downtown gatlinburg and the smoky mountains

4 Reasons to Have Your Next Sports Tournament in Gatlinburg, TN

April 21, 2016

Known as the “Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains”, Gatlinburg, TN is an increasingly popular destination for all types of events and gatherings. In particular, this scenic mountain city is perfect for sports tournaments! We have put together four reasons to plan your next tournament in Gatlinburg:

1. Convenient Location

Gatlinburg boasts an unparalleled location, just a day’s drive from 60% of the nation’s population. If your tournament will feature teams from all around the country, the Smokies are an ideal meeting place. Here is a quick look at how far Gatlinburg is from some of America’s major cities:

Atlanta, GA – 4 hours, 10 minutes
Asheville, NC – 1 hour, 40 minutes
Charlotte, NC – 3 hours, 40 minutes
Birmingham, AL – 4 hours, 40 minutes
Cincinnati, OH – 4 hours, 40 minutes
Columbus OH – 6 hours, 20 minutes
Indianapolis, IN – 6 hours, 15 minutes
Lexington, KY – 3 hours, 35 minutes
Memphis, TN – 6 hours, 40 minutes
Nashville, TN – 3 hours, 45 minutes

For teams who would rather fly to the area, Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport is only an hour from Gatlinburg.

2. Rocky Top Sports World

Rocky Top Sports World is one of the very best tournament destinations in the Southeast! Located just four miles from downtown Gatlinburg, this 80 acre sports campus has everything you need to host an incredible event. Rocky Top’s outdoor facilities include six astroturf fields, one natural surface field, bleacher seating, and picnic tables. Indoors, visitors will find six hardwood basketball courts, twelve volleyball courts, three team rooms, bleacher seating, and an onsite grill. Here are just some of the sports you can play at Rocky Top:

Football
Soccer
Lacrosse
Field Hockey
Ultimate Frisbee
Basketball
Volleyball
Wrestling
Martial Arts

3. Fun Things to Do in the Area

When you have free time in between games, you will definitely want to check out some of the area’s awesome attractions. Gatlinburg is just minutes away from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the United States. With hundreds of miles of hiking trails, beautiful picnic areas, and a variety of scenic drives, the national park truly has something for everyone. Best of all, the GSMNP is completely free to visit!

In addition to everything the national park has to offer, there are hundreds of other fun activities in the Smokies. Here are a few of the other popular things to do near Gatlinburg:

4. Plenty of Lodging Options

There is no shortage of places to stay in Gatlinburg! The area is home to a wide variety of lodging options, so you will always have a great place to kick back and relax when you’re in town for a tournament. Rocky Top Sports World partners with T3 Travel to offer visiting teams the best group rates at hotels that are just a short drive away from our sports complex. To learn more about taking advantage of team travel deals, check out our Gatlinburg Lodging page!