The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Gatlinburg

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to Gatlinburg

Gatlinburg, Tennessee Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Visiting Gatlinburg, Tennessee for the first time can be an exciting, yet overwhelming experience. With so many incredible hotels to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to stay. If you're deciding where to stay for your first visit to Gatlinburg, we've compiled a list of the best hotels for first time visitors. We analyzed all of the hotels in Gatlinburg based on price, location, amenities, guest ratings, and more to determine which would be the ideal places to stay for first timers. Whether you're here for just a few days or longer, these hotels offer the perfect combination of amenities, location, and price. For those visiting Gatlinburg for the first time, it's important to choose a hotel in a safe and convenient area to make the most of your first visit. You'll want to be close to the activities, shopping, and dining options, of course. When looking for hotels, consider the amenities they offer. Some hotels may have a fitness center, a bar or restaurant, a pool, or even a spa. All of these features can add to your overall enjoyment if you've never been to Gatlinburg before. Also, guest ratings and reviews are also important to consider when choosing a hotel. Whether you're visiting Gatlinburg for the first time, or you're a seasoned traveler, the best hotels in Gatlinburg for first-timers offer the perfect combination of comfort, convenience, and affordability. So, here's our list of suggestions for your next trip.

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Embassy Suites by Hilton Gatlinburg Resort

4-star Resort with prices starting at $221 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Gatlinburg
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at 604 Airport Road, Embassy Suites by Hilton Gatlinburg Resort has great rooms from $221 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a water park, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 9.30 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 0.9 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love a bar, parking, hiking, a hot tub, and an indoor pool at this relaxing hotel. The indoor pool at this hotel is very nice, and is a great place to unwind and relax on your trip.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Water park
  • Parking
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Hot tub
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


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Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg

4-star Resort with prices starting at $239 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg which has nice rooms starting at $239. Offering an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking, it also has a great guest rating of 9.50 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 539 Parkway. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers hiking, a hot tub, a spa, a child pool, and an indoor pool which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.1 miles from the city center. Having a hot tub at this hotel is also a nice splurge.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Hot tub
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Hotel Indigo Gatlinburg Downtown By IHG

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $174 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

We found Hotel Indigo Gatlinburg Downtown By IHG to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $174. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 9.50 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 229 East Parkway. You'll also find pet-friendly rooms, mini-golf, a heated pool, air-conditioning, and a 24-hour desk which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 0.1 miles from the center of town. The restaurant serves delicious food, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Pets allowed
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator
  • Infinity pool


Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort

3-star Resort with prices starting at $154 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Gatlinburg
  • Heated pool

With terrific rooms from $154, Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort, at 915 Westgate Resort Road provides an outdoor pool, room service, a water park, a restaurant, and a fitness center. Its terrific guest rating is 8.40 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers a bar, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, and pet-friendly rooms. It's located just 1.3 miles from the city center, too. Having a kitchen in the room is a great way to make meals and save money, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Water park
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground


Hilton Vacation Club Bent Creek Golf Village Gatlinburg

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $124 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Hilton Vacation Club Bent Creek Golf Village Gatlinburg has a great guest rating of 9.20 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, a fitness center, hiking, rooms with kitchens, and golf. The great rooms here start at $124 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 3919 East Parkway. Furthermore, it also offers a hot tub, a game room, an indoor pool, free parking, and a pool table, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 9.8 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. Make sure to set aside some time for swimming in the pool, too. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Kitchen
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Hiking
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator


The Appy Lodge

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $131 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Gatlinburg
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

The great guest rating of The Appy Lodge is 9.20 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, skiing, a fitness center, hiking, and city views. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $131, and it's located at 168 Parkway. We also love the a hot tub, an indoor pool, free parking, mini-golf, and laundry facilities which are great for visitors. And since it's just 0.7 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too. The price of this hotel is less than average for first time trip hotels, which makes it a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Indoor pool
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Hiking
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Holiday Inn Club Vacations Smoky Mountain Resort by IHG

3-star Resort with prices starting at $245 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A cool place is Holiday Inn Club Vacations Smoky Mountain Resort by IHG because it has great rooms that start at $245. It has an outdoor pool, room service, a fitness center, hiking, and rooms with kitchens, it also earned a great guest rating of 9.10 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 404 Historic Nature Trail. Only 0.7 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love rooms with kitchenettes, a hot tub, a game room, a spa, and a child pool at this convenient hotel. It's always nice to have a kitchenette to cook some basic meals or have an easy breakfast.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Glenstone Lodge

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $93 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Gatlinburg
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Heated pool

Glenstone Lodge offers an outdoor pool, skiing, a restaurant, hiking, and golf which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $93 (before taxes). It's located at 504 Historic Nature Trl and has earned a guest rating of 8.10/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers city views, a hot tub, an indoor pool, free parking, and an indoor play area which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.7 miles from the city center. The heated pool is comfortable, relaxing, and fun for everyone. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Hiking
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


The Timber at Holly Branch

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $178 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at 439 Winfield Heights Road, The Timber at Holly Branch has great rooms from $178 (before taxes). It offers a restaurant, a bar, free parking, bicycle rental, and family rooms. It has a terrific 9.00 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find a tour desk, air-conditioning, a microwave, a refrigerator, and outdoor dining areas which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 1 miles from the center of town.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott Gatlinburg Downtown

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $129 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott Gatlinburg Downtown which has nice rooms starting at $129. Offering an outdoor pool, skiing, a fitness center, parking, and hiking, it also has a great guest rating of 8.80 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 611 Historic Nature Trail. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers laundry services, golf, a hot tub, horse riding, and laundry facilities. It's located just 0.8 miles from the city center, too. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Parking
  • Horse riding
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Also, take a look at the first time trip hotels in nearby destinations: Pigeon Forge, Asheville, Gatlinburg, Knoxville, and Sevierville.

For more terrific hotel ideas in Gatlinburg, make sure you also see Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Gatlinburg, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Gatlinburg, Best Hotels for One Week in Gatlinburg, Best Hotels for One Night in Gatlinburg, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Gatlinburg, Best Hotels for Skiing in Gatlinburg, or Best Business Hotels in Gatlinburg.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Gatlinburg?

Gatlinburg Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$147

Visitors will find a large range of terrific first time trip hotel choices when planning a visit to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The price of these first time trip hotels can vary according to location, type, and amenities. The average first time trip hotel price in Gatlinburg, Tennessee based on data from 38 hotels is an affordable $147. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Gatlinburg.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 4-star hotels: $240
  • 3-star hotels: $149
  • 2-star hotels: $112


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