Mountain City, TN

Travel Guide

gatling burk city view during day
gatling burk city view during day
Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a cloudy day in the early spring
This was probably the most framing that I put into a photograph, and I realized that as I took the picture. I wanted to capture Mountain City, TN in a different way, other than just the beautiful mountains or the gristmill. This photo of all the arrowed signs facing different directions within the city signifies not only what the city has to offer, but the rich history and diversity. Each part of the sign can tell its own story to Mountain City. For example, Doe Mountain is full of recreation and beautiful landscapes, while you can find more history at Heritage Hall, which is a 1923 former high school auditorium. And keeping with the contrasting theme of new while preserving the old Appalachia, compare the Trade Gristmill to the Welcome Center. The Trade Gristmill has been around since 1802 and is one of the first working gristmills in the Johnston County Area. Compare that to a place like the Mountain City Welcome Center, which a spot designed to inform tourists about all the area has to offer such as the gristmill, and you have the old Appalachia becoming part of the new. #appalachianechoes
This is another example of the new vs. the old Appalachia through contrasting nature with development. Instead of a shopping and entertainment center, this is of a newly developed home that is (most likely) hundreds of thousands of dollars. It sits on a smaller hill, right off highway TN-91 in Wills, TN, an extremely small junction halfway between Laurel Bloomery and Mountain City. The frame doesn’t contain as much nature as other photos purposely. The goal in that is to show we can combine the new needs of Appalachia with the old beauty, but at a certain point, the new may strip away ‘too much’ of the old. #appalachianechoes
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Boone University

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Boone University

3 out of 5
165 Highway 105 Extension Boone NC
$112 nightly
The price is $126 total per night from Feb 22 to Feb 23
$126 total
Feb 22 - Feb 23
Total with taxes and fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Boone. Enjoy free breakfast, free parking, and wired Internet (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,002 reviews)
Beds were comfortable and hot tub was perfect after skiing all day. Breakfast selection was really good as well. Will be back to stay again.

Reviewed on Feb 3, 2026

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Boone University
Graystone Lodge, an Ascend Collection Hotel

Graystone Lodge, an Ascend Collection Hotel

3 out of 5
2419 NC HWY 105 South Boone NC
$122 nightly
The price is $137 total per night from Feb 22 to Feb 23
$137 total
Feb 22 - Feb 23
Total with taxes and fees
Stay at this hotel in Boone. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,275 reviews)
The room and bathroom were incredibly clean. The staff was sp friendly. The hotel is beautiful. It was a great stay!

Reviewed on Feb 1, 2026

Graystone Lodge, an Ascend Collection Hotel
4 Seasons at Beech Mountain

4 Seasons at Beech Mountain

2.5 out of 5
608 Beech Mountain Pkwy Banner Elk NC
$120 nightly
The price is $135 total per night from Feb 22 to Feb 23
$135 total
Feb 22 - Feb 23
Total with taxes and fees
Book a stay at this family-friendly aparthotel in Banner Elk. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our ...
7.8/10 Good! (472 reviews)
Hotel needs a refresh however it was clean and the staff was very friendly. You can easily walk to several restaurants close by. We liked how close it was to the ski area.

Reviewed on Feb 5, 2026

4 Seasons at Beech Mountain
See all 5,814 properties in Mountain City
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
The Highlands at Sugar

The Highlands at Sugar

3 out of 5
2173 Sugar Mountain Drive Banner Elk NC
Book a stay at this family-friendly apartment in Banner Elk. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (788 reviews)
The size and accommodations of this stay exceeded my expectations!

Reviewed on Jan 25, 2026

The Highlands at Sugar
Little Creek Cabin, 2 bedrooms, 1.5 Baths (Sleeps 4)

Little Creek Cabin, 2 bedrooms, 1.5 Baths (Sleeps 4)

Fleetwood NC
Stay at this cabin in Fleetwood. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Ashe Lake and Five Ridge Theatre are located nearby.
10/10 Exceptional! (66 reviews)
A perfect romantic getaway. Enjoyed sitting by the fire and watching football all weekend. The house was super clean and had everything we needed. Will definitely be back! Thank you, Paul for everything!

