I lastly fulfilled my ambition (see what I did there?) to go to Dollywood, once I added on three days after a convention in Chicago and flew all the way down to Knoxville, TN.
Very long time fan, first time customer – with my second journey deliberate in 2026!
My sister, who lives in Delaware, flew in for our ladies’ escape and rented a automotive, so picked me up after spending a couple of hours searching the outlets in Knoxville (she discovered a cute store and purchased a candle), then we drove the one hour-ish to Pigeon Forge, the house of Dollywood.
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We’d booked a twin room at Dollywood’s DreamMore resort, considered one of two properties situated subsequent to Dollywood and Splash Nation, the subsequent door water park.
I figured we’d splash out a little bit on staying on the official property, and it meant we had the VIP Timesaver go which gave us skip-the-line entry to a number of of the rides for the primary hour of the day, plus free automotive parking.
The positioning of Dollywood has been an amusement park courting again to the Sixties when it was a little bit Civil Conflict theme park known as Insurgent Railroad, which included a steam prepare that’s nonetheless right here right now.
Then it turned Goldrush Junction and the log flume trip was added, together with a little bit picket church – which remains to be there, nestled within the woods, close to artisan present shops promoting issues like blown glass ornaments, cast metal implements and sweet. Dolly co-owns the park with the Herschend household (50/50) and has completed since 1986.
My first impressions of Dollywood
Once you first stroll in you’re hit with the nostalgia of this park with its picket buildings set in pure woodland.
However you’re at the number one finest theme park in america, in keeping with a 2025 Tripadvisor ballot, so you want to plan your day correctly. There’s so much to see and do, and lot of individuals seeing and doing it.
You’ll additionally see die-hard followers!
Dollywood is large! It sprawls over 160 acres (65 hectares). It has 60 rides (together with about 10 excessive rides), plus theatres for reside exhibits (like a funsy canine tips present with rescued canine catching frisbees or doing dash races).
There are locations to eat, and sure there’s purchasing. LOTS of buying Dolly merch. It was laborious to resolve what to purchase truthfully!
The Dolly Parton Expertise is for true followers. You’ll see Dolly’s touring bus from her early days, nonetheless decked out with an enormous mattress on the finish, and accessible to stroll via.
I’ll get to the rides in a sec, however I actually favored the costume exhibit too. A number of Dolly’s stage garments are on show on “dolly-sized” mannequins (you already know what I imply), and there’s video of varied costumers speaking about their work, what she likes, and the way lengthy they’ve been working for her. Some for round 20 years!
There’s one other massive exhibition taking you thru video of her songs from the early Porter Wagoner days, to right now.
And if you’re touched by her track ‘coat of many colours’, you possibly can see the unique coat her mama made for her. It’s tiny! I anticipated she’d have been about 12 or 13, however this coat is for a 5 or 6 12 months outdated I’m selecting.
In case you’re taking your personal automotive, you instantly see the big dimension of the automotive park. It could actually maintain 10,000 playing cards and prices $25 per day for an everyday sized automotive.
Get right here early as a result of it fills up! You get free automotive parking for those who’re staying at DreamMore or HeartSong. In case you take the resort shuttle from these inns, you’ll get off to hitch the road via safety then you definitely’re in.
It appears to be like olde-worlde. It’s quaint, however not kitschy. Bunting is draped between picket buildings and there’s a bakery close to the doorway to seize espresso and a chew complete you pore over the park map and plan your assault.
You’ll see individuals heading left into Wildwood Grove the place all of the curler coasters are. My suggestion is you get to the primary ticket workplace and discover out the occasions of the reside exhibits you need to get to, so you possibly can plan your rides round these.
When you have a Timesaver go to gather to make use of the categorical line, you get that right here too, within the type of a wrist band.
Professional tip: Then head for the rides that your go doesn’t embody, as very first thing within the morning is prone to be the quietest time for the most well-liked rides.
One other good time to trip them is simply earlier than the park closes after the drone and fireworks present at nightfall, as a lot of individuals had left by then.
Don’t count on sanitized slickness such as you see at Disney parks. And don’t count on it to be all Dolly Parton centered in an over-the-top form of method. Sure there’s music taking part in all through the park, however not all are Dolly’s songs.
