There are many reasons why you may want to conserve your money by eating cheaply during your Smoky Mountain vacation. Perhaps you’d prefer to spend more of your money on local attractions with your family, or perhaps you’d like to stay in a nicer hotel during your stay. It is also possible that by eating cheaper you can enjoy a longer vacation. Fortunately, there are many restaurants in Sevierville that provide excellent value for money when you dine out during your stay.
In fact, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg have no shortage of family-owned and operated restaurants that cater to locals and visitors alike. In addition to experiencing some of the best food in the area, you’ll also find great deals throughout the week on breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Not only will you be able to enjoy trying some of the regional specialties, but you’ll also have all the comfort foods you enjoy within a walk or a short drive.
One example is the popular local restaurant “The Diner”, located at 550 Winfield Dunn Parkway. It is close to Kroger Grocery and Lowes Home Improvement just off the Parkway as you enter Sevierville. This blast from the past, 1950s-style diner offers friendly service and all the classic American foods and desserts, including breakfast. They feature 30 meals for under $5.99 and also offer great lunch specials Monday through Friday.
If your taste buds call for Mexican food, we recommend El Paso, which is in the same complex as the Diner, right next to Staples. El Paso features an extensive lunch special menu with meals in the $4-$6 dollar range. The lunch special price is only available Monday through Friday, but if you can make it there for their mid-day meal, you’ll be served a good meal at a good price.
If you want a little bit of everything, Ryan’s Steakhouse is one block south of The Diner on the same side of the road. They offer great value for money with an all you can eat lunch buffet Monday through Friday for only $4.99. The food is always fresh and tastes great! We have also found the staff there to be friendly and helpful.
There are also many fast food restaurants to choose from. There is McDonalds, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Burger King, Hardee’s, KFC, Subway, Sonic, Quiznos, A&W Root Beer and more. Many of them have value meals and cheaply priced items.
If rain or other inclement weather prevents you and your family from enjoying the mountains and attractions, it’s a good idea to order a pizza and have it delivered to your hotel or rental cabin. Well-known chains such as Pizza Hut, Domino’s, Papa John’s, and Bellacino’s have one or more locations in the area. Pizzerias often have special offers that turn out to be good value for money, especially for families.
Another great idea is to rent a condo or mountain cabin for you and your family. Many of the condos are fully equipped with kitchens, appliances, dishes, and utensils, so you can store and prepare your own meals. This is a great way to save a lot of money when dining out and you’ll have more space to stretch out and relax. One thing to keep in mind if you’re shopping for groceries is that Tennessee taxes groceries. If you are traveling by car and will have self-catering accommodations, you may want to take most of your groceries with you. If that’s not practical, there are well-stocked and well-known grocery stores throughout the area, including Kroger, Food-City, and Wal-Mart.
A cabin rental is an especially good value if you are traveling with a group of family and friends. In general, the larger the group, the more money you can save. The Smoky Mountain area features cabins that can comfortably accommodate 10, 20, or 30 or more guests. If you’re going on vacation with multiple families, you could take turns cooking so everyone gets a break from that particular chore. Staying in a cabin with a group can really lower your lodging costs per night per person, not to mention the money you save on dining out if you cook most of your own meals.
No matter how long you stay, we hope the ideas shared here help you keep your costs down during your Smoky Mountain vacation. With all the options available here, it’s not hard to find a good takeout at a Sevierville restaurant for between $3 and $6, and that’s pretty cheap these days. Fixing something yourself will further reduce the cost and give you more to spend on other fun things during your stay.