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Gatlinburg Space Needle

115 Historic Nature Trail · Gatlinburg, TN

Why you should go…

A glass elevator lifts visitors to an enclosed observation deck 407 feet above the Parkway, giving unobstructed views over downtown Gatlinburg to the mountains beyond. The tower has anchored the town's skyline since 1970.

  • #observation tower
  • #views
  • #downtown
  • #elevator

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Gatlinburg Space Needle, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    Quirky Fun

    Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium

    Under $25

    Ten rooms of oddities, shrunken heads, and optical illusions on the Gatlinburg strip.

    Right next doorSwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Gatlinburg SkyBridge & SkyLift Park

    $25–$50

    A 680-foot pedestrian suspension bridge with a glass floor section above the treetops.

    Steps awayMore like this

  • Museums
    Quirky Fun

    Hollywood Wax Museum Gatlinburg

    Under $25

    Lifelike wax figures of movie stars and icons line a Parkway storefront museum.

    Steps awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Family Favorite

    Anakeesta

    $25–$50

    A mountaintop adventure park reached by gondola, with treetop rope courses and zip lines.

    0.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sightseeing
    Outdoor Adventure

    Newfound Gap

    Free

    The lowest drivable pass across the Smokies, straddling the Tennessee-North Carolina line.

    8.3 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Outdoor Adventure

    Bryson City, North Carolina

    Free

    A mountain town bordering Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a gateway for rafting, hiking, and the Cherokee reservation.

    20 mi awayMore like this