How to Ride the Free Parkway Trolley in Gatlinburg TN This Summer

One of the things that guests love about staying at the Sidney James Mountain Lodge is that our hotel has a convenient trolley stop right outside of our front door! If you are planning a summer vacation to the Great Smoky Mountains, you can ride the Parkway Trolley for FREE throughout the peak summer season! Here are all the details on how to ride the free Parkway Trolley in Gatlinburg TN this summer:

1. About the Free Parkway Trolley

When exploring the Gatlinburg Parkway this summer, you can take advantage of a special free shuttle route that operates daily! This Parkway Trolley is operated by the City of Gatlinburg and runs between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to midnight along the length of the Parkway. There have been extra stops added to this special route to make it more convenient, bringing the number to a total of 100 stops along the Parkway! To access this free summer trolley route, just look for the specially painted open-air shuttles. Note that all of the Gatlinburg Trolleys are handicap accessible.

2. Other Gatlinburg Trolley Routes

You can board trolleys at more than 100 locations throughout the City of Gatlinburg, including directly in front of the Sidney James Mountain Lodge! The Gatlinburg Trolley system is easy to use, as you can board anywhere that you see the Street Trolley sign. There are various routes that are color coded by route, so just look for the signs posted on the front and sides of each trolley to make sure that you are on the correct route. Whether you want to reach the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Arts and Crafts Community or even Dollywood, you can do it on the Gatlinburg Trolley! We even offer an interactive trolley map so guests can be informed of arrival and departure times of the trolley.

3. Gatlinburg Trolley Benefits

The trolley in Gatlinburg TN is one of the best bargains in town, allowing you to avoid the headaches of traffic congestion and parking! Not only will you save on parking and not have to deal with traffic, you can also save on gas money. Why waste your own gas and patience when you can just sit back and enjoy the ride along the Gatlinburg Trolley? This option is also for guests who are trying to carpool because you don’t have to worry about being cramped together in the car!

4. History of the Gatlinburg Trolley System

The Gatlinburg Trolley system is one of the most convenient and economical ways to explore the town, with more than 20 trolleys servicing nearly 50 miles of trolley routes! There are approximately 800,000 patrons who use the trolley in Gatlinburg TN annually, making it the 5th largest mass transit system in the Tennessee! The system started in 1980 with a fleet of only 6 trolleys and has grown over the years tremendously due to its popularity.

Check out all of our hotel rooms in the Smoky Mountains today to enjoy a summer vacation with easy access to the free Parkway Trolley in Gatlinburg TN! We hope to see you soon at the Sidney James Mountain Lodge.