These cheap things to do in pigeon forge 2023 will have you packing your bags immediately! Top attractions, breathtaking nature, and cultural experiences–it’s going to be an unforgettable trip!
Pigeon Forge is one of the most expensive cities to visit in Tennessee, but that doesn’t mean you can’t experience it on a budget! Follow along as we share the top attractions that will make a visit to Pigeon Forge worth every penny.
11 Things to Do in Pigeon Forge on a Budget
1. Ride the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel
If you’re up for fun under the sun, there’s a lot to do on the Island at Pigeon Forge! There are half-day, full-day, and weekend packages, but it’s also possible to purchase individual tickets to the specific attractions you want to experience.
Stroll along and scout the rides you want, eat some ice cream, and even window shop. In the evening, we recommend riding the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel! The views are amazing from above, especially because you get to can enjoy a mesmerizing 24,000 LED-light show. It’s the perfect activity to end a night of fun and excitement!
2. Take a Swing at the Crave Golf Club
One of the most popular inexpensive things to do in Pigeon Forge is mini golf. Whether you’re looking for a cute date night idea or entertainment for the little ones, mini golf is the perfect outing without breaking the bank.
Among the top mini golf courses in Pigeon Forge, why not try Crave Golf Club for a change? This is the only place in Pigeon Forge where you can find a 19-hole indoor mini-golf course and a 19-hole rooftop course. Put your skills to the test and see if you can make a hole-in-one!
3. Experience the Rocky Top Mountain Coaster
Of all the cheap things to do in pigeon forge, riding the Rocky Top Mountain Coaster is on our top list. You don’t get to ride a thrilling coaster for a full nine minutes unless you ride this one, of course!
The Rocky Top Mountain Coaster is the longest coaster in East Tennessee to date. In addition, what makes the ride even more exciting is that it’s surrounded by breathtaking Smoky Mountain scenery! Enjoy the coaster’s tunnels, curves, and 360-degree turns, and if you ride at night, the magnificent lights will guide you through a thrill-filled ride!
photo credit: Rocky Top Mountain Coaster via Facebook
4. Visit the Outdoor Gravity Park
Looking for unique activities and cheap stuff to do in Pigeon Forge? Check out the one and only Outdoor Gravity Park on this side of Tennessee!
This exciting outdoor family attraction has remained a favorite amongst thrill-seekers for years. If your idea of fun group activity is to roll down a 1,000-foot hill while inside a giant zorb, then this attraction is definitely for you as well!
5. Experience the Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway
Want to see epic views of the Smoky Mountains from high in the sky without climbing into a helicopter? A ride on the Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway is a leisurely way to discover the mountaintops without breaking the bank. It is also one of the cheap fun things to do in Gatlinburg.
Once you reach the top of the mountain, you’ll also be able to take advantage of Ober Gatlinburg’s affordable activities such as the mountain coaster, skiing and snowboarding, and more!
photo credit: Ober Gatlinburg via Facebook
6. Watch a Pigeon Forge Show
While Pigeon Forge dinner shows can cost a bit much per person, other shows offer ticket prices completely within your travel budget! For this reason, watching a Pigeon Forge show is still one of the best cheap things to do in Pigeon Forge indoors.
From magic displays to Vaudeville-style acts, Pigeon Forge is home to every type of live show and dinner show you could possibly imagine.
A few of the top affordable shows in the Smokies include:
After enjoying a Pigeon Forge show, head over to Old Mill Square in Pigeon Forge for a nightcap! This is an authentic destination where you can savor real food, check out Pigeon Forge distilleries, and experience other Smoky Mountains traditions.
7. Alcatraz East Crime Museum
Are you someone who likes to binge-watch crime documentaries on Netflix? If yes, then you will enjoy paying a visit to the Alcatraz East Crime Museum!
As one of the most-visited Pigeon Forge cheap attractions, the Alcatraz East Crime Museum continues to wow and entertain guests with galleries that feature some of the most infamous crime mysteries in American history. Spend hours drowning yourself in over 100 exhibits and enjoy activities such as the Jail Cell Escape, Top Detective Challenge, and more.
8. Titanic Museum Attraction
It costs thousands of dollars and months of preparation to be able to visit the actual Titanic Ship Wreck. While that’s not for everyone, the Titanic Museum is still a wonderful attraction for giving everyone else the opportunity to experience what it was like aboard the Titanic.
Visiting the Titanic museum is one of the best things to do in Pigeon Forge cheap, and doing so gives great value because of all the things you can do inside! Among other activities, try to shovel coal into the furnace, get into a lifeboat, and see the world's largest Titanic LEGO Ship built by a 10-year-old.
Titanic Museum Attraction
9. Anakeesta
Anakeesta is the Smoky Mountains’ newest outdoor adventure park. With all there is to do and see, you’ll be shocked to learn it’s one of the top cheap attractions in Pigeon Forge!
This outdoor adventure theme park combines nature, thrill, wonder, and more for a one-of-a-kind experience. Free and cheap things to do in Pigeon Forge’s Anakeesta include racing on a zipline, seeing epic views of the Smokies from the Chondola, going gem mining, or braving the treetop canopy walk—the choice is yours! Plus, don’t miss the Magical Firefly Village with shops, restaurants, and more.
Seriously, you’ll leave Anakeesta wondering how it's so affordable and fun at the same time.
photo credit: Anakeesta via Facebook
10. Explore the Smoky Mountains
Did you know the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the country? And, it’s completely free to explore! For this reason, if you’re planning to visit Pigeon Forge on a budget, definitely add a trip to the Smoky Mountains to your itinerary.
From learning more about the wilderness and conservation at the Visitors Center to conquering the hiking trails, there is so much to explore inside the park. You can also reserve one of the affordable Pigeon Forge cabins. Cabin rentals make the entire experience with nature feel more authentic.
Before you go, make sure to download or print off a park and trail map. The park is in a remote area that has little to no cell service.
11. Drive Through Cades Cave
With 11+ miles of natural beauty, it’s not hard to see why Cades Cove is among travelers’ favorite cheap things to do in Pigeon Forge Tennessee.
Located inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this auto tour loop is home to 80+ historic buildings, a myriad of wildlife (including black bears), endless photo opportunities, and plenty of stops along the way. For fun, cheap things to do in Pigeon Forge, take some time stopping by and exploring the hidden gems in the loop as well. It doesn’t cost a penny, and you can even join a guided tour which the park offers free!
Gas up the car and take a trip around Cades Cove for an affordable Smoky Mountain adventure. If you have more time, head over to Patriot Park for more memorable walks around nature.
Book Cheap Things to Do in Pigeon Forge with Tripster
When you’re ready to plan your Pigeon Forge getaway, book your tickets with Tripster to save money! On top of incredible discounts for top activities, shows, and hotels, you’ll also skip the ticket line at major Smoky Mountain attractions.
And remember to check out Pigeon Forge Vacation Packages as well! These packages bundle your tickets with a hotel room for added savings. So what are you waiting for? Complete your list of cheap things to do in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge and reserve all the tickets you need!
Have You Taken a Budget Pigeon Forge Trip?
What did we miss? Leave us a comment below!
