The Best Luxury Hotels in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Every day is the most wonderful time of the year to stay at the Inn at Christmas Place. You can mix up a cup of hot cocoa every morning and appreciate the hotel’s Bavarian architecture from the pond in its lush courtyard. You’ll have a holly, jolly time making s’mores beside the fire in your Santa suite (and you may find a present under the Christmas tree). Hear some sleigh bells and ho, ho, hos coming from the lobby? You may find Santa singing carols in front of the glockenspiel.

An hour massage, an hour facial and an 80-minute pedicure – that’s just the first three-plus hours of your stay at RiverStone Resort and Spa. Your kids might spend the same amount of time doing backflips on the bounce pillow, sliding through the playground or exploring the Little Pigeon River nature trail. And where’s your partner been all this time? They’re probably snoozing their way down the lazy river with their phone on silent.

As you sit and watch the sunset, you’ll understand why so many come back to Margaritaville Island Hotel. You can slide on your flip-flops and relax on your balcony overlooking the river, the city or the Island at Pigeon Forge. The kids will see the giant Ferris wheel in the distance and beg you to unload a roll of quarters at the nearby Arcade City. When the coast is clear, you can sneak over to the Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery for some Smoky Mountain-style boat drinks.

You’ll have your fill of mountain views at Sunrise Ridge Resort, but you may be seeing a little more of the indoors than you expected. The indoor pool and hot tub are particularly refreshing in the winter months, though you and your partner might find your room’s whirlpool tub a little cozier. While the fog resting over the Smokies looks stunning, it’s the steam in the sauna that’ll make you feel truly relaxed in this peaceful mountain retreat.

The Black Fox Lodge will definitely warm you up to Pigeon Forge. Its lodge-style charm extends from the lobby to your suite, where a balcony with river and mountain views invites you to relax. Look left or right to spot go-karts, a minigolf course and a host of other family-friendly activities a few footsteps away from the hotel’s front door. Don’t rush back to your room when you return; the outdoor firepit and brick-oven pizza at the Fox Den restaurant are perfect during a late-autumn visit.

Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa is so magical that you’ll see why the Smoky Mountains are no place for a mouse. Your kids will be too busy getting creative at Camp DW, playing in the game room and listening to stories by the fireplace to notice that you’ve spent all day getting pampered in the spa. An exciting dinner show will bring you all together as you take a family vote on whether to spend tomorrow at Dollywood’s theme park or water park.

The Lodge at Five Oaks is in Sevierville, an easy 15-minute drive from Pigeon Forge, but getting there might be more challenging than it seems. Your kids will probably keep asking for one more go down the huge slide into the outdoor pool, and your partner will probably move a little slower, too, savoring the time spent getting ready by your suite’s cozy fireplace. However, when you finally step foot out of the lobby, the Adventure Park Ziplines, Nascar SpeedPark and Five Oaks Riding Stables may convince you to stay on this side of the Little Pigeon River.

When you tell the kids that there are two outdoor and two indoor pools, a game room and a minigolf course at Club Wyndham Smoky Mountains, they’ll think it’s the coolest vacation resort on the planet. Add a playground, nature trails and special activities into the mix, and they’ll believe they’re getting the royal treatment. Also, your grin might grow a little when you realize that your suite has a balcony and a whirlpool, two fantastic places to kick back when you’re not getting a little alone time in the sauna.