Name: Sidney James Mountain Lodge
Address: 610 Historic Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, United States of America, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, US
Price range: $66–$167 per night
Rating: 7.9

What guests think

Across many reviews, Sidney James Mountain Lodge is praised for friendly staff, a quieter yet convenient location near Gatlinburg’s strip, and multiple pools with a standout indoor area, while rooms and facilities show their age and vary by building.

Cleanliness feedback is mixed, with some spotless stays but recurring reports of musty odors, worn carpets, and pests. Parking can be tight, bathrooms run small, many rooms lack microwaves, and daily housekeeping is limited. The on-site cafe adds convenience, yet there’s no free breakfast and pricing or hours can feel inconsistent. Expect a value stay in an older property with strong location benefits.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Multiple pools, including a popular indoor area with hot tub, are a highlight, and the on-site cafe and trolley stop add convenience. Parking is tight, some features are dated or removed (e.g., sauna), and occasional maintenance issues are noted.

Related guest reviews

10

Sandra

Oct 30, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Clean rooms, great hospitality, pet friendly, awesome pools and hot tub.

8

LISA

Oct 25, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

room was dated. stains on ceiling. bed was uncomfortable. but the pool and spa was fanatic!

10

Mike

Oct 25, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Great room, the outlets didnt really work so it was hard to charge the electronics. The bathroom door was damaged The food was in the main building but had to pay for it. No free breakfast. Parking was limited

8

Vickie

Oct 3, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great place to stay. Friendly staff and convenient location. In quieter part of Gatlinburg away from noise of Parkway, yet on trolley route. It is near city park and river for quiet walks. Great indoor pool. Only downside is lack of daily housekeeping to empty trash and replenish towels. Had to fetch own fresh towels from office.

10

Noelle

Jul 22, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Beds and pillows were very comfortable! Nothing fancy, but good enough for us to crash out after long days. Parking is free, but can be very tight and I don't think there's actually a spot for every guest. If you get a good spot, don't leave, it won't be there when you get back!

6

Andrew

Jul 19, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Understandable the hotel is in the woods. But there were bugs inside the room and the jacuzzi was subpar the jets barely worked.

10

Stephen

Jul 10, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

I really love this place. The staff was so friendly. Check in was quick and easy which was really good because the lobby was full. The property itself was very nice. The rooms were clean and cool. The AC worked well. The trolley stops in front of the main building, that was very nice. They have 3 pools and they are clean. I will 100 percent be going back in the fall. Great little spot!!

8

Leah

Jul 8, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The property is amazing with 3 pools! One inside is very nice with a cave and waterfall, however you can not enter the waterfall area. The room is a little outdated but nothing majorily wrong only issue at all is how small the bathroom is. You barely have room to move. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. Breakfast is not included but has a pool side restaurant which is nice. Area is pricey but thats expected. Stayed in July of 2025 and would definitely stay again. Would be 5 stars except the bathroom

6

Toby

Jun 27, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Spa tub in the room was nice but very loud. Right over the check in desk. The Sauna has been removed but its still on the website. That was one of our reasons for booking at Sydney James. Update the photos and take off the things that aren't there anymore.

4

Shaun

Jun 26, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

We love the Sidney James. But, we unfortunately won’t be stay here anymore. The creek rooms have lost their appeal with the parking lot now taking over the view. There use to be trees and the creek and now all you see is parking lot and creek. lol. The parking has gotten ridiculously worse. If you aren’t in the room by 6 or earlier you won’t find a spot to park. Otherwise, the beds were comfortable and the room was nice.

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Cleanliness

Reports range from very clean rooms to recurring issues like musty odors, worn or dirty carpets, pests (roaches/bugs), and inconsistent in-stay housekeeping.

Related guest reviews

10

Michelle

Nov 6, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Clean spacious rooms. Ease of check in/out! In a great spot right off the strip !

