4.6 (11,501 Reviews)

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies Tickets in Gatlinburg, TN

88 River Road • Gatlinburg, TN 37738
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Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tennessee
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Total Price: $45.47 (USD)
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TripAdvisor user rating 4.50 out of 5 Based on 15130 reviews
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Overview

An award-winning and top-rated aquarium in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies offers various interactive experiences and exhibits that showcase thousands of exotic sea creatures that call this aquarium home. Touch real stingrays, glide along a 340-foot moving path beneath a sea of sharks, paint a piece of artwork with penguins, and more.

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Good To Know

from Ashley, one of our Gatlinburg Travel Experts
  • Discover playful penguins and thousands of exotic sea creatures, including a giant sea turtle, jellyfish, stingrays, sharks, and more.
  • Fun for the whole family. Infants ages one and under visit free!
  • Free Gatlinburg Trolley stops at the Mass Transit Center at the aquarium.
  • A paid parking garage is located directly behind the aquarium.
  • Allow about 2 hours to walk through all the exhibits.
  • The aquarium is stroller-friendly, but please note that they no longer allow stroller-wagons or large running strollers inside the building.
  • No outside food or drinks are allowed. If you work up an appetite, you can grab a bite at Feeding Frenzy, located on the lower level near the ramp to the gift shop.
  • Wheelchairs, noise-canceling headphones, and sensory bags are available for use free of charge from the guest services counter on a first-come, first-serve basis. Valid ID required.
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Joan B. Tripster User Profile Image

Joan B.

Loved the shark tunnel and penguin exhibit! The new Pearl Harbor exhibit is nicely done and very informative.

Description

from Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
Voted Best U.S. Aquarium by USA Today 10Best.com, one of the Top 5 Aquariums in the USA & the World by TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice, and Top Destination to See Penguins by USA Today!

Explore the amazing aquatic world up-close at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tennessee! Marvel at 12-foot sharks, a giant sea turtle, thousands of exotic sea creatures and playful penguins as you enjoy the most spectacular, state-of-the-art underwater tunnels. Touch horseshoe crabs, jellyfish, and stingrays. Play in the three-story Discovery Treehouse & Play Center. Experience a ride over Shark Lagoon in Ripley's Glass Bottom Boat adventure (additional cost). See Mermaids swimming in June and July.

Tickets to Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies offer a day of family fun with interactive activities, hourly dive/feeding shows, and much, much more!

Ripley's Aquarium Exhibits Include:
  • Tropical RainForest
  • Ocean Realm
  • Systems Control
  • Coral Reef
  • Shark Lagoon
  • Discovery Center
  • Gallery of the Seas
  • Stingray Bay
  • Touch a Ray Bay
  • Penguin Playhouse
  • Glass Bottom Boats (Additional Cost)


    SpongeBob experience at Ripley’s Aquarium in celebration of SpongeBob’s 25th anniversary! This immersive experience will be available from July 15 to September 15, 2024.


    Visitors will be treated to an immersive experience including:
  • SpongeBob themed photo opportunities.
  • A nautical scavenger hunt.


Open 365 days a year. Located in downtown Gatlinburg at traffic light #5.


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Promotional Images (38)
Cownose Ray - Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tennessee Touch a Jellyfish - Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tennessee Enjoy entertaining dive and feeding shows in Coral Reef, Stingray Bay and Penguin Playhouse. Touch a Jellyfish - Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tennessee Pacific Sea Nettle - Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Customer Photos (372)
Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies photo submitted by Michael Leader Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies photo submitted by Michael Leader Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies photo submitted by Michael Leader Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies photo submitted by Michael Leader Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies photo submitted by Sherie Dudley
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Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies Reviews

539 Reviews
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HEATHER LAWRENCE Tripster User Profile Image
HEATHER LAWRENCE
Broadway, VA
1 Review
Verified Traveler
"Awesome!"
May 2024
This is the second time my family has gone and it was just as amazing
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Sarai Riffel Tripster User Profile Image
Sarai Riffel
Newborn, GA
2 Reviews
Verified Traveler
"Fantastic!"
May 2024
Our entire family enjoyed our visit to the aquarium. Plenty to see along with interactive things for the children to do. They loved the pop up sections inside some of the aquariums and the penguin area. The moving side was much longer than we expected. Such fun!!!
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Tip: Interactive, plenty to do and see

