Things To Do, Our Favorite Restaurants, and the Best Places To Stay In Bryson City, NC- Our Complete Weekend Guide
Bryson City, NC is a such a fun outdoor adventure town. I’ve made a yearly pilgrimage here with a close group of friends and their families for over 10 years.
Bryson City’s downtown is filled with quaint shops and restaurants, the Tuckaseegee River runs right through it, and the mountains surround you everywhere making for a charming and family-friendly escape that has so much to offer you will want to come back as soon as you leave.
There are tons of hiking opportunities nearby as well as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is just a few miles from downtown. And the Nantahala National Forest and the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway are also close by.
Waterfall hikes are especially common in this area and are always popular with our kids.
Getting out on the water is so easy too. Within a 20 minute driving radius of downtown, you have the nearby Nantahala River for exciting whitewater rafting; the Tuckaseegee River for calmer and beginner-friendly kayaking; Deep Creek for a tubing adventure; and the beautiful Fontana Lake for swimming, boating, fishing, SUP, and canoeing.
There is also rock climbing, mountain biking, horseback riding, and scenic steam train rides on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad. So many outdoor adventures in this area!
After a fantastic day out on the trails or on the water, come back to downtown Bryson City for great food, a couple of family-friendly breweries, old-fashioned ice cream counters, and neat local shops.
You just can’t beat it and the town lives up to its motto “Uncrowded, Unhurried, Unspoiled, Uncommon.”
Too busy to plan a vacation to Bryson City? No worries, we’ve already done it for you! Enjoy this 3 day itinerary filled with all the details you need!
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Day 1: Arrival, Lodging Check-In, Downtown For Lunch
Hopefully you can arrive in Bryson City by mid-morning/early afternoon and go ahead and check into your lodgings. If not, park the car and get lunch while you wait. Or head straight to the Deep Creek parking area for a quick waterfall hike.
Where To Stay in Bryson City, NC
We find staying in downtown Bryson City is best for the convenience of restaurants, shops, and afternoon strolls to watch the train at the Train Depot. After a day out having fun, it is so nice to come back and park the car until the next day.
There are not a lot of hotels in Bryson City, and no good chain hotels (IMHO). The only chain you get is the Sleep Inn near the exit from Hwy 74 and not really within walking distance of Main Street.
In place of hotels, small local inns and other lodges with small numbers of rooms are more common.
Try the Aloft in the Smokies, Calhoun House Inn & Suites, or the Historic Hazel House – Downtown Bryson City for downtown convenience. Overall, we had a great experience at Aloft In The Smokies, and it will be our first lodging choice when we return.
If you’re looking for a mountain cabin, you’ll have plenty to choose from, and many are not more than a 5 to 15 minute drive from downtown.
Check this page of VRBO listings in the area. Here is an example of many of the cabins that are within 20 minutes of Nantahala Outdoor Center, Tsali Recreation Area, and downtown Bryson City:
2 Bedrooms plus a loft with a 3rd bed and full bathroom. VRBO 3849684ha. Mountain views and a covered porch. Within 15 minutes of everything.
Campgrounds are also plentiful in the area and some are quite close to town, including Great Smoky National Park Campground at Deep Creek just 5 minutes from downtown.
See our blog “Where To Stay In Bryson City“ for more of our recommendations for lodging in downtown Bryson City, surrounding mountains, and additional camping options.
Day 1- Lunch
High Test Deli , Everett Street Diner, La Dolce Vita, and Bryson City Bakery are all great options for lunch and sandwiches. Getting deli sandwiches to go from High Test Deli to take on your hike to Deep Creek is another option.
See more restaurant recommendations in our blog “Our Favorite Restaurants In Bryson City”.
Day 1 Afternoon- Hike To Waterfalls Or Go Tubing At Deep Creek
The Deep Creek area of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is just 2.5 miles from downtown Bryson City. It is a popular tubing destination and the short trails to the waterfalls are perfect for the family, especially nice for stretching your legs after being in the car.
You can hike a loop around the 3 main waterfalls or just go to Juney Whank Falls and Tom Branch Falls if you are short on time.
Directions to Deep Creek
Don’t forget that you need a parking pass for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park now. You can buy passes at the automated kiosk in the Deep Creek Campground, at the Swain County Visitor Center on Everett St in Bryson City, or online thru the NPS website.
The parking area is about a 10 minute drive from downtown Bryson City. This can be a crowded area, especially on summer afternoons as tubing is very popular. Better to arrive earlier in the morning than in the afternoon if you can or you may have to wait for a spot.
Trails to the waterfalls start from the large parking area at the end of Deep Creek Road (across the creek from Deep Creek Campground).
