mcmckissic

Hi, we are wondering if anyone has stayed at this Hampton hotel in Pigeon Forge, TN. It's on the river, a little off our beaten path, but can't figure out why it is only $39.00 a night unless it's a real dump!!! Any help appreciated.

maj

We have stayed at the Hampton Inn in Gatlinburg twice and were very pleased with it. I just compared the rates between the two and assuming you are going soon (off season rates) they are similar. I haven't seen the one you are asking about, so I don't know how much help this is, but it is off the beaten path, which could make a difference in the rates too.

mcmckissic

thanks maj, we are not going till the end of March, but for $39.00, we might try it out. It is off I-40, which is where we are going to be driving thru to Florida, we are breaking up the trip a bit because we have two little ones. Do you know, is this area a safe area and all?? I know, silly question but have to ask.

maj

Pigeon Forge is not a city as such. It's whole reason for being is for tourists--mainly family centered. You're probably better off being away from the main road, especially if just staying overnight. Again, I'm not sure exactly where you are staying, but I consider the whole area "safe" as compared to staying in some areas in large cities.

bcity

Yes, I've stayed there more than once, although it has been a couple of years now since we visited Pigeon Forge. We usually stay at Hampton Inn when we are traveling and this one is no different than the rest if you are familiar with them. The rate probably reflects off season. I would recommend it to anyone.

iceeu2

There are 2 Hampton Inns in Pigeon Forge. I have stayed in the Hampton Inn & Suites...and it was fine.

Both Hamptons are on the main parkway, not in a remote location. Are you going during the week?

iceeu2

mcmckissic...I just looked at trip adviser.com and you should have no problems with this hotel..especially for $39.

mcmckissic

yes, we will be there on a Wednesday night, driving thru Tenesse on our way to Florida. Now, I am looking at the map and we may stay North of Knoxville, at a Hampton Inn somewhere. We will have had a long day and I think this may be a bit too far for the first day. Thank you for all of your responses. Does anyone know if I can cancel on the same day I am booked for without penalty or does the cancellation have to be 24 hr advance or something like that. I was thinking I could book it and then if we see we wil never make it that far I could cancel. Thanks.

iceeu2

If you are on a road trip to Florida, you definitely don't want to detour to Pigeon Forge....There's tons of hotels off the interstate in the Knoxville area...you should have no problem getting one on a Wednesday night.

mcmckissic

yes, I know, but for 39.00 as opposed to the 90.00 rate which is what the Hampton Inn on I-75 North in Knoxville is coming up at, I think I would like to save the 60.00...call me cheap but oh well. we want to use our Hilton points too, that is why we are staying at Hamptons. Thanks for the replys.

mcmckissic

Also, it doesen't look to be too, too far out of the way, 10 miles off the highway, and we could just head south from there thru Gatlinburg and thru the mountains back to I-40 I guess. Does anyone know how the roads are traveling thru there??? I guess it would be Highway 441 thru the Smokeys, this may be the long way around though thru the mountains etc. How much longer are we talking going this route as opposed to just staying on I-40 to get thru to Asheville area?? Thanks alot!!!

iceeu2

Where are you and how are you going to Florida?

There is no way that you want to go to Pigeon Forge and then back to Asheville to continue your journey to Florida.

If this is just a stop over to sleep, it certainly is not worth it to go out of your way....And while it is a beautiful drive to go thru the Smokies if you get up and leave early from Pigeon Forge..which most travelers do...you will likely have lots of fog..you won't enjoy the drive across the mountain cause your butt is gonna be puckered to the seat....

Just to save a $20 bill...believe me, Pigeon Forge is out of your way.

rkkwan

It's going to be pretty slow going through the Smokey Mountain national park, and on either side of the park you still have many miles of two-lane highway.

If you decide to stay in Pigeon Forge, you may want to skirt the NP and take US321 East back to I-40.

Also, I find it somewhat interesting that you're taking I-40/26/95. I-75 will be faster to many parts of FL, perhaps except the NE coast.

