Gatlinburg in March

[ms.yt]

We were wanting to make a trip to Gatlinburg sometime in the future, and I was thinking about spring break. Is it still all snowy & icy there during the last part of March? I don't want to get into treacherous driving conditions!

 

[gymboqueenkaylee]

It really depends. I've been at just about every time of the year. This past March is was actually really nice at the end. We travelled throug there on our way to Disney and it was great weather. Now, a couple hours north it was snowing and super cold.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I have lived in E. TN....
Now, of course, this is not usual, but the biggest snow storm on record in E. TN with as much as three feet of snow was actually on March 13th. It is still 'winter' until April. You will not see leaves and flowers until May at any higher elevations.

Unless Dollywood and other attractions move up their opening dates as early as your scheduled 'spring break' then things could still be closed. I have been in April during good weather, and it was very nice! (I just checked their website, and they do not have next years schedule posted, but this year they first opened for the weekend of March 28th-30 I do remember hearing that they were going to cut back on days and hours because of the economy, etc...

I wouldn't be too awfully worried about ice and snow, which can be possible but not probable... But, yes, I would want to make sure that you are realistic in your expectations about what you want to do, traveling off-season, etc.

 

[GeorgiaPeach8]

By March snow falls will start to become more irregular but certainly a possibility. We have been going down the last weekend in February for the past three or four years. It is normally decent, you can get out and move around without freezing to death. However, we go mostly for shopping and restaurants since we have been more times than I can count, we are not trying to take in as much of the attractions. I wouldn't think March would be the best time for that.

 

[lspst8]

I when to Gatlinburg in April 2008, and we had the craziest weather. It went to 80 degrees and sunny one day to 35 degrees and snowy on our drive back home. And there was a forest fire while we were there ... all in 4 nights!

 

[ms.yt]

Thanks for the tips! It sounds like it would still be doable for us, since we aren't real big on shows or anything. We just like the experience of looking around somewhere new together and maybe doing a little shopping!

 

[paintnolish]

The weather is certainly better than in the midwest that time of year! We've been many times and usually experienced pretty mild temps. We had flurries once on Easter, but it didn't stick and was in the high 50s the next day! Be aware, though, that some attractions in the park, like Clingman's Dome, will have snow a little later and might be closed. Alo, be prepared for it to be really crowded! The main drag, especially going into and through Gatlinberg is terrible most of the year and gets even worse during holidays! Try to find a back way (I know one, but I couldn't even begin to tell you!) or avoid peak times (difficult). Have fun! The Smoky Mtns areaa is one of our fave destinations. You don't have to guess the other!