If you are planning a family trip to Gatlinburg and want one activity that every age in the group actually enjoys, family ATV tours are worth moving to the top of the list. Quad Hollar runs 90-minute guided rides on private Smoky Mountain trails, with dedicated double-rider ATVs built specifically so kids can ride safely alongside an adult driver.
This guide covers what the experience is really like for families, how younger riders get on the trail safely, what parents typically say after the tour, and everything you need to plan the ride.
What Families Experience When They Arrive
When families pull up to Quad Hollar, there is always a mix of excitement and nervous energy, especially for first timers. Parents want to know the safety details. Kids are ready to go before the car is parked.
After check-in and a full safety briefing, things shift fast. Helmets go on, engines start, and the nerves turn into something else entirely. By the time the first turn happens on the trail, most families have forgotten they were ever unsure about booking.
How Kids Ride: The ATV Double Rider Experience
For families with younger riders, Quad Hollar’s Can-Am Outlander 6×6 is the centerpiece of the family experience. It is the only ATV double rider in the fleet. A parent takes the driver seat up front, and the child rides safely in the passenger position directly behind them.
The 6×6 design (six wheels instead of four) makes it one of the most stable machines on any trail. It handles creek crossings, mud sections, and hill climbs without the instability you might expect from a standard four-wheeler. Kids experience the full ride without any of the risk of riding solo.
What kids consistently love most on the trail:
- Riding through mud holes and creek crossings in the Smoky Mountains
- Bouncing along rugged mountain paths
- Seeing wildlife and real nature up close, sometimes getting a little muddy in the process
- Feeling like they are part of a real ATV trail ride, not a theme park attraction
It is not just a ride. It is something they will be talking about long after the vacation ends.
What Kids Say After the Ride
If you ask the kids after a Quad Hollar ATV trail ride in the Smoky Mountains, you hear the same things consistently:
- “The mud.”
- “Exploring the trails.”
- “I have never seen a machine like this.”
- “It was so easy to ride along.”
That combination – excitement plus real nature plus just enough thrill without being overwhelming – is exactly what makes a family ATV trail ride different from standing in line for a show or walking through a tourist attraction.
The Can-Am Outlander 6×6 is the only ATV in our fleet that takes a passenger. Built for families. Perfect for kids who want the full trail experience alongside an adult. Starting at $161.
What Parents Say After the Ride
Parents usually arrive with the same quiet hesitation: is this actually going to be worth the stop? Will the kids handle it?
By the end, they are typically the ones who do not want to leave.
Common things families tell us after their ATV tour:
- “That was way more fun than I expected.”
- “The kids have not stopped talking about it.”
- “This was the highlight of our trip.”
- “We are doing this again next year.”
It is one of the few activities in Gatlinburg where everyone has a great time, not just one person in the group.
How Family ATV Tours Compare to Other Gatlinburg Activities
The Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area has no shortage of things to do. Most of them fall into the same category: you watch, you wait in line, or you walk through.
A guided ATV trail ride in the Smoky Mountains works differently. You are not watching someone else do something from behind a railing. You are in it. Mud, hills, creek crossings. These are not the backdrop. They are the experience.
That is the difference that tends to make it the highlight of the trip rather than just another stop on the itinerary. It creates shared moments that are harder to manufacture in a controlled indoor attraction.
A Moment That Stayed With Us
Recently, a family arrived with two kids around 7 and 8 years old. Both were quiet at first – a little unsure, sticking close to their parents, maybe a little intimidated by the machines.
About ten minutes into the trail, everything changed. You could see the smiles before you could hear the laughter. By the time they came back, both kids had mud on them and were asking if they could go again.
The parents looked at each other. “Okay, it was worth it.”
That is the kind of moment that sticks. And it is why most Quad Hollar families end up booking again on their next trip to Gatlinburg.
Plan Your Family ATV Vacation in Gatlinburg
Quad Hollar is a family friendly ATV resort on private property in Gatlinburg, TN, operated by the same team behind Off Road Gatlinburg, the number one off-road operator in Gatlinburg with over 3,500 Google reviews.
Tour details:
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Location | 446 East Pkwy, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 |
| Hours | Monday to Sunday, 9 AM to 9 PM |
| Days open | 365 days a year, rain or shine |
| Cancellation | Free up to 48 hours before your ride |
The fleet for ATV vacations with family:
| ATV | Riders | Style | Starting price |
| Can-Am Outlander 6×6 | Driver + 1 passenger | Double rider, family-built, 6 wheels | $161 |
| Honda Rancher | Single rider ATV | Smooth, steady, most popular | $109 |
| Honda TRX 250X | Single rider ATV | Sport chassis, quick throttle | $127 |
What is included:
- Your ATV and a professional guide for the full 90 minutes
- Free helmet for every rider
- Full safety briefing and on-trail training before departure
- Access to private Smoky Mountain trails not open to the public
What to know before you book:
- Drivers must be 18 or older with a valid photo ID
- Required attire: closed-toe shoes and long pants
- Gloves, goggles, and bandanas available on-site
- No prior experience required
Ready to book your family ATV tour? Call (912) 270-5222 or stop by 446 East Pkwy, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. Free cancellation up to 48 hours before your ride.
Family ATV Tours in Gatlinburg: Frequently Asked Questions
Is a family ATV tour safe for young children?
Yes. The Can-Am Outlander 6×6 is specifically designed as an ATV double rider. A parent drives while the child rides safely in the passenger seat. The 6×6 frame makes it exceptionally stable on any terrain, including creek crossings and mud sections. Every tour begins with a full guide-led safety briefing and on-site training before the first turn.
What is the minimum age to ride as a passenger on a family ATV?
Drivers must be 18 or older with a valid photo ID. Passengers (children riding with an adult) are welcome on the Can-Am Outlander 6×6. There is no set minimum age for passengers. The adult driver decides based on the child’s comfort level, and the guide helps set expectations before the ride.
Do you need experience for an ATV trail ride in Gatlinburg?
No prior experience is needed for any of the ATV trail rides[INTERNAL LINK] at Quad Hollar. Every rider receives a full on-site briefing and training before the tour starts. The guide stays with the group for the entire 90 minutes on the trail.
How long are the ATV trail rides?
Tours run 90 minutes on private Smoky Mountain trails. The route includes creek crossings, mud holes, mountain climbs, and panoramic overlooks not accessible to the general public.
What makes Quad Hollar different for ATV trail riding vacations?
Quad Hollar operates on private property with trails maintained exclusively for guided tours. As part of the Off Road Gatlinburg team, the guides know both the machines and the terrain inside out. Tours run rain or shine, 365 days a year, and free cancellation is available up to 48 hours before the ride.