Having vacationed in Gatlinburg many times I know that one of the most exciting parts of planning our vacation is selecting the perfect Gatlinburg cabin. In many ways, the Gatlinburg cabin you select will impact your overall vacation experience while in the Smoky Mountains. If you are anything like me your goal is to get what you want at the most affordable price. Bear in mind that the majority of rental cabins in the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area are owned by regular folks just like you and me. They purchased the cabin and allow a cabin management company (like American Patriot Getaways) to keep the cabin rented out. In return the owners hopefully earn enough money from the rental to pay the mortgage on the cabin and if they are lucky… turn a profit. This arrangement also permits the owners to book the cabin for themselves at little or no charge when they desire a Gatlinburg vacation of their own. See also, Gatlinburg cabins with indoor private pool and Best Gatlinburg cabins on the river.
Before you begin looking for your Gatlinburg Cabin
There’s some planning to consider before booking your Gatlinburg cabin. In essence you need to select a cabin that works well with your plans while in the Smoky Mountains. For example, if you have children and plan on spending a couple of days in Pigeon Forge or Dollywood, you might be better off booking a cabin in Pigeon Forge or even between there and Gatlinburg. There’s an area between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge called the ‘Sky Harbor Resort’ area. Though I personally feel this area has become too crowded (and King Branch Road too narrow), you can find plenty of affordable Gatlinburg cabin rentals there with the amenities you want and with great views.
Before booking your Gatlinburg cabin consider these:
- what time of the year (season) will you vacation
- what specific activities will you perform
- what Gatlinburg – Pigeon Forge attractions will you visit
- are there any big events that will cause traffic issues
You may also have specific needs for yourself or those vacationing with you:
- do you have physical problems and need to limit walking
- will you need a pet-friendly Gatlinburg cabin
- will there be children
- how many people will be traveling with you
It might be a good idea to contact the the Gatlinburg Department of Tourism by clicking here. They can help answer any questions you have and inform you of any events during the week of your vacation. You can also sign up for their e-newsletter to stay up to date with what’s happening around Gatlinburg.
The most important consideration
When it comes to searching for your Gatlinburg cabin rental I want you to think of the absolute most important attribute. For example, if the highlight of your vacation will be the Gatlinburg fireworks display on New Years Eve… then the most important attribute of the cabin would be that it’s within walking distance to the Gatlinburg space-needle (where the fireworks are launched). You want to be within walking distance because the traffic is at a standstill for at least an hour after the fireworks end. Also, perhaps you will have a few drinks and will have no choice but to walk. Selecting a Gatlinburg cabin within walking distance to the space-needle solves both these problems and is therefore the most important attribute.
Perhaps you have children and plan on attending Dollywood for a couple of days. In this case I can see two important considerations. One consideration would be that the cabin is near Dollywood so you can quickly relax after a day inside the park. The other might be that the Pigeon Forge cabin has an arcade or pool table to keep the kids busy when you need a break.
You might be planning a relaxing excursion from your busy lifestyle and are seeking serenity and great views. If so you would want to select a secluded cabin located at a high elevation. Pictures of the cabin will help determine if it has great views.
Now you are ready to begin your search
After taking the above into consideration you can begin your search for the perfect Gatlinburg cabin. In my opinion it is not important which cabin management company’s inventory you search. There are many management companies – American Patriot Getaways, Cabins USA Gatlinburg, and Cabins For You are just a few of the many great companies.
For a list of great Gatlinburg cabin rental companies click here to begin your search. You can also try a simple google search to see what turns up.
How to find the best deal on your Gatlinburg cabins
Once you’ve decided what kind of cabin you need and where it should be located – the next step is to find the most affordable cabin that meets that criteria. In the sidebar to the right you will see that I have comprised lists of cabins that meet specific needs. Feel free to click on the names of the cabins to see if something interests you. Also, if you find a cabin that should be added to the list let me know by contacting me. Since this website is independently operated I have no preference for a particular cabin or cabin company. The lists I comprised from using google to search through the mountains of Gatlinburg cabin rentals advertising online. And that’s why my wife and I created this website… to help others find the best deals on Gatlinburg cabins. We regularly update the front page of this site when we find monthly specials and discounts.
Related content
* Gatlinburg restaurants dining places to eat
* Gatlinburg outdoor activities
