Getting around Cherokee and the resort
This guide explains how to get to Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort, move around the property, use on-site services (parking, pools, spa, dining) and follow the resort's 21+ casino rules. For arrivals, the hotel's address is 777 Casino Drive, Cherokee, NC; the BookResorts agent phone is +1 (888) 605-1350.
In this guide
- Getting to Cherokee and the resort
- Arrival, parking and getting into your tower
- Moving around the property: towers, elevators and room types
- Pools, fitness and the Mandara Spa
- Casino floor rules, nightlife and family access
- Dining, reservations and hours
- Getting off-site: nearby attractions and transport options
Getting to Cherokee and the resort
Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort sits at 777 Casino Drive in Cherokee, North Carolina, at the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The nearest major airport with scheduled commercial service is Asheville Regional Airport (AVL); travel times vary by route and traffic.
The resort does not provide scheduled airport shuttle service or on-site rental-car desks. Private shuttle companies and local ground-transport providers run transfers between Asheville and Cherokee; private transfer prices and availability vary by operator and season.
- Address: 777 Casino Drive, Cherokee, NC 28719
- Nearest major airport: Asheville Regional Airport (AVL); no on-site airport shuttle
- No on-site car rental desks — plan ahead with a rental from AVL or a private shuttle/transfer
| Contact | Detail |
|---|---|
| BookResorts agents (24/7) | +1 (888) 605-1350 |
| Resort address | 777 Casino Drive, Cherokee, NC 28719 |
| Nearest major airport | Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) |
Arrival, parking and getting into your tower
Standard check-in begins at 4:00 PM and the front desk is staffed 24 hours. The minimum age to register for a room is 21; a government-issued photo ID and credit card are required at check-in.
Harrah's offers free self-parking and complimentary valet parking for hotel guests, with separate parking areas for hotel guests and casino players. A nightly resort fee applies and typically covers features such as internet access, fitness-center use, pool access and valet parking (check current booking details).
- Check-in: 4:00 PM (early check-in may be available for a fee, subject to availability)
- Check-out: standard by 11:00 AM (some sources mention 8:00 AM first option; late check-out may be available for a fee)
- Minimum age to register: 21 with government photo ID (no exceptions)
| Parking | Notes |
|---|---|
| Self-parking | Free for guests |
| Valet | Complimentary for hotel guests |
| Reserved parking | Tiered reserved parking for Caesars Rewards tiers (if applicable) |
Moving around the property: towers, elevators and room types
The resort has four hotel towers: Creek Tower, Soco Tower, Mountain Tower and the Cherokee Tower. Each tower contains different room inventories and some towers host specific restaurants or services (for example, Guy Fieri's Cherokee Kitchen + Bar is located in Cherokee Tower).
Room names you may see when booking include Premium Room, Luxury Room, Deluxe Room, Mountain Deluxe Room 2 Queens, Creek Room, Creek Premium Room 2 Queens and others. Pet-friendly and smoking rooms are concentrated in a single tower (per guest reports), while most towers operate smoke-free.
- Example room names (book using exact name shown): Premium Room; Luxury Room; Deluxe Room, 2 Queen Beds, (Cherokee); Mountain Deluxe Room 2 Queens; Creek Premium Room 2 Queens
- Pet-friendly rooms: dogs only (up to two per reservation, max 50 lb per pet) and limited to one designated tower
- If you need a smoking room, request the specific smoking room types; smoking rooms are concentrated in the same tower as pet rooms
| Feature | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Elevators & signage | Towers are signed; follow lobby directions to your tower and elevator banks |
| Housekeeping & front desk | 24-hour front desk; housekeeping on request |
| In-room amenities | 300-thread-count linens, Kohler rain showers, 50-inch HDTV, coffee maker, mini-fridge (amenities vary by room) |
Pools, fitness and the Mandara Spa
Hotel guests have access to a heated indoor pool open year-round, a seasonal outdoor pool (open May–September) and the Cherokee Terrace Pool on the convention center's third floor. Resort pool access is restricted to registered hotel guests only.
Mandara Spa is an on-site, full-service spa offering massages, facials, bathing rituals, a sauna and a hydrotherapy pool. Spa hours and services vary; reservations are required for massage services and are recommended in advance.
