Sevierville TN: Top Attractions, Best Shopping, Where To Eat

Sevierville, located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains next to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, is the birthplace of our beloved Dolly Parton and the eighth oldest town in Tennessee (founded in 1795).

While the town itself is steeped in history, today, it has Dolly’s stamp all over it – from her statue at the courthouse to the many attractions that bear her name.

Sevierville features hundreds of attractions, dining and entertainment options – everything from helicopter tours to go-karts to the Forbidden Caverns (once used by moonshiners during prohibition).

You could spend a month in this town and still not see and do everything this city has to offer.

Sevierville is also home to dozens of outlet malls including the largest outlet mall in the area – Tanger Outlets – which features over 100 unique shops and restaurants (a bargain hunter’s paradise!)

And don’t forget to check out the Parkway during Winterfest, when Sevierville and its two sister cities (Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg) join together to create a driving tour light celebration unlike you’ve ever seen – featuring over 15 million lights in a 25-mile stretch.

See Also: Top 10 things you can do in the Smokies for Free

What is Sevierville TN known for?

Sevierville is largely known for being the hometown of country music star Dolly Parton.

Read Also: Ain’t nobody doesn’t like Dolly; 6 reasons we love our Appalachian queen

How far is Pigeon Forge from Sevierville?

Sevierville is located right beside Pigeon Forge. You can generally travel from Sevierville’s city center to Pigeon Forge in 6-8 minutes by car when traffic is moderate.

How far is Sevierville from Gatlinburg?

Sevierville and Gatlinburg are about 11 miles apart.

When traffic is light, it’s a simple 20-minute drive between the two cities.

However, traffic is frequently heavy along the Parkway.

Visitors should expect a commute between the two cities to take up to an hour on a busy day, and up to two hours when traffic is bumper to bumper (like during Rod Run events).

Read Also: Tips on how to avoid traffic in Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg

Is Sevierville TN a dry town?

While Sevier County is technically dry, the city allows the sale and service of liquor, wine and beer.

Wine and beer are available for purchase at most convenience stores, and cocktails are served at most restaurants.

Things to do in Sevierville

The city of Sevierville features a variety of family-friendly attractions that kids (and adults) of all ages will love. Popular Sevierville attractions include:

• Forbidden Caverns
• Apple Barn Cider Mill & Winery
• Ripley’s Old MacDonald’s Farm Mini-Golf
• NASCAR SpeedPark (go karts)
• Smoky Mountain Deer Farm and Petting Zoo
• Goats on the Roof (petting zoo and mountain coaster)
• Legacy Mountain Ziplines
• Rainforest Adventures (zoo)
• Scenic Helicopter Tours

See Also: Ripley’s in the Smokies – A breakdown of each attraction (with coupons!)

Best places to shop in Sevierville

Sevierville is known for its unique shopping opportunities including small “mom and pop” style gift shops, old-fashioned style general stores and massive outlet malls. Popular Sevierville shopping destinations include:

• Smoky Mountain Knifeworks
• Tanger Outlets (A brand name factory outlet)
• Governor’s Crossing Outlet
• Two Rivers Outlet Shops
• The Apple Barn and Cider Mill
• Mountain Brothers General Store
• Ogle Brothers General Store

Best restaurants in Sevierville TN

Sevierville features some of the best southern style cuisine, comfort food and BBQ in East Tennessee.

When you visit, be sure to look out for popular Appalachian staples on the menu to get the full “experience” including country-fried steak, chicken and dumplings, BBQ, catfish, banana pudding and apple pie.

Popular Sevierville restaurants include:

• Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant
• The Appalachian
• Five Oaks Farm Kitchen
• Preacher’s Smokehouse
• Holston’s Kitchen
• Graze Burgers

See Also: New restaurant opens in downtown Sevierville featuring Appalachian cuisine

What are your favorite things to do in Sevierville? Let us know in the comments!