Reviewed on Jan 20, 2026

Little Creek Cabin, 2 bedrooms, 1.5 Baths (Sleeps 4)
Smoketree Lodge

Smoketree Lodge

3 out of 5
11914 Highway 105 Banner Elk NC
Stay at this aparthotel in Banner Elk. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a fitness center. Popular attractions Sugar Mountain Resort and Grandfather Mountain ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (268 reviews)
Everything was great! Would definitely stay again!

Reviewed on Feb 5, 2026

Smoketree Lodge
See all properties in Mountain City
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Fox cub in forest, posing at spring woods

Red Tail Golf Course

Enjoy a round of golf in Mountain City at Red Tail Golf Course. Stroll along the lakeside in this relaxing area, or seek out the fishing spots.

Red Tail Golf Course

Doe Mountain Recreation Area

Explore the great outdoors at Doe Mountain Recreation Area, a lovely green space in Mountain City. Discover the area's mountain views and restaurants.

Doe Mountain Recreation Area

Johnson County Welcome Center and Museum

You can spend an afternoon exploring the galleries in Johnson County Welcome Center and Museum during your travels in Mountain City. Discover the area's mountain views and restaurants.

Johnson County Welcome Center and Museum

Heritage Hall Theater

You can make plans for a show at Heritage Hall Theater during your stay in Mountain City. Discover the area's mountain views and restaurants.

Heritage Hall Theater

Johnson County Community Hospital

Though Johnson County Community Hospital might be what brings you to town, perhaps you'll have a chance to explore more of Mountain City while you are here.

Johnson County Community Hospital

Red Tail Mountain Golf Club

Enjoy a round of golf in Mountain City at Red Tail Mountain Golf Club. Discover the mountain views in this relaxing area, or seek out the fishing spots.

Red Tail Mountain Golf Club

Reviews of Mountain City

3.7
Guest rating
5 - Excellent
4
5 - Excellent 21%
4 - Good
8
4 - Good 42%
3 - Okay
6
3 - Okay 32%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
1
1 - Terrible 5%

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

It’s a bit far from Boone which was the original request for a reservation. 35 minutes mountain driving. But the views are worth it.

4/5 - Good

R.B.

liked Mountain City. Will go back.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

Nice, quiet town

Cities near Mountain City

Aging Covered Bridge

Elizabethton

This photo was taken just inside the Tennessee border. I had been staying at a cabin with my roommate and her family. We arrived at night at a time when I could not see the pond. When I woke up the next morning, we went outside and I was in awe of the beauty. It was bright, vibrant, and perfectly picturesque. The cabin we stayed in was hard to get to; it was on a one way gravel road up the side of a mountain. It is seemingly untouched, yet if I had turned the camera around, the viewer would notice power lines running up the side of the mountain. This picture seems to preserve the idea that Appalachia has not been touched by humans. #appalachianechoes

Butler

Another #hiddentreasure of Appalachia is this view from Vilas Overlook. I managed to snap a picture at the perfect time—the leaves are changing colors, the goldenrod is in full-bloom, and the cloudy sky is covering the hills like a blanket. That’s right—not even the cloudy skies can diminish the incredible view that this is. I found it on my way to Trashcan Falls, and it is up a dirt road. The view was different than other overlooks like Thunderhill and Howard’s Knob in my opinion because this one was nestled right in a residential area. You can even see the house I had to park above to get this shot! Luckily it was a lazy Sunday and nobody seemed to notice I was there—they were all probably napping after church! #appalachianechoes #vilas #overlook #appalachia #mountains

Vilas

You're driving through the Appalachian mountains, and you stop to get out and see the highway view of the blue ridge parkway. But does this actually let you get an insight to how beautiful the land truly is?No, you have to get out there and find the view that fits for you. That highway view is something that everyone see's just passing through and it isn't special. Getting out into the mountains like this, is one of the many ways that i love to get away from things and get that "me time". I suggest that everyone get out and take some time to get away from technology and become close to nature.

Creston

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