
Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort
Best for travelers who want on-site gaming, a large spa (Mandara Spa), and a broad dining and entertainment program.
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Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort is a large, four-star casino and convention resort at the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park; read this if you want a full-service casino resort with big meeting space and a full spa. Holiday Inn Club Vacations Smoky Mountain Resort is a branded, family-focused vacation-club property in downtown Gatlinburg; read this if you want a family villa-style stay steps from Gatlinburg attractions.
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Best for travelers who want on-site gaming, a large spa (Mandara Spa), and a broad dining and entertainment program.

Best for families or repeat club owners who want multi-bedroom villa options within walking distance of Gatlinburg attractions.
Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort wins when you want late-night entertainment, a very large casino floor (21+), many on-site restaurants and bars, and extensive meeting and event space.
Holiday Inn Club Vacations Smoky Mountain Resort wins when you want multi-bedroom villas, family-friendly pool features and direct access to Gatlinburg attractions like Ripley's Aquarium and the SkyLift Park.
Bottom line: both are solid Smokies choices but for different trips — pick Harrah's for casino-driven nightlife, spa treatments, and large-scale events; pick Holiday Inn Club Vacations for family villa stays in the heart of Gatlinburg.
| Category | Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort | Holiday Inn Club Vacations Smoky Mountain Resort |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Large casino-resort and convention center with active nightlife and event programming | Branded family vacation-club resort with villa-style rooms near Gatlinburg attractions |
| Location | Cherokee, NC; at the gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 404 Airport Road, Gatlinburg, Tennessee; walkable to SkyLift Park, aquarium and downtown |
| Size (rooms) | 1,833 rooms across four towers | 136 guestrooms (villa and 1–3 bedroom options) |
| Ages / access | Hotel welcomes all ages but casino floor and some venues are 21+; minimum age to register is 21 | All ages welcome; family-focused programming |
| Pools & water features | Indoor heated pool (year-round), seasonal outdoor pool, Cherokee Terrace Pool; pool access restricted to hotel guests | Number of indoor pools - 1; number of outdoor pools - 1; 2 hot tubs and a waterslide; children's pool |
| Restaurants & bars | 12+ on-site restaurants including Ruth's Chris, Guy Fieri and Gordon Ramsay venues; casino bars and late-night food | Casual on-site dining options; gift shop/newsstand and vending; no celebrity-chef venues listed |
| Spa & fitness | Mandara Spa (18,000 sq ft) with wide treatment menu; 24-hour fitness center | Not published |
| Known for | Large casino floor and entertainment/event center with big concert and convention capacity | Family villas and hands-on family amenities near Gatlinburg attractions |
| Family features | Arcade/game room, family-friendly restaurants outside casino floor, supervised pool areas for guests | Children's pool, waterslide, arcade/game room, concierge and area shuttle (surcharge) |
| Parking & transport | Free self-parking and complimentary valet parking for hotel guests; no airport shuttle | Area shuttle (surcharge); parking details not published |
Harrah's sits in Cherokee, North Carolina, at the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Choose Harrah's if you want immediate access to NC-side park entrances and Cherokee cultural sites.
Holiday Inn Club Vacations Smoky Mountain Resort is in central Gatlinburg, within walking distance of major tourist attractions.
Choose Holiday Inn Club Vacations for a stay that keeps Gatlinburg attractions within easy walking distance.
Harrah's offers a large variety of room types across four towers, from standard guest rooms to specialty suites.
Harrah's works best for groups who need many rooms, variety of room types, or meeting blocks.
Holiday Inn Club Vacations offers villa-style units and 1–3 bedroom signature villas geared to families.
Holiday Inn Club Vacations is best if you want multi-bedroom units or villa layouts for families.
Harrah's has a wide restaurant roster including upscale steakhouses and celebrity-chef markets plus casino bars.
Pick Harrah's if you want many on-site dining choices and late-night food and bars.
Holiday Inn Club Vacations provides family-oriented dining support and on-site casual amenities.
Holiday Inn Club Vacations is practical for families who want villa kitchens and to eat out in downtown Gatlinburg.
Harrah's offers multiple pools and poolside service for hotel guests.
Harrah's pools are part of a larger resort leisure program and cater to families and adults, but access is limited to hotel guests.
Holiday Inn Club Vacations lists indoor and outdoor pools plus family water features.
Holiday Inn Club Vacations puts family-friendly water features like a waterslide and children’s pool at the center of its leisure offering.
Harrah's pairs a large Mandara Spa with 24-hour fitness and on-site nightlife tied to the casino.
Harrah's is the pick for spa-focused wellness plus casino-driven nightlife for adults.
Holiday Inn Club Vacations focuses on family recreation rather than a dedicated full-service spa or casino nightlife.
Holiday Inn Club Vacations suits families who want onsite kids’ entertainment and easy access to Gatlinburg shows and outdoor activities.

Harrah's — large casino floor, late-night venues and multiple bars.

Holiday Inn Club Vacations — 1–3 bedroom villas, waterslide and children's pool.

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

Holiday Inn Club Vacations — walkable to Ripley's Aquarium, Gatlinburg Space Needle and downtown.
No. The casino floor and venues within the casino building are restricted to guests 21 and older; children are welcome in the hotel, arcade, and restaurants outside the casino.
Holiday Inn Club Vacations — it lists Villa, 1 Bedroom; Villa, 2 Bedrooms; Signature Villa, 2 Bedrooms; Signature Villa, 3 Bedrooms and similar multi-bedroom options.
Yes. Harrah's has an indoor pool, a seasonal outdoor pool and the Cherokee Terrace Pool; Holiday Inn Club Vacations lists indoor and outdoor pools, two hot tubs, a waterslide and a children's pool.
Not published — the supplier listing does not show a full-service spa on site.
Explore how Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort stacks up against other hotels nearby:
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