
Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Water Park
Best for families wanting villa space, an indoor water park (Wild Bear Falls), and on-site kid-friendly activities.
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Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Water Park is a family-focused, villa-style resort in Gatlinburg with an on-site indoor water park and multiple dining options; read this if you want a resort with water attractions, villas, and a full-service spa. Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg is a reliable national-brand, 3-star hotel in central Gatlinburg; read this if you prefer a straightforward hotel stay close to downtown attractions with familiar Hilton standards.
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Best for families wanting villa space, an indoor water park (Wild Bear Falls), and on-site kid-friendly activities.

Best for travelers who want a predictable Hilton experience close to Gatlinburg attractions and convention facilities.
When Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Water Park wins: choose Westgate for multi-room villas, a dedicated indoor/outdoor water park (Wild Bear Falls), multiple on-site casual and full-service dining options, and an on-site Serenity Spa — it’s built around family stays and resort amenities.
When Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg wins: pick the Hilton if you want a compact city-hotel footprint steps from Gatlinburg’s attractions, a straightforward room setup, on-site business/meeting facilities, and the consistency of a national brand.
Bottom line: Westgate is the better pick for families and guests who plan to use resort amenities and the water park; Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg is the simpler choice for visitors prioritizing a central downtown location and a dependable hotel experience.
| Category | Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Water Park | Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Family resort with villa units, resort activities and a busy pool/water-park scene | National-brand downtown hotel aimed at leisure and business travelers |
| Location (Gatlinburg) | Hillside resort a short drive from downtown Parkway attractions | In the heart of Gatlinburg near Parkway attractions, convention center, and Ripley's Aquarium |
| Size & rooms | Villa-focused units (Studio (Villa); Room (Resort Select); Villa, 1 Bedroom; Villa, 2 Bedrooms; Deluxe Villa types) | 118 air-conditioned hotel rooms including suites and accessible room types |
| Best for ages | All ages — children’s facilities and water park rules apply (adult supervision required under age 10) | All ages — family-friendly but no large resort water attractions on-site |
| Pools & water features | Wild Bear Falls indoor/outdoor water park (tickets usually sold separately), 2 outdoor pools and 2 hot tubs | 1 indoor pool, 1 outdoor season pool and 1 hot tub |
| Restaurants & bars | Multiple on-site outlets: Southern Comfort (full-service), Southern Comfort Lobby Bar, The Marketplace, Mountain Pizza, Roaring Fork Snack Bar, Mountain Top Pool Bar | Garden Grille restaurant and bar/lounge plus limited room service |
| Spa & wellness | Serenity Spa by Westgate with >50 treatments and two treatment rooms | Not published |
| Meetings & business | One meeting room (The Glass Room) and event space marketed for weddings and groups | Conference space ~1,196 sq ft and a business center |
| Parking & transport | Free self-parking and access to the free Gatlinburg Trolley (Purple Route stop) | Self parking (surcharge), area shuttle (surcharge) and close walking access to Parkway |
| Pets | Dogs allowed in certain rooms for a fee (breed & room restrictions apply) | Pet fee listed (pets allowed subject to fees), service animals exempt |
Westgate sits on a hillside a short drive from Gatlinburg’s Parkway with a private resort feel and trolley access.
Choose Westgate if you want a larger resort footprint and easier parking plus a short drive or trolley ride to downtown.
Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg sits in central Gatlinburg within easy walking distance of many attractions.
Choose the Hilton to be near downtown attractions and the convention center without needing a car for short outings.
Westgate focuses on villa-style units that fit families and groups.
Westgate is better when you need more living space or multi-bed configurations for families.
Hilton Garden Inn offers standard hotel rooms and several accessible and suite options.
Pick the Hilton for consistent, hotel-style rooms with in-room conveniences and multiple accessible room configurations.
Westgate has a range of on-site dining options from full-service to quick grab-and-go.
Westgate provides more on-site meal choices for families and guests who prefer not to leave the property.
Hilton Garden Inn centers dining around Garden Grille and a bar/lounge.
The Hilton offers a straightforward single-restaurant model suited to guests who plan to dine downtown or need a reliable hotel restaurant.
Westgate’s headline amenity is Wild Bear Falls Water Park plus outdoor pools and hot tubs.
If the water park and multiple pool options matter, Westgate is the clear choice.
Hilton Garden Inn offers a smaller hotel pool setup suitable for guests who want a quick swim.
Choose the Hilton if you want standard hotel pool facilities rather than a full water-park experience.
Westgate pairs a full-service spa with family entertainment options.
Westgate is stronger for guests seeking spa treatments alongside family activities.
Hilton Garden Inn emphasizes meeting space and straightforward hotel services.
Choose the Hilton if meeting facilities or a central convention-adjacent location are important; spa options are not published.

Wild Bear Falls indoor/outdoor water park plus family-focused amenities and multi-bed villas.

Villa and multi-bedroom options that fit families and groups better than a single hotel room.

Central Gatlinburg address within walking distance of Parkway attractions and the convention center.

Hilton Garden Inn provides the consistency and accessible room types travelers expect from a national brand.
For most guests, admission to Wild Bear Falls Water Park is not included with the room rate and must be purchased separately; owners/owners’ guests may have complimentary passes subject to occupancy limits.
Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg is located in the heart of Gatlinburg and is closer to Parkway attractions on foot; Westgate is a short drive or trolley ride from downtown.
Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg’s supplier listing does not publish a full-service on-site spa; Westgate publishes Serenity Spa by Westgate with multiple treatments.
Westgate offers free self-parking. Hilton Garden Inn lists self parking but it is subject to a surcharge.
Explore how Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Water Park stacks up against other hotels nearby:
vs. sites like Expedia, Hotels.com and other OTAs ·