Cool Things to Do in the Smokies to Beat the Summer Heat

26
Jul
2025

Beat the Heat Water Attractions and Indoor Fun

If midsummer is the best time for you to get away to the Smokies, have no fear. There’s so much to do indoors or in the water during the heat of the day, you’ll hardly be aware of the higher temps. What’s more, at night the temperature wanes and the fun heats up. Go along with us on a tour of hot weather excitement in these hills!

First, be sure to get up and get outside early to squeeze in a few activities! From approximately 6 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., daytime temps are at their most comfortable. You’ll get a great kick out of the many hiking trails to be explored in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visit NPS.gov for details on hikes ranging from relatively flat, beginner jaunts to scenic, more advanced hikes. You could also try the Gatlinburg SkyPark, which opens at 9 a.m. You’ll have an hour before the hottest part of the day to take a walk across the SkyBridge, the longest cable bridge exclusively for foot traffic on the continent! Take lots of photos!

Once the mercury rises, grab some lemonade from one of the many businesses in the Gatlinburg, Sevierville and Pigeon Forge areas and form a game plan to stay cool. If you’re the outdoorsy type, you may want to book a rafting trip. Several local businesses offer this fun and exciting way to stay cool in the heart of the heat. Smoky Mountain Outdoors (Smokymountainrafting.com), River Rat Tubing and Rafting (smokymtnriverrat.com) and the Nantahala Outdoor Center (noc.com), are a few examples. Dollywood offers an amazing, multi-faceted water park alongside a world-class amusement park; Dolly’s Splash Country, if you’ve never heard of it. This option is great if you want to stay and play all day at the iconic attraction. If you two only want to swim and enjoy waterslides, Soaky Mountain Waterpark in Sevierville is just the ticket. All ages will have a ball at Soaky Mountain. Remember to save some energy for your nighttime plans!

Cool Things to Do Indoors in the Smoky Mountains — Click to Check Out Pigeon Forge Snow!

Believe it or not, you can still make a snowman in the Smokies in the middle of the summer! Don’t believe us? Head on over to Pigeon Forge Snow, an indoor snow park where you can have a snowball fight in July! You can also snow tube in a chilly environment while the teeming masses sweat it out elsewhere in the mountains. What a unique experience! You’ll forget it’s oppressive out there. When you’re finished, head directly to Ober Mountain in Gatlinburg to hit the ice rink for another cool and refreshing activity in the heart of the summer. You can then take Ober’s Sky Village Express Chairlift up the mountain where you’ll be treated to breathtaking views ! There are many outdoor activities and several dining options at Ober Mountain too.

Of course, any blog post about indoor fun in the Smokies would be woefully incomplete without a mention of the wonderful Tanger outlets. Go Christmas shopping early or just treat yourself. You’ve worked hard all year. Time to reap some rewards! With brand stores from Coach to Kate Spade to Columbia and beyond, this Sevierville shopping center shines! You might feel the sunshine as you duck in and out of the stores, but you’ll be so pumped by the bargains you’ll hardly notice.

When the sun begins to set, the Smokies are at their absolute best. Cool mountain breezes complement the rushing of streams and beckon us all to dine outside. There are many excellent outdoor eating options in the Smokies that make for great date nights too. Jason Aldean’s Kitchen and Rooftop Bar and Shamrock Pub Rooftop Patio, both on the Parkway in Gatlinburg, offer live music and a full menu. Ask to be seated on the rooftop patio and get yourself selfie-ready. You’ll make some fun memories and get a great meal, too! If you like steaks, you may want to head over to Howard’s a decades-old tradition in Gatlinburg. Their creekside patio will be a soothing end to your family’s packed day. The menu is well-rounded and the atmosphere casual.

Anakeesta, the multi-faceted family fun attraction above Gatlinburg is a magical place to land for dinner. The outdoor area at Clifftop Restaurant will make you feel as if you are eating at the top of the world as you take in views of Mt. Leconte and the surrounding mountains. After dinner, take a serene night stroll along the Treetop Skywalk, a trek along hanging bridges up in the trees. Again, what summer heat? You’ll be lost in a pleasant world.

Now that you are inspired to visit the Smokies in the heart of the summer, knowing that you can enjoy EVERY moment of every day, what are you waiting for? Book your cabin and come on up to the mountains!