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Brimming with educational opportunities for all ages, the Great Smoky Mountains is the ideal destination for your homeschool family. Museums, art galleries, local crafts, theaters, animal encounters, historic sites, escape games, and outdoor fun are great for teaching your kids new STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics) concepts. Plus, you can save cash with homeschool discounts in Pigeon Forge and the neighboring towns of Gatlinburg, Sevierville, and Knoxville, Tennessee!
Finally, take a homeschool vacation without worrying about falling behind in schoolwork or bouncing over your budget. And we’re only scratching the surface here… By planning a homeschool getaway to the Smoky Mountains, you can liven up study time at a cozy cabin, bank on exclusive special offers, and inspire your kids to learn in a fresh environment. Why else should you bring homeschool to the Smokies? Let’s jump into it!
Top 5 Reasons to Homeschool in the Smokies
After careful consideration, we’ve narrowed down our top 5 reasons homeschooling in the Smokies is a great opportunity for YOUR family or homeschool pod!- Unique educational opportunities for YOUR kid
Score teachable moments at museums, an award-winning aquarium, and the crafts community...for starters.
- Discounts on fun attractions for homeschool families
Lower ticket rates or even FREE entry for homeschool families offer plenty to do on a budget (more details below).
- Change of scenery for YOU and the kiddos
Hit refresh with gorgeous mountain, forest, city, or river views after a cram study sesh at the cabin.
- FREE entry into the national park!
Spot wildlife, hike to a waterfall, or visit historic structures in Cades Cove without paying a dime.
- Fun cabin amenities as study rewards
Game tables, a home theater, resort playgrounds, or a private indoor pool make excellent after-school treats!
Subscribe for Exclusive Homeschool Offers
Schoolwork pays off for YOU and the kids at an amenity-loaded, convenient cabin with a hot tub, theater, games, or an indoor pool! And with loads of FREE educational opportunities and great homeschool discounts in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Sevierville, and Knoxville, homeschooling in the Great Smoky Mountains just makes sense. That’s why Cabins for YOU has created a homeschool group where we keep you updated with our latest homeschool offers plus local homeschool content.
Whether you’re working on early childhood development, teaching elementary concepts, reinforcing subjects at a middle school level, or preparing your teen for graduation, there are loads of educational opportunities to suit all ages in the Smoky Mountains. Many attractions in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Sevierville, and Knoxville offer special homeschool discounts for homeschool families visiting the area.
Some must-visit places are FREE — not only the national park! Plus, with homeschool savings on so many attractions, you can afford to visit even more enriching places, like Parrot Mountain and Gardens, the Forbidden Caverns, and RainForest Adventures Discovery Zoo. Many also offer group rates in case you’re planning a homeschool field trip for your whole pod!
You spend enough on study tools, online curriculum, meetings, homeschool groups, etc. Save on educational things to do in Pigeon Forge, TN — with homeschool days, discounts, and special rates!
Alcatraz East Crime Museum
Homeschool Days: special pricing (Sep-Nov)
Teach your kids about the justice system in a fun, innovative way when you visit Alcatraz East. This crime museum features 25,000 square feet of exhibits and 100+ interactives. There’s even an entire zone for Junior Detectives to learn about pirates, outlaws, and officers in a kid-friendly manner.
Crave Golf Club
Homeschool Days: FREE for 1 week in fall
Candy-themed mini-golf courses indoors and on the rooftop offer a chance to refine motor skills and just have fun! Plus, each hole features a challenge wheel the kids can spin and attempt to keep engaged. What’s more, there’s a sweets shop, escape games, and mini-bowling in case you want a little more variety.
DollywoodHomeschool Days: $37 per student, $47 per adult (Aug-Sep, must purchase tickets 72 hours in advance at 888.428.6789)
Bang for your buck with Dollywood homeschool days is no joke! Roller coasters and kiddy rides are just the start at this family-friendly theme park. Learn about bald eagles at the sanctuary, visit Dolly Parton museums, enjoy live performances, and watch local crafters at work. There are also plenty of places to eat and shop.
