
Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort
Best for travelers who want a full-service casino-resort experience with many restaurants, large meeting/event spaces, and a full spa.
Prices in other currencies are estimates. You’re charged in USD.
Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort is a large, four-star casino resort in Cherokee, NC, best for travelers seeking on-site gaming, multiple restaurants, meeting space and a full-service spa. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Gatlinburg, TN is a midscale, recognizable Radisson-family hotel in downtown Gatlinburg for value-minded visitors who want easy access to downtown attractions and a free hot breakfast.
Updated

Best for travelers who want a full-service casino-resort experience with many restaurants, large meeting/event spaces, and a full spa.

Best for value-conscious visitors who want a familiar brand, free breakfast, and a short walk to Gatlinburg attractions.
When Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort wins: choose Harrah's if you want an all-in-one destination resort with a large casino, many on-site dining options (including celebrity-chef venues), Mandara Spa, multiple pools, and extensive meeting or event facilities.
When Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Gatlinburg, TN wins: pick Country Inn & Suites if you want a simple, budget-friendly, centrally located Gatlinburg hotel with a complimentary full breakfast, an indoor pool, and easy walking access to downtown attractions.
Bottom line: Harrah's is a destination resort that centers on gaming, dining and resort amenities; Country Inn & Suites is a smaller, downtown-value option that puts Gatlinburg's sights and family attractions within walking distance.
| Category | Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort | Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Gatlinburg, TN |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Large casino-led resort with many dining, entertainment and conference options (family-friendly outside casino). | Familiar midscale hotel focused on downtown Gatlinburg convenience and value. |
| Location | Entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Cherokee, NC (mountain/inland). | Centrally located in downtown Gatlinburg, within walking distance of SkyPark and Ripley's Aquarium. |
| Size (rooms) | 1,833 rooms across four towers. | 77 rooms. |
| Ages / access | All-ages resort overall, but casino floor and some venues restricted to guests 21+; minimum age to register is 21. | All ages welcome; not adults-only. |
| Pools | Indoor pool (heated, year-round), seasonal outdoor pool, plus Cherokee Terrace Pool (hotel-guest access only). | Number of indoor pools - 1 (hotel guest pool). |
| Restaurants & bars | A dozen-plus on-site restaurants and bars including Ruth's Chris, Guy Fieri's, Gordon Ramsay Food Market and Selu Garden Café. | Not published |
| Spa / wellness | Mandara Spa (18,000 sq ft) with massages, facials, hydrotherapy and sauna; 24-hour fitness center. | Not published |
| Known for | 150,000-sq-ft casino floor, large event and meeting complex, celebrity-chef restaurants, and a major regional entertainment venue. | Central Gatlinburg location, complimentary full breakfast, and straightforward Radisson-brand lodging. |
| Parking & transport | Free self-parking plus complimentary valet for guests; no on-site rental-car desks; no airport shuttle. | Free self parking available onsite; preferred airport listed as McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS). |
| Typical guest | Groups, convention attendees, spa and casino visitors, families (outside casino floor). | Families and leisure travelers wanting downtown access and value. |
Harrah's sits at the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Cherokee, NC, on a 56-acre property near regional outdoor attractions.
Harrah's is aimed at travelers combining resort amenities with mountain access.
Country Inn & Suites is centrally located in downtown Gatlinburg within a short walk of attractions, shops and family activities.
Country Inn & Suites is convenient for seeing Gatlinburg on foot and for short trips into the Smokies.
Harrah's offers many room types across four towers with upscale in-room amenities.
Room choices and on-site services scale to large groups and convention business.
Country Inn & Suites offers standard midscale rooms and several suite configurations with basic in-room conveniences.
Country Inn & Suites suits travelers who want simple, functional rooms with in-room microwaves and fridges.
Harrah's lists a wide range of on-site dining from casual to upscale and late-night options.
Expect many dining choices and some age-restricted venues tied to the casino floor.
Country Inn & Suites highlights a complimentary full breakfast and standard hotel food-service features.
Country Inn & Suites is focused on a free morning meal and basic conveniences rather than diverse on-site dining.
Harrah's pools are part of the resort's guest-only recreation offerings, with indoor and seasonal outdoor options plus a terrace pool.
Harrah's offers multiple pool settings for families and adults, tied to guest registration.
Country Inn & Suites provides hotel recreation including a 24-hour health club and an indoor pool.
Country Inn & Suites gives basic on-site pool and fitness amenities suitable for shorter stays and family visits.
Harrah's pairs a large Mandara Spa and 24-hour fitness center with casino-nightlife options.
Choose Harrah's when you want spa services and nighttime entertainment on the same property.
Country Inn & Suites focuses on essential fitness and quiet stays rather than on-site nightlife.
Country Inn & Suites is better for quieter evenings and easy access to Gatlinburg nightlife off-property.

Harrah's — large 150,000-sq-ft casino floor, bars, nightclub and event center with regular concerts.

Country Inn & Suites — short walk to Gatlinburg SkyPark, Ripley's Aquarium and downtown shops.

Harrah's — Mandara Spa with a broad menu and hydrotherapy amenities.

Country Inn & Suites — Radisson-brand value hotel with complimentary full breakfast and basic family rooms.
Pick Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort; it has a 150,000-sq-ft casino floor open 24/7. Remember the casino and some venues are restricted to guests 21 and older.
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Gatlinburg, TN — it’s centrally located within a short walk of popular downtown sights like Gatlinburg SkyPark and Ripley's Aquarium.
Neither property is beachfront. Harrah's is not adults-only overall (but its casino floor is 21+); Country Inn & Suites is not adults-only.
Country Inn & Suites includes a complimentary full breakfast daily. Harrah's offers breakfast options (for a surcharge) but breakfast is generally not included in room rates.
Explore how Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort stacks up against other hotels nearby:
vs. sites like Expedia, Hotels.com and other OTAs ·