Day 1: 3 Waterfalls Loop Trail In The Deep Creek Area Of The Smokies
2.4 mile RT, easy to moderate (there are some steep sections up to Juney Whank Falls), 60- 90 minutes
Park at the Deep Creek parking area (this could be hard on summer afternoons as this is a very popular spot for tubers).
Start up the Juney Whank Trail from the parking lot and get the steepest trail out of the way first. It is just a 1/4 of a mile long though and the 1) Juney Whank Falls are quite pretty.
Then keep going on Juney Whank trail past the falls until you get to Deep Creek Trail. Turn left to go up the mild incline of Deep Creek Trail.
2) Tom Branch Falls is the second waterfall you will see, on your right as you go up Deep Creek Trail and not far after you turn onto it from Juney Whank Trail. The waterfall is across the creek from the trail so keep an eye out.
But you have a second chance to see it on the way back as well when you descend down Deep Creek Trail to the parking lot.
Once the trail crosses a bridge over Deep Creek, look for Indian Creek trail on your right. You won’t go far up Indian Creek trail at all until you see a sign to the left for 3) Indian Creek Falls. It’s a short path and some stairs to the viewing area for the waterfall.
*To make this a bit longer hike, turn left onto Deep Creek Horse Trail from Juney Whank trail. Then take that to Deep Creek Trail. Turn right when you get back to Deep Creek trail, cross 2 bridges, and you are at the Indian Creek Trail intersection.
Not sure of the mileage but it took me about 30 min from Juney Whank Falls to Indian Creek Trail going this way. It took me about 20 min the other way so adding in Deep Creek Horse Trail didn’t really significantly change my time and prevented me from backtracking which I always like.
Once you have seen Indian Creek Falls, make your way back to Deep Creek trail and back to the parking lot, checking out Tom Branch Falls again on your way back.
* If you want to keep hiking, you can keep going on Indian Creek trail to Deep Creek Loop Trail which will take you back to Deep Creek trail but farther upstream. It makes a roughly 5 mile loop with some elevation gain near the Sunkota Ridge trail intersection with Deep Creek Loop trail. See map below.
Day 1- Go Tubing At Deep Creek
You’ll find several places to rent tubes on West Deep Creek Road on your way to the Deep Creek parking area from Bryson City. Here’s a list of outfitters renting tubes.
From the trailhead you can walk about 5 min up the trail for a 15 minute tubing trip or you can go nearly up to Indian Creek Falls for a longer float. Remember to bring water shoes for tubing and playing in the creeks.
And sunscreen, parts of the creek are not shaded so you get more sun than you might think.
Kids are now required to wear life jackets when tubing and most places should be able to rent those to you for an additional fee or refundable deposit.
Also check out our Great Smoky Mountains Itinerary for the Tennessee side of the park.
Day 1- Stroll Through Downtown Bryson City
Spend the rest of the day strolling through downtown. The hub of downtown consists of:
- Everett St (which has the most amount of shops and restaurants on it and crosses over the Tuckaseegee River)
- Main St – where the Visitor Center and some other shops are located
- Depot Street – where the Smoky Mountain Railroad is located.
Definitely walk by the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad even if you aren’t interested in a train ride. Let the kids climb on the various stationed trains and pose for keepsake photographs.
There is a Model Train Museum onsite with lots and lots of model trains plus a giant setup with working trains going thru mountains and a model town.
It costs $9 for 12 and up/ $5 for kids 3-11, so I wouldn’t pay for it unless you are really into model trains or have kids that are. It was pretty cool though, but then again, I like model trains.
Make a stop at Bryson City Outdoors on Main St for local recreation info. They rent mountain bikes here as well as kayaks and paddleboards during the summer at their outpost on nearby Fontana Lake.
They also have a ton of neat gear for any outdoor enthusiasts you know and some interesting Bryson City souvenirs.
If you are here Thursday- Saturday, pop into the small but mighty (and FREE!) Appalachian Rivers Aquarium, on Collins St, 2 blocks east of Everett St. Exhibiting famous regional fish like trout but also important non-game fish like darters, this is a neat place to take the kids.
The hellbender exhibit at the Aquarium is the best, and they have 2 of these federally protected species.
Trivia time: Hellbenders have been around for 6 million years and are the largest salamander in North America.
This is a rare animal in the Smokies and I had never seen one in person before. A fly- fishing museum is also onsite and they have all kinds of rods, reels, and flies that I am sure somebody who didn’t only catch trees on their one and only trip fly-fishing would appreciate.
