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AttractionsFamily FavoriteRainy-Day Pick

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

88 River Rd · Gatlinburg, TN

Why you should go…

A 340-foot moving glide path carries guests through an acrylic tunnel surrounded by sharks, sea turtles, and rays in the aquarium's main Shark Lagoon exhibit. Penguins, jellyfish, and a touch tank round out one of the region's most popular family stops.

  • #aquarium
  • #sharks
  • #penguins
  • #family

Good to know

General attractions guidance

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

  • Book the time slot, not just the ticket

    Timed entry is now the norm at big-draw attractions, and online tickets are often cheaper than the gate.

  • Grab the daily schedule on arrival

    Feeding times, keeper talks, and shows run on a posted timetable that changes day to day.

  • The first hour is the quietest

    Queues build through late morning and peak after lunch, so an early start buys you the shortest waits.

  • Budget past the ticket price

    Parking, lockers, strollers, and food inside the gates are common extras worth planning for.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

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    0.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

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    Gatlinburg SkyBridge & SkyLift Park

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    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Museums
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    Under $25

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

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Museums
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    Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium

    Under $25

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

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

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    4.9 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
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    The Island in Pigeon Forge

    Free

    A free-to-enter entertainment district built around a 200-foot observation wheel.

    5.5 mi awayMore like this