Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Spring Break Adventures Await

19 March 2026

The time for a much-needed spring break is here! Whether you’re looking for thrilling adventures or fun-filled family getaways, the Great Smoky Mountains are the perfect place to have some springtime fun.

Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge have a wide range of attractions from Dolly Parton’s Dollywood, Scooby-Doo mini golf and long ziplines to quirky museums and dinner theaters.

Knox County Schools and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville are both out March 9-13 this year for spring break.

Here are attractions in the Smokies that will be open to welcome visitors for spring break outings and throughout the season.

Table of Contents

Anakeesta

The outdoor theme park in Gatlinburg, partially reopens March 9 as it undergoes a major expansion project. Anakeesta features the Hellbender mountain coaster, an interactive BirdVenture area, the night walk lightshow experience Astra Lumina and other adventures.

During the partial reopening phase, admission will be managed through timed-entry tickets. Guests are encouraged to purchase tickets online to get their preferred arrival time. And for a limited time, general admission tickets will include unlimited rides on both of Anakeesta’s mountain coasters.

Guests will travel to the summit via the Ridge Rambler until the new Crystal Express lift system is completed. Firefly Village will remain temporarily closed for construction, including the Smokehouse restaurant and select retail locations.

Additional attractions, dining, and retail experiences will open in phases. The park is expected to be fully open sometime in spring. More information is at anakeesta.com.

Tickets | $23-$35, with $19 add-ons
Location | 576 Parkway, Gatlinburg

Dollywood

Dolly Parton’s theme park kicks off its 2026 season March 13, and anyone with a ticket is welcome that day and onward. However, passholders and Dollywood resort guests have the chance to get an exclusive preview (with limited park operations) on March 12.

Parton is expected to be at the park for the March 13 opening, which is the first day of the I Will Always Love You Music Festival.

Dollywood’s 4 season will feature three major new events for Halloween, runners and swimmers, and the innovative new NightFlight Expedition ride is set to debut later in spring. More information is at Dollywood.com.

Tickets | $85-$95
Location | 2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd., Pigeon Forge

Dig’n Zone

This construction-themed amusement park has special opening days March 7-8 and then will begin regular operations March 13.

Dig’n Zone features 20 attractions and rides such as the Decimator, a 50,000-pound excavator that swings you around at a dizzying speed, and the Crusher, which lets you flatten cars with pavement rollers. More information is available at dignzone.com.

Tickets | $55- $69 for adults. Children age 2 and younger get in for free
Location | 1707 Veterans Blvd., Sevierville

Gatlinburg SkyPark

Take a stroll across the Gatlinburg SkyBridge in the Smokies, the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America! And before you even do that, you can take a scenic ride on the SkyLift. The SkyPark, which is open year-round, also has hiking trails, a tower, a burger restaurant and a walk-up bar. More information is available at gatlinburgskypark.com.

Tickets | $18-$37+
Location | 765 Parkway, Gatlinburg

Ober Mountain

The weather might be warming up, but you can still go ice skating, skiing and snow tubing at Ober Mountain in Gatlinburg. Families can enjoy several indoor and outdoor activities such as chair lifts, rock climbing and ice bumper cars during spring break and beyond.

The year-round adventure park also has events scheduled, including Spring Fling March 7-8 and Ladies on the Slopes on March 8. More information on scheduled events is available at obermountain.com.

Ober Mountain is open year-round. You can purchase tickets, see the schedule and more at obermountain.com.

Tickets | Winter fun pass starts at $49. Tickets vary for individual attractions
Location | 1339 Ski Mountain Road, Gatlinburg

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Putt

The immersive 36-hole mini golf adventure is open now with two Mystery Machine-inspired courses, and a third is opening in 2026. There’s gem mining, too.

Go during spring break and you can try to solve the attraction’s March mystery. Somewhere on the course is a hidden shamrock. Find it and unlock a mystery prize. Always keep an eye open because it’s never in the same space for long.

Tickets | $17-$20 for mini golf | $10-$30 for gem mining
Location | 2545 Teaster Lane at the Mountain Mile in Pigeon Forge

Truth Traveler

This Pigeon Forge attraction will take you on a biblical virtual reality experience, on a journey from the Garden of Eden to Noah’s flood and the Tower of Babel. You even experience the birth of Jesus and his ascension. Truth Traveler also features a planetarium, a gift shop and an area for snacks and drinks. More information is at truthtraveler.com/pigeon-forge.

Tickets | $15-$35
Location | 2680 Parkway, Pigeon Forge

Wilderness at the Smokies

Tennessee’s largest indoor waterpark resort is open year-round and has spring break escape special rates as low as $174 a night. The spring break special runs through March 26.

Last year, the resort added more than two dozen new mountainside lodging options, including cabins and treehouses. Other recent additions include the Lookout Lagoon rooftop pool area with a glass edge, cabanas and an entertainment stage and the indoor pool featuring the three-story water coaster Ridge Runner and the immersive Kaleidoscope Kavern Lazy River.

Daily waterpark passes are available, too, but in limited quantities. More information is available at wildernessatthesmokies.com.

Tickets | Day passes are $79+ during March. Lodging and daily pass prices vary
Location | 1424 Old Knoxville Highway, Sevierville

WildSide

Thrill-seekers can twist, turn, climb and drop across seven miles of mountain bike trails and eight miles of utility task vehicle trails at WildSide, which shifted to daily operations on March 6. There are trails for all levels of experience, from beginners to seasoned pros. You can also ride on a UTV with a guide for $40.

The outdoor park spans nearly 900 acres of untouched mountain land, and trails have up 1,500 feet of elevation change. More information is available at wildsidetn.com.

Tickets | $299+ for UTV rental | $20 for bike pass
Location | 1099 Laurel Lick Road, Pigeon Forge

The MegaZip at WildSide

Zoom down the longest continuous zip line in the United States on the MegaZip at WildSide! The zipline opened last year and flies riders over one mile across the Smokies. The exhilarating adventure begins 2,472 feet in air overlooking the mountain ridges and descends more than 1,000 feet.

More information is available at wildsidetn.com/megazip.