East Tennessee’s winter weather is notoriously fickle, swinging from the seventies to snow, sometimes in a matter of hours! When it does snow, it doesn’t take long for it all to melt, breaking little hearts around Knoxville. But no matter what the forecast is, you and your family can still have fun playing in the snow! You can visit one of the many snow tubing parks within a three-hour drive of our area. Some even boast snow play areas for children and adults of all ages to enjoy.
Snow tubing is popular for good reason. It requires little skill and is lots of fun! That’s why spots fill up quickly. Most of the snow tubing parks recommend advance reservations or suggest you arrive early in the day. Ticket prices vary and the cost of tickets typically goes up on weekends and holidays. Many of the snow tubing parks also have age and height requirements. Some allow small children to ride with parents, but not all. That’s why it’s important to have as much information as possible before you go. Knoxville Moms put together this comprehensive list of snow tubing parks with all the information you need to plan a trip for your family. Bundle up and have fun!
Snow Tubing Near Knoxville and East Tennessee
Ober Gatlinburg
Drive Time: 55 Minutes
1001 Parkway #2
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(865) 436-5423
Admission Ages 5 & Older: $35.00 Weekdays/Non-Holiday, $45.00 Weekends/Holidays
Admission Ages 3 & 4: Free with Paid Adult
(Under 3 not permitted to ride)
Sessions are 90 minutes long. The tubing hill is 350 feet long with a 50-foot drop. The “magic carpet” (outdoor escalator) takes you back up to the top of the hill following each run. Ages 3-5 must ride with an adult 18 years or older. Must be at least 6 years old and 42 inches to ride alone. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Pigeon Forge Snow
Drive Time: 40 Minutes
2533 Teaster Lane
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
(865) 366-1334
One Hour of Tubing (All Ages): $39.99
30 Minutes of Snow Play (All Ages): $9.99
One Hour of Tubing & Snow Play (All Ages): $44.99
This indoor snow tubing park is open year-round. The tubing runs and snow play area have real snow with no additives. The temperature is always 60 to 70 degrees inside. For the tubing guests must be 38 inches and 3 years old. Everyone can play in the snow play area regardless of age or height. No advanced reservations are required.
Rowdy Bear Smoky Mountain Snowpark
Drive Time: 37 Minutes
2155 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
(865) 365-1883
Admission: $36.99
Rowdy Bear is billed as the largest outdoor snow tubing hill in Tennessee. The tubing lanes are 500 feet in length with a 70-foot drop, plus it’s real snow. There are two “magic carpet” conveyors to the top of the hill. Riders must be 48 inches to ride alone. Children must be 40 inches tall to participate with an adult over the age of 18. The tubing sessions are 90 minutes long and run daily. Reservations are required. Must arrive 30 minutes prior to your session.
Tube World
Drive Time: 1 Hour 33 Minutes
4821 Soco Road
Maggie Valley, NC 28751
(828) 926-0285
Weekdays: $35.00
Weekends/Holidays: $40.00
Wee Bowl: $10.00 per child
Tube World, located in Maggie Valley across from Ghost Town in the Sky, is the home of great snow tubing fun each winter! The groomed slope is made for riding specially designed inner tubes. Guests will ride the moving carpet lift to the top of the hill, then tube down the snow-covered run. Sessions are one hour and 45 minutes long and run every two hours. There is a 42-inch minimum height requirement. Only Tube World equipment may be used. No two-person tubing allowed. Sessions can be reserved up to two weeks in advance.
Zip N Slip Snow Tubing Park
Drive Time: 2 Hours 10 Minutes
10725 US-23
Mars Hill, NC 28754
(828) 689-8444
Admission (All Ages): $30.00 (1 Hour), $45.00 (2 Hours)
Children 5 & Under: Free
Zip N Slip boasts a tubing run of over 500 feet. There is also a “magic carpet” to help get riders back to the top. A solarium with a fireplace gives people a cozy spot to watch the fun. The sessions are one to two hours long. Children ages 3 and up are allowed to participate.
Hatley Point (Formerly Wolf Ridge Snow Tubing)
{***TEMPORARILY CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS***}
Drive Time: 2 Hours 21 Minutes
578 Valley View Circle
Mars Hill, NC 28754
(800) 817-4111
Admission (Monday-Thursday): $20.00 (1 Hour), $30.00 (2 Hours)
Admission (Friday-Sunday & Holidays): $25.00 (1 Hour), $35.00 (2 Hours)
Children 5 & Under: Free
Slide down the run then take a “magic carpet” lift back to the top to repeat the fun. Wolf Ridge also features snow making capability and a lighted hill for nighttime fun. Featuring one big slope 60 feet wide at the top, 100 feet wide at the bottom and 350 feet long of sliding fun! No designated lanes mean tubers have the option to link up tubes increasing the fun factor.
