When it comes to thrilling winter adventures, snow tubing has all the frosty entertainment you need to please your entire crew. The best part is that you don’t have to plan an expensive week-long vacation to enjoy the fun!
With tons of locations within a 3-hour drive, these awesome spots for snow tubing near Knoxville TN make excellent day trips. To stretch those smiles, some of the tubing parks also boast snow play areas, ice skating, and additional attractions.
When you’ve had your fill of winter, you can warm up with a tasty meal at a scrumptious local restaurant or go sightseeing in one of the quaint nearby towns.
While the Knoxville area is filled with entertaining winter adventures, snow tubing just may be the most fun!
Snow Tubing Near Knoxville TN (3-Hour Drive or Less)
While Knoxville may be a little light on the winter snowstorms, you can get your fill of fresh, frosty powder at one of these awesome tubing locations nearby. With just a short drive, you can have all the winter adventures you’ve been dreaming of!
1. Pigeon Forge Snow
- Distance from Knoxville 56 minutes
- 2533 Teaster Lane, Pigeon Forge
This unique indoor snow tubing attraction is open year-round. They use a snow machine to bring the wonder of snow indoors without any added chemicals. Their snow is non-toxic and made of pure water.
To tube, guests must be 3 years old and at least 38 inches tall.
In addition to the tubing, they also have a fun indoor snow play zone that is great for all ages. Even tiny tikes are welcome in this area.
Tubing Prices
1 hour of tubing is $21.99. 1 hour of snow play is $7.99. A 2-hour combo pass is $26.99. There is an additional fee for parking.
Food and Drink
There is a snack bar on-site with quick-to-serve items.
Right across the street from Pigeon Forge Snow is The Island, an outdoor shopping district, where you’ll find tasty favorites like Margaritaville, Timberwood Grill, Mellow Mushroom Pizza, and Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen.
A little further down the street, Blue Moose Burgers and Wings offers all your favorite American classics, including 25 wing platters where you can mix and match flavors in increments of 5. Yum! Not only is the food delicious, but it’s also one of the most affordable restaurants in Pigeon Forge.
2. Ober Gatlinburg Snow Tubing
- Distance from Knoxville: 1 hour and 18 minutes
- 1339 Ski Mountain Rd, Gatlinburg, TN
At Ober Gatlinburg, guests ages 3 and up will enjoy state-of-the-art park features including a huge escalator that will carry you and your tube up the snowy hill after each run.
Due to the popularity of this attraction and the sheer mass of people visiting the Smokies each winter, the wait times to enter the park can be upwards of 2 hours. All tubbing times are reserved in advance, so be sure to leave yourself plenty of time.
If you enter the park early, you’ll be able to enjoy the other attractions while you wait for your tubing timeslot. In addition to snow tubing, this action-packed winter wonderland offers skiing, ice skating, amusement rides, a kids’ zone, and more!
Tubing Prices
The price for all guests aged 5 and up is $30 on weekdays and $35 on weekends for a 90-minute session. Kids ages 3 and 4 are free with a paying adult.
Parking
There are 2 ways to get to the top of the mountain, you can drive up and park in the Ober Gatlinburg parking lot, or you can park in Downtown Gatlinburg and ride the scenic aerial tram to the top of the mountain for an additional fee.
Whether you choose to take the aerial tram or park at the top of the mountain, parking is $10 per day.
Food and Drink
On top of the mountain, Ober Gatlinburg offers a full-service steak house, lounge with craft beer and bar foods, and a sidewalk cafe with quick eats like burgers and personal pizzas.
At the bottom of the mountain, Downtown Gatlinburg is home to some of the most beloved restaurants in the Smokies, including Blake Shelton’s restaurant Ole Red.
3. Tube World
- Distance from Knoxville: 1 hour and 39 minutes
- 4821 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley, NC
Tube World makes its own snow throughout the season to keep the runs fresh and slick. You also won’t get stuck carrying your tube here. After each run, you and your tube will ride back up the hill on their moving carpet lift.
This location does have a reputation for being muddy at times, so you may want to call ahead before you go.
Just up the road is their sister ski resort and terrain park for even more snow fun!
Tubing Prices
The price for a 45-minute session is $30/weekdays and $35/weekends and holidays. The minimum height requirement is 42 inches.
Food and Drink
Brickhouse Burgers and Pizza is offering up tons of America’s favorite foods. In addition to the pizza and burgers they are known for, this restaurant also boasts a variety of sandwiches, chicken dinner platters, and more!
About 20 minutes down the road from Tube World, you’ll find the ever-popular Country Vittles Family Style Restaurant. This local gem offers all your favorite homestyle southern cuisine including fried chicken, fried catfish, ham hock green beans, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, an assortment of homemade desserts, and so much more.
4. Zip and Slip Snow Tubing Park
- Distance from Knoxville 2 hours and 6 minutes
- 10725 US-23, Mars Hill, NC
Zip and Slip boasts 3 premium tubing lanes and a conveyor belt to transport you and your tube to the top of the hill.
Tubing Prices
The price for a 1-hour tubing session is $30 per person. A 2-hour session is $45.
