Greystone Lodge: This Hotel in Gatlinburg is Ideal for Families with Breakfast, A Pool, and an Enviable Location

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If you are planning to travel to Gatlinburg with the family, then the Greystone Lodge is the perfect place to stay! It’s hard to find a hotel that is family-friendly, clean, within a budget, and ideally located. Conveniently located in the heart of Downtown Gatlinburg, The Greystone Lodge on the River is just that. We sent Kristina and her family there to see what the hotel is all about and why families love it.

Greystone Lodge on the River in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Kristina’s stay was part of a media trip and included complimentary nights at the hotel but all opinions are her own.

This article contains Stay22 affiliate links.

Choosing a hotel for your family can be quite an ordeal. In the past, I’ve spent hours reading reviews, asking for suggestions, and then second-guessing my decision. In Gatlinburg, the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, about a three-hour drive from Greenville, there are hundreds of hotels and lodging options to choose from and it can be overwhelming. But after staying two nights at the Greystone Lodge in Gatlinburg, I can say with absolute certainty I’ve found the perfect place for a family trip to the beautiful mountain town. It is within walking distance of almost everything in Downtown Gatlinburg, making it a great option for families with little ones who get tired easily!

While families are often out and about during the day, they do appreciate a clean, relaxing hotel to come home to at night or to rest up before heading back out to enjoy the town. Greystone offers all that and more.

From Their Family to Yours: Greystone Lodge on the River

Originally built in 1962 by Jack Miller Sr., the Greystone Lodge was constructed with guests in mind, striving for a place to rest, recharge, and make wonderful memories together. The Miller family still owns the property today and it is one of the very last family-owned hotels in Gatlinburg. This is quite the rarity and affords them the opportunity to be more attentive to their guests.

The trolley that leaves out of the Greystone Lodge in Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Catch the trolley from the hotel. Photo provided by the Greystone Lodge.

The hotel manager, Jackie, I spoke with has worked for Greystone Lodge for 23 years. She said many of their employees have had long careers there as well, which speaks to the kind of business the hotel runs.

The hotel has gone through an extensive $7.5 million renovation in the last few years in an effort to continue to provide the best experience possible to guests.

Amenities & Location

The two big things I think make Greystone stand out amongst other hotels are its ideal location and its family-friendly amenities.

The location of the Greystone Lodge cannot be beaten. It’s maybe ten steps away from the aquarium and across the street from Anakeesta. It’s a block away from the Pancake Pantry and within walking distance to pretty much everywhere you’d need to go in Gatlinburg, which is a huge deal because parking is scarce in town and you almost always have to pay for it, anywhere from $5-$10+.

The hotel is also just steps away from the Gatlinburg Trolley so you can take that around town if you don’t feel like walking.

You can also drive right up to your room, whether on the first or third or whatever floor you’re on, and park right outside the room, which is so helpful when it comes to unloading all the unnecessary stuff your kids decided they needed to take on the trip.

Yummy Breakfast Options On Site

Greystone Lodge also offers a free continental breakfast, a heated pool with a slide, wi-fi, a fitness center, and free parking. The breakfast is really good – they have biscuits and gravy, eggs, oatmeal, yogurt, cereal, coffee, juice, bagels, and pastries. It was a big hit with my kids.

Pool for the Kids to Play

The pool and slide were awesome. My kids must have gone down that slide at least 80 times. They loved it. The pool is open from April until mid-October or early November depending on the weather. The pool is such a good option for families to entertain their kids without spending anything extra during the trip.

The pool at the Greystone Lodge in Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Pool at the Greystone Lodge

Rooms at the Greystone Lodge

The room we stayed in, a queen suite with a balcony that overlooked the river, was exceptionally clean, spacious, and comfortable. In my research on hotels in the area, I saw so many reviews of other places that were atrocious. I didn’t want to end up with a bad hotel on a family trip because that has unfortunately happened to me elsewhere and put a huge damper on a vacation.

The Greystone Lodge is so impressive in this aspect because they take such care to provide a great experience for their guests and it shows. They consistently have amazing reviews on all the major travel websites.

Family Suites for Total Comfort

The Greystone Lodge offers family suites with one or two bedrooms and bunk beds, executive suites with fireplaces and soaking tubs, and more budget-conscious suites with all the amenities of the hotel. All rooms have a microwave and small refrigerator, which was perfect for the snacks I brought that needed to be chilled.

We got pizza one night and sat out on the balcony to enjoy dinner and the view of the river, which was very nice. Not all rooms have that option but if you get a room that does, certainly take advantage of it!

Patio view of the Greystone Lodge
Photo provided by the Greystone Lodge.

Rates and The Rewards Program

Jackie told me the majority of their guests are repeat stays and some families are on their third or fourth generation who have stayed at the Greystone. One woman recently showed Jackie a photo of herself at the Greystone when she was 10 years old and she was now bringing her grandchildren to the same place!

Like all hotels, rates are dependent upon season. During the busiest months of July and October, rates are higher than those of the slower months like January and February. A Queen suite may start around $145/night during the low season and be closer to $220+ for the high season.

Greystone has a Loyal Lodger Rewards program that offers discounts the more nights a guest stays with them.

If you’re looking for a perfect family hotel in Gatlinburg where you won’t have to worry about parking, breakfast, or entertainment, the Greystone Lodge is a great option, one that may just become part of your family for generations to come.

Have you stayed at the Greystone Lodge in Gatlinburg?

The Greystone Lodge on the River
559 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN
864.436.5621


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About the Author
Kristina Hernandez is a mom of two girls, freelance writer and photographer. Originally from New Jersey, she is in love with the Upstate and could not imagine raising her kids anywhere else. She enjoys hiking to waterfalls, kayaking, camping, cooking, and exploring all that Greenville has to offer. And she really loves baby goats. Follow her on Instagram at @scadventurer.

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Susan Tucker
2 years ago

Although it’s been several years (to long to be honest) this is my go to for accomodations in Gatlinburg. Location is perfect.