- Indoor pool hours (as listed by the property source): daily 5:00 AM–11:00 PM
- Outdoor pool and Terrace Pool deck hours: daily 9:00 AM–8:00 PM (seasonal outdoor pool typically May–September)
- Fitness center: 24-hour access listed on some sources; check current hours — fitness access is included with the resort fee
| Facility | Access |
|---|---|
| Indoor pool | Heated; hotel guests only; open year-round |
| Outdoor pool | Seasonal (May–September); hotel guests only |
| Mandara Spa | Reservations required; hours vary (Mon–Thu & Sun 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Fri–Sat 9:00 AM–6:00 PM per some sources) |
Casino floor rules, nightlife and family access
The resort's casino floor (150,000 sq ft per the property's description) is restricted to guests 21 and older. No one under 21 is allowed anywhere in the casino building, including restaurants or shops located on or immediately adjacent to the gaming floor.
Outside the casino area, the hotel, arcade, some restaurants (Amici Italia, Selu Garden Café, etc.), shops and the UltraStar multi-tainment center are open to guests of all ages. If you are traveling with children, plan activities away from the gaming floor.
- Casino access: 21+ only (ID checks are enforced)
- Family areas off the casino: arcade, Starbucks, many restaurants and pool areas
- Nightlife: Myst Bar and other on-site bars operate weekend live-music hours — these venues are within the casino area and subject to the 21+ rule
| Type of venue | Allowed ages |
|---|---|
| Casino floor, Myst Bar, Noodle Bar (on casino floor) | 21 and over only |
| Selu Garden Café, Amici Italia, hotel public areas, arcade | All ages welcome |
| Pools (resort pools) | Hotel guests only; all ages welcome |
Dining, reservations and hours
Harrah's Cherokee operates a range of restaurants from casual to upscale, including Ruth's Chris Steak House, Amici Italia, Selu Garden Café, Soco Smokehouse, Guy Fieri's Cherokee Kitchen + Bar and Gordon Ramsay Food Market. Some specialty or casino-floor venues are restricted to guests 21 and older.
Hours vary by restaurant and day of week. For upscale venues such as Ruth's Chris, reservations are recommended. Breakfast is available at Selu Garden Café (all-you-can-eat buffet) for an additional fee; breakfast generally is not included with room rates.
- Selu Garden Café: breakfast buffet and lunch (hours listed as daily 7:00 AM–2:00 PM on some sources; buffet breakfast times vary)
- Ruth's Chris Steak House: dinner hours typically begin around 4:00 PM (reservations recommended; venue 21+ in this location)
- Noodle Bar: late-night hours on the casino floor (check current schedule; venue 21+)
| Restaurant | Notes |
|---|---|
| Selu Garden Café | All-you-can-eat breakfast buffet (fee); overlooks Soco Creek |
| Guy Fieri's Cherokee Kitchen + Bar | Located in Cherokee Tower; casual American menu |
| Gordon Ramsay Food Market | Market-style, fast-casual options; hours vary |
Getting off-site: nearby attractions and transport options
Harrah's Cherokee is near entry points for Great Smoky Mountains National Park and local attractions such as the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, Museum of the Cherokee People and Oconaluftee Indian Village. Many of these attractions are a short drive from the resort.
Because there is no on-site car-rental desk and no scheduled airport shuttle from the resort, visitors commonly use rental cars from AVL, private shuttle services, or local taxi/ride-hail providers. If you plan mountain hikes or day trips, arrange transportation in advance.
- Nearby destinations: Oconaluftee Visitor Center (~2 miles north), Museum of the Cherokee People (~2 miles), Oconaluftee Indian Village (~2.6 miles), Mingo Falls (~10-minute drive)
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park access via US-441 from Cherokee
- Consider advance reservations for guided trips, whitewater rafting, or the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad excursions
| Attraction | Approx. distance from resort |
|---|---|
| Oconaluftee Visitor Center | About 2 miles |
| Museum of the Cherokee People | About 2 miles |
| Mingo Falls | Roughly a 10-minute drive |
