ARTS, OVERLOOKS, AND OLD-FASHIONED CHARM MAKES A PERFECT GATLINBURG DAY WITH A JEEP TOUR

If you’re drawn more to handmade crafts, local stories, and big mountain views than roller coasters, you’re going to fall hard for the Gatlinburg side of the Smokies. Between the Gatlinburg Arts & Crafts Community, the famous Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook, and the cozy bustle of Gatlinburg’s Strip, you can spend an entire day soaking up Smoky Mountain culture—and still end up back on the Pigeon Forge Parkway for dinner and a show.

Here’s how to build that kind of day around a Jeep tour.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee, USA Downtown Skyline Aerial.

Start on Gatlinburg’s Strip

Begin with a stroll or drive down Gatlinburg’s Strip—the main downtown stretch lined with shops, attractions, restaurants, and tasting rooms.

You’ll see:

• Mountain-themed attractions for families
• Pancake houses and candy shops that smell like pure nostalgia
• Access points for aerial tramways and chairlifts heading up the mountains

Think of the Strip as your “appetizer”: a taste of Gatlinburg’s fun, touristy side before you head deeper into its artistic and scenic heart.

Head Into the Gatlinburg Arts & Crafts Community

From downtown, a few miles on Highway 321 and you reach the entrance to the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, an 8-mile loop of studios, galleries, and shops.

This community dates back to 1937 and is recognized as one of the largest groups of independent artisans in the country.

What makes it special?

• Real working studios – watch potters, woodworkers, weavers, painters, and glass artists in action
• Traditional Appalachian crafts – from quilts and candles to brooms, leather goods, and carved bears
• Laid-back loop drive – two-lanes, trees, porches, and the occasional café or candy shop

Rolling this loop in a Jeep hits that sweet spot between relaxed and adventurous. Your guide can point out local favorites, share stories about the community’s history, and help you find those “only in the Smokies” souvenirs.

Midday: Scenic Breaks & Local Lunch

As you make your way around the Arts & Crafts loop, it’s easy to break up studio stops with:

• Quick scenic pull-offs
• Short walks or photo opportunities
• A sit-down lunch at a café or tea room along the route

The vibe here is slower and more local than the Strip. It feels like you’ve stepped into the Smokies behind the scenes, where people actually live, create, and carry on traditions.

Climb to The Overlook: Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook

In the afternoon, it’s time to trade shop windows for skyline views. The Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook, located along the Gatlinburg Bypass between the Spur and the national park, offers one of the best vantage points in the area.

From this overlook, you’ll see:

• Downtown Gatlinburg laid out below
• Surrounding Smoky Mountain ridges in every direction
• Different moods depending on time of day—misty mornings, crisp afternoons, or twinkling city lights at night

The overlook is free and open year-round (barring weather closures), which makes it a natural highlight on a Jeep tour: great photos, zero hiking required.

Loop Back Toward Pigeon Forge: Parkway, The Island & Dollywood

Once you’ve had your fill of mountaintop views, your Jeep can loop back via the Spur toward Pigeon Forge and the Pigeon Forge Parkway.

From there, you can easily choose your evening:

• The Island in Pigeon Forge – a 23-acre entertainment complex with shops, restaurants, rides, a giant Ferris wheel, and a dancing fountain show.
• Dollywood – if you’ve planned ahead for an evening at the park or one of its seasonal events and shows.
• Or keep it simple with dinner and a drive along the Parkway, soaking in the lights and atmosphere.

Personally, I love the contrast: start the day with handmade crafts and quiet loop roads; end it with neon reflections in your Jeep’s windshield as the Parkway buzzes.

Why a Guided Jeep Tour Makes This Day Better

Could you drive this whole loop yourself? Sure. But here’s what a Smoky Mountains Jeep Tours guide adds:

• Local knowledge – which studios and shops are worth a stop, and which views are best at what time of day.
• Stress-free navigation – especially helpful when you’re linking the Strip, Arts & Crafts Community, Overlook, and Parkway all in one day.
• Storytelling – history of the crafts community, tales from the mountains, tips on where to eat and what to do next.

By the time you’re back on the Parkway, you’ll feel like you didn’t just “see Gatlinburg”—you actually got to know it.