6 Travel Tips for Attending Youth Sports Events at Rocky Top Sports World
Traveling for a youth sports tournament or event can be a ton of fun; especially when you’re playing at Rocky Top Sports World! Our state of the art athletic complex is located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in beautiful Gatlinburg, TN. When you come to town for a competition, you will also have the chance to enjoy one of the nation’s top vacation destinations. To help make your road trip to Gatlinburg a breeze, Rocky Top Sports World has put together the following travel tips:
1. Double Check to Make Sure You’ve Packed Everything
Nothing can derail a tournament like forgetting to bring a uniform or the right pair of shoes. Before you leave home, come up with a list of everything you’ll need for your sports event (clothing, equipment, etc.) and for your trip in general. After you’ve packed, go through the list a couple of times to make sure that you’re definitely not leaving anything behind. Spending a few extra minutes focusing on packing can save you a lot of hassle later!
2. Carpool with Another Family
If your entire team is heading to the same event, carpooling is a great option. Not only will sharing rides cut down on fuel costs, it also makes the trip more fun. Kids love having a friend to join them in the car, and parents can always benefit from having another pair of adult eyes around.
3. Take the Best Route
There are a number of convenient routes to get to Rocky Top Sports World from the highway. If you aren’t in a hurry and would like easy access to all of the wonderful attractions in Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg, we suggest taking Exit 407/TN 66 from I-40 East.
If you will be visiting Rocky Top Sports World during peak travel times like October or summer vacation season, we recommend avoiding Exit 407. Instead, you can take Exit 432 A towards Sevierville or Exit 435 towards Newport/Gatlinburg from I-40 East. If your GPS is having trouble finding our official address at 1870 Sports World Blvd in Gatlinburg, try plugging in our alternate address: 150 Proffitt Road in Gatlinburg.
4. Book Your Lodging Through T3 Travel
For many of the events at Rocky Top Sports World, we have partnered with T3 Travel to provide lodging for participating athletes. T3 Travel works to get the best group rates available at hotels or vacation rentals located close to our sports complex. Booking through T3 makes finding accommodations hassle free and affordable, so you can just focus on enjoying the tournament.
5. Visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Rocky Top Sports World is located minutes away from an entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It would be a crime to visit Gatlinburg without setting foot in America’s most popular national park! The Smokies offer spectacular mountain landscapes, excellent wildlife viewing, beautiful picnic areas, scenic drives, and over 800 miles of trails. If you would like to go hiking during your trip, check out these 3 Great Hikes in the Smoky Mountains.
6. Enjoy Local Attractions and Restaurants
The Gatlinburg area is home to a variety of superb family attractions and activities that you definitely don’t want to miss! With mountain biking, ziplining, white water rafting, an award winning aquarium, and even more fun, you will never be bored during your downtime in the Smokies. Gatlinburg also offers a great selection of restaurants, and with everything from BBQ to pizza, you’re sure to find something that hits the spot. To start planning your trip, check out our guide to The Best Gatlinburg Attractions and Restaurants.
With seven outdoor fields and an 86,000 square foot indoor facility, Rocky Top Sports World can host virtually any type of sports tournament. To see what is going on at Rocky Top in the coming months, visit our Gatlinburg Sports Events Calendar!
