Did you know Wilderness at the Smokies has three waterparks plus a hotel? Sign us up! Kristina took her family to Wilderness at the Smokies in Sevierville, TN to experience this family-friendly resort and tells us all about it and why it’s such a perfect place for a family trip. (Updated 2026)
Thanks to the Wilderness at the Smokies for providing us with media tickets.
This article includes:
About the Resort
Dining at Wilderness at the Smokies
The Waterparks: Indoor & Outdoor
Indoor Arcade and Adventure Forest
Our Favorite Things
Tips for Visiting
Booking Your Trip
Watch! Our Visit to Wilderness at the Smokies
If you are looking for a weekend trip, a few days for a family vacation, or a special getaway with a birthday kid or special occasion, the Wilderness at the Smokies resort is an excellent option. Why? Because you don’t even need to leave the property for entertainment and dining. Park the car and have a blast. And it’s all under three hours driving distance from Upstate, SC. We have all the details in our Wilderness at the Smokies review!
🚗 Greenville to Wilderness at the Smokies Drive Time: Clocking in at exactly 2 hours and 49 minutes via I-40 East, this is an incredibly easy, beautiful road trip from the Upstate through the mountains. It also puts you just 40 minutes from the Sugarlands Visitor Center at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
Wilderness at the Smokies: The Waterpark Resort
Owned by Wilderness Resorts and Waterparks, the Wilderness at the Smokies has several room options, including ones with bunk beds for kids and adjacent rooms with full kitchens and living rooms. The room we stayed in had a queen bed and bunk bed plus a pullout bed and a Murphy bed in the adjacent guest room. It was huge. On our second trip, we had a double queen bed room that overlooked the outdoor waterpark. It was plenty big and spacious.
Our room faced one of the enormous outdoor waterparks at the River Lodge and had easy access to entertainment and dining and a short walk from the parking lot. You can also choose to stay at Stone Hill Lodge, which is not connected to the waterpark, but you can take a quick bus from the building to the waterpark door. The layout of the rooms at Stone Hill Lodge is slightly different from River Lodge, and it’s just based on preference for your trip.
We had the option to take advantage of early check-in so we could spend as much time as possible checking out the property, which got us in our room by Noon. Our second time there, we were able to start playing at the waterpark at Noon and our room was ready around 3:30 pm. If you have this option, we would recommend it, especially since it got more crowded as the afternoon wore on. We never had to wait long for any ride but it was nice to run through quickly everything we wanted to do.
Wilderness at the Smokies: Dining
There are several dining options at the resort, most of which have burgers, salads, fries, and desserts. You will find places like Grizzly’s Grill, Billy Jacks Snack Shack, Tacolicious, and other dining options to fit your craving. If you have been to Wilderness and haven’t tried out Hidden Trail, we highly recommend it for quick bites and snacks!
They have a Candy Cabin (to buy candy by the pound) and a frozen yogurt place also, which is right next to the indoor waterpark. And for adults, there are lots of options for adult beverages throughout the resort. I saw several huge frozen drinks that grownups were toting around. They looked delicious, I have to say.
The resort also offers food delivery right to your room. Prices are pretty much the same as dining at restaurants so this is a great option if you’re totally wiped out at the end of the day. We were pretty beat and I was starving so I dragged my kids to the restaurant (really, I wanted all the desserts).
Wilderness at the Smokies: Waterparks
- Wild WaterDome (The indoor park featuring the brand-new Kaleidoscope Kavern Lazy River and Ridge Runner water coaster)
- Lake Wilderness (Outdoor park located at River Lodge)
- Salamander Springs (Outdoor park located at Stone Hill Lodge)
The resort has three waterparks, including Tennessee’s largest indoor waterpark with an attached arcade, snack bars, and restaurants. The largest waterpark, one of the two outdoor waterparks, is at the main building, the River Lodge. All waterparks are included in your stay.
There are three water slide attractions, a matted tube run, a bigger tube vortex ride, and a free-fall water slide. Kids have to be 42” to ride the mat tube run and the larger tube ride. You need to be 48” tall to ride the free fall.
That was a hard no for me! My kids and I did several runs on the mat tube one, especially in the hour before closing as there was no line.
Other favorites were the big wave pool and lazy river. There are also a ton of chairs and tables to hang out at or eat your lunch or dinner. Cabanas can be rented for anywhere from $180 up to $250 a day, which are personal covered tents that come with plenty of chairs and towels. You can even have food and drinks delivered to them.
And there’s an enclosed area that is super shallow and perfect for little kids.
Cute little swings are perfect for babies. We saw lots of families with little ones enjoying that area.
Rooftop Pool and Lounge
On our second trip to Wilderness we got to enjoy the rooftop infinity pool. It was amazing. The views of the Smokies just cannot be beat and there was hardly anyone up there.
