Kilwin's Chocolates & Ice Cream

Fudge is the shop's anchor. It is cut to order and sold by the piece or by the pound, and the flavors rotate with the seasons. Caramel apples are the next favorite, whole apples dipped and coated for eating on the go. The ice cream is the third pillar, scooped into cones or cups. The chocolates and other confections fill out the case.

The menu is narrow by design. There is no kitchen, no savory food and no sit-down meal, which makes the shop a quick stop. Plan on fifteen minutes in and out, plus whatever time the line takes.

Kilwin's makes fudge in the store, and production is often visible through the window, a small show that keeps kids interested while the line moves. If you want to watch, the middle of the day is usually when the kitchen is working.

The Kilwin's store page for Gatlinburg lists the address as 645 Parkway and the phone as (865) 436-3720. It shows hours of 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, but the page looks unfinished, so call to confirm before planning around a late closing.

• Lines stretch onto the sidewalk on summer and fall weekends, but they move fast. If you want to avoid them, go right after opening or in the early afternoon.
• Fudge makes a good gift. Ask for a small box and check the ingredients list if anyone in your group has a nut or dairy allergy.
• Caramel apples are best eaten within a few hours. If you want to take one home, ask staff how to store it.
• Parking on the Parkway is limited and costly. Gatlinburg's trolley is free (see the city's trolley page), and it stops along the Parkway.

Kilwin's works at either end of a Gatlinburg day. Stop in before a hike to pick up a treat for the trail, or after dinner as dessert on the way back to your car. In a town where many sweet shops are similar, a fudge counter with a clear specialty and a long track record is a safe choice.

If you are visiting the national park, remember that the park parking tag ($5 daily, $15 weekly, $40 annual) is required for any vehicle parked longer than 15 minutes in the park, so budget it separately; see the NPS fees page.