Overview
Cherokee is a town in the North Carolina Mountains within the Qualla Boundary, the proper name of the Cherokee Indian (Eastern Band) reserve.
1 sights · 3 things to do · 1 bars & cafés · 7 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Cherokee
Mingo Falls
Oconaluftee Indian Village
Visit and learn about Cherokee Native American culture. The tour takes you through various live demonstrations of Cherokee life, including two educational and informative talks. The description says it shows a "typical d…
Museum of the Cherokee Indian
Artifacts, artwork, life-sized figures, computer generated animation to tell the story of the Cherokee people and their long life in the southern Appalachians.
Harrah's Casino
A popular attraction in Cherokee which is owned by the local Cherokee tribe.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 85°F; winter lows dip to about 29°F. Wettest: Aug and Jun. (climate data from nearby Asheville)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- AVL Asheville Regional Airport, Asheville — 44 mi away. Directions
- TYS McGhee Tyson Airport, Knoxville/Maryville — 44 mi away (major hub). Directions
Cherokee is accessible by US 441 and Highway 19. Most visitors will come from the direction of Knoxville or Asheville.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Mingo Falls, Museum of the Cherokee Indian
- Afternoon Oconaluftee Indian Village, Harrah's Casino
- Evening Qualla Java
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
There are several locally owned restaurants offering typical American food, it is difficult to find authentic Native American cuisine, but it can be done if you know where to look. There are also some franchises such as McDonald's or Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), of course.
If you are in the mood to gamble, the casino might be a great place to eat as well.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
This is the center of Cherokee culture in North Carolina (and indeed the eastern United States). Many natives call this area home, the Cherokee language is also spoken by many in this area. The town was established by the Cherokee who stayed behind while the US Government forced them west in the Trail of Tears. Those who stayed behind hid in the mountains that now make up the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Cherokee people are eastern Native Americans; do not ask them where the tipis are. Tipis were made by Native Americans who lived in the Great Plains. The Cherokee people lived in houses made of woven grass covered with mud, and after the European settlers arrived, log cabins.
Cherokee is one of the gateways to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and its economy is mainly tourism based. There is no "downtown" to Cherokee; the entire built up area is mainly composed of hotels and tourist shops selling "Indian" themed merchandise.
Get in
Cherokee is accessible by US 441 and Highway 19. Most visitors will come from the direction of Knoxville or Asheville.
Get around
There is public transportation with different stops throughout the area and a pickup can be scheduled by contacting Cherokee Transit • phone 828-554-6300 • Text 828-269-5790 • Toll-free 866-388-6071 • TDD: 711. Many of the larger hotels have a shuttle service.
See
The town mainly exists because of its proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and its other attraction is that it's the traditional homeland of the Cherokee people.
Do
Do Oconaluftee Indian Village
Visit and learn about Cherokee Native American culture. The tour takes you through various live demonstrations of Cherokee life, including two educational and informative talks. The description says it shows a "typical day in a Cherokee village", but that's stretching it. There are several small stands when you walk in, one shows a person forming clay pots, another weaving baskets, and another displaying arrowheads. There is a man burning wood to hollow out of log for a canoe.
There are a limited number of other attractions in the area, most of which are related either to Indian culture or natural landmarks.
Buy
The entire built-up area of Cherokee is tourist stores, almost all of which sell Indian-themed merchandise. There is a grocery store on the outskirts of town. If you stop at one of these tourist stores, you've pretty much stopped at all of them.
One stand-out is the Talking Leaves Native American Bookstore (Highway 441 & Highway 19 Intersection) which has a huge inventory of Native American books which would make any university library proud. They also sell clothing and Native American-made jewelry. Bookstore is owned and operated by a Native American woman.
If you really want to learn about the Cherokee people and other Native Americans, stop here and buy a few books.
Eat
There are several locally owned restaurants offering typical American food, it is difficult to find authentic Native American cuisine, but it can be done if you know where to look. There are also some franchises such as McDonald's or Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), of course.
If you are in the mood to gamble, the casino might be a great place to eat as well.
Drink
The town of Cherokee is dry. There is a convenience store 1/2 mile from Cherokee on highway 441 where you can get alcohol. You can also drink at the casino.
Drink Qualla Java
Small batch Columbian coffee, with a riverfront patio.
Sleep
Cherokee has no shortage of hotels, motels and Inns. Best you just drive around and look before you leap, as quite a few appear to be on the verge of collapsing. If you want to support the locals, stay in a local-owned motel, not one of the large chains.
Stay Chestnut Tree Inn Cherokee
Stay Raccoon Ridge Properties
Offering several privately owned cabins for rent. Raccoon Ridge Properties has owned and managed luxury cabins in the Bryson City/Cherokee area since 2005. They pride themselves in providing the highest quality and comfort at an affordable price. Raccoon Ridge Properties strives to make your next vacation to the mountains a memorable one. Their selection includes waterfront and mountain view cabins.
Go next
- Cherokee is a gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
- Go explore the rest of the Appalachian Mountains.
Nearby
Bryson City
City / town · 5 listings · 8 mi away
Sylva
City / town · 3 listings · 9 mi away
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Park · 19 listings · 14 mi away
Maggie Valley
City / town · 6 listings · 14 mi away
Waynesville
City / town · 14 listings · 19 mi away
Gatlinburg
City / town · 38 listings · 20 mi away
Franklin
City / town · 2 listings · 21 mi away
Dollywood
City / town · 4 listings · 26 mi away
My experience
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