Nestled in the foothills of the iconic Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and just north of the quiet ridgelines of Gatlinburg, the eastern Tennessee mountain town of Pigeon Forge buzzes with theme park thrills, alpine coasters, dinner theaters, and neon-lit attractions that light up the valley floor.
Pigeon Forge is a lively, bustling technicolored town tucked away in the scenic mountain range. A visit here is a great way to crank your vacation up to eleven through high-adrenaline fun and family-centered attractions.
Before you browse our favorite things to do in town, book your home base at Treehouse Grove, a community of vacation rentals in Gatlinburg. Choose from treehouses with hot tubs, creekside decks, or pet-friendly floor plans, all just minutes from Pigeon Forge.
Once you’ve secured a peaceful spot to return to, read on to discover all the action-packed things to do in Pigeon Forge.
1. Ride the Rides at Dollywood
- Location: 2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd
- Best for: Families and thrill seekers
- Cost: Paid admission
Dollywood, the theme park of superstar Dolly Parton, blends roller coasters and thrill rides with Appalachian culture through crafts, live music, and seasonal festivals.
There’s enough here to fill a full day, from thrilling coasters for adults to the family-friendly Dollywood Express, a fully operational steam engine train.
If you’re feeling especially brave, be sure to ride the Lightning Rod, known as one of the most intense coasters in America, reaching 73 mph.
Check the seasonal calendar or visit their website for more details and updates before you go, as themes and festival offerings shift throughout the year.
2. Explore The Island in Pigeon Forge
Photo Credit: Nathan Yeagle
- Location: 131 The Island Dr
- Best for: Couples and families seeking shops, dining, and entertainment
- Cost: Free to walk around; individual attractions are paid
The Island in Pigeon Forge is an open-air amusement district centered around the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, a 200-foot observation wheel with sweeping mountain views.
You’ll find a plethora of rides, games, attractions, restaurants, and boutique shops here, plus a fountain show that runs after dark. Visit Arcade City for video games, shooting hoops, and racing games.
The Island is endless family-friendly fun that is a must for an exciting day out.
3. Satiate Your Appetite With One of the Best Restaurants
A full day of activities works up quite an appetite. Luckily, Pigeon Forge has no shortage of hearty, satisfying places to eat, many of them just off the main Parkway.
A few favorites include:
- The Old Mill Restaurant: Delicious Southern comfort food inside an antique mill along the river, known for fried chicken and made-from-scratch biscuits
- Mama’s Farmhouse: Family-style, all-you-can-eat Southern spread served at long communal tables. Food prepared with love and flavor as only a mother could cook.
- Alamo Steakhouse: A casual chophouse known for its bone-in ribeye cooked over oak. Make it a complete surf and turf with the crowd favorite.
- The Local Goat: A New American menu that puts a creative twist on classic dishes.
4. Go Hiking
Discover the beauty of East Tennessee by getting out into nature with an invigorating hike.
Pigeon Forge sits right at the edge of the national park, and a few of the Smokies’ best-loved trails are a short drive away through Gatlinburg. Since your treehouse is already based in Gatlinburg, these trailheads may actually be closer to where you’re staying than to Pigeon Forge itself.
- Gatlinburg Trail: An easy, mostly flat 4-mile round trip along the river, starting at Sugarlands Visitor Center. It’s one of only two trails in the park that allow dogs.
- Grotto Falls via Trillium Gap Trail: A moderate 2.7-mile round trip to the only waterfall in the park that you can walk behind.
- Porters Creek Trail: A moderate 4-mile round trip tour past an old, stone homestead cabin and the pretty Fern Branch Falls.
For a more extensive list of outdoor adventures, check out our guides to hiking trails in Gatlinburg and hiking trails in the Smoky Mountains.
5. Step Aboard the Titanic Museum Attraction
Photo Credit: Jaclyn Vernace
- Location: 2134 Parkway
- Best for: History buffs and rainy-day plans
- Cost: Paid admission
Built as a half-scale replica of the ship’s hull, this Titanic Museum houses hundreds of authentic artifacts recovered from the wreck, along with recreated rooms and passenger stories.
This is a fascinating self-guided tour of what the historic ship looked like before tragedy struck. Plan to spend an hour or two here to explore it properly. It’s a particularly good option for a rainy afternoon.
