When staying at Sidney James Mountain Lodge, one of the great benefits is the Gatlinburg Trolley stop right outside our front door! This means that our hotel guests can simply leave their car in our lot and ride around town on the trolley rather than dealing with traffic hassles and parking fees! If you are new to the town’s trolley transportation system, here is everything you need to know about riding the Gatlinburg Trolley:
Gatlinburg Trolley Routes
The Gatlinburg Trolley has over 100 locations throughout Gatlinburg so that you can conveniently access a trolley just about anywhere in town! We will set you up with an interactive trolley map at our hotel so you will know arrival and departure times throughout your stay. Each of the trolley routes is color-coded by route, so you can always check the signs posted on the front and sides of each trolley to make sure you are on the correct route. Here are the most popular Gatlinburg trolley routes:
- Red Route– stops directly in front of our hotel and is a great way to connect to the Convention Center on Airport Road and many popular attractions along the Parkway, River Road, Ski Mountain Road, and Cherokee Orchard Road.
- Purple Route– use this route to visit the Gatlinburg Welcome Center on the Spur and get to places on the North Parkway, including a couple of parking lots and garages and Traffic Lights #1 and #3.
- Blue Route– travels the East Parkway and U.S. Highway 321 to reach destinations such as Rocky Top Sports World and the Gatlinburg Community Center.
All of the Gatlinburg trolley routes stop at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, which doubles as the Gatlinburg Mass Transit Center. It’s the ideal spot for visitors to change routes.
Hours of Operation
The Gatlinburg Trolley operates 365 days a year; however, it’s important to note that operating hours can vary depending on the route and special or seasonal events. Here are the basic hours of operation:
March through April – 10:30 am to 10 pm
May through October – 8:30 am to midnight
November through February – 10:30 am to 10 pm; Yellow Route: Monday through Saturday: 10:30 am to 6 pm
All of the trolley routes in Gatlinburg typically run every 30 minutes or less, except for the Yellow Route, which runs seasonally around once per hour.
Fare Information
Another great thing about the Gatlinburg Trolley system is that it is a bargain to ride! Although fares used to start at 50 cents and go up to $2 for an all-day pass, they are now offering an even better price: FREE! Yes, you read that right– the Gatlinburg Trolley is completely free to ride. This will help you save money and gas, in addition to parking fees throughout downtown Gatlinburg that quickly add up during your vacation. You will love hopping on the trolley outside our hotel and riding it wherever you want to go!
Check out all of our hotel rooms in the Smoky Mountains today to take advantage of the convenient Gatlinburg Trolley stop in front of our hotel! We look forward to seeing you soon at the Sidney James Mountain Lodge!
