Smoky Mountains, TN July 2026 Trip - Beatrice Bradley

Stay in our OWN PRIVATE LODGE overlooking the Smoky Mountains

Every Beatrice Bradley trip is crafted to maximize the experiences had during the trip.
The itineraries are specially made to allow time for engaging in conversation and having belly laughs with a new friend. We hope that the activities and experiences may allow you to come out of your comfort zone and to try new or unique things.
These trips are made to replicate a ‘friends get-away trip’. 

Overall Trip Highlights

  • Independence Day with women who love this country — Spend the Fourth of July in the Smokies among like-minded women who feel about America the way you do. No explaining yourself, no watching what you say — just shared pride, a lot of laughter, and the quiet relief of being among your own.
  • Your own private mountain-top lodge — Panoramic Smoky Mountain views right outside your window, perfect for morning coffee and long sunset talks with new friends.
  • The Gatlinburg Midnight Parade — The first Fourth of July parade in the nation, stepping off at 12:01 AM. We’ll take our spots along the Parkway and watch the marching bands, military units, and floats come through as the whole town cheers.
  • Anakeesta — A scenic chairlift above the treetops to a mountaintop park with gardens, canopy walks, and wide Smoky Mountain views.
  • Newfound Gap by Pink Jeep® — An open-air climb 3,000 feet up to Newfound Gap and the historic Rockefeller Memorial, nearly a mile above sea level.
  • A 4×4 off-road ride — A rugged run along private mountain trails and an up-close look at the wild side of the Smokies, with an expert guide at the wheel.
  • Dollywood and a Southern dinner show — Dolly Parton’s own park in the foothills, and an evening of horse-riding stunts and a hearty Southern spread.
  • The charm of Gatlinburg — Mountain streets, local shops, and small-town treats, explored together as a group.
  • Solo, but never for a second alone — A small group of like-minded women and three hostesses beside you the whole way. By the second morning you’re saving each other seats at breakfast; by the Fourth, it feels like you’ve known each other for years.

Multiple Departures
July 2-6, 2027 – COMING SOON
5 Days / 4 Nights

Group Size: 16-18 Guests

Hostess: 3 Wonderful BB Hosts

Note: This itinerary serves as a general guide to what we will be doing, seeing, and eating, with the final version provided approximately two weeks prior. The published itinerary is an example and may be adjusted to include accommodations, tours, or restaurants of comparable quality to ensure the best experience.

Rooms at the lodge — please read before booking

Our lodge is a mountain home, not a hotel, so a few things are worth knowing before you choose your room:

  • Single occupancy: A private room with a King bed and private bath. About half the single rooms are accessed by stairs. We are happy to assist with luggage but please note there is no elevator.
  • Triple occupancy: A bunk room with three King or Queen beds (lower bunks only) and one shared bath, room is located on the lower walk-out level. You’ll need to be comfortable getting in and out of a lower bunk with a ledge, and comfortable with stairs. 
Single Occupancy Triple Occupancy
$4,398 $3,190
Private Room with Private Bath Shared Room, Separate Beds, Shared Bath
Deposit Due at Time of Booking:
$250 for Domestic/$500 for International
Deposit Due at Time of Booking:
$250 for Domestic/$500 for International

Sold Out – Click for Waitlist

Sold Out – Click for Waitlist


Beatrice Bradley Experiences are All Inclusive. What does that mean?

