Gatlinburg Trolley: Free Routes, Hours and Park and Ride Guide

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Downtown Gatlinburg is walkable, but parking close to the Parkway fills quickly and costs money. The city trolley solves both problems. There are no fares or fees to ride, the system runs 365 days a year, and its fleet has grown from six trolleys in 1980 to more than 20 today. For cabin guests it is the easiest way to spend a day in town without circling for a space.

Every route stops at the Mass Transit Center at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies. The Red Route reaches River Road, parts of Ski Mountain Road, Airport Road and Cherokee Orchard Road, handy for the Roaring Fork area. The Yellow Route makes an eight-mile loop of Glades Road and Buckhorn Road through the Arts and Crafts Community, daily from 10:30 AM to 6 PM in season. The Blue Route heads east on Highway 321, and the Purple Route covers the entrance to town and the Welcome Center.

The Park-n-Ride lot at the Gatlinburg Welcome Center, 1011 Banner Road on the spur, is the main place to leave the car, and Pigeon Forge's trolley connects there too. From May through October trolleys run 8:30 AM to midnight, and from November through April they run 10:30 AM to 10 PM. Schedules can change for weather or special events, so check the city's trolley page or the Visit Gatlinburg app before you go.

Photo: Gatlinburg Convention & Visitors Bureau (gatlinburg.com)