Romantic Date Ideas in the Smoky Mountains

Looking for romantic date ideas for you and your partner when you visit us here in the Smokies? We’ve complied a list of our favorites so that you can spend less time researching…and more time with the one you love.

Enjoy Dinner and a Show

Dixie Stampede
3849 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
865-453-4400
outside of dixie stampede

Looking for delicious food and fantastic entertainment on your date?  Say howdy to the Dixie Stampede!

Located in Pigeon Forge, TN, Dolly Parton’s famous show features sensational stunts, spectacular musical numbers, and impressive special effects. You and your sweetheart will enjoy a southern spread with all the fixins while watching the show. Finish the night by toasting mason jars to great memories.

Interested in other show opportunities? Check out some other favorites in the area…

Great Smoky Mountain Murder Mystery Dinner Show
2682 Teaster Ln, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
865-908-1050

If you and your partner love all-things murder-mystery, then you are in for a treat with the Great Smoky Mountain Murder Mystery Dinner Show! Take your pick from Marriage Can Be Murder, Who Shot the Sherrif, and Killer Prom as you eat delectable bites like Country Fried Chicken and Loaded Potato Soup. Prices here range from $0(children 3 and under) to $53.84 + tax.

Comedy Barn Pigeon Forge
2775 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
865-428-5222

Get ready for giggles and heaps of laughter at this Smoky Mountain show. Comedy Barn Pigeon Forge is full of comedians, jugglers, barnyard animals, and non stop fun! This theater show does not include a meal, so it’s best to eat somewhere prior to coming to this show! Prices range from $13-35.

Soul of Motown
Grand Majestic Theater 2330, 2330 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
865-774-7777

The Grand Majestic Theater is home to a few different shows like the Soul of Motown, Time Warp Jukebox, and the Magic of Terry Evanswood. Enjoy a wide range of acts and performances, including some amazing motown hits. Food here includes chicken wings, fish & chips, and concession favorites. Prices range from $0(children 2 years and under) – $40.

Cuddle up on the Sky Lift

765 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865-436-4307
empty yellow skylifts and orange poles

Nothing will bring you closer than being 1,800 feet in the air! Get ready to hold on tight (to the handrails and each other) while enjoying the views on the vintage Gatlinburg Sky Lift, which features a panorama of downtown Gatlinburg, the surrounding mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Want to see the city illuminated? Cuddle up together and take the lift at night for a totally different experience.

Here are Other Spots to Catch a Romantic Sunset

Hit the Trails
mountain views with cloudy blue skies

Take a hike together on one of many trails in the area, all relatively close to both Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Take in the views hand-in-hand at the scenic Clingman’s Dome. If waterfalls are more your thing, check out Cataract falls. Both of these simple hikes offer plenty of picturesque places to enjoy a picnic lunch (or steal a kiss).

If you’re visiting in the summer, don’t miss the Synchronous Fireflies, where the largest population of fireflies in the western hemisphere flash in unison to create a magical and romantic backdrop for your nighttime hike.

Here are Romantic Spots to Take a Dip 
Here are the Best Picnic Destinations
Sightsee with a Waterfall Hike

Stroll Around at the Island in Pigeon Forge

If you and your partner haven’t been to the Island in Pigeon Forge, jot it down on the list. Not only is there a fountain light show that can perfectly start off or end a romantic date night, but there’s a ferris wheel, games, shops, and restaurants to check out in this area as well.

Try One of the Many Intimate Restaurants in the Area

If a dinner show doesn’t do it for you, maybe one of the romantic and intimate restaurants in the Smoky Mountains will. There are several types of restaurants in the area, but if you are looking for an intimate, dimly lit experience with innovative cocktails and delectable dinner, then we’ve got a few top restaurants to check out…

Greenbrier Restaurant
370 Newman Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865-412-1576
Make Reservation

Crystelle Creek Restaurant
1654 East Pkwy, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865-430-1551
Make Reservation

The Melting Pot
959 Parkway #2, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865-430-4430
Make Reservation

Mosey Through the National Park on Horseback

A romantic getaway might be the perfect trip to try something new together. If you’ve never been on horseback, test out your skills and luck with a horseback riding service in the Smoky Mountains. There are several trails in the national park and many different ways to enjoy them. While horseback riding is only one way to soak up the Smoky Mountain air, we highly recommend for time well-spent with your partner.

Check Out These Horseback Riding Opportunities

Play a Round of Unusual Mini-Golf

340 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865-436-7670
Mini-golf greenway with large black wheel in middle

This is not your average mini-golf course! Take your date to Hillbilly Miniature Golf, where you both can enjoy friendly competition and laughs 300 feet above Gatlinburg. Take the incline up to play 2 separate 18-hole courses complete with silly obstacles, such as farm equipment and outhouses, on your way down the mountain.

Once at the bottom, reward yourselves with ice cream.

Get Hitched at a Smoky Mountain Chapel

Photo Credit by @chapelatthepark on Instagram

There’s nothing more romantic than getting hitched in the mountains! Want to have an intimate wedding or elope? Maybe you came prepared with friends and family… Whatever you choose, the Smoky Mountains have an array of beautiful chapels and wedding venues for you to get married in.

Check Out Our Guide to Getting Married in the Smoky Mountains!

Sign Up for a Wine Tasting

The Smoky Mountains is full of wineries and distilleries. If you and your significant other love to taste a little bit of the mountains, then you will love the experiences that the area has to offer. Not only are there some great wineries (included below) but there are also moonshine tastings if you are in the mood for it!

Smoky Mountain Winery
450 Cherry St, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865-436-7551

Mountain Valley Vineyards
2174 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
865-453-6334

Apple Barn Winery
220 Apple Valley Rd, Sevierville, TN 37862
865-428-6850

Go for a Spa Day

There’s nothing more romantic than you and your significant other enjoying some quality and relaxing time together. In between the adventure and fun, treat yourselves to a day date at a spa in the Smokies! There are a few highly-rated spas in the area that will do a couples massage!

The Spa at RiverStone
212 Dollywood Ln, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
See Website

Fox Place Salon and Spa
376 East Pkwy #2, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
See Website

Have a Cozy Night In

After an adventure-packed day in the Smokies, sometimes it’s best just to stay in and cuddle up. Get comfy by the crackling fire and watch a movie, or grab a bottle of wine and take a relaxing dip in the hot tub. What’s not to love?

Rent a Cabin with a Soaking Tub
Rent a Cabin with a Hot Tub
Rent a Cabin with Spectacular Mountain Views

Need lodgings for your couple’s getaway? Check out our portfolio of romance-ready Smoky Mountains Vacation Rentals!