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4 Fun Rainy Day Activities in Gatlinburg TN for the Whole Family

Ripley's Aquarium is one of the best rainy day activities in Gatlinburg TN
May 16, 2025

In the perfect world, you would be able to enjoy your entire Smoky Mountain vacation without a single drop of rain. However, that may not always be the case. Instead of having to hunker down in your tent or camper all day, there are plenty of amazing indoor activities in Gatlinburg to explore that are just a short drive away from our campground! Here are 4 fun rainy day activities in Gatlinburg TN for the whole family:

1. Gatlin’s Smoky Mountain Fun

gatlin's fun center is one of the best rainy day activities in Gatlinburg TN

At Gatlin’s Smoky Mountain Fun, your family can take part in numerous thrilling activities. In one fun-filled attraction, your group can play mini golf, laser tag, bumper cars, escape games, and much more! The best part is all these rainy day activities in Gatlinburg TN are indoors, allowing you to have a blast while escaping the bad weather. They have different ticket packages available where you can take part in just one activity, or experience them all with the Gatlin’s Do It All Package! This allows each member of your family to build their own specialized adventure.

2. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

Did you know that Gatlinburg is home to one of the country’s most popular aquariums? At Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, your family can see over 10,000 exotic sea creatures that include sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, penguins, and more, making it one of the best rainy day activities in Gatlinburg TN! The best part about the aquarium is that they have numerous hands-on exhibits that make the experience even better. In one trip to the aquarium, you can catch a sea otter show, come nose to beak with a penguin, and even touch a ray. Ripley’s Aquarium is one of the most popular indoor activities in Gatlinburg.

3. Hollywood Star Cars Museum

hollywood star cars museum is one of the best rainy day activities in Gatlinburg TN

Do you love watching famous television shows and movies? If so, you might have wondered what happens to the famous vehicles that appear on the big screen. Well, a good number of them have made their way to the Hollywood Star Cars Museum, another of the top indoor activities in Gatlinburg! As your family walks through the museum, you will notice dozens of famous rides, including the 1969 Dodge Charger from Dukes of Hazzard, the Batmobile from the 1992 movie Batman Returns, and many more! Kids will love seeing the different variety of vehicles on display, while parents will enjoy the opportunity to teach their children about all the famous shows and movies they watched growing up.

4. Arcadia

One of the most popular rainy day activities in Gatlinburg TN is spending some time in the arcade. At Arcadia, your family can test your skills against hundreds of the most popular arcade games! Whether you want to play racing games, sports challenges, or the world’s biggest Pac Man machine, you can do it all in this fun-filled arcade! After you get done playing, you can cash in your points for some prizes from some of the world’s biggest manufacturers, including Sony, Apple, Playstation, Coach, and Lego! If the rain stops while you're there, be sure to ride the glass elevator to the top of the Gatlinburg Space Needle for some of the best views in town!

Now that you know about some fun rainy day activities in Gatlinburg TN, you can begin planning your next trip to the Smoky Mountains. Rain or shine, our campground in the Smokies is an amazing place to stay when you aren't busy taking part in these indoor activities in Gatlinburg. Browse through our amenities to get a taste of everything we can offer your family! We look forward to seeing you soon!