Tripadvisor has once again named Dollywood the best theme park in the United States, awarding the Smoky Mountain destination the top spot in its 2025 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards. It marks the third time in four years Dollywood has received the honor, having previously ranked No. 1 in 2022 and 2024.
The 165-acre park also earned global recognition, placing No. 11 in the world and standing as the only U.S.-based theme park to crack Tripadvisor’s international top 15 list.
Tripadvisor’s rankings are based on the quality and quantity of traveler reviews and ratings over a 12-month period. According to the platform, its “Best of the Best” awards reflect the top 1% of listings globally and are considered the company’s highest honor.
“We don’t provide the best guest experience in the country to try to win these awards,” said Eugene Naughton, president of Dollywood Parks & Resorts. “We do it because it’s the right thing to do. Our guests have options, and when they choose to visit us, we want to give them a world-class experience.”
Naughton credited the park’s “hosts”—the employees at its theme park, water park, and resort properties—for ensuring a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere for all guests. “These awards continue to show that the Dollywood Parks & Resorts experience truly is best in class,” he added.
Dollywood topped a U.S. list that also featured Magic Kingdom, Knoebels Amusement Resort, and Universal’s Islands of Adventure among others. The complete U.S. top 10 is:
1. Dollywood (Pigeon Forge, Tennessee)
2. Disney’s Magic Kingdom (Orlando, Florida)
3. Knoebels Amusement Resort (Elysburg, Pennsylvania)
4. Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Orlando)
5. Universal’s Islands of Adventure (Orlando)
6. Fun Spot America (Kissimmee, Florida)
7. Legoland California (Carlsbad, California)
8. Universal Studios Florida (Orlando)
9. Silver Dollar City (Branson, Missouri)
10. Whale’s Tale Waterpark (Lincoln, New Hampshire)
Internationally, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi topped the global list, followed by Beto Carrero World in Brazil and Waterbom Bali in Indonesia. Dollywood was the only North American park to make the global top 15.
This latest recognition adds to a growing list of accolades for Dollywood Parks & Resorts. In the past year, the destination has appeared on Newsweek’s Best Customer Service 2025 list, Forbes’ America’s Best Midsize Employers list, and USA Today’s Top Workplaces 2025. The National Amusement Park Historical Association also named Dollywood the country’s favorite theme park for the fourth year in a row.
Last September, Dollywood earned five Golden Ticket Awards from Amusement Today, including Best Guest Experience, Best Kids Area, and Most Beautiful Park. Its Smoky Mountain Christmas event was honored with the publication’s Legend Award, recognizing it as the best holiday event in theme park history.
Dollywood’s 40th anniversary season continues with a full slate of seasonal events. The Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration, featuring the park’s Sweet Summer Nights drone and fireworks show, runs through Aug. 3. This fall, the Harvest Festival returns Sept. 12–Oct. 27, highlighted by Great Pumpkin LumiNights and performances from artists such as Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Emily Ann Roberts, and Dailey & Vincent.
The season wraps up with Smoky Mountain Christmas from Nov. 1 through Jan. 4, 2026, featuring six million lights, festive shows, and the hallmark holiday spirit that has made it an industry standard.
For more information about Dollywood’s 40th season, visit Dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app.
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