Moonshine Mountain Snow Tubing
Drive Time: 2 Hours 51 Minutes
5865 Willow Road
Hendersonville, NC 28739
(828) 696-0333
Admission (All Ages): $40.00 (2 Hours/All Ages)
Moonshine Mountain has over 500 feet of snowy, steep fun. Riders are allowed to “link up” and form trains. The park does not take reservations. Check the Moonshine Mountain Facebook page for updates. The minimum height requirement is 36 inches.
Jonas Ridge Snow Tubing
Drive Time: 2 Hours 33 Minutes
9472 NC Highway 181 South
Newland, NC 28657
(828) 733-4155
Admission: $45.00 (2 Hours), $30.00 (1 Hour)
Admission Ages 6 & Under: $30.00 (2 Hours), $20.00 (1 Hour)
Military Discounts $5.00 off each immediate family member.
With five lanes of tubing runs, families are sure to have fun! The runs range from slow to very steep for the more daring snow tuber. All children 6 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Jonas Ridge strongly suggests children be at least 3 years old and be able to sit on a tube by themselves. Be sure to make your reservation in advance.
Beech Mountain Ski Resort Snow Tubing
Drive Time: 2 Hours 24 Minutes
1007 Beech Mountain Parkway
Beech Mountain, NC 28604
(800) 438-2093
Admission (Weekday): $34.00
Admission (Weekend/Holiday): $42.00
With chutes up to 700 feet in length, all ages can enjoy an exhilarating ride. The tubing area has a “magic carpet” conveyor, which transports riders quickly to the top. Sessions are one hour and 45 minutes. Riders must be 42 inches. Children are not allowed to ride on a parent’s lap. Tickets for all sessions are available on the Beech Mountain website. Advanced reservations are recommended.
Sugar Mountain Tubing Park
Drive Time: 2 Hours 38 Minutes
1009 Sugar Mountain Drive
Banner Elk, NC 28604
(800) 784-2768
Admission Ages (Weekdays): $36.00
Admission (Weekends/Holidays): $45.00
Children ages 3 & 4: Free with Ticketed Adult
The 700-foot-long tubing run is located on the Sugar Mountain Golf Course. A “magic carpet” gives riders a lift back to the top. Sessions are just under two hours and run from 10:00AM to 10:00PM. Tickets must be purchased at the tubing park. Waivers can be completed in advance.
Hawksnest Snow Tubing
Drive Time: 2 Hours 46 Minutes
2058 Skyland Drive
Seven Devils, NC 28640
(828) 963-6561
Admission (Monday-Thursday): $35.00
Admission (Friday): $40.00
Admissions: (Saturday, Sunday & Holidays): $49.00
Hawksnest is the largest snow tubing attraction near Knoxville. It boasts 30 tubing lanes that span from 400 to 1,000 feet long. There are four different snow tubing areas to satisfy even the most advanced tubers. The sessions are one hour and 45 minutes. Riders must be at least 3 years old. Advanced reservations are recommended.
Highlands Outpost Snow Tubing
Drive Time: 2 Hours 39 Minutes
7420 Dillard Road
Scaly Mountain, NC 28775
(828) 526-3737
Admission Adults & Children (42 inches and 4 years old): $35.00 Weekdays/$40.00 Weekends & Holidays
Kiddie Hill/Snow Play Area (Age 8 & younger): $20.00
Snow Tubing & Ice-Skating Combo: $50.00
When Mother Nature doesn’t provide the snow, the snow making equipment ensures there is enough to have a great time. Sessions are two hours long. Children need to be at least 42 inches tall and 4 years old to snow tube the big hill. The kiddie snow play area is for kids 8 and under and under 48 inches tall.
Frozen Falls Tube Park
Drive Time: 2 Hours 36 Minutes
127 Cherokee Trail
Sapphire, NC 28774
(828) 743-7663
Admission: $35.00
The entire family will enjoy this 500-foot run with a vertical drop of 60-feet! Attendants and an easy “moving sidewalk” get you and your tube back to the top for another run. Tubing sessions are 1 hour 45 minutes and they do sell out. Arrive early to reserve a session. You can fill out a family snow tubing waiver online to save time.
Don’t miss out on any winter fun with our ice skating and ski resorts guides!