Dollywood’s Splash Country
Homeschool Days: $37 per person (Aug-Sep, must purchase tickets 72 hours in advance at 888.428.6789)
Summertime opens Dollywood’s Splash Country — a family water park in the Smokies. Splash and play in the raging river, cool wave pool, and Bear Mountain Fire Tower (an interactive water zone for kids). Of course, there are loads of water slides and rides, ice cream and treats, plus relaxing waterside canopies.
Titanic Museum Attraction
Homeschool Rate: $13 per student + 1 adult (price includes tax)
With the Titanic homeschool discount, you’ll have access to the entire museum attraction that teaches on this monumental event in history. Grab a boarding pass and explore the museum with your kiddos. Touch a real iceberg, dip your hand into freezing water, view 400+ artifacts, attempt to stand on leaning decks, and more!
TopJump Trampoline & Extreme Arena
Homeschool Days: FREE for 1 week in fall
Keep your kiddos active and burn off some pent-up energy at TopJump — an indoor trampoline park with bouncy sports, a trick foam pit, a climbing center, the challenging Fire & Ice Ninja Course, a kids zone, and a spacious open jump area. Plus, there’s an upbeat arcade and a candy shop!
WonderWorks
Homeschool Rate: $12 per person / $10 per person for groups of 10+ (Mon-Fri, open – 3:00 p.m.)
An educational hub in Pigeon Forge, WonderWorks focuses on mind development with edutainment (education + entertainment). The WonderWorks homeschool discount gives you full access to 100+ interactives and the indoor ropes course. This neat attraction features 6 Wonder Zones designed to educate children on extreme weather, physical limits, outer space, light and sound, imagination, and art.
Sevier Air Trampoline & Ninja Warrior Park
Homeschool Rate: $10-12 per hour
At 38,000 square feet, this indoor family adventure park features dodgeball, basketball, rock climbing, a timed ninja warrior course, a 3-story net system, and whopping trampolines. Plus, there are added virtual panels to encourage rhythmic jumps and improve timing skills. During breaks, stop by Orange Leaf for a re-energizing treat.
Filled with family-friendly fun, there are so many things to do in Gatlinburg with kids. That means more discounted rates for homeschoolers in Gatlinburg, TN — yes, there’s even a Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg homeschool discount!
From rotating educational exhibits and an interactive aquarium to outdoor fun and stimulating puzzles, all 8 Ripley’s attractions along the Parkway in the Smokies offer great opportunities to grow and spend quality time with your homeschool family.
Aquarium of the Smokies
Homeschool Rate: $10.99 per student/sibling + $19.99 per teaching parent
Believe It Or Not! Museum
Homeschool Rate: $10.99 per person
Davy Crockett Mini-Golf
Homeschool Rate: $5 per person
Haunted Adventure
Homeschool Rate: $7 per person
Mirror Maze
Homeschool Rate: $4 per person
Moving Theater
Homeschool Rate: $7 per person
Old MacDonald Mini-Golf
Homeschool Rate: $5 per person
Super Fun Zone
Homeschool Rate: $7 per person
Take homeschool outside and into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for FREE! With zero cost to enter year-round — and as the most-visited national park in the country — the Smoky Mountains National Park is a top natural homeschool destination for YOU.
Teachable moments abound with passing wildlife, flowering plants, evergreen trees, flowing creeks, cascading waterfalls, historic structures, and gorgeous mountain peaks. Go hiking, horseback riding, bicycling, fishing, or picnicking and take scenic drives. You could even plan a nature scavenger hunt. Here are a few areas we recommend exploring with your kiddos!
- Andrews Bald
- Cades Cove
- Clingmans Dome
- Grotto Falls
- Laurel Falls Trail
- Porters Creek Trail
- Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
Homeschool savings for the whole family is great, but it’s even better when you can spend $0 on quality educational experiences, right? Check out a few of our favorite FREE family-friendly attractions in Pigeon Forge (PF), Gatlinburg (G), Sevierville (S), and Knoxville (K), TN. Of course, many seasonal events are free, too!
- Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts | G
- Beck Cultural Exchange Center | K
- Burchfiel Grove and Arboretum | S
- Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community | G
- Knoxville Botanical Gardens & Arboretum | K
- McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture | K
- Mt. Ton of Fun | S
- Patriot Park | PF
- Riverwalk Trail | PF
- Sevier County Heritage Museum | S
- Sugarlands Little River Ranger Station | G
- Sugarlands Visitor Center | G
- The Island | PF
- The Old Mill Square | PF
Plan YOUR Homeschool Experience
Enjoy a change of scenery while homeschooling when you stay at a cozy cabin rental in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg. Plus, you can reward with fun cabin amenities you can’t find at home — including a private indoor pool, hot tub, theater, or game room! Cabins for YOU provides homey conveniences as well, like high speed Wi-Fi to keep up with online schoolwork, a fully equipped kitchen to prepare homemade meals, and a washer/dryer to keep up with laundry.
Planning a homeschool field trip with a large group? We have spacious cabins that sleep 60+ guests and offer separate spaces for a variety of lessons. And if you’re looking to save cash on your cabin stay, Cabins for YOU is the only local vacation rental company that offers a rewards program with instant savings. Not to mention, our guests receive discounts to partner attractions year-round, and our weekday rates are a steal for homeschool families!
At Cabins for YOU, many of us are parents, grandparents, or guardians just like you. We understand what you’re looking for in a kid-friendly, fun cabin that will suit all your homeschooling needs. And we know homeschool in the Smokies isn’t just for the kids; you deserve relaxing amenities as after-school treats, too!
Our cabins come in all shapes and sizes — 1-16 bedrooms — and feature a variety of amenities and features that make homeschool life on vacation easier. Choose from our current 450+ cabins that range from budget friendly to luxury. Of course, we can’t forget the family pet with our large selection of pet-friendly cabins!
Rewarding Amenities
- Outdoor Hot Tub / Indoor Jetted or Garden Tub
- Home Theater with Projector/Big Screen TV
- Game Room with Pool, Foosball, Air Hockey, Arcade Games, etc.
- Private Indoor Pool (great study motivator or PE class!)
- Resort Amenities
- Walking Trails
- Catch-and-Release Ponds
- Outdoor Pools
- Clubhouses with Games
- Playgrounds
- Tennis/Basketball Courts
Homeschool Features
- Mountain, River, Wooded, or City Views (stimulating change of scenery)
- Fully Equipped Kitchen + Gas/Charcoal Grill (homemade meals/snacks)
- Dining Table (some cabins have desks, too)
- Picnic Table (homework in the fresh mountain air)
- FREE High Speed Wi-Fi (online schoolwork)
Homeschool Group Trips
Our massive cabin rentals are perfect for homeschool group trips in the Great Smoky Mountains. If you’re planning a memorable homeschool field trip with your homeschool pod, consider staying in a large group cabin to keep everyone together. Many of our bigger cabins feature private bedroom suites, double kitchens, spacious dining areas to eat and do schoolwork, multiple rooms to host workshops and study sessions, and loads of entertaining amenities inside and out!
MORE Ways to Save!
Along with money-saving amenities to entertain, cook, and relax at the cabin, budget-friendly vacation rentals, and partner discounts, we have a few more tricks up our sleeves to help homeschool families enjoy their stay to the fullest.
- Book your homeschool vacation during the week (Mon-Thu) to save with lowered midweek rates.
- Become a CFY Rewards member for special member pricing and save instantly on every reservation plus earn FREE nights, get a discounted pet fee, and check in early!
- Join our homeschool group for exclusive homeschool offers in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.
Book your memorable — and affordable — homeschool getaway online or at 1.800.684.7865 today!