4

Fred

Oct 29, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Hotel and staff good but they have a insect problem

2

Austin

Oct 5, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Quarter sized bugs on the ceiling both nights, lobby smelt like pure weed each time i went in, wallpaper peeling more for bikers wanting a low stay

6

Jackie

Sep 21, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Hot tub was busy with kids all three times we went down there. The jucuzzi tub in the room was not clean enough to use. We found the shower dirty on the base and the toilet was not clean. Air vent in bathroom needed cleaned. Room was good size. Furniture and carpet were dated and worn. I thought it was loud between noise outside and air condition unit cycling on and off loudly.

10

Rachael

Aug 2, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

As someone who has been in hospitality for 25 years and currently works at the number one treehouse resort in America that is a five-star experience, I was absolutely thrilled with this hotel. The history, it was built so long ago, but nice. And the best part is the people. I felt like I was walking into myself. Meaning, these people know how to treat their guests. It was always pleasant. We had a room on the top floor with a Riverview. Even though off the balcony you're looking at another hotel it is still peaceful. The bed was comfy, but best of all, I searched through the entire hotel room looking for dirt or something that was not cleaned. I even pulled the filters and the AC and everything was absolutely spotless! We're talking the bottom of the toilet, behind the door in the bathroom in the corner, under the sink everywhere and everything was perfectly clean! Extremely close to the parkway. Across from log cabin pancake House. On the same road as roaring forton motor nature trail which is amazing. Spectacular indoor and outdoor pool and a restaurant on site!

8

April

Jul 4, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Our room was just ok. It was clearly an older building, and a little outdated. The room smelled musty, and old. They have a BIG problem with dampness in the rooms. They need to invest in dehumidifiers. Crawling into a damp bed, and resting my face on damp pillowcases isn't my idea of comfort. Everything in our suitcases quickly became damp as well, which meant that everything was wrinkled terribly. My hair was a frizzy nightmare each morning. The hinges on the inside of the door were rusty. There were some patched spots on the door where old hardware had been removed and had been filled in with putty, and there was a gap under our door where you could see daylight coming in from outside. Our room was across the street in a separate building. I wasn't aware that we'd have to cross a 2 lane road to get from our room, to the office, indoor pool, and cafe'. I feel misled by the pictures on Travelocity. It seems like they show the nicer rooms, and grab your attention with the pictures of the indoor pool area, private balconies, and creek view. You have to pay a lot more for creekside rooms, so we chose not to get one. I thought we'd at least have a private balcony. We did not. We were on the first floor, right next to a soda machine and the stairway for people to go upstairs, and we had a single chair outside our door to sit on. I had hoped to unwind outside the room at night, but there was zero privacy in that busy area.

6

joshuwa

Oct 24, 2024

·

Stayed 4 nights

Affordable. Was clean. Sweet pools. But old building with Roaches. IDK if thats because its old or because the south has a problem with bugs.

4

Teresa

Jul 13, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

I came home with over 20 bed bug bits and I was only there two nights. I will never stay there again or recommend it to anyone

6

Duane

Jul 12, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

The outdoor pool was best area. Thankfully the weather was great so after daily adventures we could go stay at pool. The balcony overlooking creek was covered in large spiderwebs, seen 2 large spiders. Stayed 3 nights, never had housekeeping stop in to even get trash. Bottoms of our feet would turn black after walking inside room. Each day there were centipede worms in bathroom. Bathtub didn’t drain well, tub would be half full before finishing shower.

2

Linda

May 31, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

There was no housekeeping service for our 3 day stay. We were not told this until we checked in. The carpet was so filthy the bottoms of our feet got black walking on the carpet barefoot.

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Rooms

Rooms are older and vary by building; bathrooms are small, some balconies are tiny or face parking lots, and many rooms lack microwaves. Noise can carry near the pool or elevator, and comfort and maintenance (outlets, fixtures) are mixed.

Related guest reviews

6

Richard

Oct 12, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Gummies in bed. Hairs in bed. Kids yelling and running around at night. Kids screaming at hot tub.

10

Pamela

Oct 9, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great value for the location and amenities! Bathroom and vanity area dated but clean.

6

Jackie

Sep 21, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Hot tub was busy with kids all three times we went down there. The jucuzzi tub in the room was not clean enough to use. We found the shower dirty on the base and the toilet was not clean. Air vent in bathroom needed cleaned. Room was good size. Furniture and carpet were dated and worn. I thought it was loud between noise outside and air condition unit cycling on and off loudly.

