Pros

  • Overlooking the Great Smoky Mountains in downtown Gatlinburg
  • Modern and spacious rooms with flat-screen TVs, microwaves, and mini-fridges
  • Free buffet breakfast with hot and cold options
  • Heated indoor pool and water park
  • Two meeting rooms, plus a 24-hour business center
  • Kids' activities room
  • Free Wi-Fi available throughout
  • Free on-site parking
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Cons

  • No full on-site restaurant or bar
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Bottom Line

Holiday Inn Express Gatlinburg Downtown is a three-pearl chain hotel with the Great Smoky Mountains as a backdrop. It's less than a five-minute walk from both the Gatlinburg Convention Center and the Gatlinburg Space Needle. The 113 guest rooms are spacious and contemporary with flat-screen TVs, microwaves, mini-fridges, and free Wi-Fi. Rates include a free buffet breakfast with hot and cold options, though no full on-site restaurant is available. Standout features for families are the indoor waterslides and heated indoor swimming pool. Business travelers can make use of the meeting rooms, business center, and fitness center. Travelers looking for more adult-focused features should check out Sleep Inn & Suites for an indoor pool, lazy river, hot tubs, and bigger meeting rooms for lower rates.

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Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Fitness Center
  • Internet
  • Jacuzzi
  • Pool

Oyster Hotel Review

Holiday Inn Express Gatlinburg Downtown

Scene

Chain hotel with modern and well-maintained interiors

Holiday Inn Express Gatlinburg Downtown resembles many other Holiday Inn hotels from the outside: a standard bricked exterior and landscaped gardens in the front. The inside is modern and kept exquisitely clean and well-maintained. Guests are welcomed in the large open lobby with tiled flooring and wood reception desk with panels that light up. There's a small carpeted area just off the lobby with a business center, seating area, and concierge desk; plus another casual seating area on the first floor with a fireplace. The breakfast area is another bright and airy space with a combination of standard wooden seating and cushioned chairs, and a separate area for the buffet station; plus a fireplace for the winter months. The pool area with a water park and indoor swimming pool is often buzzing with kids, which is the main feature that attracts families. Guests are mostly couples and family travelers, with a few business travelers passing through.

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Location

Overlooking the Great Smoky Mountains in downtown Gatlinburg

Holiday Inn Express Gatlinburg Downtown is conveniently located in downtown Gatlinburg, overlooking the Great Smoky Mountains. There are a handful of restaurants, bars, and shops within close walking distance from the hotel. Gatlinburg Convention Center is a three-minute walk away and the Gatlinburg Space Needle is a five-minute walk. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance and the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail are about a two-minute drive from the hotel. It's a 15-minute walk or four-minute drive to Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies. Other nearby attractions include: Gatlinburg Mountain Coaster (six-minute drive), Rocky Top Sports World (12-minute drive), and Dollywood Amusement Park (23-minute drive). Gatlinburg uses a trolley system, and there's a trolley stop which goes into the center of town from just outside of the hotel. The nearest airport is in Knoxville (McGhee Tyson Airport), which is just over an hour away.

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Rooms

Modern and spacious rooms with flat-screen TVs, microwaves, and mini-fridges

The 113 guest rooms at Holiday Inn Express Gatlinburg Downtown are spacious and modern, with enough amenities to make for a comfortable stay. Decor includes standard carpeted flooring, white walls with olive green accent walls, white linens, black-out curtains, wooden furniture, and contemporary artwork. The suites include a small living area with a dark blue sleeper sofa, wooden coffee table, and colorful patterned carpet. Amenities in all rooms include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, tea- and- coffee-making facilities, microwaves, mini-fridges, irons and ironing boards, desks, telephones, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms include either a walk-in shower or shower/tub combo, hairdryer, and basic toiletries. Connecting suites and accessibility-friendly rooms are available. All rooms are non-smoking.

