Close to Gatlinburg Convention Center and Gatlinburg SkyPark, Bearskin Lodge on the River provides a firepit, a gym and more. Guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.
Located in Downtown Gatlinburg, a neighbourhood in Gatlinburg, Bearskin Lodge on the River is in the mountains and in a national park. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Great Smoky Mountains National Park and The Ripken Experience - Pigeon Forge, while Gatlinburg SkyPark and Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies are popular area attractions. Anakeesta and Ober Mountain are not to be missed. Explore all the area has to offer with hiking/biking trails, horse riding and ziplining. Visit our Gatlinburg travel guide
840 River Road, Gatlinburg, TN, 37738
What's nearby
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
2 min walk - 0.1 miles
Gatlinburg Convention Center
12 min walk - 0.7 miles
Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery
12 min walk - 0.7 miles
Gatlinburg SkyPark
15 min walk - 0.8 miles
Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway
5 min walk - 0.3 miles
Getting around
Alcoa - Knoxville Airport (TYS)
71 min drive
Restaurants
Ole Smoky Distillery
9 min walk
Sugarlands Distilling Co.
9 min walk
Puckers Sports Bar
10 min walk
Loco Burro Fresh Mex Cantina
11 min walk
Jason Aldean’s Kitchen & Rooftop Bar
13 min walk
About this property
Bearskin Lodge on the River
Hotel near Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Close to Gatlinburg Convention Center and Gatlinburg SkyPark, Bearskin Lodge on the River provides a firepit, a gym and more. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi.
You'll also enjoy the following perks during your stay:
A seasonal outdoor pool, along with a lazy river
Free self-parking
A lift, a 24-hour front desk and coffee/tea in reception
Tour/ticket information and outdoor furniture
Room features
All 96 rooms have comforts such as premium bedding and air conditioning, in addition to thoughtful touches such as free WiFi.
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
Lift
Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
Wheelchair-accessible parking
Wheelchair-accessible path to lift
Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
More
1 building
5 floors
Room amenities
Bedroom
Premium bedding
Bathroom
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
Shower
Towels provided
Entertainment
Flat-screen TV with premium satellite channels
Food and drink
Coffee/tea maker
Microwave
Refrigerator
More
Air conditioning
Connecting rooms available
Desk
Free local calls
Iron/ironing board
Phone
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; check-in end time: 1:00 AM
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Minimum check-in age - 21
Check-out
Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out
Special check-in instructions
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Access methods
Staffed front desk
Pets
Pets not allowed (service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees)
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
Cots (infant beds) are not available
Payment types at the property
Important information
You need to know
This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
This property reserves the right to pre-authorise the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with UK consumer law, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.
We should mention
The seasonal pool will be open from June to September
Pool access available from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation
Frequently asked questions
Does Bearskin Lodge on the River have a pool?
Yes, this property has a seasonal outdoor pool. Pool access is from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
How much does it cost to stay at Bearskin Lodge on the River?
As of 19 Sept 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Bearskin Lodge on the River on 20 Sept 2026 start from £142, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
Is Bearskin Lodge on the River pet-friendly?
No, only service animals are welcome at the property.
How much is parking at Bearskin Lodge on the River?
Self-parking is free at this property.
What time is check-in at Bearskin Lodge on the River?
Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; check-in end time: 1:00 AM. After-hours check-in is not available.
What time is check-out at Bearskin Lodge on the River?
Checkout is at 11 AM.
Where is Bearskin Lodge on the River located?
Located in Downtown Gatlinburg, this hotel is steps away from Traffic Light #10 and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Gatlinburg Convention Center and Gatlinburg SkyPark are also within 15 minutes.
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Reviews
Bearskin Lodge on the River Reviews
9.4
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
9.4
Cleanliness
9.6
Location
9.6
Staff & service
9.2
Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 728 out of 1000 reviews
10 - Excellent
728
Rating 8 - Good. 205 out of 1000 reviews
8 - Good
205
Rating 6 - Okay. 56 out of 1000 reviews
6 - Okay
56
Rating 4 - Poor. 7 out of 1000 reviews
4 - Poor
7
Rating 2 - Terrible. 4 out of 1000 reviews
2 - Terrible
4
Reviews
Verified review
6/10 Okay
Racquelle
12 Sept 2026
Liked: Property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Cleanliness
Your typical Smokey mountain hotel! A bit run down. A little dirty (the lazy river looks really gross and there were ants in our room), but it does the trick! The pool was convenient and fine! The breakfast was disappointing.
the hotel is in a fantastic location, and the decor is stylish and unique.
the staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming throughout our stay. the only minor downside was that the breakfast area could get a little crowded, but overall, we had a wonderful experience and would happily stay here again.
