Quick Picks
- Best thrill option: WildSide MegaZip (big adrenaline, big views)
- Best “everyone can agree” option: The Island in Pigeon Forge (hangout, food, rides, easy)
- Best rainy-day plan: WonderWorks (indoor, hands-on, burn energy)
- Best budget-friendly option: Patriot Park + the Pigeon Forge Greenway (free, flexible, easy)
- Best evening plan: Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show (dinner plus a show, no planning after)
Planning a trip to Pigeon Forge with teens can present a couple of unique challenges. On one hand, if you’re a parent, you want something fun that won’t turn into an eye-roll marathon. On the other hand, if you’re a teen, you want something that’s actually exciting, not just “family friendly.”
To help you get it right, we’ve put together a guide that’s built for both. Whether you’re looking for activities your teenagers can enjoy on their own or something fun for the whole family, review our guide to visiting Pigeon Forge with teens.
Does Pigeon Forge Have Fun Things to Do For Teens?
Pigeon Forge is packed with teen-friendly adventures, from high-speed thrills to hangout spots, plus plenty of indoor picks for rainy days.
Between theme parks, hands-on attractions, arcades, coasters, and outdoor adventures, Pigeon Forge teen activities can fit almost any day.
5 Things to Do With Teens in Pigeon Forge
These are the best picks when you’re trying to find something teenagers will enjoy with their parents and other siblings:
1. WildSide MegaZip or a Guided UTV Tour
WildSide offers two ways to make a teen say, “Okay, that was actually awesome.”
If you want the biggest highlight in the shortest amount of time, MegaZip, the longest zipline in North America, is the move. The energy is immediate, the views are epic, and the side-by-side setup can turn the ziplining experience into a race your family can talk about for the rest of the trip. It’s the kind of activity that feels like a story the second it’s over.
If you’d rather stretch the adventure out and stay in the mountains longer, go with the guided UTV tour at WildSide. Instead of one big moment, you get a full ride where the fun is reacting together, driving a powerful UTV, calling out the terrain, soaking up the scenery, and stopping for photos at unforgettable overlooks as your guide keeps the route dialed in. The four and six-seater UTV options also make it easy for families to stay together the entire time!
At a Glance
- Best for: Thrill seekers, competitive siblings, “let’s do something epic” families
- Time needed: About 90 minutes for a guided UTV tour, and about 1.5–2 hours for MegaZip
- Budget vibe: $$$
- Weather: Best in dry weather, year-round options
MegaZip details
- What it is: A single, mile-plus zipline ride where you can race side-by-side on four lanes
- Rules to know: Riders must be at least 10 years old, 48–82 inches tall, and 50–260 pounds, and closed-toe shoes are required
UTV tour details
- What it is: A guided off-road tour through WildSide’s mountain terrain
- Rules to know: Drivers must be 18+ with a valid driver’s license, passengers must be at least 36 inches tall, and you can also choose a ride-with-a-guide option if you don’t want to drive
2. WonderWorks
At a Glance
- Best for: Rainy days, curious minds, teens who like hands-on challenges
- Time needed: 2–3 hours
- Budget vibe: $$
- Weather: Perfect for rainy or cold days
WonderWorks is what you pull out when the weather is rude or your group needs a reset that still feels fun. Instead of a slow indoor museum vibe, this amusement park for the mind is built around hands-on exploring, with a nice mix of educational and entertainment-focused exhibits.
Teens can bounce between exhibits, try challenges, and keep moving, which helps a lot if your day is starting to feel like a series of lines and car rides. It also fits neatly into a schedule, so you can do it as your main rainy-day plan or as a two-hour block before dinner.
3. Titanic Museum Attraction
At a Glance
- Best for: Low-energy days, history lovers, a calmer pace
- Time needed: 1–2 hours
- Budget vibe: $$
- Weather: Great in any weather
Got a teen who thinks museums are slow? This one plays differently.
The Titanic Museum is immersive and story-first, so it feels more like stepping into a scene than walking through a collection. It’s a great choice when your group wants something memorable that’s calmer than rides, especially if you’re balancing a high-energy morning with a lower-energy afternoon.
The pacing also works well when you want an activity that feels substantial, but doesn’t take over the whole day. If your group watches Titanic during your trip to Pigeon Forge, the museum is also a natural stop!
4. Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show
At a Glance
- Best for: Nighttime plans, mixed-age groups, “we need dinner too” days
- Time needed: About 2 hours
- Budget vibe: $$$
- Weather: Great in any weather
The Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show is the “dinner is handled, and nobody has to plan another thing” move. For parents, Pirates Voyage is logistics relief. You park once, sit down, and the evening runs itself.
For teens, the show stays lively enough that it doesn’t feel like a quiet sit-through, and it’s a nice change of pace after a day of walking and waiting. If your group is fading, this is one of the easiest ways to end on a high note.
5. Crave Golf Club
At a Glance
- Best for: Competitive families, mixed ages, quick wins
- Time needed: 60–90 minutes
- Budget vibe: $$
- Weather: Works in most weather, especially if you pick an indoor option
Crave is your fun, low-stakes competition pick, and it’s surprisingly clutch with teens. This mini-golf and escape-room venue is great for families because it gives everyone something to do and talk about, without the pressure of a big-ticket attraction.