  • Airport Group Transfers: Seamless airport pickups and drop-offs by our friendly hostesses, ensuring a smooth start and end to your adventure.
  • Dedicated BB Hostess: Travel with peace of mind knowing a dedicated Beatrice Bradley hostess will be with you throughout the trip, ensuring every aspect of your journey is unforgettable.
  • Full Dining: Enjoy 2-3 daily meals carefully selected to reflect the local cuisine, inclusive of all tips. Whether it’s a quick breakfast or a sumptuous dinner, we’ve got it all covered.
  • Unique Accommodations: Stay in boutique hotels or unique properties that are handpicked for their charm and comfort, providing an authentic and intimate experience.
  • Curated Activities: We find the BEST of the best tours. Making the absolute most out of our time.
  • Included Gratuities: Tips for tour guides, meals, and transportation are all taken care of. We ensure that those who make your trip special are rewarded, without you needing to worry about the details.
  • Transportation: All transportation is included throughout the experience, from airport pickup to your final drop-off.
  • You won’t see “Free Days” on our itineraries: Our trips are made for a balanced experience. We carve out time to bond, laugh, shop and explore but we will never just send you out on your own and say “good luck” we do everything together or smaller group breakouts.

With Beatrice Bradley, every detail is meticulously planned to ensure you have a memorable and carefree travel experience. Join us and discover the joy of true hassle-free travel!

We Offer Flex-Pay! What is that?

Flexible Payments at Your Fingertips: You can use your invoice to pay any amount you choose, as frequently as you wish, until the full payment deadline.

Want to make a payment? Click “Review and Pay” on your invoice whenever you’re ready.

Pay Your Way: You can adjust the payment amount by selecting “Edit Amount,” allowing you to manage your budget flexibly.

Final Countdown: Ensure everything is paid up 60 days prior to your trip for domestic and 90 days prior for international. Don’t worry, we’ll send you reminders! If there’s any remaining balance, we’ll automatically process it, allowing you to focus on the excitement of your upcoming adventure!

Arrival Information Departing Information
Knoxville Airport (TYS) Knoxville Airport (TYS)
Please Arrive between 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM – You may arrive earlier, however our group transfer won’t be until late morning. Must depart after 11:00 AM – It takes an hour from Lodge to Airport, departing lodge at 8 AM and 10 AM

Activity Level

  • Stairs at the lodge: The lodge has stairs, and some rooms are on a walk-out lower level, so you’ll want to be comfortable with steps.
  • A late night on the Third: The Gatlinburg Midnight Parade steps off at 12:01 AM, so the night of July 3rd runs late. You can nap at the lodge beforehand, and the next morning is easy.
  • Optional thrills: The chairlift at Anakeesta and the 4×4 off-road ride are wonderful, and entirely optional — no one is ever pushed into anything that doesn’t feel right.
  • Walking and standing: Expect walking and time on your feet in Gatlinburg, at Anakeesta, and around Dollywood, with places to rest along the way.
  • Comfortable pace overall: Mornings at the lodge are unhurried, and the days are planned so there’s time to catch your breath.

As your hostesses, we understand that traveling solo can be intimidating, but rest assured, making you feel welcomed and comfortable is our top priority. Our experiences are designed for building new and lasting friendships in a warm and welcoming environment.

From the moment you arrive until we bid you farewell, we’ll be right by your side. We meticulously handle all the details and manage the logistics seamlessly behind the scenes, ensuring your journey is truly unique and worry-free. While we aren’t local experts or tour guides, we work with a network of local professionals carefully selected for each location to enrich your experience.

Read more about our Hostesses Here

 

Thinking about joining us?

If you’re on the fence or have any questions, we’re here to help. Simply fill out this form to get in touch. We can’t wait to assist you in planning an unforgettable adventure!

 

If you have any immediate questions, please feel free to get in touch: 763-864-8291 | Lindsay@bbgage.com

Ready to book? We’re happy to have you!

Book Here

The Lodge

Day One: Welcome to your mountain retreat

You land in Knoxville and step out into that clean Tennessee air, and one of your hostesses is already there for you — a real smile, your bags lifted, the group gathering. The van climbs, and the Smokies rise up ahead, hazy blue ridges stretching as far as you can see.

Then the lodge. It sits high above the world, the mountains spread out in every direction, and there’s an instant sense of calm as you settle in with a glass of sweet tea in hand. In the evening we gather for a patriotic welcome — a few games, some snacks, a little red-white-and-blue — and the group starts to feel less like strangers and more like the friends you came to find.

