Swinging Bridge in Townsend
So on the topic of bridges go and visit The Dark Island Swinging Bridge it’s next to the Abbey Restaurant – 7765 River Rd, Townsend, TN.
That restaurant use to be a church so it’s not hard to miss. The Swinging Bridge is a great stop to look at the river and in the summer you can see people floating down it from rafting companies that are close by such as River Rat. I like to ride my bike and one wheel over in the Townsend area due to all the sidewalks and empty back roads.
Cades Cove
Cades Cove is everyone’s favorite place to explore. If you have never been to Cades Cove, you definitely need to go. You can see Bear, horses, wild turkey and deer out there. Explore Old Cabins, a wonderful view of the mountains and hiking. Cades Cove is an 11 mile loop road with lots of places to pull over and explore. There is no cell phone service out there and traffic can get very backed up on busy days. Be sure to pack a lunch and have a full gas tank and make a day of it.
They do close the trail to motor vehicles on Wednesdays during May-Sept to allow people to walk the trails or ride bikes. The ride is so much fun so pack your bikes and make it a Cades Cove Day!!
Play in the River
On a nice hot sunny day, getting in the river is so cool and refreshing. You can play at Greenbriar, Sevierville Parks and rec, Metcalf Bottoms, Gatlinburg Trail and at Myatt Park. It is a great way to get close to nature, relax and enjoy the afternoon no matter your age.
Go to the Visitor Centers
I love going to see all the visitor centers when I go out of town. Grab brochures and learn about the area. That is the best place to ask for advice and they can give you recommendations on what to do.
Some Visitor Centers have small gift shops, book stores, vending machines, hikes, scenic views and you can purchase your parking pass if you plan to go into the Smoky Mountains.
Three tag durations are available for purchase for all vehicle sizes and types:
- Daily – $5
- Weekly – $15
- Annual – $40
Smoky Mountain Knife Works
Just going to this Smoky Mountain Knife Works to walk around is an adventure in itself. Of course you can spend a lot of money here but I enjoy looking around. The store is 108,000 square feet so you can spend as little or as much time as you want.
Downtown Sevierville
If you have never been to downtown Sevierville it is a fun place to explore. Drive down Bruce street and you can find parking in the parking lot behind the gazebo. Grab a photo with the mural of butterfly wings. Walk down Sevierville and go into some cool shops, take a picture with the Dolly Parton statue and eat at Graze Burgers.
Bush Baked Beans
Did you know we have a huge Bush’s Baked Beans Factory in Chestnut Hills. It isn’t a far drive from downtown Sevierville. You can go through the Free museum and have lunch at their cafe.
Bush’s Baked Bean located at 3901 Hwy 411, Dandridge
Smoky Mountain Flea Market
Spend several hours at The Smokies Flea Market. This Flea Market is one of the largest in Tennessee and has so much to see. You can find something unique here for sure.
Gatlinburg Arts and Crafts Area
This area is kind of hidden from all the attractions of Gatlinburg but the location is over 80 years old. This is an 8 mile road full of shops and restaurants from local crafters and artists. You can stumble across some amazing souvenirs in the area and find some one of a kind gifts for you or a friend.
Douglas Lake
If you are looking for another place to swim and relax, head over to Dandridge and go to the lake. There is a great swimming area, picnic tables and a great way to view the lake and mountains all at once. Just type into your GPS “Dam Swimming Hole” and it will lead you to the location. Douglas Lake also offers boat rentals on Pontoons, wave runners, kayaks, and paddle boards.
Cherokee, NC
Drive down past the Sugarlands Visitor center heading towards Clingman’s Dome and just keep driving over to Cherokee, North Carolina. It is a beautiful drive and once you get into Cherokee you may see some Elk. Stop at their visitor center, check out the area. I love looking at their buildings. Stop at some shops and restaurants. Check out Santa Land or Harrah’s Casino too while there.
Mingus Mill
Driving Towards Cherokee you will see signs for Mingus Mill. It is a great place to explore the 1886 working Mill.
Foothills Parkway
This is a 72 mile scenic drive with lots of pull overs and breathe taking scenery. Make a day out of driving the road.
Metcalf Bottoms
This is a wonderful place to hang out next to the river, have a picnic and maybe even fish (fishing license is required)
Little River Railroad Museum
The Little River Railroad Museum is free but I would highly suggest giving them a donation. The museum is full of history and you can learn how the town of Townsend started and how it helped create the Smoky Mountain National Park
Take photos at some fun murals
I mentioned earlier in this post you can find some cool art in downtown Sevierville but you can also find some neat painted backgrounds at SMARM (Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Ministry) Thrift shop in Sevierville, outside of the Pines theater and behind Three Bears General Store.
Also, head over to Country Barn Gift Shop and check out their Free Selfie Park. If you want to see our visit there, CLICK HERE! Full of fun art pieces, funky painted lawn mowers and murals you can stick your head in for some laughs. You can also check our visit there from this post
Drive By The Brown Farm and See Buffalo
There is no guarantee you will see them roaming the fields but it is a fun surprise when driving by and they are out.
We hope this post helped you find some things to do in the Smokies for free or help inspire your trip planning. We hope you have a great time. If you are looking for more ideas, check out our other posts
FREE THINGS TO DO IN PIGEON FORGE
and
FREE THINGS TO DO IN GATLINBURG