sunrise over Gatlinburg, Tennessee

4 Convenient Gatlinburg Trolley Routes to Get You Around Town

The Gatlinburg Trolley in front of Sidney James Mountain Lodge
May 12, 2025

One of the fantastic things about the location of the Sidney James Mountain Lodge is that there is a trolley stop just outside our main entrance! The Gatlinburg Trolley system provides free and convenient transportation throughout Gatlinburg so you can easily explore the area without the hassle of driving! All of the trolley routes stop at the Gatlinburg Mass Transit Center (at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies) and are color-coded, enabling you to easily tell if you are on the correct route by looking at the signs on the front and sides of each trolley. Here are the 4 convenient Gatlinburg Trolley routes that you can use to get around town during your vacation:

1. Red Gatlinburg Trolley Route

The Red Route is one of the Gatlinburg Trolley routes with a stop in front of our hotel. It travels along River Road, Cherokee Orchard Road, Ski Mountain Road, and Airport Road with access to the Gatlinburg Convention Center. Other convenient stops along the Red Route include Calhoun’s, the Mysterious Mansion, NOC, the Park Grill, Gatlinburg SkyPark, Anakeesta, and Ober Mountain.

2. Purple Gatlinburg Trolley Route

People on a Gatlinburg trolley

The Purple Route provides transportation to the Gatlinburg Welcome Center on the spur of Highway 441 between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. This is a fantastic place to visit at the start of your vacation, so you can pick up brochures about area attractions and learn more about the activities and things to do! You can even take the Red Route from our hotel, then transfer to the Purple Route at Ripley’s Aquarium and take advantage of its additional stops at Speedwerkz, Moonshine Mountain Coaster, Ripley’s Davy Crockett’s Mini Golf, and more.

3. Blue Gatlinburg Trolley Route

The Blue Route goes up the East Parkway in Gatlinburg to Rocky Top Sports World, the library and community center, and Mills Park. Trolley stops in Gatlinburg along the Blue Route include Alamo Steakhouse, Mad Dog’s Creamery and Donuts, First Baptist Church of Gatlinburg, the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum, Jake and Angie’s Woodart, Crystelle Creek Restaurant, and Mama’s and Chicken Kitchen.

4. Yellow Gatlinburg Trolley Route

Gatlinburg trolley

The Yellow Route operates seasonally: daily from April to October and Monday through Saturday in November and December. While the other Gatlinburg trolleys depart every 30 minutes or less, the Yellow Route runs approximately once per hour from 10:30 am to 6 pm. The Gatlinburg trolley stops along this route through the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community include places on East Parkway, Glades Road, and Buckhorn Road, like Alewine Pottery, Buei’s Landing, Morning Mist Village, Wood Whittlers, and Winery Square.

Additional Information

These trolley routes will make getting around town during your Smoky Mountain vacation so easy! Plus, it costs absolutely nothing to use this method of public transportation! Want more details about trolley routes in Gatlinburg? Check out an interactive online trolley map here.

Now that you know all about the Gatlinburg trolley routes, it’s time to start planning your next visit to the Smokies. Reserve a stay at our downtown Gatlinburg hotel with a trolley stop right outside!