Food / Desserts
Ice Cream and Desserts in the Smokies
From hand-dipped waffle cones on the Gatlinburg strip to giant over-the-top milkshakes at the Island in Pigeon Forge, the Smokies corridor takes dessert seriously. Roasted nuts wafting from street vendors, fresh fudge, and glazed nuts are part of the sensory experience of walking the strip.
What to Know
Best Seasons
Year-round. Summer is peak dessert season for ice cream. Fall brings caramel apples, hot cider donuts, and fudge shops capitalizing on apple harvest. Winter Winterfest season keeps dessert shops busy with holiday treats.
What to Bring
Cash works at most street vendors. Extra napkins are always needed. Take the photo before you start eating.
Find the Right Fit
Walk Before You Commit
Both the Gatlinburg strip and the Island in Pigeon Forge have multiple dessert vendors close together. Walk a block before choosing. You can smell the roasted nuts and waffle cones from 50 feet away.
Time Your Sweet Stop
Ice cream lines on the strip get long between 2 and 5 PM on hot summer days. Morning visits or after-dinner dessert runs encounter shorter waits.
Go Novelty Once
Giant milkshakes with candy toppings, funnel cake ice cream sandwiches, and over-sized novelty desserts are everywhere in the corridor. Try one ridiculous dessert at least once. They are designed for the experience, not just the taste.
0 Options Across the Smokies
Sorted by visitor rating and review count. Click any card for full details, photos, and directions.
Tips and Getting There
Insider Tips
- The roasted nut carts on the Gatlinburg strip are one of the signature smells of the strip. Cinnamon almonds and glazed pecans are the two best. Buy a small bag and eat them while they're warm.
- Candy Kitchen has been on the Gatlinburg strip for decades and makes fudge, taffy, and old-fashioned candy in view of the street. The peanut butter fudge is what locals bring home.
- The Island in Pigeon Forge has the most over-the-top milkshake options in the corridor. They're enormous and photogenic. Bring a group and share one.
Getting There and Parking
Ice cream and dessert shops line the entire Gatlinburg strip (Parkway) and are concentrated around the Island complex in Pigeon Forge. Both areas have paid parking lots. The Gatlinburg trolley stops along the strip if you'd rather not drive.
Finding the Right Ice Cream and Desserts for Your Group
For Families
The Gatlinburg strip dessert walk is one of the best low-cost family activities in the corridor. Budget $20-30 for a group ice cream stop and fudge samples.
For Groups
The Island milkshake bars and candy shops are made for group Instagram moments. Go in the evening when the fountain is lit and the lights are on for the best photos.
For Food Explorers
Look beyond ice cream. The strip has candied bacon, chocolate-covered everything, novelty cotton candy, and small-batch fudge in flavors not found anywhere else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best ice cream in Gatlinburg?
The Gatlinburg strip has multiple hand-dipped ice cream parlors within a few blocks. Personal favorites vary, but most visitors recommend the shops near the Sky Lift area for the freshest homemade flavors.
What are the giant milkshakes?
Several venues on the Island in Pigeon Forge and along the Parkway offer milkshakes topped with full candy bars, donuts, slices of cake, and other elaborate garnishes. They are designed to be photogenic as much as delicious.
Is the roasted nut smell actually the nuts or something added?
The cinnamon sugar coating caramelizes during roasting, which creates the distinctive smell. There's no artificial scent added. The smell is 100% the caramelizing sugar and spices.
Where can I find funnel cake?
Funnel cakes are available from vendor carts along the Gatlinburg strip and at most of the larger outdoor entertainment venues in Pigeon Forge.
What is the Candy Kitchen?
Candy Kitchen is a Gatlinburg strip institution that has made handmade fudge, taffy, and confections since 1963. They make candy in front of customers throughout the day.
Are there vegan or dairy-free dessert options?
Sorbet and fruit-based frozen treats are available at most ice cream shops. Dedicated vegan ice cream is available at some locations but not universal. Ask at any shop about current options.
Stay Within Reach of Ice Cream and Desserts
End the night at a Vantage cabin hot tub after a strip dessert run. Luxury mountain cabins minutes from every sweet shop in the Smokies.
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