6

Tonia

Sep 14, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Room was older, dated with crunchy brown carpet and musty smelling.

10

Lindsey

Aug 30, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Rooms were clean but definitely needed some repairs. The beds were very firm and my back was not forgiving. On the other hand the staff was very wonderful and we really enjoyed the pool area. We had a room with a balcany on the creek and did not realize the balcany was so small theres no seating. Still nice to have though. Unfortunately for us no bears on the creek during our stay

6

Rebecca

Jul 6, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The rooms are outdated. The window seals were broken and the water in the shower couldn’t maintain temperature. It was either way too hot or cold. We were moved to a different room for our last night. It was better and the water worked.

4

Bobby J

Jul 5, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

No in room microwave no table to have a in room meal Carpet old and looked dirty stayed in room # 163

6

Nedra

Jul 2, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location off the strip but still walking distance from down town. The downside was the carpeting in the room needs replacement. Our socks got snagged on carpet staples with one puncturing my toe.

10

Cheyenne

Jun 30, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

It was a little outdated. But it was still a great place. Lots of amenities. The staff was amazing. My only complaint is that there is only one microwave and it’s in the lobby. The rooms didn’t have a microwave. And the hotel had an odd smell. But everything else was perfect

6

Asad

Aug 4, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Having a creek view is very relaxing and the whole family enjoyed the view and rocking chairs. The property is extremely outdated and definitely needs a refresh. The beds were extremely dented and the pillows were hard. The decor was old which is fine honestly but there was no comfort I slept poorly the whole time. The queen’s are also extremely small and I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re fulls. The exterior looks poor and can use some paint but it didn’t affect my experience like the beds.

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Service

Staff are frequently described as friendly, helpful, and responsive, with easy check-in and occasional upgrades. A few reviews note slow follow-up or inconsistent rule enforcement.

Related guest reviews

10

Chris

Nov 5, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The room was great. IT's an older hotel but it's clean. The staff super nice. I like that it's a family owned hotel.

4

Roxanne

Oct 17, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

The bed didn't not have a box spring just slats and then the mattress. The grab bar in the shower was broken off and the towel bar was only held by paint. The mirror above the bed was ready to fall down. We had breakfast at the cafe and it cost us 37 dollars for 1 piece of French toast and 2 sausage patties that were about the size of a quarter. When we checked out my husband let the young man at the desk know these problems and he could have cared less didn't even respond.

8

Chandler

Oct 3, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

When I first checked in I was a bit shocked and wasn’t sure why it had such a high rating, but it grew on me as the days went by. The ladies that were at the front desk were very friendly at check in—I was more so shocked when I first entered the room. But overall, it is a great place for the price. It’s older and the rooms could use better renovations. It was fairly clean. The pools were very clean and well maintained. The hot tub was very hot and has a nice vibe with some LED lights around it. The walk into town isn’t too bad but it is nice to have the trolley pickup right up front. I paid the extra few dollars for a creekside room and don’t regret it a bit. Sitting by the creek was really enjoyable with the bonus of being able to people watch with the hotel across the creek. There is a black bear that comes around and we were lucky enough to see it 2 of the 4 days we were there. Overall I would stay here again. If you’re looking for a budget option that’s still close to downtown and has pools/a hot tub this really is the best option.

6

Jordan

Sep 6, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Front desk was very helpful and kind. No

10

Elizabeth

Jul 21, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The location is great! The staff were friendly and helpful. The room was clean and well stocked. We will definitely return.