Food and Drink
There is a snack bar on-site serving light refreshments including warm and toasty hot chocolate.
Just 2 minutes away is Little Creek Cafe which is known for its southern home cookin’, especially its fried fish and delicious homemade cakes.
5. Hatley Pointe Ski Resort
- Distance from Knoxville 2 hours and 16 minutes
- 578 Valley View Cir, Mars Hill, NC
The tubing at Hatley Pointe takes a unique spin. Instead of having individual lanes, this facility has one HUGE lane that is 60 feet wide at the top and 100 feet wide at the bottom, which makes it easy to link tubes together for extra fun!
Tubing Prices
A 1-hour tubing session costs $20 per person and 2 hours is $30. Children 5 and under ride free with a paying adult.
Food and Drink
There is a snack bar on-site serving tasty light concessions, including hot cocoa perfect for warming you up on a frosty day.
Little Creek Cafe (above) is just a few short minutes away. A little bit further down the road, you’ll find the Stackhouse Eatery and Pub which offers delectable burgers and traditional American fare.
6. Moonshine Mountain Snow Tubing
- Distance from Knoxville: 2 hours and 23 minutes
- 5865 Willow Rd, Hendersonville, NC
This snowy adventure park boasts over 500 feet of snow tubing fun! They make their own snow to ensure the perfect conditions for fun all winter long. They also have an automated system that pulls you up the hill on your tube, so you don’t have to walk.
Kids under 8 must have adult supervision, but all riders must be on their own tubes. No one under 36 inches will be allowed to ride. They have helmets available for small children, but you can bring your own if you desire.
Please note there is no skiing or snowboarding at this location.
Tubing Prices
The all-ages tubing price is $30 per person for a 2-hour session.
Food and Drink
Moonshine Mountain has a food truck on-site that serves cheesesteaks, burgers, chicken strips, and more.
You can also tantalize your tastebuds at HenDough Chicken and Donuts, which serves a variety of gourmet donuts, specialty chicken sandwiches, and salads. Yum!
Dandelion is a popular cafe nearby that serves as a job training program for survivors of domestic violence. They offer a tasty but limited menu including a variety of sandwiches and salads.
7. Jonas Ridge Snow Tubing Park
- Distance from Knoxville 2 hours and 31 minutes
- 9472 NC-181, Newland, NC
This popular snow tubing park boasts 5 tubing lanes and a conveyor belt that takes you to the top of the hill. Children must be at least 3 years old and be able to comfortably tube on their own.
Tubing Prices
The price for riders over 6 is $25 for 1 hour of tubing or $35 for 1 hour and 45 minutes. For riders 6 and under the cost is $20 an hour or $30 for an hour and 45 minutes.
Food and Drink
Carolina BBQ serves traditional North Carolina BBQ, ribs, burgers, and chicken. They also have a variety of delectable sides including mac-n-cheese, coleslaw, fried okra, hush puppies, and more.
If BBQ isn’t your thing, can grab all your favorite Mexican dishes at Los Arcoiris.
8. Beech Mountain Ski Resort
- Distance from Knoxville 2 hours and 34 minutes
- 1007 Beech Mountain Pkwy, Beech Mountain, NC
This is one of the most popular spots for snow tubing near Knoxville.
At Beech Mountain, the tubing runs are extra long with chutes up to 700 feet in length. There is also a magic carpet conveyor belt to transport you and your tube to the top of the hill.
All guests must be 42″ inches or taller to ride. In addition to tubing, there is also ice skating and skiing at this location.
Tubing Prices
The weekday price is $30 per person. The weekend and holiday price is $35 per person.
Food and Drink
Beech Mountain has several restaurants on their property including The Lodge, which is centrally located to all the slopes and offers quick cafeteria-style eats.
Beech Mountain Brewing Company Tap Room and Grill is a full-service restaurant and bar that boasts burgers, sandwiches, salads, wings, craft beer, and more!
There are also 2 bars on the property that serve alcohol and bar food: Red Baron Room and 5506′ Skybar. The Skybar offers sweeping mountain views.
9. Sugar Mountain Tubing Park
- Distance from Knoxville 2 hours and 34 minutes
- SugarMountains, NC
Sugar Mountain Tubing offers 700-foot-long runs and a magic carpet lift to transport people and tubes to the top of the hill. The resort also offers skiing, ice skating, and snowshoeing.
Tubing Prices
It’s $30 for a 1-hour and 45-minute weekday session and $36 for a weekend session. Children ages 3 and 4 are free with a paid adult. No one under the age of 3 may ride.
Food and Drink
The Banner Elk Cafe and Tavern offers handmade pizza, a large selection of your favorite American foods, and a full bar.
Bella’s Neighborhood Italian Restaurant is another popular option serving up a wide variety of pasta, pizza, and more. They also offer craft beer and wine.
10. Hawksnest Snow Tubing and Zipline
- Distance from Knoxville 2 hours and 44 minutes
- 2058 Skyland Dr, Seven Devils, NC
The location is the largest of all the snow tubing attractions near Knoxville. It offers 30 different runs at different difficulty levels. Each run ranges in length from 400 – 1,000 feet.
