Best things to do in Tennessee? This list is the best introduction, more than a lot of famous music attractions hegemony!
Get ready for a long time having enjoyable as you check out some of the preferred destinations in America. This means whether you are a looking to go on short weekend breaks or long road trips in Tennessee, this guide is for you.
When you think you’ve seen it all in Tennessee, the state will surprise every time with a variety of experiences.
Check out our handpicked list of Tennessee activities!
Best Things To Do in Tennessee
1. See Synchronous Fireflies in person
So get ready to be spellbound with the magic of synchronization fill up sky in the night!
High up in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, this natural occurrence has an estimated 19 species of fireflies. Take a guided tour starting before dusk that will guide you to the perfect point to view this stunning spectacle.
It’s a perfect family outing! Spend a nice evening with nature’s fireworks on a blanket or in a lawn chair.
2. Ascend the Sunsphere
The Sunsphere, Knoxville TN – For you guys who love adventure and thrilling heights this one is for you!
This iconic structure provides panoramic views of the city from its observation deck The building’s striking gold dome – comprised of brilliant 24-karat gold glass panels glows all day long.
The Sunsphere, of course, is a must-visit on any Tennessee itinerary.
Here, you’ll discover a newly found appreciation for Tennessee Take in panoramic views of the city and read informative plaques on the observation deck about the sphere’s history.
3. Take a Cruise on the Southern Belle Riverboat
Southern Belle Riverboat in Tennessee – relax the day away!
Just sit back and let the scenery wash over you. Dine in elegance and enjoy some of your best views where you won’t want to leave!
Sail Away on a Sunset Cruise Chattanooga, TennesseeThe Riverwalk in Chattanooga is one of the most scenic things to do near me.
Live music is a regular part of your trip on the Tennessee River. Depart on an unforgettable voyage with the Southern Belle Riverboat!
4. Dine at Big Daddy’s Pizzeria
You could make a strong case the pizza at Big Daddy’s Pizzeria is one of the best smells in all of Tennessee! Pick up your slice and hit the arcade to get in some fun.
If you were getting bored with Tennessee, Big Daddy’s Pizzeria just asked for a night out!
The arcade is equipped with all of the classic games, as well as a prize wall for exchanging your winnings. Teen-friendly — This is a great place to take kids!
You can eat the pizza pies, made with delicious homemade dough and sauces that pair beautifully with a selection of beers.
Big Daddy’s Pizzeria is the number one place you should be at to get your food and enjoy! Located in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville.
5. Walk down Broadway Street in Nashville
Make time for memories with Broadway in Nashville Anytime is right for bars, pubs and restaurants.
Shopping on Broadway: While you might not automatically think of shopping when walking up and down the street at night, it can be just as much fun in daylight.
Broadway is the ideal place for muso, who will catch the fever to Tennessee’s rich heritage. Go to the Ernest Tubb Record Shop, or the Johnny Cash Museum.
From live music to entertainment, you can always hear something while traveling down Broadway in Tennessee!
You need a full weekend in Nashville to get the vibe of this fast and happening city.
6. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, something for the entire family, including a natural call.
The park is over 800 square miles and contains a wide range of plant and animal life. Nestled in the Southern Appalachian Mountains just outside of Gatlinburg, Tennessee there are a myriad of delights to be discovered.
The park is among the best Tennessee tourist attractions and has beautiful views. In the spring, enjoy a guided walk through New Mexico’s largest elk herd area or do some birding and viewing wildflowers in a rare mountain meadow. With lookouts and bluffs offering stunning vistas, this is the ideal Tennessee park to get out an enjoy its natural wonders and fall foliage.
If you are looking for the best resorts and adorable cabins in the Smoky Mountains for a weekend away, check out our suggestions.
7. Rusty’s Film and TV Car Museum
One of the most interesting trips you can have through film history is seen in Rusty’s TV & Movie Car Museum.
This museum has a ton of stuff going on in between all the other fun things to do in Jackson, Tennessee. The most iconic cars from television and movies!
There are movie-themed cars for adults and children; both will see replicas of vehicles that ignite the imagination, carrying props from favorite movies.
Don’t miss this unique museum! For more Tennessee family fun, put Rusty’s TV & Movie Car Museum on your list!
8. Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area
One of the national parks located in Oneida, Tennessee is The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area which is a beautiful place to visit!
It covers 125,000-acre on the Cumberland Plateau but that is not all it brings to the table! You might to sample one of the many recreational trails, such as walking and biking, along with horseback riding, a ranger-led tour or even the annual “Haunting in the Hills” Storytelling Festival.
There are tons of things to see and do in this area, which is why it has ranked as one of the best spots for nature-lovers and outdoor enthusiasts to visit in Tennessee.
9. Travel epoch on the Natchez Trace Parkway!
Visitors can Prove it by taking a guided hike with rangers, back through thousands of years, or following the trails blazed by early explorers – and catch the spirit of the Parkway.
Visitors can take a road trip bending 444 miles, or they can actually camp on historical sites. Nature walks offer a reprieve to waterfalls and fishing.
It is one of Tennessee’s best free things to do for budget travelers, and also hosts some of the top Nashville campsites.
10. Hit the Big City Lights Road Trip
Finish off a handful of bucket list items with the Big City Lights Road Trip and die happy!
It kicks off in Memphis with a must-see visit to Elvis Presley’s home, Graceland. See photos of music museums and Beale Street light up. Here … Spend a weekend doing Memphis-y things.