8

Kellie

Jun 30, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Had to change rooms but manager was nice and helpful

10

Meghann

Feb 9, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Wonderful trip and awesome employees who are so helpful

8

James

Jan 2, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Rooms were clean. They did not have daily maid service. Had to get what was needed from front desk. Room had a gas fireplace, small balcony for sitting out on to watch traffic, or in our case, new years 2025 fireworks. The room had a nice shower/tub, very clean. They had a small dorm style fridge, yet NO MICROWAVE in room. Nearest microwave was down in the lobby. Bed was LARGE, but could make use with a pillow topper as it was rather firm, stiff, unforgiving..Trolly stopped in front of motel area. Easy transportation to downtown shopping area and aquarium. Sydney James motel had an indoor and outdoor pool area. Towels were provided. Indoor pool was over run with poorly behaved children. This was the fault of free range parents, not the motel. This was at 7 to 1030 pm. Motel had a hot tub. Specifically stated ADULTS ONLY, yet free range parents thought the children should have use of this adult sanctuary of relaxation. Motel did nothing to enforce their rules. No breakfast provided. Small, professionally run snack bar right outside of pool area. Open 7am to 10pm. Good food. Standard breakfast fare. Pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs, toast, jelly, french toast. Then lunch was selection of hot dogs, burgers, and various sandwiches. Evening they had a few plate dinners. Several quick heat and eat type desserts. Other than enforcing the adult only hot tub rule, the staff was friendly and helpful.

8

Danielle

Dec 10, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

The staff was friendly and helpful, and the indoor pool and hot tub were great. However, the maid service was inconsistent, with no daily visits, and no bed making or vacuuming on weekends. Additionally, towels had to be collected from the front desk, although the staff was pleasant about it.

10

Jennifer

Dec 8, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The front desk was amazing! We stayed here after a rough experience with another hotel and couldn’t have been more pleased with customer service, room accommodations, and location. The room was clean, the front desk was beyond helpful and kind, and the pool was so fun and clean.

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Location

Quiet side-street setting that’s walkable to the Parkway, with a creekside backdrop and a trolley stop at the door. Many appreciate being close to attractions but away from the crowds.

Related guest reviews

10

Paul

Oct 29, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Nice location. Clean.

10

Michelle

Oct 25, 2025

·

Stayed 7 nights

Quiet out of the way of thd main traffic. Stream is lovely.

8

Vickie

Oct 3, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great place to stay. Friendly staff and convenient location. In quieter part of Gatlinburg away from noise of Parkway, yet on trolley route. It is near city park and river for quiet walks. Great indoor pool. Only downside is lack of daily housekeeping to empty trash and replenish towels. Had to fetch own fresh towels from office.

8

Kathy

Aug 3, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Pet friendly motel in great location. The rooms are somewhat dated BUT clean, comfy bed, fantastic price! The best thing was the beautiful park 1/2 block away to walk our dog.

10

Natalie

Jul 31, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Walkable to all of the “the strip” as I like to call it, which is super convenient, but it’s far enough away to not feel constantly surrounded by crowds when you’re at your room. Super close to the National Park and easy to access. We saw a bear from our balcony two separate nights which was also super cool.

10

William

Jul 8, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

We really enjoyed our stay. The rooms was great, especially for the price. The location is great… an easy walk to the main strip of Gatlinburg or use the on site city Trolley stop(free).

10

Huangen

Jun 21, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Nice location for visiting the area.

10

Sonja

Jun 10, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The staff were great and the property was clean. Location was close to everything but far enough away to where you didnt hear everything.

10

Jon

Dec 31, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great experience at Sidney James. Bit of a walk to town, especially with kids, but the trolley stops right at the hotel so no worries. Great pool.

10

Jason

May 8, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Far enough from the hustle and bustle of the main drag, but close enough to walk to it. Staff was very friendly and outgoing.

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Dining

The on-site cafe is convenient and praised by some, but there is no free breakfast, prices can feel high, and hours or availability are inconsistent.

Related guest reviews

10

Mike

Oct 25, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Great room, the outlets didnt really work so it was hard to charge the electronics. The bathroom door was damaged The food was in the main building but had to pay for it. No free breakfast. Parking was limited

10

Amanda

Aug 15, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Very nice option for budget friendly travelers. Love that it’s on the bus route so no need to drive in a busy town. Good at the restaurant was actually super good. Give it a try:) thank you for a good experience.

10

Barbara

Aug 3, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

We loved the spacious room. Bathroom was on the small size. The fireplace was unique in the corner. I loved the rocking chairs that were out on the balcony. The Poolside Cafe was a nice place to eat. Not much of a wait for food. We had breakfast and a dinner there.

