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4 Steps to Planning a Cheap Gatlinburg Weekend Getaway

view of downtown Gatlinburg visitors get during a Gatlinburg vacation weekend
April 8, 2015

Itching to get out of town for a couple of days but you don’t quite have the budget for a large vacation? Why not consider treating yourself to a cheap Gatlinburg weekend getaway. Not only are these trips affordable, but they are also a great way to get away to relax and refresh your mind.

How to Plan a Cheap Gatlinburg Weekend Getaway

Create a Budget (And Stick To It)

The first step to making sure that your cheap Gatlinburg weekend getaway stays cheap is to make a budget and stick to it. The way to do this is to sit down before your trip and run through your finances. The best way to do this is to run through any bills or expenses you need to pay out before you leave and then calculate how much is left over. This will tell you how much you can afford to spend on your mini-vacation.

After setting your budget and calculating your trip’s cost, it is important to stick to it, or at l

After setting your budget and calculating your trip’s cost, it is important to stick to it, or at least be aware of it. We’re not saying you cannot splurge on one or two things while you are here, but we just recommend that you keep in mind the limits you set so you can continue the relaxed mind frame when you return home.

Invite a Group

Traveling with a group is by far one of the easiest ways to save money during a cheap Gatlinburg weekend getaway. Not only does this give you more people to create new memories with, but it also gives you more people to divide the travel cost between, including gas money, lodging cost, groceries, and more!

That being said, why not take this opportunity to invite some of the family members you haven’t seen in awhile or reunite with old college friends. You can even take your cheap Gatlinburg weekend and turn it into an impromptu girl’s weekend or bachelor party.

Whoever you decide to spend this time with, we can guarantee that you will not be disappointed in the amount of money you save and the new memories you create during your stay.

Click here to learn more ways about how to save money on a Gatlinburg cabin rental.

Take Advantage of Cheap Gatlinburg Attraction Tickets

Even though you may be tempted to spend your entire weekend relaxing inside your spacious Gatlinburg cabin, you and your family or group will probably want to eventually get out and explore a little bit. That is where our recommendation of looking for and taking advantage of discounted or cheap Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg attraction tickets comes in.

cheap Gatlinburg attraction tickets to ziplines

Not only will these discounted tickets help save you money during your cheap Gatlinburg weekend, but they may also help you discover a new favorite attraction or show that you otherwise may have skipped. You never know what you might find when you visit the Smokies!

At Timber Tops Luxury Cabin Rentals, we are proud to offer families and guests hundreds of dollars in savings to several Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg attractions for each paid night of their stay with our Smoky Mountain Luxury Pass. The way our luxury pass works is that it provides one paid adult admission to several area attractions for each paid night of your stay.

The current list of attractions includes with our cheap Gatlinburg attraction ticket program include:

  • Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
  • The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel
  • Lumberjack Feud Dinner Show
  • Country Tonite Theatre
  • Adventure Park Zip Lines
  • Legacy Mountain Zip Lines
  • USA Raft

Please keep in mind, the passes cannot be exchanged and unused passes expire daily.

Spend Time in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Another way to save money on fun activities during your cheap Gatlinburg vacation is to take advantage of all of the amazing things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Home to hundreds of miles of hiking trails, driving tours, historic homes, educational centers and beautiful views, the national park is the perfect way to spend a day in the beautiful Smoky Mountains. And, the best part is that it is completely free!

Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

If you are traveling with kids, you can make exploring the park fun by creating a game for you and your family to play while you are hiking or driving around. This can be about who can identify more types of flowers, who spots the most animals, or who can reach the summit of the hike fastest.

If you are traveling with friends, you have a little bit more freedom because you can divide the hiking trails if members of your group want to try different treks. You can also plan a picnic for lunch to enjoy at one of the many picnic areas in the national Park. (Expert tip: Picnics are a great way to cut your food budget if you can avoid dining out.)

To learn more about all of the adventurous things to do in the Smoky Mountains, be sure to visit the National Park’s website .

For more tips on how to plan the perfect cheap Gatlinburg weekend getaway, feel free to give our travel experts a call today! With over 20 years of experience in the family vacation industry, our experts will be more than happy to answer any and all questions you may have.

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