Visiting Tennessee for the first time and looking for the best things to do at Dollywood? You’ve come to the right place!
Are you looking for a theme park experience like no other? Are you in love with Dolly and eager to enter a world of pure Parton fantasy? Are you ready to get dazzled under the spell of the great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee? If your answer to any of these questions was even “maybe” then start planning your trip to Dollywood now! Our Best Things to Do at Dollywood Guide is here to help you do just that!
Read on to learn about the park, how to get there and what you can expect from a visit to Dolly’s hometown oasis of fun, thrills, and southern charm.
What is Dollywood?
Appreciating the best things to do at Dollywood starts with understanding how to park came to be. Dollywood as we know it began in 1986 when Patron Saint Dolly Parton partnered with Herschend Family Enterprises to remake the Silver Dollar City Tennessee park in Pigeon Forge, TN (Dolly’s hometown). Prior to this, the park had been a frontier town attraction with a theatre, some rides, and Smoky Mountain artisans demonstrating heritage trades like blacksmithing, wood carving, and lye soap-making.
The Herschend Company’s commitment to preserving and celebrating Smoky Mountain culture was well-matched with Dolly Parton, whose pride in, and love for her hometown are ever-present in her music and persona. Together, they’ve continued to expand and improve the park year to year, committed to adding something new for guests every season. Presently, Dollywood welcomes more than 3 million guests annually from all corners of the world.
World class roller coasters, a waterpark, delicious regional cuisine, and a friendly atmosphere, Dollywood has it all.
My Dollywood Pilgrimage
My trip to Dollywood came about via a family member with a big birthday to celebrate, and Dollywood was her wish.
As a card-carrying queer, Dolly Parton holds a special place in my heart, and I had certainly mused about eventually making the pilgrimage. I had been unconsciously waiting for an excuse to go, and this was it!
Though I must say, having now been there I realize I needn’t have waited for any other reason besides Dollywood itself. So, if the thought of blissfully frolicking through Dolly’s Tennessee mountain home sets your heart aglow… then don’t wait – GO! And let this best things to do at Dollywood article guide your planning and ignite your anticipation!
I must also mention, as said queer person, I did have some well-founded reservations about journeying to Tennessee, USA. As most LGBTQ+ people are sadly aware, Tennessee is one of many states where law-makers are currently working hard to make life worse for trans and other gender non-conforming folks in particular.
However, I had to remind myself that Tennessee is still full of LGBTQ+ people who need to be seen and supported. Drag artists that need to be tipped. So for me, I was alright with giving a huge middle finger to these lawmakers by coming to the state and being as gay as possible – Hiiiieeeeeeee! Dolly Parton, a veritable (and often self-described) drag queen herself, is also a demonstrated ally of the LGBTQ+ community, and Dollywood is undoubtedly a safe space to exist within the state.
How To Get To Dollywood
Pigeon Forge (and neighbouring town Gatlinburg) are nestled right in the middle of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the Appalachian region of east Tennessee. Our party was a convergence of people from a few different locations across Canada, some flying and some driving.
The closest airport is Knoxville which is an approximately 1-hour drive to Dollywood. You may find more frequent inbound options to Nashville, (3-hr drive) or Atlanta (4-hour drive).
For me living in Toronto, we decided to make a road trip of it. The total driving time was 12.5 hours and took us through Detroit, Cincinnati and Nashville. One overnight in Dayton, Ohio (holler!) and another in Nashville.
Nashville is a great stop if you can make it part of your things to do at Dollywood journey.
Honky Tonk Highway is a party strip with live music venue after live music venue. You can also try Nashville’s famous hot chicken at the beloved Hattie B’s (though there is debate over where the absolute best hot chicken resides). Live out your A Star Is Born fantasy by partaking in some karaoke, and make the uber journey off the strip to the Lipstick Lounge to meet some fellow queers!
Note: to round out our return we took a different route home through West Virginia (stunningly beautiful) with an overnight in Pittsburgh, and a border crossing home through Niagara Falls.
Accommodations
There are number of lodging options for your stay at Dollywood ranging from budget-friendly to more comprehensive park resorts.
Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa opened in 2015 and provides guests with a full-service, comfortable home-away-from-home experience, inspired by Parton’s childhood mountain home. The 20-acre property offers premiere amenities including a spa, several restaurants, indoor and outdoor pool complex, and family activities.
