You don’t have to spend a ton of money to have fun while you’re on vacation! There are all kinds of affordable attractions everyone will love (as well as free attractions in Gatlinburg), so you’ll have plenty of things to put on your bucket list. And you’ll be able to stick to your budget with these activities! Here are the top 7 cheap things to do in Gatlinburg on your next trip.
1. Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum
One of the most affordable attractions in town is the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum. Admission is only $3, and it can go towards a purchase in the gift shop. You definitely won’t find anything else quite like this unique museum in the area, and you’ll get to browse through hundreds of shakers from all over the world.
2. Hollywood Star Cars Museum
Any movie fanatic will want to visit the Hollywood Star Cars Museum. It’s just a plus that it happens to be one of the cheap things to do in Gatlinburg! This is perfect for adults and kids, because there are movies from when you were a kid and more recent films your kids love. All of the cars were really used in the movies, and you’ll see Batmobiles, vehicles from Transformers, the DeLorean from Back to the Future, and much more. Don’t miss these other attractions in the Smokies for movie lovers!
3. Ober Mountain
If you’re looking for an activity where you get to control how much you spend, Ober Mountain is perfect! You can purchase a wristband for all of the attractions, or you can buy tickets for individual activities if you don’t want to do them all. Travel from downtown Gatlinburg to the top of the mountain on the aerial tram, then head to the ice skating rink for a ton of fun! There is a Wildlife Encounter where you can see animals, as well as a carousel, rock climbing wall, and arcade. Plus, you’ll find seasonal activities like skiing, snowboarding, water slides, and hill tubing!
4. Moonshine Tasting
A cheap thing to do in Gatlinburg that’s great for anyone over 21 is moonshine tasting. Adults will have a blast trying signature moonshine flavors at each distillery in town. You taste 10 to 13 different flavors, and it only costs $5! This fee does go towards a purchase in the gift shop, so you can take home your favorite flavor or a souvenir. Ole Smoky, Sugarlands Distilling Company, and Tennessee Shine Co are some of the best places to taste moonshine.
5. Fannie Farkle’s
Another place where you can choose how much you want to spend is Fannie Farkle’s. This arcade is full of fun for the whole family! Play jackpot games, claw machines, racing games, and much more to earn points. Once you’re done, you can pick your prizes at the counter! Fannie Farkle’s is also famous for their sausage, pepper, and onion sandwich, so don’t miss out on the snack too!
6. Gatlinburg Space Needle
Gatlinburg Space Needle is the perfect cheap thing to do in Gatlinburg if you want to enjoy views! You won’t find a better aerial view of downtown and the surrounding mountains than from the top of this 400-foot-tall tower! The observation deck provides a 360 degree view, and you can even use viewfinders to enhance it! Plus you’ll get to learn more about the Great Smoky Mountains from the Higher Learning exhibits.
7. Hillbilly Golf
Are you really on vacation if you don’t play at least one round of mini golf? This is the perfect affordable activity for people of all ages, and you won’t find a course quite like the one at Hillbilly Golf! You’ll ride to the top of the course on the mountainside on a trolley and then play your way back down.
Want to know what else you can do that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg? Here are some cheap things to do in Pigeon Forge!
You can’t go wrong visiting any of these cheap things to do in Gatlinburg! However, we know you probably do want to visit some of the more expensive and popular places in the area too. Look at these attractions in the Smoky Mountains for more ideas of what to do when you stay with us!