Teens can keep the minigolf games silly or turn them into a rivalry match between siblings, while parents join in without feeling like they’re forcing fun. If you’re looking for an hour-long activity that feels complete, mini golf is one of the easiest wins in town. This attraction also has multiple escape rooms, mini-bowling lanes, and a candy shop, ensuring your family can find something you’ll all enjoy.
5 Things Teens Can Do On Their Own in Pigeon Forge
Alongside family-friendly options, you can find lots of safe, teen-friendly picks in the area. Check out our top five picks for activities teens can do on their own in Pigeon Forge below:
1. WildSide Mountain Biking With Friends
At a Glance
- Best for: Active teens, adventure crews, competitive friends
- Time needed: 2–4 hours (or all day if they’re hooked)
- Budget vibe: $ to $$
- Weather: Best in dry conditions
This is one of the most “teen-coded” activities in Pigeon Forge because it’s active, social, and you can level up fast. A good first mountain biking ride through WildSide’s private Smoky Mountain trails looks like this: warm up on an easier trail, decide who wants to keep it mellow and who wants more challenge, then meet back up and compare times after you complete different runs.
This natural rhythm makes it feel like a hangout with a goal, especially for friend groups who like a little competition. With the shuttle option, it can be a quick session or a longer half-day plan, depending on how into it your crew gets. WildSide also offers manual and e-mountain bike rentals, so you won’t need to bring your own bike or gear!
2. The Island in Pigeon Forge
At a Glance
- Best for: Friend groups, food lovers, low-pressure hangouts
- Time needed: 1–3 hours
- Budget vibe: $ to $$
- Weather: Best in mild weather, still doable year-round
Think of The Island as your teen-friendly home base. Instead of being a single attraction, it’s a place to wander, snack, shop, and decide what sounds fun next.
Its versatility makes it ideal for older teens who want freedom and flexibility. Friend groups can set a meetup point, roam, grab something to eat, and add a ride only if the vibe is right. It’s also one of the easiest places in town to keep plans simple, because everyone can move at their own pace and regroup without stress.
3. Alcatraz East Crime Museum
At a Glance
- Best for: True-crime fans, older teens, rainy days, lower-energy afternoons that still feel memorable
- Time needed: 2–3 hours
- Budget vibe: $$
- Weather: Great in any weather
For older teens, this is one of the best “I get to do something on my own, but it’s still structured and safe” picks in Pigeon Forge. Alcatraz East is part museum, part interactive experience, which makes it easier for teens to stay engaged.
The exhibits cover everything from famous cases to forensics, and the self-guided format lets your teen move fast through sections they’re not into before slowing down when something grabs their attention. It’s also an easy fit on a rainy day, and it’s close to The Island, so you can pair it with a hangout stop after.
4. Downtown Flavortown
At a Glance
- Best for: Rainy days, friend groups, arcade fans
- Time needed: 1–3 hours
- Budget vibe: $$
- Weather: Great in any weather
Downtown Flavortown is an excellent “choose-your-own hang” venue, and that’s the whole point. After all, some teens want bowling, some want arcade games, and some want to grab food and watch the chaos.
Flavortown lets a group split for a bit, then reunite without anyone feeling like they got dragged into the wrong activity. Downtown Flavortown is also a solid option when the weather is bad, or you’re trying to plan a night that feels fun but doesn’t require a full itinerary.
5. Patriot Park + the Pigeon Forge Greenway
At a Glance
- Best for: Budget days, chill hangouts, “we need to get outside” moments
- Time needed: 30–90 minutes
- Budget vibe: $
- Weather: Best in mild weather
When the day has been packed with tickets, lines, and loud attractions, a simple walk can be exactly what teens need. Patriot Park and the Greenway are perfect for decompressing, getting some fresh air, playing sports, taking photos, and filling a gap before your next plan.
Heading to Patriot Park and the Greenway is also a smart option for budget days, because it still feels like you did something without spending extra money. If parents drop their kids off with food, teens can also have a picnic in the park while their parents spend the afternoon doing something else!
Sample Itineraries
Use the following sample itineraries when you’re staring at the clock and just want a quick plan for what to do in Pigeon Forge with teens:
The “Thrill Seeker” Day
- WildSide MegaZip, mountain biking, or a guided UTV tour
- Quick food stop
- The Island at night
The “Rainy Day” Plan
- WonderWorks
- Titanic Museum Attraction
- Downtown Flavortown for dinner and arcade time
The “Budget-Friendly” Afternoon
- Patriot Park + the Greenway
- The Island (walk around, grab a snack, optional rides)
The “Mixed Energy” Family Day
- Titanic Museum or WonderWorks
- Crave Golf
- Pirates Voyage for an easy evening finish
Explore the Smoky Mountains at WildSide
Whether you’re a parent looking for things to do in Pigeon Forge with teens or a teenager searching for something fun to do with friends, you’ll want to consider visiting WildSide. With our park home to MegaZip, over 20 mountain biking trails, a jump park, and guided UTV tours, our adventure park has something for everyone.
Learn more about our adventure park today. If you’re ready to bring your family or friends to WildSide, please book online.