The Island in Pigeon Forge: Parking, Hours and What to Do

The Island in Pigeon Forge sits on the Parkway between traffic lights 3 and 4, at 131 The Island Drive, confirmed on The Island's own directions page. Parking and admission are both free; only rides, attractions, dining and shopping cost money.

Quick answer

• Where: on the Pigeon Forge Parkway between lights 3 and 4, at Island Drive.
• Parking: free in the designated lots; a complimentary tram runs from the main lot near the LeConte Events Center to the entrance.
• Admission: free to walk around and watch the fountain; rides, the Wheel, dinner and shopping are paid separately.
• Fountain show: free, runs roughly every 30 minutes starting on the hour, 10am to 11:30pm, according to the city's visitor site.
• Hours: rides and retail run 10am to 10pm Sunday through Thursday and 10am to 11pm Friday and Saturday; hours can vary by season or holiday, per The Island's FAQ.

Getting there and parking

On the Parkway, turn at the Island Drive traffic light, which sits between lights 3 and 4, per The Island's own directions page. Parking is free in every designated lot, and the main lot by the LeConte Events Center runs a complimentary tram to the entrance so you are not walking the whole property from your car. The Island's own lots are always free; there is no dedicated RV or oversized-vehicle parking, so a large vehicle can use standard lots only if space allows, per the FAQ.

Because admission is free, The Island works as a drop-in stop rather than a planned theme-park day. That matters for a group traveling together: some of your party can window-shop or watch the fountain while others ride the Wheel, so nobody has to buy a ticket just to tag along.

What to do at The Island

• The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel — a 200-foot observation wheel with climate-controlled, enclosed gondolas and mountain views; paid, with tickets available solo or as part of a multi-ride pass.
• The show fountain — a multi-tiered water-and-light show choreographed to music; free to watch, with performances roughly every 30 minutes from 10am to 11:30pm.
• Rides — the Reverse Time, Clockwork, Dance Party 360, ThunderDome and Tree Fall Drop Tower for thrill-seekers; the Flying Horse Carousel, Spinning Parrots Coaster and Sky Tykes for younger kids; individual tickets start at $5.99, or get a 48-hour Unlimited Rides Pass for $39.99 ($49.99 with ropes course access), per The Island's FAQ.
• More attractions — SkyFly: Soar America, a 7D Dark Ride, laser tag, an escape room, a mirror maze and Arcade City, each priced separately from the basic ride pass; the Island Ropes Course is included with the $49.99 unlimited wristband.
• Shops and food — more than 18 restaurants, from full-service spots like Paula Deen's Family Kitchen, Margaritaville and Timberwood Grill to quick-service and specialty stops such as Mellow Mushroom and Starbucks, plus more than 40 shops including Ole Smoky Moonshine and Build-A-Bear, per The Island's dining and shopping pages.

Hours, and when the fountain runs

Regular ride and retail hours are 10am to 10pm Sunday through Thursday and 10am to 11pm Friday and Saturday, per The Island's FAQ, though hours can vary by season or holiday. The Island is open on major holidays, but some, including Christmas, may have reduced hours. Always check The Island's hours calendar for the date you are visiting rather than assuming a standard closing time.

The fountain is the one predictable constant: it is free, and shows run about every 30 minutes beginning on the hour from 10am to 11:30pm, per the city of Pigeon Forge's own listing. Staking out a spot a few minutes early is worth it, since seating along the fountain plaza is first-come.

Planning a quick visit versus a full evening

If you only have an hour, park, walk to the fountain plaza, and watch one show while you decide on dinner. That costs nothing beyond whatever you choose to eat.

If you want a longer stop, add the Wheel or one or two rides, and build in time to browse the shops. Because an Unlimited Rides Pass runs 48 hours, it can be worth buying if you plan to come back a second evening during your trip rather than cramming every ride into one visit.

Groups with mixed interests tend to do best here: let the kids hit the carousel and arcade while the rest of the group checks out Ole Smoky or grabs a table at Mellow Mushroom, then regroup at the fountain for the next show. On a rainy forecast, our guide to indoor things to do in Pigeon Forge is a good backup plan.

Is The Island free?

Parking and admission are free. Rides, the Wheel, the indoor attractions, meals and shopping each have their own cost, so budget for whichever of those your group actually wants.

Which traffic light is The Island near?

It sits on the Parkway between lights 3 and 4, with the entrance on Island Drive, per The Island's own directions page.

Is The Island a substitute for Dollywood?

No, it fills a different role. Use our Dollywood day guide for a dedicated theme-park day, and use The Island for a shorter, lower-commitment evening.

What pairs well with a visit here?

A Tanger shopping trip earlier in the day, or a short Sugarlands stop on your way back from the national park, both leave energy for an evening at the fountain and the Wheel. If you are weighing where to stay for several nights near both, see how the Parkway drive times break down before you book. For the full destination picture, see our guide to things to do in Pigeon Forge.

Tula & Oak is about 18 minutes from the Pigeon Forge Parkway, so an evening at The Island is an easy add-on without being the center of the trip. With 5 bedrooms, an indoor heated pool, a hot tub and a theater room, the house gives a group of up to 14 a place to regroup after the fountain and rides rather than needing everyone to agree on the same evening out. Check your dates and book direct.