Top 3 Things to Know About Riding the Gatlinburg Trolley During the Winter

One of the best things about staying at the Sidney James Mountain Lodge is our convenient location in downtown Gatlinburg! While you can walk to many shops, restaurants and attractions, there is also a trolley stop right outside our front door! The Gatlinburg Trolley provides transportation throughout town, but there are a few things to keep in mind when riding in the winter. Here are the top 3 things you need to know about riding the Gatlinburg Trolley during the winter season:

1. Trolley Routes and Fares

The winter is a fabulous time to visit Gatlinburg, as there are fewer visitors in town and most of the local attractions are still in full swing! Although Gatlinburg Trolley reduces their trolley service during the winter months to reflect the lower demand, there are still several handy routes open throughout the year. The Red Route runs in front of the Sidney James Mountain Lodge and provides service to the Gatlinburg Mass Transit Center, as well as various stops along River Road, Cherokee Orchard Road and the Parkway. Note that the winter departures along this route are approximately every 35 minutes. Other routes open during the winter months include the Blue Route (East Parkway and Community Center) and the Purple Route (North Gatlinburg Parkway and Spur Welcome Center). Be sure to consult the Gatlinburg Trolley Routes and Fares guide when planning your trip to confirm operating dates and fare information.

2. Gatlinburg Winter Magic Trolley Ride of Lights

During the holiday season, the Gatlinburg Trolley operates a special route called the Gatlinburg Winter Magic Trolley Ride of Lights. This is a 45 minute ride where you can enjoy the stunning LED lighting displays along Gatlinburg’s downtown Parkway, adjacent River Road and the triangle junction of the two roads. These custom designed and fabricated displays feature beautiful scenes of winter forests, evergreens and animals native to the Great Smoky Mountains. While the Gatlinburg Winter Magic route departs three times nightly on most nights throughout December, it is also open on each Saturday night in January. The departure times on each night of operation are at 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

3. Boarding Locations

You can board the Gatlinburg Trolley at over 100 locations through Gatlinburg which are easily identified by the Street Trolley sign. After an afternoon of exploring the sights and activities of Gatlinburg, you can look forward to a convenient ride back to the Sidney James Mountain Lodge on the trolley! Just remember to review the Gatlinburg Trolley Routes to confirm the routes that are open during the winter months. After all, you don’t want to have to wait until the spring for a trolley to show up at your stop! Note that all of the trolley vehicles are equipped with lifts for wheelchairs and may be accessed at any designated trolley stop.

Check out all of our hotel rooms in Gatlinburg TN today to enjoy a winter getaway to the Great Smoky Mountains and the convenience of the Gatlinburg Trolley! We hope to see you soon at the Sidney James Mountain Lodge!