Highlights

  • Met at the airport — Door-to-door service from Knoxville up to the lodge, so you never have to find your way alone. Pickups run 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM.
  • The drive into the Smokies — Hazy blue ridges rolling out ahead, a perfect first look at this wild, beautiful country.
  • Your private mountain-top lodge — Panoramic views in every direction, and time to unwind and soak it in.
  • A patriotic welcome evening — Games, snacks, and red-white-and-blue to kick things off together.

Fun fact: The Smokies get their name from the soft blue haze that rises off the forest — a mist the Cherokee called “Shaconage,” the place of blue smoke.

“What surprised me the most was the sheer beauty of the Tennessee side of the national park… the lodge had a front-row view of the prominent Le Conte peak that was very much out of this world.” — Diana, Smoky Mountains, August 2025

Day 2: The Countdown to America’s 250th Begins!

It’s July 3rd—but in Gatlinburg, the celebration starts early… and big. You’re here for a once-in-a-lifetime patriotic experience, and today delivers on every level. After a peaceful mountain morning and a delicious breakfast at the lodge, we’ll head into town to soak up the red, white, and blue spirit that’s bursting from every corner.

We head to Anakeesta. A scenic chairlift carries us up above the treetops to a mountaintop park with canopy walks, gardens, wide Smoky views, and an easy lunch surrounded by fresh mountain air. Back in town, you feel it right away — Gatlinburg is decked out for the country’s birthday, flags on every corner, music in the air. We’ll wander the streets together, taste something local, and soak up the buzz of a whole town getting ready.

And then the moment the day has been building toward. While most of the country is asleep, Gatlinburg kicks off the Fourth of July with a parade at 12:01 AM sharp — the first official Independence Day celebration in the nation. We’ll take our spots along the Parkway with glowsticks and snacks and settle in for marching bands, military units, floats, and the kind of flag-waving that gives you chills. You’ll stand shoulder to shoulder with your group and a whole town, cheering in the Fourth together.

Highlights

  • Anakeesta — A chairlift above the treetops to a mountaintop park with gardens, canopy walks, and Smoky Mountain views.
  • Gatlinburg in full celebration — The whole town dressed for the Fourth, explored together at an easy pace.
  • The Gatlinburg Midnight Parade — Downtown spots for the first Fourth of July parade in the nation, at 12:01 AM.
  • Cheering in the Fourth together — Bands, floats, flags, and a whole town celebrating shoulder to shoulder

Fun fact: Gatlinburg has kicked off the nation’s Fourth of July with the first Independence Day parade in America for decades, stepping off at one minute past midnight — long billed as the very first July 4th parade in the country.

“I have always wanted to go to Gatlinburg and now I have done it.” — Sandy, Smoky Mountains, May 2025

Day Three: Newfound Gap by Jeep, and the wild side of the Smokies

After a warm breakfast at the lodge, we climb aboard the open-air Pink Jeep® Wrangler in Pigeon Forge for a day up in the mountains.

The Jeep climbs 3,000 feet as the forest closes in around us, and at Newfound Gap — nearly a mile above sea level — the whole range opens up in front of you. We’ll stop at the historic Rockefeller Memorial, where the views stretch for miles and the state line runs right under your feet. Then the ride turns rugged: a 4×4 run along private mountain trails, an expert guide at the wheel, and an up-close look at the untamed Smokies. Afterward, time together in Pigeon Forge to shop and take in the town’s easy energy.

Highlights

  • Newfound Gap by Pink Jeep® — An open-air climb 3,000 feet up for sweeping mountain views and the historic Rockefeller Memorial.
  • A 4×4 off-road ride — The wild side of the Smokies along private trails, with an expert guide at the wheel (and a seat to sit it out if you’d rather).
  • Time in Pigeon Forge — The charm and energy of a lively mountain town, explored together.