The pool isn’t huge but it’s perfect for relaxation. There’s a bar at the top with plenty of chairs for lounging and tables for eating under umbrellas. You can get there by heading up the elevators inside of Wild WaterDome.
Indoor Waterpark & Wave Pool
The indoor waterpark, the Wild WaterDome, is Tennessee’s largest indoor waterpark. It also has several tube rides, most of which kids can easily ride. They have a big wave pool with ocean-like waves. My kids loved this one as they splashed and jumped in the bigger waves.
There is also a play area for kids with water features and zero-entry pools. A flow rider-type ride is a blast to watch. We didn’t try it but people can attempt to not wipe out on a boogie board. Wilderness at the Smokies indoor slides are a lot of fun for older kids and parents as well.
One of our favorite indoor water slides was the orange one that has a big drop that shoots you into a huge funnel. It was terrifying and we rode it multiple times!
Brand New: Coaster and Kaleidoscope Kavern
Wilderness invested $40 million into a huge expansion project, which included a 40,000 square foot addition to the Wild WaterDome indoor waterpark, which was finished in December 2023. They added a really cool lazy river in their indoor waterpark that goes through a cavern with a kaleidoscope ceiling. It is such a neat addition and one that my kids and I rode several times. There’s also a small waterfall to go under in the same lazy river. There’s music and all different colors, and you can float through as many times as you want.
They also added an indoor water coaster that shoots you through several tunnels with forceful water jets. You can go on a double tube or go as a single rider.
Safety Taken Seriously
Safety is a huge priority at the waterparks. Lifeguards are everywhere. Literally everywhere. They are methodical about when you can ride down the slides, measuring people to make sure they are at the height limit, and watching the pools closely. Life jackets aren’t mandatory but the waterparks all have them available for free if parents feel their kids need them.
Hours are different for all the waterparks so it’s best to confirm the waterpark hours before you go.
Wilderness at the Smokies: Indoor Arcade and Adventure Forest
The indoor waterpark is enormous as it is but it’s attached to a huge arcade as well. This place just amplifies family fun! At first glance, it doesn’t look big but once you start walking around – and looking up – you realize how big it really is.
There’s a three-story ropes course, mini-golf course, climbing wall, tons of arcade games, a little frogger ride for kids, and even a multi-level laser tag course.
You can purchase day adventure passes or buy rides individually and they vary in cost. Arcade games can be played by purchasing points on a card.
The resort also has a paint-your-own-pottery place. My oldest daughter really wanted to do this but we just ran out of time. If you are at the resort for a few days, this could be a fun way to break up your waterpark adventure time.
During the winter, usually starting in mid-November, there is ice skating available at the resort. They convert part of the outdoor wave pool into an ice rink for some festive fun for both guests and the public.
My Favorite Things about Wilderness at the Smokies
I’ve been wanting to visit this resort for a while and was thrilled when I finally got the chance. It’s so close to Greenville and I had heard many great things about it from local families. And it didn’t disappoint.
- Even though the resort is huge, I didn’t find it hard to navigate. At the River Lodge, signs are posted everywhere on where things are and all the rooms surround the waterpark so it’s not hard to find your way around.
- The staff everywhere we went were very kind, considerate, and helpful, which is always appreciated.
- My kids were in heaven with the waterparks. They loved it all and as a parent, seeing your kids truly enjoy an experience makes me happy. I really liked that the resort had everything I needed, from food to entertainment, right there, and I didn’t need to drive anywhere if I didn’t want to.
- The location is fantastic. My GPS clocked the trip from Greenville at two hours and 49 minutes. It’s an easy ride that is beautiful, with views of the mountains as you head towards Tennessee on Route 40. Mountains make me happy so the drive was enjoyable. Also, the resort is 40 minutes to the Sugarlands Visitor Center at the Great Smoky Mountains and an hour from Cades Cove and many popular hiking trails.
- All kids are going to enjoy this place. It seems the resort took pains to make sure the place would be enjoyable for kids of all ages. There are more adventurous rides for older kids and lots of places for the little ones to splash around and have a good time also.
- The waterparks are included with your stay at the resort, which is a nice perk when it comes to budgeting for the trip. And the indoor waterpark is open year-round so you can visit any time of year!
Tips on Visiting Wilderness of the Smokies
After spending some at Wilderness of the Smokies, here are a few ideas that may make your time there even more awesome:
- Get the early check-in: You can spend so much more time at the attractions before the rush around dinner time when most people check-in.
- Do an early dinner: Have dinner early so you can rest a little before getting back out to the parks during the slower evening hours and not have to wait in line long.
