Does anyone know if there’s a hostel in Gatlinburg and the name of it and address? I think I read in someone’s journal that there is one. I tried to do a search on here, but came up with nothing. Thanks.
kathy hay
Gatlinburg - Appalachian Trail
system
#2
I do not know of one, but there is a hiking store right when you get into Gatlinburg called “The Happy Hiker” and they can help get you into a motel cheeply, at least that is what the worker at the store said, when I visited it.
Elizabeth
system
#3
The Grand Prix Motel is about a block from the Happy Hiker. I remember it being cheap, maybe $30/night. Nice place, and they have laundry. I don’t know of any hostels in Gatlinburg. It’s very touristy. Lots of motels.
Gatlinburg is a great town stop. Yeah, there’s lots of neon, and lots of tourists. But, there are also lots of restaurants!! And the Happy Hiker is one of the most friendly outfitters on the trail. The walls in the outfitter are covered with thru-hiker pictures. The hitch out of Newfound Gap is easy, UNLESS the road is closed because of snow.
yogi
system
#4
I paid $23 +tax for a single room at the Grand Prix last year. Great place to stay if you go into Gatlinburg.
Pushing Up Daisies
system
#6
Actually, I was looking to see if there was a hostel to drive by and see if anyone needed ride to trailhead when we are down there on camping vacation in a few days. Will just scope out Grand Prix area. Was afraid to post my real questions as there seem to be some people opposed to helping out thrus. Whatever, will try to be more spontaneous, if that’s possible. We get so much enjoyment out of reading the trail journals, we would like to give back in some small way. Thanks for all the info above.
kathy hay
system
#7
Kathy, Steve at the Happy Hiker gives free rides to thru hikers back to Newfound Gap. I tried to force some money on him last year and he wouldn’t take it. We are doing trail magic at Newfound Gap and there are always somebody needing a ride to the Gap from G’burg. Stay near the Happy Hiker and you can give people a ride up from there. By the end of the month the Grand Prix will be full of thru Hikers. It can be hard to get a ride down from Newfound Gap. Tourist don’t like smelly hikers in their car. We waited almost an hour last year on our hike to get a ride. The road to Clingmons Dome is closed so the traffic usually doesn’t stop as much as they do later in the year.
Papa Smurf
system
#8
if there is a place, barrit(owner of happy hiker) will know. he’s terrific and will go out of his way for thru-hikers. but watch out the rest of gatlinburg, that place needs a to be fenced-in and annexed as a fat-farm & freak-show all rolled in one.
magic(ga>me03)
system
#9
There is no hostel in Gatlinburg. I just stopped by the Happy Hiker a week or two ago, and remembered this post so I asked. You have the grand prix hotel. Also if you are looking to pick hikers up and bring them to Newfound Gap check the happy hiker before driving up.
Elizabeth