Pigeon Forge · Dollywood Parks Blvd · Theme park
Dollywood
Roller coasters, a real steam train, live music and Smoky Mountain crafts in the foothills of Pigeon Forge. Smoky Mountain Christmas runs Nov. 6, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027.
Buy tickets opens Dollywood’s official ticket page. RVs and trailers park in Lot F for $30, a short walk from the front gate.
Details checked October 2026
Type
Theme park
About 50 rides and attractions, including 10 coasters
Admission
From $94.99 a day
Adult 1-Day Pick-A-Day, plus tax; child/senior discounts
Hours
Seasonal; see calendar
Christmas festival Nov. 6 – Jan. 3; hours vary by day
Time needed
More than 3 hours
Tripadvisor’s suggested visit length
Parking
$25 car · $30 RV
Free trams from lots A–E; RV Lot F is a short walk
Christmas lights
6 million+
Smoky Mountain Christmas, per Dollywood
What you’ll see
What to see and do at Dollywood
Dollywood mixes big coasters with gentler family rides, a narrow-gauge steam train, shows and craft demonstrations across 11 themed areas. This winter it’s lit for Smoky Mountain Christmas, and the new NightFlight Expedition opened in August 2026.
Photo: Artaxerxes on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
New for 2026
NightFlight Expedition in Wildwood Grove
Dollywood calls NightFlight Expedition the largest attraction investment in its history, at more than $50 million. The ride lasts about 5.5 minutes and combines four experiences: a nighttime flight over the Smokies, whitewater rafting through more than 500,000 gallons of water, a coaster run over a mountain ridge and a boat trip across a shimmering lake. It opened to all guests on Aug. 19, 2026, in Wildwood Grove.
RV tip: leave the motorhome at camp and bring the tow car. Car parking is $25 with free trams from lots A–E, and the RV lot is $30.
More to see
- Dollywood ExpressA 3-foot narrow-gauge steam train pulled by locomotives that came from Alaska’s White Pass & Yukon Route. Engine No. 70 went back into service in 1987.
- Lightning RodA launched wooden roller coaster that opened in June 2016. Wikipedia describes it as the fastest wooden coaster in the world.
- Big Bear MountainA launched steel family coaster that opened in May 2023. It’s the longest coaster in Dollywood’s history.
- Smoky Mountain ChristmasFrom Nov. 6, 2026 to Jan. 3, 2027, the park is decorated with more than 6 million lights, and Dollywood’s Christmas shows run during the festival.
Why go
Why Dollywood is worth a day off the campground
Dollywood opened in 1986 on the site of the old Rebel Railroad park. Herschend runs it and co-owns it with Dolly Parton Productions. There are about 50 rides and attractions, including 10 roller coasters, and the park sits off Veterans Boulevard and Dollywood Parks Boulevard rather than on the Parkway strip.
It works for mixed groups. Thrill seekers have Lightning Rod, Thunderhead and Mystery Mine. Grandparents and younger kids can ride the Dollywood Express steam train, catch a show or watch the craft demonstrations. NightFlight Expedition, which opened in August 2026, gives families a long indoor ride to do together.
For RVers the logistics are simple. Oversize vehicles have their own lot (Lot F, $30), cars pay $25 and ride free trams to the gate, and the city’s Dollywood Transit trolley runs from Patriot Park for $2.50 a ride. Dogs can stay at Doggywood, the on-site kennel by the front gate, while you’re in the park.
Photo: Butch Gabehart on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
Why it made our list
- Dedicated RV and trailer parking in Lot F, steps from the gate
- Doggywood day kennel for dogs ($25–$35 a day)
- Smoky Mountain Christmas: 6 million+ lights through Jan. 3
- Steam train, shows and crafts for non-riders
- Trolley from Patriot Park if you’d rather not drive
For RVers
Bringing the rig to Dollywood
Dollywood has a paid RV lot near the gate, but no overnight parking. Most RVers will find the tow car or the trolley easier.
RV and oversize parking is in Lot F
Dollywood charges $30 per vehicle for RVs, trailers and other oversize vehicles. They park in Lot F, part of the Preferred Parking area, a short walk from the front gate. The lot can’t be used for overnight parking or camping, and no Dollywood lot allows overnight parking. Cars pay $25 and ride free trams from lots A–E. Parking fees aren’t refundable, and spaces are first-come, first-served.
Use Veterans Blvd., not the Parkway
Dollywood’s directions from Sevierville use TN-449/Veterans Blvd. to McCarter Hollow Rd., then Dollywood Parks Blvd. From the Parkway, turn at Traffic Light #8 and follow the signs. Local guide TheSmokies.com calls Veterans Blvd. “the back way to Dollywood” and suggests Teaster Lane for getting across town without using the Parkway.