- Get a locker: You can rent a small locker for $10 for the whole day and keep your wallet, phone, or camera in there without worrying about it.
- Visit Soaky Mountain Water Park: When you stay at Wilderness of the Smokies, you can purchase heavily discounted tickets to Soaky Mountain, a huge waterpark right across the street, for $19.99. They also offer free tickets sometimes over the summer so always check the Wilderness of the Smokies social media for deals. They are open during the summer.
- Fantastic weekend adventure: If you just need to get away for the weekend, this resort is ideal. Everything you need to have fun is right there and you can see and do a lot of what’s offered in a couple of days.
- Ask about free/discounted tickets to local attractions: Be sure to ask Guest Services about any discounted or free tickets they have to local attractions like Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg and WonderWorks in Pigeon Forge. You will always find a great deal!
Homeschool Days
Homeschool Days Wilderness at the Smokies offers incredible, deeply discounted Homeschool Days throughout the year (with rates typically starting as low as $134/night for the Stone Hill Lodge and $449/night for the River Lodge).
Because the specific multi-day windows shift slightly every season, be sure to check the Wilderness at the Smokies website or call them directly using the code HOMESC to get the current 2026 dates and book your stay!
Cost: As low as $129/night
More info: Use the code HOMESC to book online or via phone
Booking your trip
This link is an affiliate link with STAY22. Kidding Around earns when you book through this link.
You’ll definitely want to check their website for specials like discounted/free passes for Soaky Mountain, specials on back-to-school, etc.
Room prices will vary by season and room type. Wilderness at the Smokies has suites, one and two-bedrooms, and villas available. There are free shuttles amongst all the buildings at the resort.
Day passes may be available for certain dates so if you’re in the area but not staying at the resort, a Wilderness at the Smokies Day Pass could be really fun.
We hope you enjoy your stay at Wilderness at the Smokies!
Wilderness at the Smokies
1424 Old Knoxville Hwy, Sevierville, TN
Wilderness at the Smokies Facebook
Book your stay at Stone Hill Lodge at Wilderness of the Smokies
Frequently Asked Questions About Wilderness at the Smokies
What are the check-in and check-out times?
Pre-registration and waterpark access start at 12:00 PM (Noon), and rooms are guaranteed by 4:00 PM. Check-out is at 11:00 AM.
Kristina’s Insider Tip: Taking advantage of that Noon pre-registration is highly recommended. On our second trip, we were hitting the slides by lunch, and our room was ready by 3:30 PM. Getting in early lets you run through all the major rides you want to do before the heavy check-in crowds start arriving closer to dinner time.
Are there height restrictions for the major water slides?
Yes, height limits are strictly enforced by lifeguards for safety. You must be at least 42″ for the mat tube runs and the larger tube rides, and 48″ for the free-fall and vortex rides.
Kristina’s Insider Tip: Safety here is a huge priority, and lifeguards are everywhere making sure everyone meets the limits. While the 48″ free-fall slide was a hard no for me, my kids and I did dozens of runs on the orange funnel slide and the 42″ mat tube run. Head to the mat slides in the final hour before closing when the lines completely clear out.
What is the room layout like, and can you see the waterparks?
The resort offers multiple buildings and room types, including standard double-queen rooms, bunk bed suites, and multi-bedroom villas.
Kristina’s Insider Tip: For maximum convenience, try to stay at the River Lodge. Our room there overlooked the massive outdoor waterpark and gave us instant access to the indoor Wild WaterDome, dining, and the arcade. If you need a lot of space, the large suites are fantastic—they feature a queen bed and bunk beds for the kids in one area, plus a pullout bed and a Murphy bed in the adjacent room.
What are the dining options like if we get tired?
The resort features multiple eateries like Grizzly’s Grill, Billy Jacks Snack Shack, and Tacolicious, alongside a Candy Cabin and room delivery services.
Kristina’s Insider Tip: If you are just looking for quick snacks, Hidden Trail comes highly recommended. However, if your family is completely wiped out and starving after a long day of swimming, take advantage of their room delivery. The prices are virtually identical to eating at the resort restaurants, making it a lifesaver when you are too beat to walk down to dinner.
Are there things to do at the resort if it rains or gets cold?
Yes, the massive Wild WaterDome indoor waterpark is climate-controlled and open year-round, and it connects directly to the indoor Adventure Forest arcade.
Kristina’s Insider Tip: You will never run out of things to do here, even in bad weather. The indoor waterpark features a brilliant expansion with an indoor water coaster and a stunning Kaleidoscope Kavern lazy river that my kids and I floated through multiple times. Plus, the attached arcade features a three-story ropes course, mini-golf, and laser tag. If you are visiting in the winter, starting mid-November, they even convert part of the outdoor wave pool into an ice-skating rink!
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