For the ultimate resort experience you can stay in the “Dolly Parton Suite,” designed to make you feel like a personal guest of Dolly herself. The penthouse location gives the best view of the Smoky Mountains and the interior design includes touches of pink, purple, gold and a hint of sparkle!
In November of 2023, Dollywood’s second Lodging property, HeartSong Lodge and Resort, will open, also offering great amenities and services.
Bear Cove Cabins are a rental partner with Dollywood, located adjacent to the park and downtown Pigeon Forge. These rustic cabins are cozy and feature lovely views of the Smoky Mountains. They are even pet-friendly! There are also of course various hotel and motel options in both Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg that can meet stricter budget needs. The park is located in Pigeon Forge itself and Gatlinburg is just a ten minute drive down the road, and both towns provide an interesting experience unto themselves!
Tickets & Passes
Tickets to Dollywood are categorized as “Theme Park Tickets” (Dollywood), “Water Park Tickets” (Dollywood Splash Country) and “Multi-Park Tickets” (access to both Dollywood and Dollywood Splash Country). Each of these can be purchased as 1, 2 or 3-day passes.
For our experience we purchased 2-day Multi-Park Passes and spent one day at Dollywood, and our second day at Dollywood Splash Country.
Dollywood also offers Season passes, various group rates, special discounts, and resort or cabin-park packages, all of which can be found here.
One important pro tip is also purchasing a Timesaver Pass. At an additional $60 USD per person it isn’t an insignificant cost. However, if you can afford it, it is absolutely worth it. Getting used to skipping most lineups and walking straight on to coasters is a special kind of joy. It also really allows you to maximize your time and pack the most rides possible into your day.
Dollywood Festivals
One of the best things to do at Dollywood is to take in the various festivals that take place during the park season.
Our trip happened to fall during the Flower and Food Festival (late April-early June). The park was adorned with numerous brilliant flower displays and mosaiculture floral sculptures, all of which were on theme with the Smoky Mountains and Dolly Parton (for example a sculpture of Dolly’s mother sewing her “Coat of Many Colours”). The installation also included a brilliant “Umbrella Sky” which shaded the main walkway of Rivertown Junction with a canopy of gentle colours.
- Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration (late June to early August)
Features of this festival include extended park hours, meaning you can ride Dollywood’s beloved coasters well into the night. As well as a drone powered fireworks show, and the very popular “Gazillian Bubbles Show,” which is exactly what it sounds like.
- Dollywood’s Harvest Festival (late September to late October)
Celebrates the beauty of fall in the Smoky Mountains with numerous elaborate displays of carved pumpkins, as well as owl-themed displays in the trees in “Hoot Owl Hollow.”
- Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas (late November to early January)
Definitely a Dollywood favourite, earning one of the industry’s highest awards – the golden ticket – 13 years running. This festivals sees Dollywood transformed into a merry environment capturing the essence of Christmas with over five million holiday lights, festive performances and Christmas-themed foods.
What To Do At Dollywood
Now that we had arrived, the time had come to dive in to some of the most obvious best things to do in Dollywood – The rides!
Our first coaster of the day was the Dragonflier. And what a way to start! This bright, green, leg-dangly roller coaster is meant to mimic the quick and unpredictable flight path of a dragonfly. Fast turns and a twisting path made for a great way to get our sea legs, so to speak.
Thunderhead was our next stop. This massive wooden roller coaster includes a 100ft drop and a maximum speed of 55 mph. Wooden coasters are a particular favourite of mine in all their rickety glory. And a wooden coaster nestled in the tall trees of the Smoky Mountains? Yes please.
The next ride turned out to be my favourite – Mystery Mine is a combination indoor-outdoor coaster that takes riders through an abandoned coal mine. There’s something about dropping 85 ft in total darkness that has me wanting more! We most certainly ended up riding this roller coaster twice.
In between hair-raising roller coasters, be sure to spend some time at the Bird Display in Craftman’s Alley. Here you can get an up close look at bald eagles, vultures and other raptors. And if you are so inclined you can take in a demonstration show with professional handlers “Wings of America Bird Show” or “Wings of America Birds of Prey.”
Speaking of shows, Dollywood is full of all kinds of entertainment from drone fireworks, tons of live music, and even a “Gazillion Bubble Show.” What’s on offer does change depending on the season so be sure to take a look at what’s on offer ahead of time.
