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Things to do near our cottages in Pigeon Forge
Distances measured from 133 Old Mill Ave. Most of the first list you can walk to.
Right out the door: the Old Mill District
The historic Old Mill District is the reason guests keep coming back. The 1830 grist mill still grinds flour and cornmeal, and the two restaurants beside it — the Old Mill Restaurant for Southern plates and the Pottery House Café & Grille for lunch on the patio — are a three-minute walk. Wander the Old Mill General Store, the candy kitchen, and the pottery shop, then cross to Patriot Park for the river, the flags, and a picnic table.
The Pigeon Forge Greenway and the river
A block from the cottages, the paved Greenway follows the Little Pigeon River through town. Walk it in the morning with coffee, bike it, or let the kids run. Back at the cottages, the bridge is where people fish and the geese gather — ask Dolly about duck food. In the evening, the fire pit by the water is the best seat on the property.
Dollywood and Dollywood's Splash Country — 5 minutes
Dollywood is about a five-minute drive, or take the trolley from the stop a block away and skip parking altogether. Splash Country is next door to the park. We wrote a separate page on staying near Dollywood with tips on timing and the trolley.
The Island in Pigeon Forge — 5 minutes
The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, the dancing fountains, Paula Deen's, Margaritaville, and a few dozen shops and restaurants. Go after dinner when the Wheel is lit up.
Shows, go-karts, and the Parkway — 1 to 10 minutes
Pigeon Forge's Parkway starts a minute's walk from Cottage Two: a go-kart park and a coffee shop are on the corner, and the dinner shows, mini golf, Titanic Museum, WonderWorks, and the LeConte Center are a few minutes up the road or one trolley ride away. During the spring and fall car shows, the Parkway becomes the show — book those weekends early.
Gatlinburg — 15 minutes
Ober Mountain, the SkyLift and SkyBridge, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, the Arts & Crafts Community loop, and the downtown strip. Fifteen minutes down the Parkway, or take the Spur past the national park entrance.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park — 15 minutes
The Sugarlands Visitor Center entrance is about fifteen minutes away. Easy first hikes: Laurel Falls (paved, 2.6 miles round trip), Gatlinburg Trail (flat, dog-friendly), and the Cataract Falls stroll behind the visitor center. Cades Cove and Clingmans Dome are worth a full day each. Pack lunch — the cottages' full kitchens make that easy.
Outlets and Sevierville — 10 minutes
Tanger Outlets Sevierville is ten minutes north on the Parkway. Sevierville's courthouse square and the Dolly Parton statue are a few minutes past that.
Ready to pick your base? Compare the three cottages or check availability.
Questions about the area
What can I do in Pigeon Forge without a car?
A lot. From the cottages you can walk to the Old Mill, its restaurants and shops, Patriot Park, and the Greenway. The trolley stop a block away connects you to Dollywood, the LeConte Center, and everything along the Parkway.
How far is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from the cottages?
About fifteen minutes to the Sugarlands Visitor Center entrance past Gatlinburg. Cades Cove and Clingmans Dome are longer drives inside the park — plan a full day for either.
When are the Pigeon Forge car shows?
The big Parkway car shows run several times a year, mostly spring and fall. Cottage Two sits a minute from the Parkway, which makes it a favorite with show-goers — and a reason to book early for those weekends.
Is there anything to do right at the cottages?
Sit by the river, feed the geese from the bridge, build a fire in the fire pit (firewood is sold at most gas stations nearby), or walk the Greenway along the water.