Planning a Pigeon Forge weekend escape?
Between the Smoky Mountain views, cozy resorts, and nostalgic small-town charm, it’s the perfect getaway for two.
Though I’ve only visited once myself, my family’s connection to this Tennessee gem runs deep.
My great-grandparents had a cabin here, and my grandparents and mom spent summers exploring these same streets.
In this guide, you’ll find a 2 day Pigeon Forge itinerary designed for couples who want to unwind, explore, and make new memories in the Smokies from the best resort with mountain views to can’t-miss local restaurants and experiences.
2 Day Pigeon Forge Weekend Itinerary
This itinerary will focus specifically on Pigeon Forge and not the surrounding area.
I have a separate blog post with a Great Smoky Mountains National Park one day itinerary and another blog post with a Gatlinburg weekend itinerary.
You can combine all of these for a week-long stay or take your favorite pieces of each for a long weekend getaway.
With just one weekend in Pigeon Forge, I recommend exploring each of the entertainment districts – Old Mill District, The Island, and The Mountain Mile, and visiting the iconic Dollywood amusement park.
Day 1: Dining & Entertainment Districts
Pigeon Forge has a few different districts where you can enjoy a variety of shops, entertainment, and dining.
Today we’re going to explore them all!
Morning: Old Mill Square
Old Mill Square is like a historic Main Street historic with boutique and craft shops.
It’s fun to browse the shops, including the general store, because so much is uniquely hand-made or local to the area.
I recommend arriving around 10 am or later so that everything is actually open, unless you want to go early and do breakfast first, then explore the area.
After browsing all the shops, have a late breakfast or early lunch at the Old Mill Restaurant, which is home to a 200+ year old mill!
Because of its history (and delicious food), there is usually a waitlist, so plan ahead for your visit.
For our appetizer, we were brought a basket of corn fritters and biscuits with butter.
We also had a cup of corn chowder to go with it.
For my meal, I had chicken & dumplings with green beans and mashed potatoes.
JP had fried catfish with coleslaw and hushpuppies and additional sides of green beans and mashed potatoes.
Afternoon: The Island
The Island is a large entertainment district with attractions, shops, and restaurants, kind of similar to a place like Disney Springs.
For the kids or the young at heart, there are a ton of carnival style rides that you can get a day pass for or purchase individual tickets for.
There are also arcades, mirror mazes, laser tag, escape rooms, and a ropes course.
If you’re looking for a little more leisurely entertainment, you can check out the Alcatraz East Crime Museum and watch the water fountain show (which is even better at night).
Now for the shops – there is a little bit of everything from popular brand names you see anywhere, souvenir shops, and some boutique shops.
You can also check out Bootleggers Winery to enjoy a wine tasting and Ole Smoky Moonshine for a moonshine tasting!
If you’re ready for another meal while you’re here, they have a lot of the popular regional chains that tend to only be in big tourism destinations.
We love to dine at places that are unique to the local area, but there are a few chains we love that you can get here that you should try at least once.
One is Margaritaville, which has a phenomenal key lime pie.
We’ve been to the ones in Key West, Universal Studios Hollywood and Orlando, and Las Vegas.
Another is Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen, which we had in Branson, and they serve family style southern food.
Evening: The Mountain Mile
Mountain Mile is a mall just down the street from The Island.
It has lots of entertainment, shopping, and dining options.
The first place I recommend visiting is Escapology for an escape room!
We did a 7 Deadly Sins themed room, but they also have a Scooby-Doo themed room that I’d love to do.
If you’re into major thrills, check out the Mountain Monster.
They have a drop tower, a pod launch, and a swing – these are not for me, but I know it’s a popular activity.
If you’re wanting some more wine, there is another wine tasting room here from Currahee Vineyards and Winery.
Once you’re ready for dinner, there are a handful of trendy, modern restaurants to choose from with a variety of cuisines.
If you’ve never been to one of Guy Fieri’s restaurants, I recommend eating at Downtown Flavortown, which is also an arcade and bowling alley.
You can try his famous trash-can nachos that he’s known for in his Guy Fieri’s Kitchen restaurants, which we’ve been to in Las Vegas, The Poconos, and Branson.
Dollywood is an iconic amusement park in Pigeon Forge that you should spend at least one full day visiting.
There is a brand new Dolly Parton museum and they have fantastic themed lands all throughout the park.
Dollywood also has some great restaurants and bakeries.
I share the full one day itinerary in this other blog post.
But here are a couple food must do’s:
- Lunch at Granny Ogle’s Restaurant
I recommend the sampler platter which includes pot roast, ham, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, carrots, beans, and collard greens.
2. Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread
Everybody that saw me with this box asked me where I got it from – it’s one of the most popular foods in the park.
Sunrise Ridge Resort is an all-suites property with 1 and 2 bedroom options.
Our room had a mountain view patio overlooking the pool, which I highly recommend.
What’s great about this resort is that you’re getting rooms with a full kitchen, in-unit laundry, and a separate bedroom space for the same price as a regular hotel room.
Click Here To Book Your Sunrise Ridge Resort Stay Today!
Conclusion: 2 Day Pigeon Forge Weekend Itinerary
Pigeon Forge is such a fun place to spend a weekend whether you’re looking to leisurely browse its offerings or engage in all the thrilling attractions.
Exploring each of the entertainment districts and experiencing Dollywood are an absolute must.
For more things to do in the area, check out our Gatlinburg weekend itinerary and our Great Smoky Mountains National Park guide.
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