If you take a right on Bryson St from Everett St (catty-corner to the red Bryson City caboose) and walk to the end, you will come across a short pedestrian bridge that takes you to Bryson City Island Park, a small island in the Tuckaseegee River with a walking trail and river access. A popular dog walking spot, it is a nice place for a stroll along the river.
Visit Bryson City’s website for a full list of shops, events, etc. Look for any fun festivals or good live music in the area. Nearby Nantahala Outdoor Center often has some good bands and events going on as well.
Day 1 Dinner
Grab an outdoor table at Anthony’s. Remember to arrive a bit before the dinner rush to avoid a wait. It’s right across the street from Smoky Mountain Railroad Depot so the kids enjoy looking at the trains while you are waiting for your tasty food.
See more restaurant recommendations in our blog “Our Favorite Restaurants In Bryson City”.
Day 2- Things To Do In Bryson City
Day 2 Overview
- Breakfast At Everett Diner In Downtown
- Outdoor Activity (choose 1 of 4): 1) Explore Fontana Lake On A Boat, 2) Smoky Mountain Railroad, 3) Whitewater Rafting, 4) Blue Ridge Parkway Hikes
- Eat Dinner Downtown Or At The Nantahala Outdoor Center
Day 2 Breakfast
Awake and make your own breakfast or head downtown to Everett Diner, right across the street from the Aloft in the Smokies. They offer regular diner fare with fantastic french toast and a kids menu.
Their biscuits and gravy are also terrific. To avoid a wait, arrive early if possible. Everett’s is kind of an institution in Bryson City and super popular.
Back up choices would be La Dolce Vita or Bryson City Bakery.
Day 2 Option 1: Explore Fontana Lake By Boat
Fontana Lake is a beautiful lake. The water is clear enough to see your feet when you swim and warm enough to enjoy it. Much of the shoreline is undeveloped too.
Boat Rentals In Bryson City: Rent a canoe, kayak, paddleboard, or motorized boat or bring one from home to head out to one of its islands for a picnic. If you’d like to rent kayaks or SUPs when you arrive in Bryson City, check out this downtown store: Bryson City Outdoors.
You can also rent a pontoon boat from Almond Boat Park and tour all the coves of the lake.
As you paddle the shoreline, look for signs of camping spots or accessible beaches. Beach the boat, hook up the hammocks, and have a great time hanging out on the lake, swimming and taking in the scenery.
Directions to Fontana Lake
If you brought your own kayak/ canoe/ motorboat, park at the boat ramp at Tsali Campground and Recreation Area. Follow signs to the Tsali Campground and veer right just before the Tsali Trailhead Parking lot.
Ample parking is available at the launch. From Bryson City, it takes about 20 minutes. Take U.S. 19 south for 9 miles to NC 28 west. Turn right on NC 28. Go 5 miles and look for the sign on right.
FYI- Tsali Recreation Area also provides excellent mountain biking if anyone is so inclined. In fact, Outside Magazine rated this as one of their Top Ten Mountain Bike Trails in the U.S.
The trails are fine for a newbie mountain bike rider in good shape but might be a little much for an occasional greenway rider. The trails are always open to hikers and there is a $2 fee for use.
For a good overview, see the Insider’s Guide to Tsali from Blue Ridge Outdoors.
Day 2 Option 2: Take a Ride On The Great Smoky Mountain Railway
Bryson City is home to the Great Smoky Mountain Railway offering scenic train excursion trips through the North Carolina mountains along the Nantahala and Tuckasegee Rivers, across valleys, and through tunnels.
All of the train rides depart from downtown Bryson City at the Train Depot. You can either take the Nantahala Gorge Excursion that lasts 4.5 hours and takes you up through the heart of the river gorge (see picture above) or the 4 hour Tuckaseegee River Excursion that meanders along that river to historic Dillsboro.
The Dillsboro train passes by the The Fugitive movie set where they filmed the train escape so that is pretty cool. Both train trips include an hour long layover, either at the Nantahala Outdoor Center or in Dillsboro.
You can order lunch served in your train car or a boxed lunch (depending on your ticket class) on the train, but you can’t bring picnics or coolers.
Day 2 Option 3: Nantahala River Whitewater Rafting
Located roughly 20 minutes from downtown Bryson City, Nantahala Outdoor Center (aka “the NOC” and is pronounced either “Knock” or “the N- O- C”) offers guided rafting trips on Level II/III rapids on the Nantahala River.
You could spend a half day at the NOC just hanging out (there is a surprising amount to do) or a full day if you are rafting.
Safety Notes: Kids must be 7 years or older and weigh at least 60 pounds. I would also say they need to be confident swimmers. The river is not the most difficult as whitewater goes, especially in a raft, but people do fall out and the current is swift.