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Features

Indoor water park and swimming pool, free breakfast, fitness center, meeting rooms, and business center

Features at Holiday Inn Express Gatlinburg Downtown are mainly aimed at family travelers, and the indoor water park with slides and water equipment is a big hit with kids under the age of eight. There's also an indoor heated swimming pool surrounded by loungers; plus free towels are offered. All guests receive a free buffet breakfast in the lobby each morning, including both hot and cold options. There is no full on-site restaurant or bar, though there are a few snacks and beverages for sale in the lobby. A fitness center with a selection of modern LifeFitness cardio and weight-training equipment is available. For business travelers, there are two on-site meeting rooms as well as a small business center with printing, copying, and faxing facilities. Kids can be kept entertained in the kids' activities room with a range of books, board games, and flat-screen TVs. Wi-Fi throughout the property and on-site parking are free. Additional features include an elevator, coin-operated laundry facilities, storage facilities, concierge services, ice machine, and disability access. 

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Oyster Hotel Review

Holiday Inn Express Gatlinburg Downtown

Scene

Chain hotel with modern and well-maintained interiors

Holiday Inn Express Gatlinburg Downtown resembles many other Holiday Inn hotels from the outside: a standard bricked exterior and landscaped gardens in the front. The inside is modern and kept exquisitely clean and well-maintained. Guests are welcomed in the large open lobby with tiled flooring and wood reception desk with panels that light up. There's a small carpeted area just off the lobby with a business center, seating area, and concierge desk; plus another casual seating area on the first floor with a fireplace. The breakfast area is another bright and airy space with a combination of standard wooden seating and cushioned chairs, and a separate area for the buffet station; plus a fireplace for the winter months. The pool area with a water park and indoor swimming pool is often buzzing with kids, which is the main feature that attracts families. Guests are mostly couples and family travelers, with a few business travelers passing through.

See More Scene

Location

Overlooking the Great Smoky Mountains in downtown Gatlinburg

Holiday Inn Express Gatlinburg Downtown is conveniently located in downtown Gatlinburg, overlooking the Great Smoky Mountains. There are a handful of restaurants, bars, and shops within close walking distance from the hotel. Gatlinburg Convention Center is a three-minute walk away and the Gatlinburg Space Needle is a five-minute walk. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance and the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail are about a two-minute drive from the hotel. It's a 15-minute walk or four-minute drive to Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies. Other nearby attractions include: Gatlinburg Mountain Coaster (six-minute drive), Rocky Top Sports World (12-minute drive), and Dollywood Amusement Park (23-minute drive). Gatlinburg uses a trolley system, and there's a trolley stop which goes into the center of town from just outside of the hotel. The nearest airport is in Knoxville (McGhee Tyson Airport), which is just over an hour away.

See More Location

Rooms

Modern and spacious rooms with flat-screen TVs, microwaves, and mini-fridges

The 113 guest rooms at Holiday Inn Express Gatlinburg Downtown are spacious and modern, with enough amenities to make for a comfortable stay. Decor includes standard carpeted flooring, white walls with olive green accent walls, white linens, black-out curtains, wooden furniture, and contemporary artwork. The suites include a small living area with a dark blue sleeper sofa, wooden coffee table, and colorful patterned carpet. Amenities in all rooms include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, tea- and- coffee-making facilities, microwaves, mini-fridges, irons and ironing boards, desks, telephones, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms include either a walk-in shower or shower/tub combo, hairdryer, and basic toiletries. Connecting suites and accessibility-friendly rooms are available. All rooms are non-smoking.

See More Rooms

Features

Indoor water park and swimming pool, free breakfast, fitness center, meeting rooms, and business center

Features at Holiday Inn Express Gatlinburg Downtown are mainly aimed at family travelers, and the indoor water park with slides and water equipment is a big hit with kids under the age of eight. There's also an indoor heated swimming pool surrounded by loungers; plus free towels are offered. All guests receive a free buffet breakfast in the lobby each morning, including both hot and cold options. There is no full on-site restaurant or bar, though there are a few snacks and beverages for sale in the lobby. A fitness center with a selection of modern LifeFitness cardio and weight-training equipment is available. For business travelers, there are two on-site meeting rooms as well as a small business center with printing, copying, and faxing facilities. Kids can be kept entertained in the kids' activities room with a range of books, board games, and flat-screen TVs. Wi-Fi throughout the property and on-site parking are free. Additional features include an elevator, coin-operated laundry facilities, storage facilities, concierge services, ice machine, and disability access. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Children's Pool

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Fitness Center

  • Internet

  • Jacuzzi

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Supervised Kids Activities

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.