6. Get Amazed at WonderWorks
Photo Credit: eakkarat rangram
- Location: 100 Music Rd
- Best for: Kids and curious minds
- Cost: Paid admission
Housed in a building that appears to have flipped upside down, WonderWorks is packed with hands-on science exhibits, an indoor ropes course, and laser tag.
Discover the wonder of science paired with fun. Kids tend to gravitate toward the giant bubble-making stations at the Bubble Lab and the earthquake simulator.
This is a solid indoor option with plenty of room for kids to run free if the weather doesn’t cooperate.
7. Wander Old Mill Square
- Location: Old Mill St
- Best for: Couples and anyone who likes history with their shopping
- Cost: Free to browse
Built around an 1830s gristmill on the Little Pigeon River, Old Mill Square is home to pottery studios, a candy kitchen, and several restaurants. It’s a goldmine when it comes to shopping and dining.
The mill still grinds cornmeal the old-fashioned way, and you can watch it happen through the windows. It’s a nice, walkable break between bigger attractions.
8. Enjoy Dinner and a Show at Dolly Parton’s Stampede
- Location: 3849 Parkway
- Best for: Groups and families wanting an evening out
- Cost: Paid, includes a multi-course dinner
Have some dinner served up with a side of Tennessee’s finest entertainment from local legend Dolly Parton’s Stampede.
This dinner theatre event combines a hearty Southern-style 4-course meal with an arena seating 1,000 guests and a spectacular show featuring horse riding, stunts, and music.
It’s a fun, informal night out in true Southern style. Book ahead, since shows tend to sell out during peak travel weeks.
9. Get an Adrenaline Fix at Rowdy Bear’s Smoky Mountain Funpark
- Location: 2155 Parkway
- Best for: Thrill seekers, snow tubers, families and teens
- Cost: Paid per ride or activity
This adventure park, located just north of Pigeon Forge, is home to one of Tennessee’s largest outdoor tubing hills, along with a mountain coaster, axe throwing, and even a full-sized paintball course.
Rowdy Bear’s Smoky Mountain Funpark runs tubing across multiple seasons, with a high-speed turf system in summer and real snow in winter.
This action-packed park features a 500-foot tubing hill and multiple outdoor rides, and it even runs coasters and tubing tracks at night, illuminated with LED lights for a unique amusement park experience.
10. Let the Kids Run Free at Patriot Park
- Location: 236 Old Mill Ave
- Best for: Families with young kids
- Cost: Free
This riverside park has a playground and walking paths along the Little Pigeon River, making it one of the few completely free things to do in town. It’s a good spot to burn off energy between paid attractions or to pack a picnic lunch for those with little ones.
There’s plenty of shade, which is worth knowing if you’re visiting in the peak of summer. You’ll also find various seasonal events here throughout the year, including an impressive festive light display at Christmas time.
11. Meet Your Favorite Stars at Hollywood Wax Museum
- Location: 106 Showplace Blvd A
- Best for: Families and groups looking for a fun, unique, low-key stop
- Cost: Paid admission
Hang out with the stars at the Hollywood Wax Museum. This quirky museum pairs a wax figure gallery with a mirror maze and haunted attraction, making it easy to spend an hour or two here.
It’s a lighthearted way to close out a day in Pigeon Forge, especially if the group wants photos with their favorite celebrity lookalikes. Like the other indoor attractions on this list, it’s a solid backup plan if the weather turns.
12. Cool Off at Dollywood’s Splash Country
- Location: 2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd
- Best for: Families on a hot summer day
- Cost: Paid admission
Dollywood’s Splash Country water park sits right next to the main theme park and makes a great pairing for a two-day Pigeon Forge visit.
It has slides and rides for nearly every age, and a lazy river for anyone who’d rather float than plunge. Don’t miss the RiverRush, which was Tennessee’s first-ever water coaster when it opened in 2013.
This is a seasonal attraction operating in summer, so it’s worth confirming it’s open for the dates of your trip.
Ready to Plan Your Pigeon Forge Day Trip?
With this much to see and do, Pigeon Forge makes an easy addition to any Smoky Mountain getaway.
After a full day of rides, shows, and hiking, head back to unwind in your very own treehouse rather than a hotel room. Book your stay at Treehouse Grove and get ready to explore all of these Pigeon Forge favorites on your visit to Gatlinburg.