We managed to take in the “Forever Country” Stage Show as we wandered down Craftman’s Alley, a musical review featuring some very enthusiastic singers and dancers performing country hits from the 80s, 90s and 2000s.
After that brief reprieve we next took on the Wild Eagle, which was certainly the most intense coaster so far!
This ride is situated 21 storeys above the rest of the park and it feels HIGH. The seating on this ride is unique in that riders are on the “wings” meaning off to the side of the track with nothing but air below and above you. Definitely gives the feeling of flying high above the Smoky Mountains!
For a slight change of pace we next partook in the Smoky Mountain River Rampage, which is a floating river ride through rapids, sharp turns and plenty of splashes! Be prepared to have your shoes soaked.
If you’re in the mood for more cooldown, you can also check out Daredevil Falls, a classic log ride with a thrilling 60 ft drop that’s sure to get you wet! For an extra thrill watch the logs and screaming riders come down on the foot bridge over the landing area and get even wetter than if you were on the ride itself!
Certainly a must-do when determining the best things to do at Dollywood is taking a visit to Dolly’s Tennessee Mountain Home. This is a full replica of the two-room house that Dolly and her 10 siblings were raised in. All of the details are there right down to the newspaper covering the walls. This spot is a nice respite from all the commotion of the park, and a good place to reflect on how much life and this region has changed since Dolly’s childhood days.
Following this, we tied out the Tennessee Tornado. Which might look unassuming, but it’s a doozy! Made to mimic an actual tornado tearing down the mountain, this 70 mph coaster is full of spirals, loops and lots of G force.
The next venture was a Dollywood classic, one of the oldest ride in the park – Blazing Fury. This is an indoor coaster with a cast of animatronic townsfolk who need help putting out an out-of-control fire threatening to engulf the town. This bumpy little ride is nostalgic and cute.
We followed this up with Fire Chaser Express, which was a fun surprise! This is a dual launch coaster, meaning halfway through the ride you are launched back by a (simulated) firework explosion and ride the ride again, but backwards!
At this point the day was getting late, but we were determined to try out the Lightning Rod. This ride has been consistently voted by USA Today readers as one of the top ten roller coasters in the United States. And I can see why. This ride launches riders up its initial lift hill rather than letting it slowly climb, giving you airtime at the summit right off the bat. And the thrills continue from there. Reaching 73 mph this is the fastest coaster in the park and one of the most exhilarating! I highly recommend.
Finally, we finished off the day with Big Bear Mountain, both the newest roller coaster in the park in 2023. This ride uses onboard audio to engage riders on an expedition to spot the Big Bear. At nearly 2 minutes in length, this ride is also the longest coaster in the park.
What to Eat at Dollywood
Many people rave about the food at Dollywood. We even heard it from local Gatlinburg folk that none of the food in the park is pre-made and shipped in. Everything is prepared on site. And, like everything else at Dollywood, the cuisine is a celebration of local Smoky Mountain culture.
The first food item we tried was a bag of fresh pork rinds, which we watched being made before our eyes. Having never tried pork rinds in my life I was a bit skeptical, but after just one I was was totally convinced and ate probably way too many in a row. Delicious!
For lunch we picked up a few plates from Miss Lillian’s Bar-B-Q Corner. Two Loaded Mac & Cheeses, one topped with shrimp, the other with chicken, and a pair of BBQ Pork Sliders. Our seats happened to have a nice view of the aforementioned “Forever Country” stage show, which was a perfect compliment to our southern meal.
Certainly, no foray into the world of Dollywood food would be complete without Dolly’s famous cinnamon bread. This park favourite is one of the most mentioned treats at the park and is an item that alone brings visitors back again and again. This heaping loaf of pillowy sweet bread is drenched in a glorious glaze of cinnamon, sugar, and butter and is perfect (albeit messy!) for tearing and sharing with your crew. Apple butter and icing are optional add-ons (though if you ask me the icing is NOT optional). Dive in, get your sugar fix, and bring plenty of napkins.
There’s only so much one can eat in a day, and Dollywood has no shortage of other options, many of which can be seen here.
Dollywood Splash Country
Our second day was spent at Dollywood Splash Country! Dollywood’s sister water park. The weather was perfect for a day of getting wet and basking in the southern sun.
The water park is located adjacent to Dollywood but with a separate parking area. The park is beautiful, inspired by Dolly’s childhood memories of swimming in the rivers of the Smoky Mountains, it too is nestled in a forested mountain valley, providing a lovely and unique backdrop.