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Michael Leader Tripster User Profile Image
Michael Leader
Hopewell, PA
2 Reviews
Verified Traveler
"Sharks!"
May 2024
Nice Aquarium for people of all ages. My oldest grandson loved all the sharks especially when you went thru the tunnel and they were swimming all around you. Another hit was the Penguin encounter. Kids loved it.
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Tip: Try to plan your visit at the right time. The shark feeding was at 11:30am. And the Penguin Parade was at 1:30. Try not to miss!

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Sherie Dudley Tripster User Profile Image
Sherie Dudley
Trussville, AL
1 Review
Verified Traveler
"Time at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies"
March 2024
I took my family of 7 to the aquarium and it was one of the highlights of our trip. We had a one year old an eighteen month old and a three year old with us and they loved it. There was something for everyone. We purchased our tickets with tripster and skipped the line of people and went straight in. There was parking behind the aquarium that made it very easy to come and go with the kids.
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Tip: Buy tickets with Tripster they always have some type of savings for you. The Aquarium was great for us it happen to rain on the day we planed to go and it was great to have such wonderful things for the kids to do that were inside. The gift store had very reasonably prices .

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Julia Vanwinkle Tripster User Profile Image
Julia Vanwinkle
Louisville, KY
1 Review
Verified Traveler
"Great place to visit"
March 2024
Very fun experience. There is a moving walkway you can observe all animals all around you. There is even a place to touch some animals in the water. Definitely recommend
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Tip: Be aware that it is a little humid in the building

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Rebacca Swords Tripster User Profile Image
Rebacca Swords
New Albany, MS
1 Review
Verified Traveler
"49 th wedding anniversary"
March 2024
It was nice enjoyed it one our favorites attraction we did this trip
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irene straz Tripster User Profile Image
irene straz
Loudon, TN
2 Reviews
Verified Traveler
"Great Ripley's Aquarium"
March 2024
Wasn't sure what to expect. Entering the aquarium was just the beginning of a great experience. The surroundings on the walls and in the aquariums was amazing. Children of all ages would love this aquarium- plenty to look at and almost feel as the were different species of sharks above us, below us or in front of us depending on which aquarium you were in/near. Different fish were interesting- never saw a dragon fish before. ...
Recommend for a visit
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Tip: Tripster offers a nice discount

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Johnna Akers Tripster User Profile Image
Johnna Akers
Dublin, VA
2 Reviews
Verified Traveler
"amazing"
March 2020
took our trip right as this covid-19 was hitting, the staff was amazing, making sure everything stayed as clean and sanitized as possible.
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Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies is located at 88 River Road • Gatlinburg, TN 37738
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Frequently Asked Questions about Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

Where can I park?

There are various parking areas nearby in Gatlinburg. There is also a city-owned parking garage located directly behind the aquarium. The City charges a maximum of $10 per day (subject to change).

Do children need their own tickets to be admitted?

Yes, but children under the age of 2 are admitted to the aquarium for free! Please note that the combo tickets are not available for children aged 2. Instead, please purchase individual attraction tickets at the discounted children's price.

How long does it take to tour the aquarium?

It's best to allow 2 hours or more to tour the aquarium to walk through all of the exhibits. The tour is self-guided and you can take as long as you like.

Is re-entry allowed?

Unfortunately, no. Tickets are only valid for one-time entry to the aquarium.

Are cameras allowed?

Yes! Feel free to take pictures and videos to capture all the fun and share with your friends and family.

Is the aquarium wheelchair accessible?

The aquarium is wheelchair accessible. However, please note that some rides and activities that are part of the combo tickets, such as Ripley’s Mountain Coaster and Super Fun Park, are not ADA-accessible due to the nature of the ride or activity.

Are pets allowed?

Only ADA-defined service animals are allowed.

Are there wheelchairs and strollers for rent on site?

Yes. Wheelchairs are available for use on a first-come, first-serve basis with a government-issued ID, and strollers are available for rent at the guest services counter for a fee. You may also bring your own strollers.

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