Gatlinburg is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States and for a good reason. Gatlinburg is full of amazing attractions and places to visit that you have you returning to the area for years to come. The majority of Gatlinburg visitors come to the area during the peak seasons of summer and fall, but what many people don’t realize is the many perks and benefits of visiting Gatlinburg in winter.

Winter is a magical time of the year with amazing holidays to celebrate and beautiful sights to see, especially in the Gatlinburg area. Here are the top reasons why you should visit Gatlinburg in winter.

1. Gatlinburg Winterfest

The Gatlinburg Winterfest is a magical celebration that begins in late fall and goes all the way through the beginning of March. Gatlinburg teams up with local businesses to bring you the most festive Christmas and winter lighting displays in East Tennessee. Millions of twinkling lights are arranged in festive themed displays throughout the city. The beginning of Winterfest is devoted to Christmas and New Year’s Eve. However, once the holiday season is over the focus of Winterfest switches over to celebrating nature and the history of the area. Of course, once February rolls around the focus of Winterfest switches again onto celebrating Valentine’s Day. Check out these reasons why you should stay in one of our 1 bedroom cabins in Gatlinburg for Valentine’s Day!

2. Ober Gatlinburg

No Gatlinburg in winter experience is complete without visiting Ober Gatlinburg. Ober Gatlinburg will provide you with all of the best winter activities from skiing and snowboarding to tubing and even ice skating, you will definitely have your full of winter fun at Ober Gatlinburg. Don’t worry, if you have never gone skiing or snowboarding before but want to give it a try, there are lessons available at Ober Gatlinburg that will help you get started.

3. Gatlinburg New Year’s Eve Celebration

One of the must-see events of the year is the Gatlinburg New Year’s Eve celebration. Every year, people gather from all over to the center of Gatlinburg to watch the ball drop on the new year. Then once the ball drops, fireworks are shot of the roof of the 400-foot tall Gatlinburg Space Needle. These fireworks are synchronized to music and recently the Space Needle added rhythmic LED lights to the tower, making for a spectacular display. On top of all that, at 10 pm free entertainment begins near the Space Needle for you to enjoy while you wait for the new year to begin.

4. Beautiful Winter Views

No visit to Gatlinburg in winter is complete without checking out the amazing beautiful winter sights. During the winter, the mountains surrounding Gatlinburg become covered in a breathtaking layer of snow, making for some of the best views year round. All you have to do is take a quick drive into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and you will be amazed. One road in particular that has great winter views especially around sunset is Newfound Gap Road at the Milton Overlook. It is the perfect place to end your amazing day of exploring Gatlinburg.

Gatlinburg in winter is a magical experience that you don’t want to miss out on. In order to not miss any of what winter has to offer book one of our Gatlinburg cabin rentals today.