Is Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Water Park worth it? Pros and cons
Yes — Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Water Park is a solid pick for families who want villa-style space plus on-site water attractions, pools, and dining. Be aware that Wild Bear Falls Water Park generally requires a separate ticket and there are additional resort fees and pet charges to budget for.
In this guide
Location & getting there
Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Water Park sits at 915 Westgate Resort Road in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, built into a hillside about a short drive from downtown Gatlinburg and close to several attractions. The resort is roughly a 1-hour drive from McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville; Gatlinburg–Pigeon Forge Airport is nearby but limited to general aviation services.
The property is within a few minutes’ drive of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Anakeesta, Ripley’s Aquarium and Ober Gatlinburg. There’s no property shuttle, but a free Gatlinburg Trolley stop serves the resort for access to the Parkway and nearby sights.
- Address: 915 Westgate Resort Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
- Nearest major airport: McGhee Tyson Airport (approx. 1–1.3 hour drive)
- Free Gatlinburg Trolley stop at the resort for local routes
| Nearby spot | Approx. travel |
|---|---|
| Downtown Gatlinburg | A few minutes by car |
| Anakeesta | About a 5-minute drive |
| Great Smoky Mountains NP | Around a 9-minute drive |
Rooms and villa options
The resort offers a mix of villa-style units and standard rooms that work well for families and groups. Room types include Villa, 1 Bedroom; Villa, 2 Bedrooms; Deluxe Villa, 1 Bedroom (2 Full beds); Deluxe Villa, 1 Bedroom (King); Room (Resort Select); and Studio (Villa).
Suites and villas typically provide living areas and kitchenettes or full kitchens in many units, which makes self-catering or family meals easier than in a standard hotel room.
- Villa, 1 Bedroom — 1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed
- Villa, 2 Bedrooms — 1 King Bed, 1 Queen Bed and 2 Double Sofa Beds
- Deluxe Villa, 1 Bedroom (2 Full beds) — 2 Double Beds and 1 Double Sofa Bed
- Deluxe Villa, 1 Bedroom (King) — 1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed
- Room (Resort Select) — 1 King Bed
- Studio (Villa) — 1 Queen Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed
| Room type | Sleeping setup |
|---|---|
| Villa, 1 Bedroom | 1 King Bed; 1 Double Sofa Bed |
| Villa, 2 Bedrooms | 1 King Bed; 1 Queen Bed; 2 Double Sofa Beds |
| Studio (Villa) | 1 Queen Bed; 1 Double Sofa Bed |
Wild Bear Falls Water Park and pools
Wild Bear Falls Water Park is the resort’s headline attraction: an indoor/outdoor water park operating daily (standard hours 11:00 am–7:00 pm) with a large footprint of water attractions. Important: for most guests water-park admission is not included with the room and must be purchased separately at the resort.
There are rules and height limits to note: guests generally must be at least 48 inches to ride the taller slides; children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. The park remains open during rain unless lightning or thunder requires closure.
- Typical water-park hours: 11:00 am–7:00 pm (Owners-only/exclusive hours exist)
- Admission usually sold separately from the room rate
- Children under 10 must have an adult accompanying them; slides often require a 48" minimum height
| On-site aquatic feature | Notes |
|---|---|
| Wild Bear Falls Water Park | Indoor/outdoor; tickets normally sold separately |
| Crocket Creek & Mountain Top Pools | Two outdoor pools, hours listed on property |
| Hot tubs | Two outdoor hot tubs available |
Dining, bar and spa
On-site dining covers a range of needs: Southern Comfort is the full-service Southern/Cajun restaurant, The Marketplace provides grab-and-go sandwiches and Starbucks beverages, Mountain Pizza handles pizza pickup/delivery, and Roaring Fork Snack Bar sits inside the water park for quick meals. The Mountain Top Pool Bar offers poolside drinks when open.
Serenity Spa by Westgate is the on-site spa with booked treatments (hours typically 9:00 am–6:00 pm). The spa lists more than 50 services including massages, facials and nail services; reservations are recommended for massages and other treatments.
- Southern Comfort — Southern/Cajun, accepts reservations; lunch and dinner service listed
- The Marketplace — grab-and-go groceries and Starbucks beverages, extended hours
- Mountain Pizza and Roaring Fork — quick, casual options close to the water park
- Serenity Spa by Westgate — reservations recommended; open roughly 9:00 am–6:00 pm
| Venue | Typical hours / notes |
|---|---|
| Southern Comfort | Lunch & dinner (times vary; check with resort) |
| The Marketplace | Morning through evening (hours vary by day) |
| Serenity Spa by Westgate | Open daily; treatments by reservation |
Other amenities and family features
The resort supplies family-friendly extras: mini golf, a children’s playground, a game room, a fitness center with scheduled classes, and two outdoor pools plus hot tubs. Free Wi‑Fi and free self-parking are available for registered guests.
Accessibility features include ramps to outdoor areas and a pool lift for mobility-impaired guests. The property is 100% smoke-free and offers a marketplace for basic groceries and sundries on site.
- Mini golf and playground for children
- Fitness center hours and classes (check front desk for schedules)
- Free Wi‑Fi and free self-parking
- Accessible routes and a pool lift available
| Amenity | Note |
|---|---|
| Mini golf | On-site, family-friendly |
| Fitness center | Scheduled classes; check hours |
| Marketplace | Grab-and-go groceries and Starbucks drinks |
Practical costs, policies and things to know
Budget for extra charges: the resort collects a per-accommodation resort fee (USD 33.81 per night as listed) covering fitness center access, in-room safe, phone calls, pool access and self-parking; water-park admission is typically an additional charge. Pet stays also incur fees and restrictions (dogs only; caps and breed/weight rules apply).
Check-in begins at 4:00 P.M.; check-out is at 10:00 A.M. The reservation holder must be at least 21 years old and present a valid photo ID and credit card at check-in. The property accepts major credit cards and notes that cash is not accepted in some listings—confirm payment options with the resort before arrival.
- Resort fee: USD 33.81 per accommodation, per night (covers listed inclusions)
- Check-in: 4:00 P.M.; check-out: 10:00 A.M.
- Pet policy: dogs allowed in certain rooms for an added fee (restrictions and caps apply)
- Water-park admission: usually purchased separately at the resort
| Policy | Detail |
|---|---|
| Check-in / Check-out | 4:00 P.M. / 10:00 A.M. |
| Minimum check-in age | 21 years with matching government photo ID |
| Resort fee | USD 33.81 per accommodation, per night |
