The family road trip has its magic, but it can sometimes be nerve-wracking with kids. If you plan a road trip with kids to Pigeon Forge, you must plan creatively. The destination itself is adventurous, but to make your road trip smooth, you need to prepare well.
Pack essentials and fun
Get the kids involved. Create a ‘Pigeon Forge Fun’ box with activity books, travel-sized games, crayons, and small toys. Let them choose a few items to stay occupied during the car ride.
Pack a cooler with healthy snacks, water, and pre-cut fruits and veggies. Include hand sanitizer, wet wipes, and a change of clothes for unexpected spills.
1. Road trip games & activities
Kids can find long car rides like being grounded in a corner for days. They feel the road is an eternity. So, to keep everyone entertained, play classic car games like Alphabet Scavenger Hunt and I Spy. It is always a hit.
Older children can create a ‘Road Trip Bingo’ card with squares featuring things they may see on the road, like specific car models, cows, or a mountain river or bridge.
Storytelling is a great option. Take turns adding sentences to a collaborative story or have each person pick a random object they see outside and weave it into an imaginary fiction.
Create a road map of the Pigeon Forge route. Add pinpoints so your kids can see the progress visually on the map. It eliminates the repeated question, ‘How much time more?’ or ‘Are we there?’.
Create a travel goodie bags for the way. Fill paper sacks with treats, a small toy, or a craft and write destinations showing where the kids can open them.
It excites the kids and builds up knowing there are surprises in each bag. They will also know that the distance is getting smaller and smaller.
2. Educational entertainment
Learning doesn’t have to stop on a road trip. Download audiobooks or podcasts about Tennessee or Smoky Mountain history. Let the kids research exciting facts about Pigeon Forge or the wildlife they may encounter at the National Park.
Print out the Smokies coloring pages. It will be fun, and the kids will learn simultaneously. You can hang the colored pages in your cabin on arrival. On your way home, tell the kids to create drawings of things they love most in Pigeon Forge.
3. Documenting the journey
Allow kids to take landmark pictures, scenic landscapes, or funny signs with a tablet or a small camera. Please encourage them to document the trip in a travel journal and record their experiences, observations, and favorite moments.
4. Pit stops
Road trip stops must be well-planned. Visit the roadside attractions, explore a historical landmark, or have a picnic lunch in a park. Rest areas with playgrounds allow kids to walk or run and burn some energy.
Perfect accommodation matters
The Great Smokey Mountain is alluring, but with kids, an ideal accommodation makes a huge difference. Pigeon Forge Cabin rentals can be booked directly from owners on the Smokey Mountain By Owners website.
On the Cabin For You Pigeon Forge link, you can find cabins with a kitchen, hot tub, or firepit. Choose one that meets your needs, like a fully equipped kitchen that allows you to feed your picky eaters. You can even enjoy roasting marshmallows with kids around a firepit under a star-filled sky.
Activities to enjoy in Pigeon Forge
Once you arrive in Pigeon Forge, the natural family fun starts. To keep your kids entertained, there are many activities to choose from.
1. Anakeesta
Drive to Anakeesta, where kids will enjoy plenty of adventures.
- Trek across the treetop skywalk
- Compete in duelling zipline
- Check the botanical gardens
- Take a 360-degree mountain view
Kids can have fun while you enjoy dining, drinking, and shopping.
2. Pigeon Forge Snow
The indoor winter wonderland maintains a cool temperature all year round. Advanced snow-making technology keeps the vast grounds filled with fresh powder. Kids can play in the snow or enjoy snow tubing.
3. Rowdy Bear Mountain
The Rowdy Bear Mountain Park is your best bet for tubing in warm weather. It is an outdoor attraction with a long tubing hill that speeds up to 35 miles/hour and cannot stop you from screaming as you slide. You will also find a glider and mountain coaster. In the cold season, this park offers snow tubing.
4. Ripleys Aquarium
Kids will love exploring the aquarium all day. Different zones are dedicated to Tropical rainforests, Coral Reefs, Ocean realms, Discovery Centers, Shark Lagoons, Penguin Playhouses, and more. The underwater wonders will captivate them.
5. Great Smoky Mountain National Park
It is a scenic playground. Go on a short hike with kids or take a scenic drive to enjoy a picnic in the national park.
Kids can even come across some animals and learn about them at close range. A ranger-led program will allow kids and adults to learn about the flora and fauna in the park.
6. Rockin’ Raceway
Rockin’ Raceway has more than 150 games of all types. You can enjoy a fun competition with your family. Choose the arcade game everyone loves but even get to know some new ones.
7. Big Rock Dude Ranch
The Dude Ranch has expansive views, and kids will adore horseback riding. In fall, the foliage looks stunning. Kids can also enjoy the ranch’s petting zoo and gem-mining activities.
The sprawling, beautiful setting also has a picnic area and fishing pond. Go fishing with your kids!
At Whispering Pines Pigeon Forge TN, you can get exceptional amenities like a pool table or air hockey to occupy your little energetic engines.
Private hot tubs or swimming pools are ideal to splash around after a long day of exploring. Secure a cabin or vacation rental in advance, especially if your visit is in peak season.
Conclusion
Make sure to pack smartly, especially if the road trip involves little kids. Carry games and activities to keep the little minds engaged and make pit stops to allow them to stretch their legs.
You can be flexible and spontaneous with your itinerary. Involve kids in choosing the attractions so they too can enjoy the adventure.
