Fontana Village Resort

Great Smoky Mountains National Park


Near the national park's southern fringe, this old-school resort makes a fine base for a back-to-nature holiday, with miles of cycling and hiking trails right outside the door. Though the facilities are a bit dated, there are loads of activities on offer, including a swimming pool, mini-golf and a marina where you can hire watercraft (kayaks, pontoon boats).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park attractions

1. Fontana Dam

1.55 MILES

Built in the early 1940s to provide power for America's industrial needs during WWII, Fontana is the tallest dam east of the Rockies. At 2365ft wide, it's…

2. Fontana Lake

2.23 MILES

This long, narrow reservoir east of the Fontana Dam stretches for around 29 miles across some 10,000 acres. Located along the southern fringe of the…

3. Shuckstack Tower

3.44 MILES

It's an uphill slog to get here, but you'll be rewarded with jaw-dropping views once you make it to the historic fire tower and clamber your way to the…

4. Parson Branch Road

8.84 MILES

This 8-mile-long road is permanently closed to motorized traffic, though it's open to mountain bikers and walkers, who can enjoy some serene forest views…

5. Cable Mill Historic Area

10.35 MILES

To get bread on the table, early residents of Cades Cove first had to mill their grains and corn. Above all other staples, corn was the most important…

6. Tipton Place

10.48 MILES

The picturesque Tipton homestead was built by Mexican War veteran ‘Colonel Hamp’ Tipton in the early 1870s. The grounds include a spacious two-floor cabin…

7. Carter Shields Cabin

10.66 MILES

The last cabin on the loop road is arguably the most photogenic, tucked in a small grassy glade surrounded by the woods. Carter Shields, a Civil War…

8. Elijah Oliver Place

11.22 MILES

The homestead farthest from the Cades Cove Loop Rd, this multi-building property sits at the end of a half-mile stroll through the woods. The cabin was…