We started things off with Big Bear Plunge, which is a four-person inner tube slide – so quite big! And the name doesn’t lie, there are two big drops, one inside a tube and one outside, with quite the splash to finish. Be sure to listen to the lifeguard on where to keep your knees tucked lest you want a knee-face collision, it’s a bumpy ride!
Other notable slides include Fire Tower Falls – the park’s tallest and fastest. At 70ft tall and free-fall style I was initially a definite no. However I’m a pushover so was quickly convinced to give it a try, and was so glad I did! Terrifying but SO FUN.
Another favourite was definitely River Rush, Tennessee’s first and only water coaster! Intrigued? You should be. A four-person inflatable raft allows you to enjoy this experience with your friends. Climbs, turns, twists and drops all throughout the forest canopy at high speeds makes for a super fun experience worth repeating. And we did repeat. Several times.
Other fun group slides include Raging River Rapids and Swiftwater Run, as well as slides best enjoyed as a race to the bottom with your companions like Slick Rock Racer and Tailspin Racer.
And of course there are plenty of slides enjoyed as solo rides like Wild River Falls, Mountain Twist, Mountain Scream and the Cascades.
Treats, food and gift-shopping also abound in this park. I highly recommend trying the chocolate and sprinkle-dipped frozen banana! You can also punctuate your thrills with some poolside leisure. There’s plenty of seating and lounging by the Mountain Waves wave pool. And of course for me no water park visit is complete without a few slow laps around the lazy river (at Dollywood Splash Country referred to as Downbound Float Trip)
We took full advantage of everything this epitome-of-summer park had to offer. By the time the sun was getting low we were both sun and water soaked and fully spent. A wonderfully nostalgic and dreamy summer day.
Best Things To Do Near Dollywood
The towns of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are interesting places all one their own.
Just one quick cruise along the main parkway on Google street view will give you a clue of what to expect. Basically, Niagara Falls on steroids. Almost Vegas. It was attraction after attraction after attraction. Our favourite and most surprising being the Titanic Museum Attraction.
When I saw that there was a (nearly) life-sized replica of the bow of the Titanic in this town I was simultaneously astonished and delighted. Turns out this museum holds the world largest collection of Titanic artifacts, most of which are on loan from private collections. The interior is also a highly interactive and largely immersive experience that left all of us informed and in awe. Our 2.5 hours inside flew by. 10/10!
Another unique site to see nearby is Cades Cove. This hidden valley within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the site of a now abandoned settler town from the early nineteenth century. An 11-mile road takes you around the valley, past numerous original buildings, still in their original settings. Cades Cove is also a great area for wildlife spotting, including black bears.
We were actually tipped off on Cades Coves by our delightful trivia night host at the Gatlinburg Pizzeria the night prior. I would recommend this place for some delicious cheesy pizza, beer, and live trivia! Take part for a great night.
Final Thoughts
By the time our visit to Dollywood and the Smoky Mountains Region had come to a close, we were full.
There is so much to do here, so many attractions, so many thrilling rides, so many to foods to try, and so many friendly people. It wasn’t hard for us to see why Dollywood Parks and resorts have been consistently voted as some of the best in the United States. They’ve really hit the mark on cultivating that feel-good experience. And is that really a surprise with Earth-Angel Dolly Parton at the helm?
One final note on Dollywood. The benefit that this park has created for the community in Dolly’s home region is enormous. The parks and their consistent expansion and updating have created significant and growing numbers of well-paying jobs for people here. There’s also the tremendous indirect effect all of the tourism the parks provide on the local economies of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.
The sentiment among locals I believe can be summed up by the experience we had picking up our Timesaver passes upon arrival. After casually asking the Dollywood attendant printing our tickets if he liked working there, he offered up the most glowing review of the park, and most emphatically, Dolly herself. “I got to have my photo taken with her here once. She touched my left arm.” When we responded by saying she seems like a really amazing person, he came back with “No, she doesn’t seem like an amazing person, she is an amazing person.” And finally, through eyes that had started to tear up – “She is a gift to this world.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, my adoration for Dolly Parton only grew from this experience. 100% a trip I’ll never forget. So when thinking about your next vacation and want a unique, fun and Parton-approved feel-good excursion, consider venturing to the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee and give Dollywood a try!
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