The Best Hotels With Pools to Book in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Admire the mysterious blue smoke surrounding the mountains from your private balcony at this 300-room hotel. When you’re not out whitewater rafting, you can splash around in the hotel’s multi-tiered, heated indoor pool, surrounded by green trees, with waterslides emerging from faux rock faces. A hot tub and kids’ wading pool are also available – ideal for fun family getaways.

With its courtyard firepit, outdoor whirlpool tub and mountain lodge aesthetic, this Marriott property has nailed “peak chic.” The hotel is less than half a mile from the restaurants and entertainment of Gatlinburg Downtown, but if you just want to chill, the indoor pool is where it’s at. Set within a lovely courtyard surrounded by loungers, the hot tub area transforms into a cozy evening hang-out.

When it comes to hotels in Gatlinburg with pools, the Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort is one of the main players. Tucked off the main road, it sits on an impressive 255 private acres (103ha) of secluded mountain wilderness. The mountain-themed waterpark takes up a lot of that space with pools, hot tubs, interactive playgrounds, waterslides and a lazy river – open to guests for an additional fee. A large heated outdoor pool and a spa tub are reserved for guests staying in the hotel’s wood log villas. To keep kids busy on dry land, there’s also a large arcade with a variety of games, as well as an outdoor playground.

Located in the middle of Pigeon Forge and just a 15-minute drive from Dollywood, this hotel feels like a beach retreat in the mountains. As well as an indoor pool and hot tub, it features a huge outdoor pool with a double-loop slide and a children’s splash area. With several bars and chillout areas, plus an onsite spa offering everything from manicures to couples’ massages, this is as much a magnet for partners looking for a loved-up getaway as it is for families.

This hotel’s warm home-from-home vibe is accentuated by in-room fireplaces and outdoor fire pits. Once you’ve digested your all-inclusive hot breakfast of eggs, bacon and sausage – served on the patio overlooking LeConte Creek – head to the indoor pool for some relaxation. Grab a coffee whenever you like from the lobby, before heading 4mi (6.4km) down the road to Ober Gatlinburg ski area and amusement park.

Perched on a tree-covered hillside overlooking the Cliff Branch stream, this rural lodge has an enviable location. In keeping with natural surroundings, the decor is rustic-luxe, with a real fire in the lobby and selected rooms – ideal for keeping you cozy. Take a dip in the hotel’s indoor-outdoor pool and hot tubs, complete with a waterfall and a sundeck with loungers.

Just off the main drag of Downtown Gatlinburg, this Holiday Inn exudes a rural lodge ambience with its autumnal tones, roaring fires and wooden furnishings. Two pools (one indoor, one outdoor), hot tubs, a games room and a kids’ play area make it a popular family destination. The hotel offers plenty of activities to entertain, including a morning hayride through the Smoky Mountains, poolside tie-dye t-shirt making and moonshine tastings.

Along with its impressive saltwater swimming pool, this Hilton Garden Inn has a popular afternoon happy hour, where you can mingle with fellow guests around the stone fireplace. If you’re not a drinker, you can enjoy complimentary iced tea and cookies. When you’re in need of some fresh mountain air, strip off and enjoy the patio hot tub or cozy up on the comfy seating around the outdoor firepit.

If you’re traveling in a large group, the family suites at this hotel are capable of accommodating up to 10 guests and come with balconies, kitchenettes and gas fireplaces. During the warmer months, the whole brood will enjoy the seasonal outdoor and kids’ pools, surrounded by lounge chairs. Love chilling in a bubble bath? Book the deluxe king room with its own jetted tub.

You’ll feel right at home in these rustic, apartment-style suites, some of which come with washers/dryers and fireplaces to keep you cozy in the winter months. In the summer, take a dip in the indoor or outdoor pools, or get competitive at the oversized checkerboard, ping-pong tables and basketball court. There’s also an outdoor grill and terrace for guests to use, and the hotel organizes fishing excursions for the kids in the stream at the back of the property.