Gatlinburg, TN Homes For Sale

Cradled at the gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg (ZIP 37738) offers more than postcard views; it’s one of Tennessee’s hottest short-term-rental hubs.

Within minutes, you can tour log cabins in Chalet Village, A-frame chalets on Ski Mountain, and luxury lodges tucked along the Arts & Crafts Loop. All inside the Sevier County school zone.

Families appreciate the tight-knit community and access to Pi Beta Phi Elementary, while investors chase peak-season nightly rates that often top $400. If you prefer a different price point or commute, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville lie 10–15 miles north and share the same county amenities.

Gatlinburg Real Estate Market

After a red-hot 2021-2023 run-up, Gatlinburg’s median list price has settled at $454,100, -6.4 % year-over-year (source: GSMMLS, residential class, ZIP 37738).

That cooling is concentrated in larger luxury cabins above $1 million, while entry-level chalets under $600K still draw multiple offers thanks to solid AirDNA-reported ADRs exceeding $400/night in peak season.

Properties that offer unobstructed Great Smoky Mountains National Park views or turnkey furnishing packages still close in under 60 days, particularly inside Ski Mountain and along the Arts & Crafts Loop. Buyer interest also stays strong for cabins within the Pi Beta Phi Elementary and Gatlinburg-Pittman High School zones, where year-round occupancy is higher.

Compare nearby markets

Pigeon Forge: median $428K, DOM 81 — lower taxes, but fewer park-view lots.

Sevierville: median $399K, DOM 74 — stronger long-term-rental demand, lighter STR caps.

Popular Gatlinburg Neighborhoods — Where to Buy (or Invest) in 2025

Chalet Village & Ski Mountain

Perched between 1,800 and 3,200 feet on Ski Mountain Road, Chalet Village is the classic “A-frame meets log-lodge” cabin market. Homes fall inside the City R-1 STR zone, so nightly rentals are permitted by right—one reason average AirDNA ADR hovers around $430/night.

Expect:

Price range: $550 k – $2 M

Views: unobstructed Great Smoky Mountains NP ridgelines, plus nighttime city lights

Amenities: three owners’ clubs with pools & tennis, five-minute drive to Ober Mountain ski area

Buyer tip: listings above 2,800 ft can require 4WD in winter; note the “snow route” disclosure in MLS remarks.

Arts & Crafts Community (The Glades)

Centered on Glades Rd., this 8-mile historic loop hosts 100+ working artisan studios. Cabins here rent well during fall foliage and craft fairs but see lighter mid-winter demand.

Price range: $400 k – $1.1 M

Lot size: wooded ½–2 acre parcels (rare flat yards)

School zone: Pi Beta Phi Elementary → Gatlinburg-Pittman High School

STR rules: County-level permits; city taxes do not apply outside limits—lower carrying costs for investors.

Downtown Gatlinburg / Baskins Creek

Walk-to-everything condos and chalets within 0.5 mi of the Gatlinburg SkyBridge and Ripley’s Aquarium. High walkability drives a lofty 72 % average occupancy.

Price range: $300 k (one-bed condo) to $1.6 M penthouse

Days on market: 47 (half the city-wide 95 DOM)

HOA note: many buildings levy 2 % transfer fees—budget in closing costs.

Cobbly Nob & Bent Creek Golf Village

Nine miles east on US-321, Cobbly Nob clusters luxury log estates around Gary Player-designed Bent Creek Golf Course. Elevations reach 3,400 ft; every phase has a pool.

Price range: $650 k – $3 M (larger 6–8 BR lodges)

Cap rates: 7–9 % when managed as turnkey STRs (source: Vrolio 2024).

Regulation: inside county; septic inspections required before STR permit approval.

Sky Harbor (Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge ridge)

Straddling the ridge between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg Sky Harbor provides dual-city access in under 15 min. Roads are steep but paved.

Price range: $350 k – $900 k

Rental audience: families planning to hit Dollywood and the national park in one trip.

Investor edge: HOA dues under $40/mo keep fixed costs low compared with Chalet Village clubs.

Pittman Center & Emerts Cove

For buyers eyeing full-time residency, Pittman Center (pop. ≈ 600) offers riverfront lots along the Middle Prong Little Pigeon River and a quieter feel.

Price range: $325 k – $700 k (single-family homes & acreag)

Zoning: STRs allowed only with special-use permit; stricter noise ordinances.

Community perks: low municipal taxes, access to Valentine Park trails, quick hop to Greenbrier entrance of GSMNP.

Why Buy A Home In Gatlinburg?

Bordering Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg welcomed 12.2 million visitors in 2024, and those travelers spent roughly $2.2 billion in the surrounding gateway communities—supporting more than 33,000 local jobs.

That year-round tourism powers one of the nation’s most reliable short-term-rental markets: AirDNA reports an average daily rate of about $335 and 55% occupancy across nearly 7,500 active listings.

Investors also benefit from Tennessee’s tax climate—no state personal income tax and an effective property-tax rate of just 0.48%.

National-park destinations have out-performed the broader STR sector, posting a 104% surge in guest-night demand since 2018, and Gatlinburg’s permit-capped inventory helps keep those rates firm even as borrowing costs rise. Layer in four-season attractions—summer hikes, blazing-leaf autumns, Ober Mountain skiing, and downtown festivals—and Gatlinburg offers both a compelling lifestyle for full-time residents and durable cash flow for rental hosts.

FAQs

Which schools are in Gatlinburg?

Gatlinburg’s public campuses are run by the Sevier County School System and cluster inside ZIP 37738. Pi Beta Phi Elementary School, founded in 1912, serves pre-K through eighth grade on Cherokee Orchard Road and anchors most i -town neighborhoods.

High-schoolers advance to Gatlinburg-Pittman High School on U.S. 321, a 9-12 campus known for strong CTE, band, and athletics programs that pull students from Chalet Village, Pittman Center, and Sky Harbor. Private and charter options are limited, so these two schools are the primary feeders for families moving to or investing in Gatlinburg.

What are the most popular Gatlinburg zip codes?

The core housing market sits in ZIP 37738, which covers downtown Gatlinburg, Chalet Village, Ski Mountain, and the Arts & Crafts Loop. Investors who want dual-city access often widen searches to 37863 (Pigeon Forge) for Sky Harbor ridge cabins, or 37876 (Sevierville) for foothill acreage west of town.

Is it expensive to live in Gatlinburg, TN?

Overall costs run about 3% below the U.S. average but 11 % higher than the Tennessee norm, chiefly because housing near the national park commands a premium. April 2025 MLS data shows a median listing price of $654K, down 6.6 yea -over-year yet still above state medians