Looking for a vacation destination, that has great campgrounds and attractions your whole family can enjoy together? Pigeon Forge in Eastern Tennessee is jam-packed with excellent campgrounds and with entertainment for your entire crew. Cruise down the main drag known as “The Parkway” and you’ll find many RV Campgrounds and more than 70 attractions offering endless fun for all ages. It’s the gateway into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is why Pigeon Forge is one of our absolute favorite vacation destinations.
We’ve curated family-friendly attractions and campgrounds in Pigeon Forge, below.
Pigeon Forge Campgrounds
Pigeon Forge offers some great campground options located in convenient spots to attractions, restaurants, shopping, and The Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Some of our favorites include:
River Plantation RV Resort
Pine Mountain RV Park by the Creek
Riveredge RV Park & Cabin Rentals
Pigeon River Campground
Families can find several additional Pigeon Forge campgrounds & parks in the area with our “Find a Campground” tool.
Photo: Home While We Roam
Educational Attractions
WonderWorks in Pigeon Forge, TN is a hands-on and educational attraction for all ages. It will excite and inspire you from the second you spot the 82 feet high UPSIDEDOWN building from the Parkway. You can’t miss it! Once inside, your imagination will go wild. There are over 100 exhibits to explore so give yourself a few hours to experience this unique attraction.
Our adventuring kiddos enjoyed the rock wall and also the Bubble Room, where they could wrap themselves inside a giant bubble. With a newly renovated laser tag course and a video game arcade, you could spend the whole day here. Challenge your older scienceving kids to one of the epic simulations. They can experience flying a fighter jet, a hurricane with 71 mph winds or the 6.0 Earthquake! Wow!
Photo: aitoff
The Titanic Museum is another larger than life attraction you just can’t miss…literally. This life-sized Titanic replica building is complete with a gigantic iceberg. Step back to 1912 as you enter this exhibit and are greeted by a costumed cast member and given your character. This self-guided tour was a hit with our younger kiddos who loved touching the growing iceberg and sitting in a real lifeboat. The history buffs in your family will enjoy learning the story of the Titanic’s tragic journey. We left wanting to learn even more! This museum is beautifully created with hundreds of real TITANIC artifacts. Photography is limited inside the attraction, but the gift shop is filled with cool souvenirs to take home.
Outdoor Adventures
Miniature Golf is another sure bet for the whole family and there is no shortage of courses in Pigeon Forge, TN. Rain or shine, the blacklight golf course at MagiQuest has always been a solid choice for our family. If you are visiting the Smokies and the weather is fine, don’t miss one of the many outdoor miniature golf courses. Fantasy Golf was a hit with our family because dragons AND unicorns! Our fantasy-loving girls were beside themselves when they saw the life-sized dragons and unicorns at Fantasy Golf. They offer two different 18-hole courses for all levels. Our family of four had a magical day of fun for around $30!
Fantasy Golf in Pigeon Forge
Rain, shine and even SNOW, the Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster in Pigeon Forge is the ultimate thrill ride in the Smoky Mountains! This thrill ride is perfect for kids and adults of all ages because you get to control how fast the ride is! The unique track is more than a mile long, making this ride the longest downhill Alpine Coaster in the United States! We suggest taking advantage of the discounted second ride in a day. We went back in the evening for an even for suspenseful thrill.
Photo: Home While We Roam
Experience Nature
Pigeon Forge, also called the Gateway to the Smoky Mountains, is located just outside of The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Take in the natural beauty of this region and learn the history and heritage of the Smoky Mountains at the National Park. Do some shopping in the Sugarland Visitor Center to support the park and take in the park film while you’re there. The short film kept our nine-year old’s attention and we learned lots in those 20 minutes that made our first experience more memorable. You don’t need to be a die-hard hiker to experience breathtaking views either. We enjoyed a few family-friendly road-side hikes which brought us to the breathtaking waterfalls. Non-hikers can even take a drive through Cades Cove where you may get a glimpse of Black Bear or Elk. Bonus: The Smoky Mountain National Park has no entrance fee, which makes this a super-economical family experience!
Dolly Parton Stampede: “The most fun place to eat in the smokies!” Photo: Home While We Roam
Family-Friendly Entertainment
Dinner and a show isn’t usually something you think of when considering a family night but we visited Dolly’s Stampede Dinner Show and had a blast. The down-home-cookin’ and family-friendly dinner show made for a perfect family date night. They serve a “traditional” southern fixin’s dinner including a whole baked chicken, corn on the cob, biscuits and all the coca-cola you can drink. The real reason to take in the show is to see the epic equestrian skills on display. Real cowgirls and cowboys ride real horses, wrangle long-horned steer and buffalo, and perform death-defying stunts that include fire! The show comes in chunks with a banjo led, musical pre-show, then dinner service starts, then the real fun starts and takes around 3 hours from start to finish. It was pricey for a family of four but we all left beaming, so we count that as a win!
Drive or bike the loop at Cade’s Cove in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Photo: Home While We Roam
Whether you’re familiar with the town or new to the experience, Pigeon Forge is a great city to visit, offering opportunities for fun and exploration for all ages. From the breathtaking views, wacky encounters and thrill rides to museums celebrating the history and culture of the region Pigeon Forge is the perfect destination for the whole family.
