Give your wallet a vacation without giving up luxury during visits to the western Tennessee travel hot spots Chattanooga and Pigeon Forge.
How is that possible? By staying at Drury Hotels.
The new Drury Plaza Hotel Chattanooga Hamilton Place and Drury Plaza Hotel Pigeon Forge boast tasteful décor and other amenities that create an upscale ambiance. Yet, reasonable rates and a free daily miniature-dinner “kickback” (which includes three alcoholic drinks), complimentary daily popcorn/soda, and a free breakfast make the Drury a can’t-miss option to these cool destinations.
Chattanooga
Just north of the Georgia border, this cool city offers the unforgettable Ruby Falls at Lookout Mountain and Rock City.
Ruby Falls is a cavern-enclosed waterfall; with a cascade spanning 145 feet, it is the tallest underground waterfall in the United States that is open to the public. Rock City is a multifaceted mountainside attraction that includes walks through Fat Man’s Squeeze, a Balanced Rock, Swing-a-Long Bridge, views of High Falls and Seven States, and the kid-friendly Fairyland Caverns.
Along with the renowned Tennessee Aquarium, this is quite a family-friendly vacation spot. The Drury makes the visit even more memorable.
Opened in late October 2024, the 210-room Drury features many spiffy touches. Our room included wall artwork of the Tennessee River winding through Chattanooga.
The kickback/breakfast area was oversized with many cool sitting areas: comfy, cushiony booths of all shapes, including some with motifs of the Appalachian Range on the walls. A nifty open-shelved wood room divider of plants, books, and wooden trains (get it, “Chattanooga Choo-Choo”) added to the ambiance in the eating area. All the complimentary kickback and breakfast items were tasty.
The nearby Kitchen + Bar, open late every night, tempts those hungry for even more with appetizers, salads, burgers, melts, pizza, desserts, beer, wine, and cocktails.
The lobby doesn’t disappoint, either, with lots of comfy options to relax, as well as a nearby fireplace. Also, the hotel’s meeting space can accommodate a variety of meetings or events with up to 360 attendees.
Pigeon Forge
Opened in late July 2025, this Drury amazingly takes things up a notch!
The 252-room resort-style Pigeon Forge Drury has all the amenities of the Chattanooga location plus even more.
Our room was the same, except wall artwork depicted being in the thick of the Smoky Mountains.
But the lobby was even larger, and this location offers wonderful outdoor and semi-outdoor patio options.
The outdoor patio featured outdoor sofas and chair as well as retractable canopy chaise lounges, outdoor whirlpool, and fire pits. The semi-outdoor patio, set between the outdoor patio and dining areas, featured open-air, cushiony seating protected by a roof with ceiling fans. It’s part of The Kitchen + Bar, but it’s also offered for those participating in the kickback and/or breakfast.
The pool area at this location also includes a funky splash pad.
The location of this Drury is sublime. It’s located at Riverwalk Greenway, which follows the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River. This wide riverwalk is used by walkers, runners, and bicyclists. We easily walked to the acclaimed The Island, a 23-acre entertainment complex that offers a mix of shopping, dining, rides, and attractions.
The Drury, which offers scenic views of the Smoky Mountains, also is located less than 5 minutes from the LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge, which hosts conventions and trade shows. Additionally, we were 5 minutes or less in walking distance from MoonPie General Store and the Original Book Warehouse, Crave Golf Club (miniature golf), Fast Tracks (go-karts), and Three Bears General Store.
With Sevierville and Gatlinburg beckoning in addition to Pigeon Forge, these attractions can add up to your bill by the end of the trip. But with the Drury, we were able to keep our costs down in food and alcoholic drinks while still relaxing in luxury.