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The Best Hotels in Gatlinburg and Their Nearest Beaches

If you want to combine a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with a beach vacation, this is not as impossible as you might have thought. Then, here are some of the top hotels in nearby Gatlinburg along with their proximity to sea, lake, and river beaches.

Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort
Source: Instagram, posted on January 6th, 2023, Westgate Smoky Mountains’ official profile

1. Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort

Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort has 356 villas, allows two pets to stay per villa, and is 2 miles from downtown Gatlinburg.

Westgate Smokey Mountain Resort can make you feel as if you are at a beachside resort, even if you are not. This is because it is home to a 60,000-square-foot waterpark with a retractable roof that will allow you and your entire family to enjoy slides, a lazy river, and cascades in safety. This means you will not have to travel to a beach area to enjoy summer fun all year round. If you are looking to enjoy a beach on your trip, one of the nearest to the Great Smoky Mountains is Center Hill Lake, which is just over 2 hours and 30 minutes from the national park. Then, you should consider picking the central location of Gatlinburg for your stay and book accommodation at westgateresorts.com.

The Edgewater Hotel
Source: Instagram, posted on March 6th, 2020, The Edgewater Hotel’s official profile

2. The Edgewater Hotel

The Edgewater Hotel is eight stories high and has 205 rooms. It is also connected to a spacious conference center.

For stays in Gatlinburg, The Edgewater Hotel is also an excellent option. Your vacation at The Edgewater Hotel will make you feel as if you are visiting a famous beach destination due to the fact that it is only a five-minute drive from popular attractions like Ripley’s Aquarium on the Gatlinburg strip. Not only this, but the hotel has an indoor and outdoor pool and hot tub suites that can make you feel as if you are a celebrity. You will be able to make the most of every season in Gatlinburg there and have a great view of the river and the Smoky Mountains. You might also consider driving over to Douglas Lake while you are there, as this beach is only an hour away from downtown Gatlinburg and you can enjoy beach pursuits such as swimming and water skiing there. If you want to stay the night at the beach, there are also many campgrounds to choose from before you head back to The Edgewater.

River Edge Inn
Source: Instagram, posted on February 2nd, 2021, River Edge Inn’s official profile

3. River Edge Inn

River Edge Inn has 43 rooms across three floors and offers free breakfast and parking to guests.

River Edge Inn is the perfect option for summer travelers who want to enjoy an outdoor pool and a relaxing room where they can have a luxurious sleep and shower after a day exploring in peace. If you want to visit a beach while you are here, you should consider hopping across the border to North Carolina, where you can enjoy the Pines Recreation Area beach at Lake Glenville. This white sand beach is convenient because it is under two hours away from Gatlinburg and the River Edge Inn.

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