You do need to pay attention to the mandatory safety briefing as well, this isn’t like an airplane safety briefing where everyone has their Airpods in and is only pretending to listen.
The NOC provides all necessary gear and equipment. Make reservations in advance. There are two, large, public bathrooms with changing areas at the NOC and they will rent wet suits and booties.
If you are in a raft and it’s late summer, I would not worry about renting additional gear. But if you are going early or late season in a duckie, I might think about it. The water temperature stays in the low 50’s year-round. Your feet get cold.
If the the NOC is packed (and that’s almost a guarantee on weekends in the summer), I also like Fast Rivers outfitters. They have a nice new building way up the road by the put-in off of Wayah Road.
Whitewater rafting at NOC is hands down the kids’ favorite thing to do in Bryson City. It is like a roller coaster except provided by Mother Nature!
Other Activities at the NOC
If you are not into whitewater and want something more land-based, NOC has lots of activities. You can also visit the NOC and just hang out, it is a compact area right around the takeout for the river and the biggest rapid is just upstream making for very entertaining viewing.
You can walk the pedestrian bridge over the river and watch the kayakers and rafts come down the river.
It’s a really fun scene and parents can grab a beer onsite at Wesser’s on the River and watch the kids splash in the cold, calm water there. Kayakers also like to practice on the rapids right in front of Wesser’s picnic tables so there is always something to watch.
The NOC often has live music on the weekends as well so there is always something going on it seems.
River’s End Restaurant is located across the pedestrian bridge from Wesser’s. It’s a favorite with the Appalachian Trail thru-hikers for its giant rice plates and has been around since the 70’s. It has huge windows overlooking the river, so the view is outstanding.
Other activities at the NOC besides the whitewater rafting include a Zip Line tour, a Zip Line Adventure which is zip lining plus aerial challenges, camping, mountain biking, canoeing and kayaking on Fontana Lake, and Treetop Adventures, an aerial, net-enclosed playground for ages 3+ (this is super cool and right next to Wesser’s On the River. The NOC really is one stop shopping for outdoor adventure.
Check the list of activities on the NOC website to get seasonal dates and prices as it does change.
Pro-Tip– Parking at the NOC can get crazy, so allow time for it. You might have to circle a few times or have people get out of the car to hold spots.
Day 2 Option 4: Hike Along The Blue Ridge Parkway
If you are here in fall, spending some time along the Blue Ridge Parkway might be the best option to see some gorgeous fall colors from scenic vistas.
These are 3 great hikes all within 4 miles of each other on the Blue Ridge Parkway — Devils Courthouse (mm 422), Black Balsam Knob (mm 420), and Graveyard Fields (mm 418). It will take you about an hour to drive there from Bryson City, getting on the famous Blue Ridge Parkway near Balsam, NC at mm 443.
The roughly 25 miles you will travel on the Blue Ridge Parkway will take you much longer than the almost 30 miles you drove to get to it but it is known as one of the most scenic roads in America so the curvy road with its low speed limit will be worth it, I promise.
Devils Courthouse (mm 422) – A steep 0.5 mile hike leads you up to the top of this rocky outcropping with fantastic views. Stay on the trail though so you don’t disturb the falcons that nest on the rocks.
Black Balsam Knob on the Art Loeb Trail (mm 420) – An easy 1.4 mile RT hike to the top of a bald with 360 views makes this a legendary hike in the Smokies. You can keep going on to Tennent Mountain, another bald that is just under 2 miles from the trailhead, or head back to the parking area and drive further along the spur road to Sam Knob for a 2.5 mile RT hike to yet another glorious Smoky Mountain bald.
Asheville Trails has very helpful descriptions of all of these awesome hikes.
Graveyard Fields (mm 418) – A 3.3 mile loop to 2 different waterfalls that is popular with families and anybody who likes pretty waterfalls.
Day 2 Dinner
If you ended up at the NOC today, I would probably eat there and see if there is any live music going on. If your outdoor adventures took you elsewhere, then I would return to Bryson City and eat at one of the restaurants there.
If you haven’t eaten at Anthony’s yet, I would head there first. If you have, then I would head to Bryson City Brewing (over on Depot St) or check out the Rice Wagon (the food truck behind Mountain Layers) for something different.
Day 3- Things To Do In Bryson City
Day 3 Morning – Breakfast and check out of your lodgings
Check-out of your lodging, grab breakfast at La Dolce Vita Bakery or Bryson City Bakery.
If you have time before you have to hit the road home, drive the “Road to Nowhere” to the tunnel at the end and take a short hike.
