Econo Lodge Riverside

The Econo Lodge Riverside's homey lobby has a beautiful stone fireplace along with attractive stone floors, a wood front desk, and a small flat-screen TV. The lobby also has blue and tan striped bench seating and offers free coffee and tea. Large windows fill the breakfast area with natural light, and the space has dark blue carpet, wood chairs and tables, and generic artwork. There is also an outdoor terrace with metal chairs, tables, and greenery. The hotel's Riverwalk is at the back of the property on Little Pigeon River, providing 500-feet of beautifully landscaped grounds including seating areas, barbecue grills, and a stone fire pit. A large wood pavilion has metal picnic tables and there are steps down to the river for swimming and fishing. Food for the ducks and geese is also available, for a fee. Budget travelers and families are drawn to this property for its indoor heated swimming pool and gorgeous Riverwalk facilities. 

The Econo Lodge Riverside is on the main road through Pigeon Forge with Firehouse Golf, Magiquest, restaurants, and shops a five-minute walk away. The Titanic Museum, the Hollywood Wax Museum, and The Comedy Barn Theater are a 15-minute walk from the hotel, while WonderWorks and the Tanger Outlets are around a five-minute drive away. There are plenty of breweries and distilleries in the area as well. Dollywood is a 15-minute drive from the hotel and Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies plus the Gatlinburg Convention Center are about a 25-minute drive away, as is the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The McGhee Tyson Airport takes 50 minutes to reach by car.

Pleasant rooms feature red bedspreads, red and black striped carpet, and generic nature artwork on yellow walls as well as comfortable Serta mattresses. Light wood furniture has a homey, if not exactly stylish, quality and almost all rooms have balconies, while some have sofa beds. All rooms have 32-inch flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, mini-fridges, microwaves, and coffeemakers that share the white counters holding the bathroom sinks. Clean bathrooms have white tile and rust-colored walls. White shower/tub combos and EconoLodge toiletries are provided; however tubs are high and can be difficult to get out of for guests with mobility issues. Some guests report pool-facing rooms to be noisy as well. 

Brown wicker seating, a tan tile deck, and a half-moon-shaped children’s pool are available next to the heated oval-shaped indoor pool. Potted plants and a round hot tub with blue tile are also featured here. Sausage, eggs, fruit, muffins, juice, biscuits, and pancakes are provided at the free breakfast, which receives good reviews, and can be eaten either indoors or outdoors. The hotel's Riverwalk is one of the nicest in the area and provides a chance to swim, fish, or feed ducks and geese, not to mention the fire pit and picnic areas. There is a 24/7 computer station with two computers, a printer, and ergonomic desk chairs on-site. Arcade machines are offered in the game room, and there is free outdoor parking including spaces for buses and trucks plus an on-site coin-op laundry room. However, guests complain that the breakfast area can get crowded and there is no fitness center. Wi-Fi is free throughout.