Fun fact: The Rockefeller Memorial at Newfound Gap is where President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1940 — he stood at the podium with one foot in Tennessee and one in North Carolina.

Day Four: A VIP night at Dolly Parton’s Stampede

An unhurried morning at the lodge first — coffee, pastries, the view — before an easy afternoon at Dollywood, Dolly Parton’s own park tucked into the foothills. We’ll take it at a comfortable pace as a group, with rides, live music, and mountain scenery all around, and plenty of places to sit and take it in.

But the evening is the one to save your energy for. We’ve reserved VIP seats at Dolly Parton’s Stampede, the dinner show just down the road in Pigeon Forge, and on a Fourth of July trip it’s the perfect way to spend the night. You’ll settle into the best seats in the house as more than thirty horses thunder into the arena, trick riders galloping close enough to feel, while a four-course Southern feast comes out one plate after another — the kind you eat with your hands, the way it’s meant to be.

Then the show builds to the part we came for. The lights shift, the flags come out, and the whole arena rises for a patriotic tribute to the men and women who have served this country — the music swelling, the horses circling, and every woman in our group on her feet with a hand over her heart. It’s a lump-in-the-throat kind of ending, and it sends you back up the mountain proud.

Highlights

  • VIP seats at Dolly Parton’s Stampede — The best seats in the house for the four-course dinner show, reserved just for our group.
  • A patriotic tribute — The show’s salute to those who’ve served, with flags the length of the arena and the whole room on its feet — a fitting close to a Fourth of July trip.
  • Trick riders and thundering horses — More than thirty horses, galloping riders, and a Southern feast you eat with your hands.
  • An easy afternoon at Dollywood — Dolly’s own park in the foothills, at a comfortable pace with time to rest.

Fun fact: Dolly Parton opened the Stampede in Pigeon Forge in 1988, and its arena show — more than thirty horses, trick riders, and a stirring patriotic finale — has been a Smoky Mountain tradition ever since.

“The lodge was amazing. Dollywood was much larger than expected. This is the only tour group I will travel solo with because of the extra care given by the staff and the interaction with the other ladies.” — Cindy, Smoky Mountains, May 2025

Day Five: Farewell to the Smokies

Your last morning at the lodge is a quiet one — a relaxed breakfast, the mountain views one more time, and a little more coffee with the friends you didn’t have a week ago. By mid-morning, the shuttle carries you back down the mountain roads toward Knoxville, the blue ridges slipping away behind you.

Highlights

  • One last mountain morning — A relaxed breakfast and the views one final time.
  • Shuttle to Knoxville — Comfortable transportation down the mountain, departing at 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM.
  • Depart after noon — Please book flights that leave after 12:00 PM, so the morning stays easy.

Fun fact: Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most-visited national park in the country, welcoming more than 12 million people a year — more than twice as many as any other.

Note: This itinerary is a general guide to what we’ll be doing, seeing, and eating. The final version is provided about two weeks before departure. The published itinerary is an example and may be adjusted to include accommodations, guided experiences, or restaurants of comparable quality to ensure the best experience.

Please Read before Booking

Triple Occupancy

You will be staying in a Bunk Room (lower bunks only) that have 3 King or Queen beds / 1 bathroom per room. You must be able to get in, and out of, a lower style bed with a ledge. Not recommended for women that have mobility limitations. Bunk Room is located on lower walk-out level and must be able to do stairs.

Single Occupancy

You will be staying in a private room with a King bed and private bathroom. Must be able to do stairs – half the rooms are on a walkout lower level. 

You Might Be Wondering…

Read through our frequently asked questions.

I've never traveled solo; Is this travel group for me?

Yes! In fact, many of our guests are first-time solo travelers. Beatrice Bradley is designed exactly for women like you. Those ready to explore but not alone. From the moment you arrive, you'll be welcomed into a fun, supportive group of like-minded women. We take care of the details so you can relax, make fast friends, and enjoy the adventure. You may come solo, but you’ll never feel alone.

