A JEEP LOVER’S GUIDE TO PIGEON FORGE AND GATLINBURG FROM PARKWAY LIGHTS TO MOUNTAIN SIGHTS
If you love the idea of neon lights at night and mountain views by day, there’s no better place than Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. This stretch of East Tennessee is packed with big-name attractions, scenic overlooks, and old-school Smoky Mountain charm—all wrapped around the Pigeon Forge Parkway and Gatlinburg’s famous main strip.
At Smoky Mountains Jeep Tours, we think the best way to explore it all is from the open-air comfort of a custom Jeep: town one minute, treetops the next. Here’s how these iconic spots fit together into one unforgettable visit.
Pigeon Forge Parkway: Your Smoky Mountain Launchpad
The Pigeon Forge Parkway is where your adventure begins. This multi-lane strip runs right through the heart of town, lined with attractions, go-kart tracks, dinner shows, museums, arcades, restaurants, and more.
You’ll find:
- Easy access to Dollywood and Dollywood’s resorts
- Turnoffs for The Island in Pigeon Forge
- Dozens of family-friendly stops, mini-golf courses, and shows
Smoky Mountains Jeep Tours is headquartered right on the Parkway, making it simple to park, climb aboard, and let someone else handle the traffic while you soak up the views.
In my opinion, the Parkway is like your “front door” to the Smokies: busy, colorful, and full of energy—perfect to explore a little before or after your Jeep tour.
Dollywood: Big Thrills, Smoky Mountain Heart
Just off the Parkway sits Dollywood, Dolly Parton’s award-winning theme park. It blends high-energy roller coasters, family rides, live music, Southern cooking, and seasonal festivals with a big dose of Smoky Mountain storytelling.
It’s the kind of place where:
- Thrill-seekers ride coasters that skim ridge lines
- Kids splash, spin, and giggle through entire days
- Festivals celebrate bluegrass, crafts, harvest season, and holidays
Pairing Dollywood with a Jeep tour is a smart move: hit the park for high-octane fun, then let us handle the mountain driving while you unwind and watch the scenery.
The Island in Pigeon Forge: Fun Comes Full Circle
Back on the Parkway, The Island in Pigeon Forge is a 23-acre entertainment complex with rides, restaurants, shops, live music, and the famous Great Smoky Mountain Wheel.
You’ll find:
- A walkable plaza with over 60 shops and eateries
- The dancing fountain show at the heart of the complex
- Family-friendly attractions open day and night
From a Jeep-tour perspective, The Island is an easy “before or after” stop. Do your scenic loop in the afternoon, then head to The Island for dinner, the fountain show, and a spin on the Wheel as the Parkway lights up.
Gatlinburg’s Strip: From Parkway to Pedestrian Paradise
Follow the main road toward the national park and the vibe shifts from wide-open Parkway to mountain village as you roll onto Gatlinburg’s Strip—the central stretch of downtown clustered with shops, attractions, and restaurants.
Here you’ll see:
- Ripley’s attractions and family museums
- Moonshine and cider tasting rooms
- Chairlifts and gondolas rising from downtown to mountaintop parks
Driving the Strip in a Jeep is half sightseeing, half people-watching. You get that close-up view of Gatlinburg’s energy—then we can quickly whisk you out of the traffic and up toward the mountains.
The Overlook: Big Views Above the Strip
Just above town sits the Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook on the Gatlinburg Bypass, one of the easiest, most rewarding viewpoints in the area.
From here you can see:
- Downtown Gatlinburg spread out in the valley below
- The surrounding ridges of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Nighttime scenes with the Space Needle and city lights glowing against dark mountains
It’s free, open year-round (conditions permitting), and accessible by car—exactly the kind of spot that shines on a Jeep tour. We think of it as the “ta-da!” moment after rolling through the Strip.
Gatlinburg Arts & Crafts Community: Handmade Smokies
On the quieter side of Gatlinburg, the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community forms an 8-mile loop showcasing over 100 artists and craftsmen in shops, studios, and galleries.
Established in 1937, this historic district is dedicated to preserving traditional Appalachian crafts—think pottery, woodworking, quilts, candles, jewelry, and original art, often created right in front of you.
If you love local, handmade, and one-of-a-kind finds, this loop is a must-add to your Smokies itinerary—and easy to combine with scenic Jeep touring in and around Gatlinburg.
Why Let a Jeep Tour Tie It All Together?
There’s a lot packed into this short stretch of Tennessee:
- Pigeon Forge Parkway’s lights and attractions
- Dollywood’s rides and music
- The Island’s fountains, shops, and Wheel
- Gatlinburg’s Strip and its mountain-village feel
- The sweeping views from the Overlook
- The quiet, creative charm of the Arts & Crafts Community
You can drive yourself—fight traffic, figure out parking, and hope you picked the right overlooks. Or you can climb into a Jeep, let a local guide handle the routes, and enjoy the ride.
In my opinion, that’s the real magic of Smoky Mountains Jeep Tours: we connect the dots between the bright lights of the Parkway and the timeless views of the mountains, so you don’t miss a thing.