There is also a conveyor belt to transport you and your tube back to the top. This facility makes its own snow which means there’ll be plenty of it throughout the season. The minimum age for riders is 3 years old.
Tubing Prices
Monday through Friday, the all-ages price is $33 for a 1-hour and 45-minute session. The weekend and holiday price is $45. There is also an additional charge for parking on weekends and holidays.
Bib rentals are available for $13.
Food and Drink
There’s a lodge on-site that serves quick eats to hungry tubers.
Eat Crow is a scrumptious bakery and cafe serving up a variety of yummy sandwiches, salads, pies, tarts, cakes, and more!
Nearby, Bella’s is an Italian-American restaurant offering delicious pastas, pizzas, and burgers.
11. Scaly Mountain Outdoor Snow Tubing Center
- Distance from Knoxville 2 hours and 47 minutes
- 7420 Dillard Rd, Scaly Mountain, NC
Scaly Mountain Outdoor Snow Tubing Center is a year-round adventure park. For the main tubing slopes, riders must be at least 42 inches tall and 4 years old. For younger kids, they also have smaller kiddie slopes.
In addition to snow tubing, they also have ice skating, gem mining, and an old-fashioned country gift shop. When the weather is warmer they offer hillside grassy tubing and trout fishing.
Tubing Prices
The tubing price for guests 4 and up is $30 for a 2-hour session. For younger riders who will be on the kiddie slopes, the price is $15 for 2 hours.
Food and Drink
Annie’s Cafe is located at the adventure park and serves fried chicken, ribs, trout, sandwiches, salads, and more!
Bella’s Junction Cafe is a small-town gem serving up delicious burgers, sandwiches, and dinner platters including streak, trout, pasta, and entree salads.
12. Sapphire Valley Tubing Park
- Distance from Knoxville 2 hours and 49 minutes
- 127 Cherokee Trail, Sapphire, NC
Sapphire Valley boasts 500-foot runs and a verticle drop of 60 feet. There is also a moving sidewalk which makes getting to the top of the hill a breeze.
There are no age or height restrictions at this location, but all tubers must be able to ride in their own tube. Parents are not allowed to ride with a child on their lap.
This well-rounded resort also offers skiing.
Tubing Prices
The all-ages tubing price is $30 for a 1-hour and 75-minute session.
Food and Drink
The on-site restaurant Micha’s serves pizza, wings, burgers, steaks, seafood, and more!
Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company specializes in wood-fired pizza and craft beer. They also offer burgers, salads, sandwiches, ribs, and more.
Knoxville Snow Tubing (3 + Hour Drive)
Though these Knoxville snow tubing spots are a little further away, their locations make them excellent weekend trips. From scenic southern cities to full-service ski resorts, these gems have everything you need to plan the perfect mini trip.
13. Chutes at Crowders Ridge
- Distance from Knoxville 3 hours and 16 minutes
- 130 Camp Rotary Rd, Gastonia, NC
Crowders Camp offers winter “snow” tubing as a month-long fundraiser each year. The lanes are set up to look exactly like snow, but they are actually made of slick sheeting.
This location is just 30 minutes outside of Charlotte NC, which boasts a science museum, children’s museum, and much more!
Tubing Prices
$15 per person. Children must be at least 4 years old to participate.
14. Winterplace Snow Tubing
- Distance from Knoxville 3 hours and 41 minutes
- 100 Old Flat Top Mountain Road, Ghent, WV
The snow tubing runs at WinterPlace feature a carpet lift that will take you up the hill after each run.
At this location, you can also hit the ski slopes or terrain park for even more winter fun!
Tubing Prices
$29 per person for a 90-minute session. All riders must be at least 44 inches tall.
Food and Drink
4 delicious eateries are right on-site at the resort including, Mountain Mama’s Food Court, The Mountain House Restaurant, Mickey’s Mountain Cafe, and The Snowdrift Lounge.
15. The Plunge Snow Tubing Park
- Distance from Knoxville 5 hours and 21 minutes
- 39 Mountain Inn Loop, Roseland, VA
The Plunge claims to be the largest snow tubing park in all of Virginia. Their runs are around 10 stories high. There is also a conveyor belt that takes you to the top of the hill.
For children who do not meet the height requirement, this attraction has a kiddie section called Ridgely’s Fun Park. This section boasts a mini tubing hill and a fun snow-play area.
This location is also a full ski resort with slopes for all skill levels, a spa, and more!
Tubing Prices
The weekday rate is $24 per person for a 90-minute session. The weekend rate is $34 per person. All guests must be at least 42 inches tall.
Food and Drink
There are several restaurants on-site at this location including a pizza joint, a casual burger and sandwich cafe, and a more formal restaurant with upscale dining.
More East TN Family Fun
Did we miss any of your favorite spots for snow tubing near Knoxville TN? Comment below with the details so we can add it to the list.
Erica has lived in East TN for over 10 years. She enjoys exploring this gorgeous region with her husband and 3 lively children. As a former teacher turned homeschool mom, she loves finding fun and affordable activities the entire family will love, especially if they cultivate a love for learning!