A fat pig is a happy pig – and that’s especially true for piggy banks. Awe-inspiring travel adventures don’t have to completely rob yours of its heft when you choose Eastern Tennessee as your destination! The Great Smoky Mountains are a majestic wonderland of breathtaking natural beauty, complete with outdoor adventures, affordable souvenir shopping, and small-town charm. You can explore the Smokies on any budget, thanks to the wide variety of budget-friendly lodgings and cheap things to do in Pigeon Forge like these

Budget-Friendly Hotels

Aside from transportation costs to get to the Smokies, the next largest expense is likely to be lodging. Thankfully, the small mountain town of Pigeon Forge hosts a diverse range of budget-friendly hotels. EconoLodge and Quality Inn are two that stand out in particular for delivering unbeatable value at an incredible price.

When you stay at EconoLodge, you can take a stroll along their 500-foot riverside walkway and find plenty of amenities to make your downtime special – such as picnic tables, a fire pit, barbecue grills, and a spacious cedar wood pavilion. The hotel also boasts a heated indoor pool with a separate kiddie pool, as well as a hot tub and game room. After a day full of activities, retire to one of EconoLodge’s newly renovated guest rooms where you can sink into a comfortable “Perfect Sleeper” bed and enjoy the flat-screen television with cable and HBO, complimentary WiFi, and in-suite whirlpool hot tub (in select rooms).

Located on the Pigeon Forge Parkway and close to a trolley stop, Quality Inn is bound to save you money on gas or ride-sharing. It’s also within close proximity to free activities like hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and exploring The Island. After waking up in your double queen or king bedroom, you stand to save a few extra dollars with their free hot buffet breakfast. Plus, you won’t miss out on a more luxurious experience when you take advantage of their indoor and outdoor pools with hot tubs or book a Premium King Suite. Quality Inn lets you enjoy resort-style amenities without emptying your wallet!

Cheap Things To Do in the Smokies

The low-cost activities of the Smokies also just happen to be some of the finest! Appalachia is a region rich in cultural heritage, and it’s very cheap or even free to experience it firsthand.

For one, Tennessee is without doubt one of the best regions for whiskey drinkers. Authentic Tennessee is easy to come by in a place like the Smokies, where Scots-Irish immigrants settled the land and brought their distilling traditions with them. Local distilleries like Ole Smoky Moonshine, Sugarlands Distilling Company, Smith Creek Moonshine, and Tennessee Legend Distillery keep many of those same centuries-old recipes alive. Whiskey and moonshine tastings at these locations are either free or low-cost and are a great way to wind down after a long day on the trails.

As for those trails – you’ll find hundreds inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and it only costs $5 for entry. Lace up your hiking shoes and set out for an adventure across old-growth forests, trickling creeks, and native wildlife encounters with black bears, turkeys, and elk. If you brought your car or motorcycle on vacation with you, you’ll get the most out of the scenic driving trails like the Cades Cove Loop or Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. When you’re ready to take a breather, make sure you bring lunch to-go from one of the local barbecue joints like Corky’s Ribs & BBQ or Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que for a picnic. The national park provides plenty of picnicking areas including tables and pavilions in scenic locations.

Another prime way to get a taste of Appalachian culture is to take a shopping tour. The Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community is an 8-mile loop in Gatlinburg where the shops, studios, and galleries of local artisans abound. It’s free to park and free to browse among the 100 working craftsmen specializing in everything from painting and ceramics to basket-weaving and leather-working. Meanwhile, in Pigeon Forge, the Old Mill is a great place to find one-of-a-kind souvenirs, especially for a culinary artist. The Old Mill is one of the oldest still-operating grist mills in the country, and you can purchase stone-ground flour, grains, grits, and more at the General Store.

Money-Saving Resources

While it’s free to go window shopping among these Smoky Mountain artisans and boutiques – it would be nice to actually purchase a unique item or two as well! When you are souvenir shopping on a budget, savvy travelers know to take advantage of all the discounts they can find. As soon as you arrive in the Smokies, make sure to stop by one of the visitor’s centers for a hard copy of Monster Discount Coupons – or download it from online. The booklet contains a free area map and over 100 pages of discounts to local area attractions, restaurants, shops, and more.

Additionally, the Chambers of Commerce of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg often offer discounts to encourage visitors to shop and play among the local businesses. The Sevierville Chamber of Commerce is another fantastic resource for their savings pass. Just download the Sevierville Savings Pass app to your smartphone, and it’ll be easy to find deals on lodging, eateries, stores, and local entertainment. Visit their websites for more information!

In Conclusion

For many centuries, the Smokies have attracted visitors for its unforgettable scenery. The quaint mountain culture that developed as a result gives its visitors truly extraordinary ways to relax – whether with whiskey and wine, hiking and barbecue picnics, or shopping excursions. All that this amazing area has to offer becomes available to those traveling on the cheap with the help of these nifty budget-saving ideas and resources. With a bit of clever planning, you can treat yourself to the warm Southern hospitality of the Great Smoky Mountains without making your piggy bank lose weight!