Beatrice Bradley Experiences are All Inclusive. What does that mean?

Included:

  • Accommodations: Stay in boutique hotels or unique properties that are handpicked for their charm and comfort, providing an authentic and intimate experience.
  • Tours / Activities: We curate only the best of the best experiences to make the most of our time together. Please note that tours and activities listed on the website are subject to change based on availability, group size, and weather. If adjustments are needed, we’ll always replace them with something equally special
  • Food / Beverages: Meals eaten with the group are fully covered by Beatrice Bradley. Typically this includes 2 meals a day. 
  • Transportation: All transportation is included throughout the experience, from airport pickup to your final drop-off.
  • Airport Group Transfers: Seamless airport pickups and drop-offs by our friendly hostesses, ensuring a smooth start and end to your adventure.
  • Dedicated BB Hostess: Travel with peace of mind knowing a dedicated Beatrice Bradley hostess will be with you throughout the trip, ensuring every aspect of your journey is unforgettable.  Please remember Your BB Host is not your tour guide.
  • Included Gratuities: Tips for local tour guides, meals, and transportation are all taken care of.

not included:

  • Airfare to and from the destination – You’ll arrange your own flights based on our suggested arrival and departure times.

  • Hotel incidentals and personal expenses – Things like room service, minibar items, or personal shopping aren’t included.

  • Meals eaten outside the group – If you choose to skip a group meal or explore on your own, those meals are at your own expense.

  • Activities done outside the group itinerary – Any optional excursions, spa treatments, or activities not part of the planned group experience will be at your discretion and cost.

  • Tips for your Beatrice Bradley Host

We keep things simple and transparent—so you can focus on enjoying every moment.

Are the deposits refundable / What is the cancellation policy.
91+ days before the trip: Full refund.
61–90 days before:
  - Domestic: Full refund
  - International: 50% cancellation fee; remaining balance applied as future travel credit
31–60 days before:
  - Domestic: 50% cancellation fee; remaining balance applied as future travel credit
  - International: No refund
30 days or less: Unfortunately, no refund is available (Domestic & International)
What if i want to skip an activity? - How important is it to be on time?

You are never required to do all activities! Sometimes you need a little downtime, and you’re welcome to skip an activity if you'd prefer to rest or recharge. Just keep our hosts in the loop. 

Being on time is also very important. We run a thoughtful schedule to make sure everyone gets the most out of each day. Out of respect for your fellow travelers and our guides, we ask that you arrive on time and ready to roll so we can keep the adventure smooth and stress-free for all!

What can I expect from a Beatrice Bradley Host?

Our Beatrice Bradley hosts are the glue that holds each trip together. They understand how intimidating solo travel can feel, and they’re dedicated to making your experience warm, welcoming, and full of laughter. From the moment you arrive, they’ll be there with a smile—helping you settle in, making introductions, and setting the tone for a fun and connected adventure.

Our hosts aren’t just handling logistics—they’re the heart of the journey. They create a sense of community, offer support, and help every woman feel seen, included, and valued.

Please note: our hosts are not local tour guides—we hire local experts for that. In some cases, it may even be their first time in the destination, just like you! While they’re often going above and beyond to ensure everything runs smoothly, we kindly ask that you treat them with respect. They are not personal assistants or luggage porters—they are your fellow travelers, dedicated to making this trip unforgettable for everyone.

How does tipping work?

We take care of all standard tips for included meals, local guides, and drivers—so you don’t need to worry about those details.

If you’d like to show appreciation to your Beatrice Bradley host, gratuities are always welcome but never expected. A general guideline is $5–$10 per day, per host, depending on your experience. Most guests find it a meaningful way to say thank you for the care, energy, and fun our hosts bring to each trip!

Thinking about it? Let Us Know!

If you're considering joining one of our trips but need more information or time, fill out the form below, and we can help!