Hotel and staff were awesome! Had water running from air conditioner into middle of room and had to change rooms, only problem we had! Would definitely stay here again
Outstanding. Would stay there again. We picked it for the Lazy River but everything was awesome. Quiet end of town. Walked everywhere!!! Room was fantastic with a fireplace and large spacious room to move around in. Breakfast was good.
The pictures of the hotel must be from when the hotel was first built, and it seems the focus was on the outdoor aesthetics, and not maintaining the room cleanliness and quality. Our room was dingy / dirty and smelled extremely musty. The AC appeared to have never been cleaned. The tiles in the bathroom were dirty and had obvious dirt in the corners and grout. The floors and hallways also felt dirty, we didn't really want to walk around without shoes. Workout room was almost non existent. Elevator broke when we were there. Beds were comfortable and felt clean, and the staff was friendly and nice. The pool and Firepit were very enjoyable, but the pool house / filter was very noisy and hard to tune-out while sitting around the fire.
We had a good stay overall. Our room was clean, and housekeeping made the beds and emptied the trash every day during our three-night stay. The pool was smaller than we expected, and we didn’t get to use the fire pit. Seeing a bear near the parking garage was exciting for our boys and other guests. The breakfast area and ice machine were on the third floor, and our room was conveniently located near the elevator. My 16-year-old wasn’t very impressed with the location, except that it was across the street from CiCi’s Pizza.
Great location, great pool/lazy river, but we had to ask for extra toilet paper each day, had to ask for our body wash to be filled up, and take out our own trash. They checked the room the first 2 days, but we had a 6 night stay. It would have gotten 5 stars if it wasn’t for that.
Loved everything about Bearskin Lodge! The older gentleman at check-in was super friendly and helpful. All workers we encountered went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and answer our questions… did you know Gatlinburg has a free shuttle service? We didn’t, but the staff were helpful with helping us navigate the map and app for the shuttle. The room and property were clean and well-kept. Breakfast had several options, and the muffins were delicious. The location was at the edge of town with quick access to the national park. Things like Anakeesta were a bit of a walk (maybe 3/4 mile), but the shuttle was a convenient way to get to places when you didn’t want to walk. It’s a nice location if you don’t want the noise from the busier part of town. We didn’t use the pool or lazy river, but they were very clean. The fire out front and rocking chair along the river were a nice place to relax. If we ever return to Gatlinburg, we will definitely choose Bearskin again.
Loved the size of the room and the balcony overlooking the river. The kids loved the pool and the lazy river. The beds and pillows were comfortable. We did not like the breakfast options.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review
6/10 Okay
Brandon
29 Jul 2026
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
The staff were all friendly, and very helpful with tips on things to check out in town. Gatlinburg was incredible. Never have I been in a place with so much stuff to see and do. All of it amazing, too. Pool was nice, but a bit small and could become overcrowded very easily.
It’s right near several good restaurants and attractions like the sky tram, the space needle, the great Smokey mountains national park, which held some of the best hiking trails I’ve ever seen.
There’s zip lining, white water rafting. You can ride sky lifts up to the top of a literal mountain and then eat at a restaurant up there.
Pigeon forge was an awesome town too. Things to see every step you take. However, there are some things to consider with the Bearskin Lodge. As previously mentioned, nice staff, nice looking building. But there were some drawbacks.
It has two elevators. One was out of service the entire time, and the other just seemed like it was ready to break every time you got on it. The doors were slow, it made jarring noises, and the whole thing visibly shook.
This led to feeling more comfortable using the stairs, despite being on the 4th floor. And the stairs were confusing to find, as the building’s unique layout, while cool, made it difficult to locate them.
The bed I slept in noticeably felt sank in on one side from the first night there. Easy fix, just moved to the other side and it felt fine. But might not be for couples.
There was a broken towel rack and bathroom door.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review
8/10 Good
Sharla
28 Jul 2026
Liked: Amenities
Quiet and restful
Could use some updating but was clean
Elevator stinks really yuck and quit working all together.
Good location away from the chaos
I have stayed here several times and it is even nicer since they redid the bathrooms and took out the in room jacuzzi that is am sure nobody used. This was the first time not getting a room with a balcony and the room seemed even bigger. Will definitely return.