Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is known as the “Myrtle Beach of the Mountains” for good reason. The city is packed with world-class attractions and exciting things to do throughout the year, from hiking the nearby Smoky Mountains to rafting the local whitewater rivers. But since it is, after all, in the mountains, Gatlinburg can get more than a little chilly during the winter.
Photo Credit: Daniel Korzeniewski
You could retreat indoors with a mug of hot chocolate –or make the most of the season and go snow tubing. This popular winter activity consists of riding inflatable inner tubes down a slope of crisp, white snow, then heading back to the top of the hill to do it all over again.
Easy to plan and enjoyable for all ages, snow tubing is perfect for the whole family or friend group. Once you’re done tubing, you can make a full snow day out of it by building snowmen and making snow angels nearby.
The best part? When you stay with Prestige Vacation Rentals, you can go snow tubing right in Gatlinburg. All of our locations will put you just a few minutes from the snow tubing action!
Where to Go Snow Tubing
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- Location: Ober Mountain Adventure Park and Ski Area
- Address: 1339 Ski Mountain Rd, Gatlinburg, TN
- Season Starts: Mid November
You don’t have to go far for Gatlinburg snow tubing— in fact, you don’t even have to leave city limits. Located a short drive from the busiest parts of town, Ober Mountain Adventure Park and Ski Area (formerly Ober Gatlinburg) offers family-friendly activities throughout the year.
During the summer, you can explore the mountain bike park, soar down a gravity coaster, take the kids rock climbing, and much more. Winter, meanwhile, sees plenty of visitors looking to ski, snowboard, and snow tube.
While you can drive to Ober Mountain, you might want to take the resort’s aerial tramway, which starts in Downtown Gatlinburg and provides 360-degree mountain views along the way.
Once you arrive at the outdoor tubing slope, you’ll start your ride at the top of the 350-foot-long snow tubing hill, dropping 50 vertical feet over the course of your run. Snowmaking machines ensure that you’ll be sliding down real snow, no matter what the precipitation forecast looks like. At the end of your run, step onto the Magic Carpet lift (a standing outdoor escalator) and ride back to the top of the hill for another go.
Snow Tubing Tickets & Restrictions
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If you’re wondering how much your tubing experience will cost, don’t worry; you won’t be breaking the bank.
Ages 3 & 4
At Ober Mountain, kids aged 3 and 4 can tube free with an adult (younger riders will have to wait a few more years before joining).
Ages 5 and Up
Tickets for ages five and up cost around $35 if you tube between Sunday and Thursday and $45 if you tube on a Friday, Saturday, or during a holiday period.
Tubing Sessions & Booking
Tubing sessions last 90 minutes, and the resort recommends booking online well in advance, as tickets sell out quickly.
Snow Zone Play Area
If you’re not ready to leave the mountain after your tubing session, visit The Snow Zone play area. For just $10 per person, guests of all ages can make snow angels and slide across the snow. You can also strap on a pair of skates at the indoor ice rink, which is open throughout the year but is especially magical in winter.
Snow Tubing Season
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Ober Mountain’s snow tubing slope opens the Saturday before Thanksgiving each year, and advance tickets go on sale roughly a month beforehand, in mid-October. Nearly five months later, the season ends in March. Before booking your tickets, check the holiday schedule, as the typical hours change on major holidays.
The ski slopes and Snow Zone are less predictable, so you should frequently visit the Ober Mountain website for the most up-to-date information on conditions and opening hours.
Generally, the slopes and Snow Zone stay open between December and early to mid-March, when temperatures get too warm to keep snow on the hill. But no promises — winter weather is famously fickle in the Southeast.
Other Places to Snow Tube Near Gatlinburg
If an hour-and-a-half of tubing at Ober Mountain just won’t suffice, drive 20 minutes down the road to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. There, you’ll find Pigeon Forge Snow and Rowdy Bear’s Smoky Mountain Snowpark, both excellent spots to continue your snow tubing adventures.
Pigeon Forge Snow
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Pigeon Forge Snow holds the title of America’s first indoor snow park, featuring a snow play place and snow tubing lanes serviced by a Magic Carpet lift 365 days a year. As an added bonus, Pigeon Forge Snow keeps the thermostat at a balmy 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, so you won’t need to bundle up before going in (and yes, that’s real snow inside).
An hour-long tubing session costs around $30 for visitors of all ages, while half an hour in the snow play area costs $10, no reservations required.
Rowdy Bear’s Smoky Mounting Snowpark
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Rowdy Bear’s Smoky Mountain Snowpark also stays open year-round, but since the park is outdoors, visitors can only snow tube during the winter. Though you can still ride on synthetic material in warm months, Rowdy Bear’s snow tubing is well worth the wait. 500-foot-long lanes that drop 70 vertical feet will have your heart pounding by the end of every run, whether you ride solo or in a connected double tube.
After your 90-minute snow tubing session, stop by Sugar Bears Café and Creamery for sweet treats like hot cocoa and homemade ice cream.
Grab Your Snow Tube for the Ultimate Gatlinburg Getaway
Winter is right around the corner, so don’t wait to book your snow tubing tickets — and your stay at Prestige Vacation Rentals, because how else will you get close to all the fun? After a long day of playing in the snow, there’s nothing better than warming up around the fireplace at one of our cabins. We hope to see you on the slopes!
