How to Have a Cheap and yet Great Vacation in the Pigeon Forge Smoky Mountains
Everyone wants a cheap vacation in today's economy. In some regions tourism is down by as much as 40%, but here in the Smoky Mountains tourism is actually flourishing and increasing in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg Tennessee. Why? Because you can have a great vacation in the Smokies at a very cheap price!
How can it be other areas are losing visitors and yet tourists are flocking in droves to the Smokies? No other vacation destination is more convenient and none offers a better value for your hard earned money that the Smoky Mountains do.
The Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg Smoky Mountains are a day's drive from the Deep South, the North East United States and even most of the Midwest. Even though the Smokies aren't that far away, there are some ways to improve your gas mileage before and during your road trip to save money on gas.
First of all check your tire pressure and make sure all of your tires are properly inflated. Besides saving on gas, this is a great way to stop premature tire wear and more often than not, air is free. Make sure the spare is properly inflated too!
Next it's a great idea to improve gas millage and reduce engine wear change your motor oil. Better quality synthetic oil saves money on mileage and will let you engine last longer.
If it has been more than 30,000 since your last transmission fluid change it wouldn't hurt to do that too though you won't see as much in mileage savings as an old change or proper tire inflation and transmission is not a cheap part to replace in a car so why not spend a few bucks to save a part that will cost thousands to replace?
Before your road trip to the Smokies, look through the car and trunk and remove anything that doesn't need to be along on the trip. Any extra weight robs gas mileage and when you take a long trip it really adds up. Keep necessary things such as your spare, jack, flashlight and a first aid kit in the car - you want a cheap vacation not a miserable one.
When packing for your trip to the Smoky Mountains really ask yourself, do I need this? Since the better vacation accommodations in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg often have a washer and a dryer for you to use for free, maybe you just don't need to pack that many clothes even for an extended stay. Remember it their electricity and hot water so what not come home with clean clothes?
On the road avoid fast acceleration and having to pass everyone on the road. You are on vacation, take it easy! You want a cheap relaxing vacation! In the mountains avoid using cruise control and accelerate and decelerate gently. Use the roads in the Great Smoky Mountains national park when you can, the speeds are low and the elevation gains and drops are less than that of the roads outside the park so you will save money on gas!
In the summer, most new cars get better mileage with the windows rolled up and the AC on. I prefer to keep the windows open to enjoy the fresh Smoky Mountains air so here the luxury of fresh air overrides being cheap by using the AC.
Though packing up car with the whole family instead of flying is a great way to save money, there are cheap flights through Allegiant Air to the Knoxville airport with fares as low as $39 each way if you book your flight far enough in advance. Knoxville is less than an hour away from the Smoky Mountains and there are plenty of cheap car rentals in the Smokies.
Once you arrive in the Smokies on your vacations you will see if it's not hard to have a great time on a very cheap budget. You will never run out of fun Family Friendly indoor and outdoor activities and with as many things there are to do in the Smoky Mountains and more attractions being built every day, there is always something new to do each time you return to vacation on the Smokies.
The biggest attraction in the Smokies that attracts almost 9.5 Million visitors a year won't charge you one cent to enter the park, hike on more than 800 miles of trails, take one of 4 auto tours, visit historic buildings, attend hands on demonstrations or bicycle all around the Great Smoky Mountains national park. For a cheap price on a Smokies vacation nothing beats free and that's what you will pay to enjoy America's favorite national park!
Looking to take the family to one of the top rated theme parks in the country with live performances that will astound you, top notch amusement park rides for kids of all ages including the wooden roller coaster thunderhead which reaches speeds of 55 miles an hour and a 100 foot drop! How fast does a scream move? Found out here in Dollywood where you will have all thrills you could want at the adventure yourself or through the eyes of your children!
In the Dollywood theme park you can watch artisans at work making handicrafts as they did hundreds of years ago here in the Smokies. Like what you see? Well there are almost 40 places where you can buy crafts of Dollywood trinkets for a just little or a lot - there is something for everyone here!
If you get hungry going from ride to ride and who wouldn't get hungry wandering around in a 125 acre park there is plenty of food to enjoy from a huge all you can eat buffet filled with good old southern cooking to real fresh Berries in cream perfect on a hot summers day in more than 30 restaurants and other places to eat in this huge, clean and safe family vacation spot in the Smokies.
Ok so know that you know how to spend money in Dollywood how can you save money? Well first of all if you stay in one of the best cabins or chalets for rent on the Smokies you save money right away because you can buy Dollywood theme park tickets at a deep discount. Besides cheap Dollywood tickets so of the log cabins for rent close to Dollywood are so close you won't have to pay for parking - you can walk there! Save gas, save time, save money on Dollywood tickets - doesn't get better than this!
Here are a few hints to save money at Dollywood besides getting cheap Dollywood tickets: arrive after 3 pm and you get a free ticket to come back the next day. If you want to really save money keep some snacks and drinks in a cooler in your car - you won't even have to walk - there are free shuttles!
Another way to enjoy your vacation in the Smokies is to save by having at least breakfast and some of your snacks at home. One of the biggest time wasters when on vacation is waiting in line to be seated and then for your food and finally your check to arrive.
Even prepackaged breakfast foods that you throw in the microwave in the Cabin you rent with save you lots of money and precious vacation time. And why not pack a lunch for a picnic in the Smoky Mountains national park instead of waiting in line to buy fast food?
Bringing the kids along? Well who wants to be cramped in a hotel room when for about the same price you can have a few bedrooms and TV's, relax in the hot tub and many of the best cabins for rent have Game Rooms or pool tables! How about renting a cabin with FREE swimming pool access in the summer? You can't beat free!
Having a cheap vacation doesn't mean you have to have a bad vacation. In the off season (January through May, if you stay a week or longer there are a bunch of 1 2 and 3 bedroom cabins that you can rent for only $99 a night!
Looking for a discount or an already cheap cabin rental rate? Well there are last minute Discounts, free night offers, and 10 discounts for AAA Members, Kroger card members, AARP members, Active Military Serviceman and women and the latest discounts just added in are for 10% off for members of the Friends of the Smokies and the Great Smoky Mountains Association. All of these cabin rental discounts are good all year long (except holidays).
Hint: Not a qualified member of any of these organizations? On your way into the Smoky Mountains stop by the visitor center in Sevierville on 66, or the visitor center on Gatlinburg or along the Spur between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge and become a member for the park instantly for only $25 (fully tax deductible) and save 10% on your cabin rental. Even with the cheapest rental out there you save money, get a tax break and help the Great Smoky Mountains national park along with the other benefits of being a member!
It won't just be a good vacations - it's a GREAT vacation in the Great Smoky Mountains! Cheap to get to with cabins that are cheap to stay in along with cheap entertainment all around. What a place to take your family on a cheap vacation!
- Cabin Rental Discount in the Smoky Mountains
- Cheap Dollywood Discount Tickets
- Cheap Cabins for rent close to Dollywood
- Cheap Cabins for rent with Game Rooms
- Cheap Cabins for rent with Swimming Pool Access
- $99 a night Cabin Rentals in the off season
- Cheap Cabins in Pigeon Forge Tennessee
- Cheap Cabins in Gatlinburg Tennessee
- Cheap Cabins in Sevierville Tennessee
Labels: accommodations, cabin, cheap, discount, Dollywood, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, price, rent, rentals, save, smokies, Smoky Mountains, swimming pool, tickets, vacation
posted by Smoky Moutains Blog at 11:16 AM
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