Day 3: Visit The Road To Nowhere
The “Road To Nowhere” is a complicated tale that in many ways is typical of the history of this area as the story involves TVA, the park service, locals unhappy about losing their land, and what is now a wonderful natural area that is hugely popular with all kinds of outdoor enthusiasts.
It is definitely worth a trip just a few miles out of town to go see.
Nowadays, the “Road To Nowhere” starts at the park boundary just outside Bryson City. It goes for 6 miles and has several pull- offs for scenic overlooks and trail heads.
At the end of the paved road is the famous tunnel, built wide enough for 2 lanes of traffic and right through the mountainside. This is as far as the road building got before it was halted in the 1960s.
The tunnel is longer than you think, and many people bring flashlights as it gets quite dark in the middle but they are not really necessary. Kids love walking through the tunnel and making spooky sounds.
Lakeshore Trail continues on the other side of the tunnel and is the second longest trail (about 33 miles) in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Hike as long as you want and then head back. Or take the Goldmine Loop Trail for a moderately easy 3 mile hike.
See Explore Bryson City for a trail map for additional trails in the area.
Directions to the “Road To Nowhere”
Take Everett Street north out of town and stay on it for 2 miles until you cross into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. From there, it is another 6 miles until you see the tunnel and the parking area just before it.
See Bryson City’s Chamber of Commerce article for more info about the Road To Nowhere. You can also read the nice article the Asheville Citizen- Times wrote about it.
Rainy Day Activities In Bryson City
If it turns out to be a rainy weekend in Bryson City, NC, we’ve got you covered with these things to do:
Great Smoky Mountain Railway – If you haven’t already taken the scenic ride through the mountains, a rainy day might be a good time to do it.
Smoky Mountain Model Train Museum – The train museum is located next to the Great Smoky Mountain Railway boarding area. It boasts a great selection of various model trains, numerous layouts, a children’s activity center, and gift shop.
Admission is free with your ticket to ride the Smoky Mountain Railway, otherwise it is $9 for 12 and over/ $5 for ages 3-11. Mon-Sat: 8:30-5:30. 226 Everett St.
Appalachian Rivers Aquarium – Take the kids to see the hellbenders at this free museum in Bryson City. Its small and will probably not take more than 30 minutes to see but that might be enough to let a passing shower move on.
Museum of the Cherokee People – Located 20 minutes away in the nearby town of Cherokee, you’ll find this excellent museum detailing the history of the Cherokee Tribe. Open daily 9am-5pm. Tickets are $15 adults and $8 children. 589 Tsali Boulevard. Cherokee, NC.
Oconaluftee Indian Village– Tour the authentic working Cherokee village with dwellings, residents, and artisans right out of the 1760’s. Experience traditional medicine and interact with villagers as they hull canoes, make pottery and masks, weave baskets and beadwork, and participate in their daily activities.
Open Mondays- Saturdays, April 30- November 10. 10 am- 4 pm. Closed on Sundays. Tickets are $25 for ages 13+, $15 for ages 6-12, and free for children under 5.218 Drama Rd, Cherokee, NC.
Cherokee Cinemas – Catch a movie on one of their 6 screens with stadium seating. Open daily. 91 Sequoyah Trail in nearby Cherokee, NC.
Additional Tips That Might Be Helpful
Nearest Grocery Store To Bryson City
The IGA Supermarket is super close to downtown Bryson City, but I would recommend a car to get to it. It’s located at 345 Main St. and is open until 8pm. If you are in a pinch, a Dollar General is located within walking distance in downtown Bryson City. 255 Everett St. Good for Cokes and chips.
There is a larger Ingles supermarket about a mile outside of town. From Aloft, turn right onto Main St/ Hwy 19 and go about 3/4 of a mile then turn left onto Hughes Branch Road. Ingles is just ahead on your left.
This is a big grocery store with a good selection and generally where we go if staying for an extended period or have a large group.
Driving Tips When Going To Bryson City, NC
You’ll find several options when looking for directions to Bryson City. You may save time by following some of these suggested routes but the drive may involve super curvy mountain roads. So look at the directions carefully.
Coming from the Knoxville area, we take I-40 East to Smoky Mountain Expressway (Highway 23) because our family is prone to car sickness. Avoid Highway 129/28 (this is called “The Dragon” for a reason) and also 441 through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (this is because of park traffic plus the curvy road).
Happy Trails! See more weekend getaways in North Carolina.
Happy Trails! Enjoy all the adventures this great mountain town has to offer! Also, see our blog 3 Family Fall Getaways in the North Carolina Mountains for even more fun.
Or, check out our book on Amazon- North Carolina Mountain Towns- Family Weekend Adventures in Asheville, Bryson City, and Brevard.