Last thing. You may want to call the Hampton Inn at Pigeon Forge to see if they're undergoing contructions or renovations. There may be a reason why it's $39.

mcmckissic

Yes, i will ask Hampton why the 39.00 price, it seems SO cheap to me. We are going to New Smyrna Beach Florida from Michigan and Mapquest has us going down I-40 for I-75 out of Knoxville toward Asheville to I believe I-26 to like I-95, that is the quickest route on Mapquest, not the shortest maybe but I typed in that I wanted the quickest route. Is this the wrong way to go??? We are making a two day trip out of it because we have two little ones and I know they will need many breaks. The other Hamptons near Knoxville were in thr $80-99 range and I thought just for the night sleeping $39.00 sounded better. Maybe I should just go back to the North I-75 Hampton Inn for the 90.00 price, it just sounds like a lot for the late night sleeping. I want to use my Hilton number though because I accumulate points for free stays. Thanks for all of your help.

rkkwan

I-40/26/95 is the right way for New Smyrna Beach. Distance is about the same either way, but I-75 will be slower because of Atlanta, and the last 90 miles from Ocala to New Smyrna Beach.

If I were you, I would stay at the $39 Hampton Inn, and then take US321 from Gatlinburg back to I-40. Or if I have half a day to spare, I'd take it easy and go through the Smokey Mountains. But I'll give myself the whole morning to get back onto I-40 that way.

mcmckissic

That is what I thought we should do is to take the 321 Highway back to I-40 from Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg. It looks like a good route on the map, I-40 sort of goes up a little then over. Is that totally out of my way or no??? It doesen't seem to be too far out of my way and we are not checking in to our condo till Friday at 1 p.m. so we have another day and a half to get there. We thought we would stay in the Savannah,GA area the second night. Sorry, it has been about 12 years since I have been down thru Tennesee, we usually fly to Fl but are driving this year with the kiddies. Thanks.

rkkwan

If you're overnighting in Savannah the 2nd night, I think you can definitely stay in Pigeon Forge, and you should have enough time to drive through Smokey Mountain NP. From Asheville to Savannah is only 310 miles, so you can do that in an afternoon, and still get to Savannah for a nice dinner.

ThePhan

Gatlinburg to Asheville by way of US 321 and I-40 is only about 90 minutes. 321 east of Gatlinburg is mostly two lanes, but is generally a straight shot, not very mountainous, and usually not crowded. I-40 is down to one lane in NC near the TN state line due to construction, and is very winding for the first 20 miles into NC, but is otherwise a scenic and fast highway.

Taking US 441 from Gatlinburg through the Great Smoky Mtns NP into NC and then back to I-40 will probably lengthen your trip by 45-60 minutes in the off season, and more during peak seasons.

mcmckissic

Hi, thanks for the replys. To The Phan: are you saying then that my trip will be around an hour or so longer by taking this way thru Gatlinburg area down Hwy 441, instead of staying on I-40 and finding somewhere in Knoxville to stay?? What if we took Hwy 441 thru Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg then over to 321 back to I-40. I think this is the route you are suggesting we take, correct?? It looks like 321 comes out at I-40 right at the NC/TN border. I just thought that Hampton Inn in Pigeon Forge looked nice right on the river there, and hey, for $39.00 maybe we should try it. But, maybe not if it is taking us way too far out of our way. Now I am torn....do I pay the extra $50-60 and stay just somewhere right off the freeway near Knoxville and skip the Pigeon Forge route all together or do I stick with that Hampton in Pigeon Forge and take that route and see that area a little bit. We really should get to Savannah at a good hour and be able to see that city just a little too, and the next day we will be on to New Smyrna Beach to meet friends at a condo there. It would make sense to check and see too if there is construction on either of these routes, that may make my decision very easy. We will be going March 30-31st.

rkkwan

Since you want to get to Savannah not too late, stay at Pigeon Forge, then then US321 back to I-40. You should get to Savannah by mid-afternoon.