Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
Aquarium, Zoo, and Museum
Gatlinburg
"The Penguins were so awesome and the shark tunnel was off the chain!"(16 Tips)
"Check out the Shark lagoon where sharks swim right over your head!"(6 Tips)
"Loved the mermaid show and shark tunnel!"(7 Tips)
"Great Aquarium Best one Yet...."(5 Tips)
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MikeApril 12, 2017Great place for a family trip. It's a must do while you're in the Smokey Mountains. The exhibits are awesome! Just don't waste your money on the food and I'd skip the bottomless boat ride ride.
Kelly JerniganOctober 21, 2013Open in the evenings too! Not as crowded at night.There is a moving floor a flat escalator. It keeps the crowds moving. Nice gift shop. This is a must do, especially if you have kids (of any age)
Tressie HayesApril 23, 2014We really enjoyed all that it has to offer from the Shark Lagoon to the touching the sting rays and watching the penguins and the sting-rays being feed.
Daniel WoodcockJuly 7, 2015Always love Ripley's Aquarium! Great exhibits and the new Swarm exhibit was awesome. To me the shark tunnel is the best part of the aquarium. The penguins are up there too.
nemo sergesNovember 19, 2022Absolutely LOVED this aquarium! My favorite part was the shark lagoon where you could walk through a glass tunnel with sharks swimming all around you. Very cool!
David RawlinsJanuary 15, 2015, it was a great visit my son and I ex-military had a great time there. Took a lot of pictures of so many different types of sea lionslife , plus the demonstrations that they had a fantastic.
Nick SweetmanAugust 18, 2016Underwater moving pathway was the best part of the experience. However, touching jellyfish, horseshoe crabs, and sting rays was beyond amazing!
Sam M.September 8, 2018Great aquarium for families! Somewhat pricey, but check around - there are usually offers to combine other Ripley’s attractions for a lower rate. Took us a little over an hour from start to finish.
ErinhMay 20, 2015Best aquarium I've ever been to. Most expensive too of course. If you are into other Ripley attractions then you can save a little by bundling tickets.
Vinnie MaranoMarch 29, 2023Fun aquarium, it can get extremely crowded at the beginning, but does open up more as you get further into the aquarium.
Monique SmithJune 21, 2013They have some cool stuff here. The spider crabs are huge and the shark tank is cool. Don't forget to check out the penguins, you can crawl in between the tank.
Stacy CraftAugust 14, 2016The shark tunnel was really expansive and has a slow moving walkway that prevents crowds from building.
Joe LeigebSeptember 22, 2017It's a hundred dollars for 3 adults, but they do offer a 50 percent military discount. The aquarium itself is absolutely off the chain. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Jan FreemanJuly 29, 2015The shark exhibit is the absolute best thing here. Hop on the conveyer belt and enjoy these majestic creatures swimming right over your head
Colin LordMarch 4, 2017Tickets are almost always cheaper when you buy online or if you bundle it with another ticket. Plan your trip ahead and you can save some money.
Kory WilcoxAugust 9, 2014Great variety, but very pricey. Penguins was the favorite among the group and the kids, especially!
Sue BeethamOctober 21, 2013Really great! Don't skip it! I do wish we had done one of the packages for multiple Ripley's attractions. We didn't and it was a mistake.
Mike MooreJuly 23, 2013If you have time go to the Coral Reef Dive. They have mermaids swim with the fish. My daughter LOVED it!
- Gabrielle MeltonAugust 12, 2014Loved the mermaid show and shark tunnel! Amazing experience and worth the money!
James CenterJune 28, 2013It's less crowded during the off season and you can get a more personal experience. Still, this is a must see for the area!
MartinJuly 16, 2012Great underwater tunnel, plenty of big sharks and Sawfish. Good afternoons viewing, $25+tax for adults. Plenty of coupons available if you get them ahead of time.
Dennis HaddixJanuary 23, 2014Great for family trips and the Aquarium offers a free wheelchair to use for the day - just leave a form of ID. Nice benefit!
brenna dixonAugust 5, 2015Beautiful aquarium! The only con is the parents that can't control their kids.
Jennifer GoldfarbDecember 29, 2016The shark tank is pretty neat and everyone loves penguins. Not a very large place, but worth a stop.- Aldo MartinezFebruary 23, 2015The Penguins were so awesome and the shark tunnel was off the chain! I recommend for family fun :)
Tamara DMay 22, 2017We had a great time here. Fun way to get out of the heat and too much tourist shopping.
Shayna LunaApril 14, 2015For some reason, I didn't expect to like the small restaurant they had, but I quite enjoyed the food. They have a good variety of sea life, but I was rather disappointed they had only one sea turtle.
LaTresa HowmayihelpuFebruary 22, 2014The moving sidewalk that takes you through Sharks Lagoon is AMAZING!!
Jordan SeayFebruary 28, 2015My favorite Aquarium. Fun for Children And Adults. It's absolutely beautiful!
Connie SzczesnyAugust 29, 2012Most certainly NOT the best in the US. Shedd Aquarium is better by far! The only newest feature is the Pengiun exhibit over the 11+yrs I've been coming here.- ErinhMay 20, 2015The parking garage behind Ripleys requires cash but they won't give you any in the aquarium. The girl told me "I usually get my cash at Walmart but that's a long ways from here." lol
JonathanMarch 18, 2013Expensive, but it is a great aquarium. It has the best shark exhibit I have ever seen!
Bryce GastNovember 21, 2012Make sure you roll up your sleeves to pet the rays. They're deeper than they look. -An over zealous adult.
Stephen SmithNovember 6, 2012Great way to spend an afternoon, check in on Yelp too and you get a free shark tooth necklace from the gift shop.
Travis WilliamsJune 6, 2014This is so fun and I actually loved playing with the HorseShoe Crab. Loved seeing the penguins walk around.
Charlie HendrixsonMarch 10, 2011This is one of the nicer aquariums that I have encountered. Lots hands on fish touching and the best poison dart frog exhibit I have seen.
Steve FinchOctober 21, 2013If you are here around lunchtime, the Feeding Frenzy cafeteria serves pretty good food (nothing special). Adult combos are about $10 after tax, kids meals are about $6.75.- Aiden KirchnerSeptember 12, 2011This place is awesome. Check out the escalator that takes you through the tank where the sharks swim above you. Its awesome
Whitney CookMarch 2, 2013Sleep with the Sharks is a really fun and educational experience. It's just past my bed time...but so fun!
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Enter into an underwater world of wonder at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies! Soar through moving glide paths alongside rays, sea turtles, and sharks, and soak up the beautiful colors of exotic fish. Get up close and personal with Ripley’s feathered friends at Penguin Playhouse!
Open until 9:00 PM (Show more)
- Mon–Sun
- 9:00 AM–9:00 PM
(865) 430-8808
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Yes (incl. American Express)
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Free
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- 8.1
"Great for the entire family. Give yourself plenty of time as it can be a popular place."
Paul M - 6.7
"Went during the $5 special and it was well worth the $5 we paid. Would go back again."
Stephanie Gnann - 7.0
"Bring your student ID and it's a lot cheaper. It's pretty scary and very dark. I do wish there were more live actors."
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