The primary of a number of souviner outlets is in your proper as you enter, and for those who’re like us, you’ll be swept in there. Completely different outlets have completely different merchandise, so get your eye in however don’t purchase straight away. There are about 30 outlets right here – not all are Dolly themed.
My must-do’s at Dollywood
Strive the Cinnamon Bread – the one catch is you want to purchase a loaf, so for those who simply need a nibble it’s a whole lot of bread. However superb all the identical. You may also get it at DreamMore and HeartSong.
Hit the rides – There are 60 rides at Dollywood, 10 of them within the “excessive” class, however there’s sufficient selection for your complete household. There’s additionally the unique coal-fired steam prepare, the Dollywood Specific, which is free to trip, however solely goes as soon as an hour. It’s value it although, to relaxation your weary legs and to get some insights into the again of home workings of this park.
In sooner or later we managed 5 of the intense rides, plus a tootle on Ol’ Smoky the Dollywood Specific steam prepare. That left time for one present, a wander via the displays, together with her tour bus, and a chew to eat with espresso on arrival.
We additionally went throughout to Splash Nation, however simply to have a look and footage for you, expensive reader. We weren’t in our swimsuits! We might simply have had a dip although because it was tremendous scorching, and lamented our clothes decisions.
See the fireworks and drone present – We popped again to our DreamMore lodging in late afternoon and recalibrated with a sangria by the pool, then got here again for the fireworks and drone present.
This occurs earlier than the park closes every night time and actually is superb. The drones make Dolly photographs within the sky and her music belts throughout the park. Then an enormous Disney-esque fireworks present.
Professional tip: when you’ve seen this as soon as, you don’t must see it once more. Consequently the park wasn’t that crowded so you can squeeze in among the rides that stay open.
Greatest Rides at Dollywood
We began with Thunderhead, which appears to be like deceptively old school with it’s picket tracks and carts. However don’t be fooled! I screamed so laborious I damage my throat. Sharon, in the meantime, had her arms up within the air like a youth! She beloved it. I realised I’m extra of a nana than I assumed.
I calmed myself down with an amazing trip on Dragonflier which has your ft hanging down and a full physique harness. It felt rather more reassuring than Thunderhead’s lapbelt. I made myself not scream on this one and resorted to a couple shrieks. Glad shrieks and laughter although.
Our timesaver go wouldn’t get us on Thriller Mine, which I used to be quietly happy about, however not so Sharon. Once we went again within the night for the fireworks and drone present the road was brief, so subsequent minute I’m harnessed in and bracing myself.
It’s one other excessive trip, however set in what appears to be like like a dilapidated picket mill. Don’t be fooled once more! You’re harnessed in 4 seats throughout for the 4x G-force trip.
Fortuitously we met two beautiful guys who gave us a professional tip: push your head ahead into the harness on the turns. In case you don’t, your head will wobble and hit the edges of the harness, which is definitely fairly painful! It has an 85-foot vertical drop, 95 diploma turns and plunges into darkness. It’s thrilling and sure I damage my throat once more!
Lightning Rod is the quickest curler coaster at Dollywood. It appears to be like ricketty as a result of it’s picket (metallic can be within the design) and also you’ll slowly observe up 20-stories earlier than it actually kicks off with 165 foot drop. USA Right this moment named it within the prime 10 finest curler coasters in the entire nation. I’ll trip this one subsequent time.
Massive Bear Mountain is the longest curler coaster trip in Dollywood at 3,990 ft (1.2 km). It sprawls throughout just about all the property and also you’ll see glimpses of individuals driving it as you wander about. It’s a household pleasant trip, and whereas we didn’t trip it this time, it’s on my listing for subsequent time.
It’s massively in style and never a part of the Timesaver Primary or Plus, however is on the Premium go (for an additional value of $99 for the day), so I’d counsel you make a bee-line for this one as quickly as you arrive.
See the total listing of rides at Dollywood right here, together with the lately reopened darkish trip Blazing Fury, which is a trip via an Eighties city outrunning a hearth.
They aren’t all scary curler coasters both. There’s an entire youngsters’s space for little ones with tame, very cute rides for household enjoyable. You’ll additionally discover water rides like Smoky Mountain River Rampage when you want to cool off.