Ride the Dollywood Transit trolley
Pigeon Forge’s Dollywood Transit route runs from Patriot Park to Dollywood about every 15 minutes, starting 30 minutes before the park opens. It costs $2.50 a ride, or $3 for an all-day pass from the transit office or app. Drivers only take exact fare. The trolleys run 8 a.m. to midnight from March through the first week of January and don’t run on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Pets: book Doggywood
Pets aren’t allowed in the park except service animals. Doggywood, next to Guest Services at the front gate, boards dogs during park hours for $25 a day (4-by-6-foot run) or $35 (cottage, 19-pound limit). Dogs need written proof of current rabies and Bordetella shots. Book online, because space is limited. Don’t leave pets in a parked RV or car, and remember there’s no overnight boarding.
What visitors say about Dollywood
The visitor report card
We don’t copy other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together. Scores checked October 29, 2026.
America’s friendliest theme park
Dollywood, describing itself in its 2026 season announcement · dollywood.com
2026 Dollywood adult ticket prices
Regular adult “starting at” prices before tax, from dollywood.com. Pick-A-Day tickets are good only on the date you choose. Parking is extra.
Good to know
PetsNot allowed inside; Doggywood kennel $25–$35/day
LockersAll-day lockers at the Front Gate, $17
Weather GuaranteeRain cut your day short? Ask for a free return ticket
Overnight parkingNot allowed in any Dollywood lot
Prices, parking fees and policies checked October 2026 on dollywood.com (tickets, parking, guest services and Doggywood pages). Prices are before tax and can change by date.
Know before you go
Plan your visit
Dollywood
- Address2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd., Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
- HoursHours change by day and season. Check dollywood.com/calendar before you go. Harvest Festival ends Oct. 31, 2026, and Smoky Mountain Christmas runs Nov. 6, 2026 to Jan. 3, 2027. During the holidays the park typically stays open into the evening, but check the posted hours for your date.
- Phone1-800-365-5996
- Tickets2026 adult tickets start at $94.99 for a 1-Day Pick-A-Day ticket and $99.99 for Good-Any-Day, plus tax. Two-day tickets start at $124.99 (Pick-A-Day) and $129.99 (Good-Any-Day). Dollywood offers child and senior discounts, military discounts and group rates. 2026 passholders can renew through Nov. 1; 2027 season passes are coming soon.
- Getting thereFrom the Parkway, turn at Traffic Light #8 and follow the Dollywood signs. From the north, take TN-449/Veterans Blvd. to McCarter Hollow Rd., then Dollywood Parks Blvd. Or park at Patriot Park and take the Dollywood Transit trolley ($2.50).
- ParkingGeneral parking is $25 per car, with free trams from lots A–E to the main entrance. Preferred parking is $55. RVs and trailers pay $30 and park in Lot F, a short walk from the front gate. Gold and Diamond passholders park free. No overnight parking.
Pets stay out of the park, but Doggywood at the front gate boards dogs during park hours. Book ahead, and bring proof of rabies and Bordetella shots.
Where to stay nearby
RV parks near Dollywood
These are the Pigeon Forge-area parks we’ve written up, closest first. Drive times are estimates for a normal day; Parkway traffic can stretch them on busy evenings.
Camp Riverslanding
Private park with full-hookup sites along the Little Pigeon River, a short drive from the Old Mill end of town.
Creekside RV Park
Full-hookup park off Henderson Springs Road with a seasonal pool. Closed January and February.
Up the Creek RV Camp
Wooded full-hookup sites beside a creek off Little Valley Road. No restrooms, so bring a self-contained rig.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
The questions RVers ask most before pulling in.
Christmas: Nov. 6, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027
Plan your Dollywood day
Check the park calendar for your date, buy tickets online and add prepaid parking. RVs park in Lot F for $30. Book Doggywood early if your dog is traveling with you.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Photos: Artaxerxes (the Dollywood entrance in December; CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons), Sarah Stierch (the Dollywood sign in fall; CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons), Coasterman1234 (Thunderhead, a wooden coaster; CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons), Freddo (the Grist Mill; CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons), Roc0ast3r (coasters from the train; CC0, via Wikimedia Commons), Butch Gabehart (a frozen waterwheel at night; CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons); the images were resized. Video: NikkyJ ThemeParkHipster on YouTube (2026 First-timer’s Guide to A Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood). Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the places we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Dollywood unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including published materials from Dollywood and publicly available sources. Hours, pricing, rules and other details are set by the attraction and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel, please confirm all details directly with Dollywood at dollywood.com or 1-800-365-5996. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
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