8

Nathan

Jul 13, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Needs a bit of updating. Carpets need replacement. The jacuzzi needs maintenance. Took an hour to fill the jacuzzi. Curtains needs fixing and better way to block out the parking lights. Didnt get a chance to try to pool. But the poolside cafe was good. Bit over priced for what you get.

8

Eric

Jan 10, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

It was nice, I went twice and the pool side cade was closed both times and the front desk had told me it was open. Otherwise it was good.

8

James

Jan 2, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Rooms were clean. They did not have daily maid service. Had to get what was needed from front desk. Room had a gas fireplace, small balcony for sitting out on to watch traffic, or in our case, new years 2025 fireworks. The room had a nice shower/tub, very clean. They had a small dorm style fridge, yet NO MICROWAVE in room. Nearest microwave was down in the lobby. Bed was LARGE, but could make use with a pillow topper as it was rather firm, stiff, unforgiving..Trolly stopped in front of motel area. Easy transportation to downtown shopping area and aquarium. Sydney James motel had an indoor and outdoor pool area. Towels were provided. Indoor pool was over run with poorly behaved children. This was the fault of free range parents, not the motel. This was at 7 to 1030 pm. Motel had a hot tub. Specifically stated ADULTS ONLY, yet free range parents thought the children should have use of this adult sanctuary of relaxation. Motel did nothing to enforce their rules. No breakfast provided. Small, professionally run snack bar right outside of pool area. Open 7am to 10pm. Good food. Standard breakfast fare. Pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs, toast, jelly, french toast. Then lunch was selection of hot dogs, burgers, and various sandwiches. Evening they had a few plate dinners. Several quick heat and eat type desserts. Other than enforcing the adult only hot tub rule, the staff was friendly and helpful.

6

Laura

Jan 1, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Hotel is definitely older, but very clean and very friendly staff. We had a none working Tv in the room and it took 2 calls to the front desk before anyone fixed it. We went to the cafe at around 8:30 pm to get food, and it was EXTREMELY overpriced and tasted awful. We paid $50 for a Philly and a quesadilla with 2 cokes! The Philly was on really greasy Texas toast with onions and peppers that tasted like they had gone bad. The meat in the quesadilla was overcooked and hard. We ended up throwing the food away and going to bed hungry. It’s a quaint old hotel and I loved the creek behind us. Too bad our view was a parking lot. We won’t be staying there again.

6

Jody

Dec 27, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Property and rooms are dated but adequate and clean. Bathroom was quite small. Kids enjoyed the pool and front desk was friendly. We booked because there was an advertised free breakfast....but there isn't. "Breakfast included" means you can purchase a meal at the cafe.

10

Autumn

Dec 4, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great customer service, warm room and restaurant on site.

8

Tiffany

Oct 10, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The breakfast was a lot to be desired, but cut the hunger light out. The room was nice staff friendly.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Month	Average price
January	$54
February	$58
March	$74
April	$64
May	$81
June	$74
July	$95
August	$78
September	$71
October	$101
November	$79
December	$80

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15 $68	16 $75	17 $67	18 $119	19 $133
20 $73	21 $66	22 $70	23 $71	24 $66	25 $130	26 $137
27 $80	28 $76	29 $81	30 $75

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $99	2	3
4 $108	5 $108	6 $112	7 $119	8 $120	9	10
11 $122	12 $124	13 $122	14 $126	15 $106	16	17
18 $104	19 $106	20 $108	21 $111	22 $108	23	24
25 $110	26 $102	27 $98	28 $102	29 $98	30 $167	31 $166

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Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Single Queen Room No Pets

Queen Jacuzzi Suite No Pets

Creekside Two Queens No Pets

Standard Single Room

Room, 1 King Bed, Pets Not Allowed

Creekside Two Doubles No Pets

King Jacuzzi Suite No Pets

Room, 2 Queen Beds (No Pets)

King Bed Deluxe No Pets

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds (Courtside Pet Friendly)

Guest reviews

Good

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about Sidney James Mountain Lodge

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Prices for upcoming dates