Greatest Time to Go to Dollywood
It’s scorching right here in summer season! And I might additionally level out that there’s not a lot solar safety for those who’re ready for rides. They may do a bit higher by placing shade sails up via the summer season months. However that’s additionally one more reason for staying at one of many Dollywood resorts. You may also improve to the TimeSaver ticket.
At Christmas time the park is themed out, so I’d like to go once more as that is my favourite time of the 12 months!
The very best time can be throughout faculty time, and within the shoulder seasons for temps. Week days are higher than weekends for lesser crowds.
Dollywood FAQs
Who’s Dollywood catering to?
It’s actually an amusement for the entire household, and also you don’t essentially should be a Dolly fan to adore it. Though I most undoubtedly am, the curler coaster rides are ranked amongst some the most effective in America, so that you’ll see a lot of youngsters and households right here.
There are many kiddie rides too and enjoyable areas for little ones to play, together with squirting water to chill everybody down.
Can you are taking your personal food and drinks into the park?
No, however you possibly can herald one un-opened bottle of water per particular person. There are many locations to purchase meals within the parks. We purchased three rooster tenders and fries with a drink for $20 and cut up it. We’d already had one thing from the bakery earlier.
What time does Dollywood open?
Gates open at 10am throughout spring, summer season and fall, and 11am in winter. BUT the parks are additionally NOT open each day! Examine the calendar for Dollywood’s hours earlier than you ebook your flights and inns. The explanations given are some days are quieter than others so they provide the employees time without work.
Can I do Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Nation in sooner or later?
Sure you can. I’d counsel you begin early at Dollywood, and use your VIP go to blitz the most well-liked rides first. You’d even have time to see a present, tour a few displays and store.
Then round mid afternoon, head over to Splash Nation – take your automotive – and seize a lounger close to one of many swimming pools or slides. You may get modified over there into your swimsuit.
Is the TimeSaver Go value it?
There are three kinds of TimeSaver passes, from $60-$99 along with your park ticket. The Primary TimeSaver offers you skip-the-line entry to 5 of the highest rides, plus expedited entry to exhibits. It excludes FireChaser Specific, Lightning Rod, Dragonflier, Thriller Mine, and BigBear Mountain.
The TimeSaver Plus provides you expedited entry to all of the above, one-time skip-the-line use on these in style rides.
Dollywood Season Go
There are three kinds of season passes. One for East Tennessee residents giving them limitless entry between April and September. The Silver Season Go provides you $5 off per one-day park ticket. The Dollywood Gold Season Go permits you to go to Dollywood as a lot as you want. It contains free parking, reductions on purchasing and eating, and Timesaver entry for the primary hour every day.
Professional tip: for those who keep at DreamMore or HeartSong you’ll routinely they the Primary Timesaver go, which is value $60 per day. You additionally get free parking, valued at $25 per day. Or you possibly can take their free trolley.
The place to remain when visiting Dollywood
The 2 official resorts are DreamMore and HeartSong.
DreamMore, is a little bit cheaper and the place we stayed. Each have nice services, together with swimming pools, a spa at DreamMore, eating places and free trolley buses to take you to the park. Your bundle additionally provides you a Primary Timesaver go and free automotive parking on the park.
At DreamMore you may as well ebook a Dolly bus and sleep out the entrance, and we additionally loved the free s’mores across the fireplace pit!
HeartSong has an indoor and out of doors pool, plus a scorching tub. Each have laundry services, which is nice for households.
In case you solely plan on visiting for the day, you can keep on the little city of Sevierville, which has top-of-the-line eating places in all of Tennessee – Appalachan.
There are additionally cheaper lodging and personal leases close to the resort too, however you’ll need a automotive. And naturally, a day journey to the Smoky Mountains is likely to be in your want listing too.
Take a look at Dollywood ticket costs on GetYourGuide
The place to subsequent?
I like Tennessee and will likely be returning to Nashville internet hosting a tour in April 2026.
On this publish I cowl my favourite issues to do in Nashville.
Then as a result of I used to be interested in what individuals put on there, I wrote this publish on Nashville vogue, together with photographs!
Or you can go to Memphis and lengthen your music tour to incorporate Elvis and his compatriots. And for those who’re a real Elvis Presley fan, you would possibly need to add a aspect journey to his birthplace of Tupelo.
You’ll be able to peek via Graceland with me right here, and I’ll be making my fourth go to subsequent 12 months!
