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Great Kid-Friendly Hotels in Tennessee, USA, if You’re on a Budget

Be steps from Graceland Mansion when you stay at the Guest House at Graceland
Be steps from Graceland Mansion when you stay at the Guest House at Graceland | Courtesy of The Guest House at Graceland / Booking.com

Road trips to Tennessee make for a wholesome family vacation. Home to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the family-friendly mountain towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, and fun-filled cities such as Nashville and Memphis, the state has something for everyone. And the best part? You don’t need to pack an oversized wallet to enjoy the mountain splendor. Here’s our pick of the best pocket- and kid-friendly hotels in Tennessee, USA.

The Gallatin Hotel, for a feel-good stay in Nashville

Hotel

A cozy suite at the Gallatin Hotel, with light and bright blues, a pillowy bed and a painting of Johnny Cash
Courtesy of The Gallatin Hotel / Expedia

The Gallatin Hotel understands the importance of low-cost rooms that are safe for families. The bunk rooms hold two sets of bunk beds, while the suites add a colorful sitting area for extra lounging space. Not only does this Nashville hotel keep you close to downtown, but you’ll rest easier knowing that every stay helps provide warm beds, meals and showers for families facing homelessness in the community.

Music Road Resort, for pocket-friendly play in Pigeon Forge

Resort

The outdoor water park at Music Road Resort, with a lazy river, a slide and loungers
Courtesy of Music Road Resort / Expedia

This kid-friendly hotel in Tennessee helps you rein in your spending during your stay in Pigeon Forge. With access to a game room, indoor pools and a full-on water park featuring a lazy river, water slides and splash pads, the little ones will be too distracted to run amok with your credit card. When you do feel like loosening the purse strings, Hollywood Wax Museum and numerous amusements parks are just a half-mile (0.8km) away.

The Guest House at Graceland, for rock stars on a budget in Memphis

Hotel

A large outdoor pool area with tables, chairs, parasols and the Guest House at Graceland rising behind
Courtesy of The Guest House at Graceland / Booking.com
You don’t need a rock-star budget to vacation like the King. The Guest House at Graceland – right around the corner from Elvis’s Memphis estate – has an affordable room for you to unpack your blue suede shoes. The connecting rooms are convenient for Tennessee trips with the family. Once you’re well-rested, catch up over pulled pork pizza and catfish po’ boys at EP’s Bar and Grill.

Looking for other lavish places to lounge like a rock star? These luxury hotels in Tennessee will make your vacation go platinum.

Black Fox Lodge Pigeon Forge, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, for a splash of fun

Hotel, Luxury, Chain Hotel

A modern rustic two-bed guest room at Black Fox Lodge Pigeon Forge, with wooden headboards and carpeting
Courtesy of Black Fox Lodge Pigeon Forge, Tapestry Collection by Hilton / Booking.com

Having an enjoyable yet affordable family vacation in Pigeon Forge is far from a chore at Black Fox Lodge. The outdoor pool has a water fountain and a slide, showering the kiddos with an extra splash of fun. Your little ones won’t have a chance to be picky eaters at the Fox Den; the brick-oven pizzas and handmade burgers are so tasty that it’ll be impossible for them to argue with their mouths full.

Think the kids could survive “roughing” it without internet for the night? Trade screen time for serene time at these wonderful places to camp in Tennessee.

The Bear Inn, for themed cabins in Clifton

Resort, Lodge

A rustic suite at the Bear Inn Resort, with quilts on the beds, a mirror wall and a cut-out of a bear on another wall
Courtesy of The Bear Inn Resort / Booking.com

Free yourself from the distractions of city life with a nature escape at this woodland resort in quaint Clifton. Only a dozen cabins sit on the 6-acre (2ha) property, each with a unique theme, such as Nascar, bow hunting and the Masters Tournament. If your family likes outdoor adventures, they’ll love fishing, hunting and more in the nearby rivers and forests.

Twin Mountain Inn and Suites, for added perks in Pigeon Forge

Hotel, Inn

The Pigeon River with trees one one side and the balconied Twin Mountain Inn and Suites on the other
Courtesy of Twin Mountain Inn and Suites / Booking.com

While the kids may not appreciate every detail that makes this inn so convenient – and affordable – for parents, they’ll at least be thrilled about the outdoor pool. You’ll be charmed much faster, particularly when you notice the fireplace in your room and the Pigeon River views from your balcony. The complimentary breakfasts, double vanities, free wifi and riverside firepit will send you into a state of bliss without sending your wallet into a state of shock.

Planning your next holiday with penny-pinching in mind? Consider a night at these cool glamping sites around Tennessee.

The Resort at Governor’s Crossing, for indoor and outdoor water parks in Sevierville

Resort

A bright and spacious suite with a lime-green wall and a balcony at the Resort at Governor’s Crossing
Courtesy of The Resort at Governor’s Crossing / Expedia

At this resort’s outdoor aqua park, the water slides and play equipment combine with vibrant condo fronts to create a kaleidoscope of colors kids will love. That’s one of two water parks here; the other is a climate-controlled indoor facility with extra slides and kid-friendly games. There’s also Firefly Cove, a park with firepits, picnic areas and a nine-hole minigolf course, and a game room kitted out with arcade video games and air hockey. For a fun Tennessee trip, the RainForest Adventures Discovery Zoo is a two-minute drive away.

Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel, for doing the loco-motion

Hotel

An industrial-and-rustic-style bar and dining room at Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel
Courtesy of Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel / Expedia

What was once a railroad station operated by the Southern Railway is now a kid-friendly hotel in Tennessee. After two $4m renovations in 1973 and 1989, the hotel expanded to include restaurants and music venues. In addition to modern rooms in the main hotel, there are also train-car rooms, each of which has a queen-size bed, a flat-screen television and high-speed wifi. Some rooms also have daybeds with trundles – ideal for Tennessee trips with young family members. In 1974, the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel made it on the National Register of Historic Places.

Sam Murray and Leena Kollar contributed additional reporting to this article.

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