Next, drive east to Nashville, home of country music. The Grand Ole Opry, Centennial Park and the Country Music Hall of Fame-gradation Music lovers unite in Nashville’s vibrant music scene.
End in Knoxville, take a tour of the World’s Fair park and Sunsphere, as well as Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. It will be Full of Memories.
11. Photograph Tellico Plains
Get up close and personal with the fall charm of Tellico Plains.
The vintage town of Tellico Plains is also likely to be close to peak fall foliage and offers brilliant views in the middle of the Cherokee National Forest. The landscape itself feels like something out of a dream and is easily one of the most picturesque places to see fall colors in The South.
There are also charming local artisan shops, bakeries and sweet boutiques to explore while in Tellico Plains. 147: Radio Rotary features Tellico Plains and one of Tennessee’s top fall activities.
12. Marvel at Cummins Falls
Enjoy the sound of Cummins Falls, located just south of Jackson County, Tennessee.
This 75-foot waterfall on Blackburn Fork River is the eighth highest fall in Tennessee and empties into a popular swimming pool.
The hike is a 3-mile round-trip and moderately challenging for adults. One of the top things to do in Tennessee, it is a difficult trek through harsh surroundings but provides great natural scenes once you arrive.
13. Visit the Customs House Museum and Cultural Center
Take a step back in time at the Customs House Museum and Cultural Center right here in Clarksville, Tennessee!
The structure, a former Federal Post Office built in 1898 (a long timed before human beings settled on Mars), is now used to house art and historical exhibits, while also hosting interactive displays for the kids.
Relive history through intriguing displays. Thmm de Museum in Tennessee
Doerhoefer, a man of size – everything about him was broad: body, nose, mouth – had first come to Clarksville embittered by the endless array of bacon and eggs that filled every plate.
14. Explore Cataloochee Valley
Witness the fall foliage spread across Cataloochee Valley in Great Smoky Mountain National Park, close to Waynesville, TN.
Autumn roadtrip If you would like a lovely sightseeing of the autumn colors but do not wish to walk, drive through! Here, visitors can find a selection of structures from the 1800s and 1900s still standing that you access either by car or more rugged hike.
Elk can be seen regularly in the area particularly during the early morning hours when game enthusiasts are likely to spot elk roaming across beautiful autumn scene. One of the best things you can do in Tennessee!
15. Visit the Parthenon
Nashville also is home to the Parthenon, a full-size replica of the original in Greece where art flourishes.
Fortunately you do not have to go this far away, but of course, this museum is also the home of a copy from the beautiful Athena statue.
Originally constructed for the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition, this historical point of interest is presently home to an exhibition.
It has both temporary and permanent exhibits that give plenty to do. A leisurely stroll in Centennial Park puts one within sight of this engineering marvel.
16. Visit Fall Creek Falls State Park
The nearly endless possibilities for adventure in the breathtaking landscapes of Fall Creek Falls State Park.
The 11-mile-gorge known as Fall Creek Gorge is just south of Spencer, Tennessee, and falls within the park service’s more than 29,000 acres with streams and some of Tennessee’s most spectacular waterfalls – such as the 256-foot-tall Fall Creek Falls.
The park has campsites if you’d like to spend a weekend roughing it, but there are also plenty of lodging options for folks who prefer some creature comforts.
Now, through it the Canopy Challenge Course to traverse barrel swings and balance beams throughout its 75 wobbly bridges if you like the game for thrill-seekers provides a fun experience in Tennessee!
17. Clingmans Dome View
Clingmans Dome : The highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
This 1.2mile hike located in Sevier County, Tennessee which is less than a mile away from Gatlinburg offers the perfect reward of a 360-degree view from the top Some days you will wander in damp mist But even fog is beautiful when it shines
From the peaks, you will see a great valley with the ocean of clouds beneath it The infinite carpets of forested mountains on clear days is a momentous site.
For a chance to watch an incredible sunset, head to this well-known Tennessee destination before it gets dark. It rises high and could be cold, even in the summer so bring a sweater!
18. Take a Spooky Tennessee Road Trip
Three Haunted Tennessee Road Trip: For a scary history lesson and thrills, be sure to take the Haunted TN road trip! Such scares that can be found in the South
Beginning from Adams, Tennessee at the Bell Witch Cave haunted since 1817. Discover the 490-foot cave and acquire amazing stories to be told next to a campfire.
Foremost among these is Rutherford County’s Battlefield at Stones River. TOURIST SEASON: A must-see for history fans and paranormal enthusiasts, the battlefield has a venerable reputation as one of Pennsylvania’s best-known haunted sites.
Finish your travels at Chattanooga’s Ruby Falls, where the ever-tranquil flow of a waterfall is haunted by spirits verified with scientific methods. Bring your camera; ghost in derision you could take a picture then.
19. South Cumberland State Park
South Cumberland State Park, which stretches more than 30,000 acres and covers portions of Grundy, Marion, Sequatchie and Franklin counties offers some of the best hiking in camping around.
Founded in 1978, this is a large park offered caving, rock climbing and water sports such as swimming, picnicking and fishing.
Enjoy the dramatic cliffs, whimsical wildflowers and overall magnetism of South Cumberland State Park.
20. Hike in Prentice Cooper State Forest
Prentice Cooper State Forest, Located just 10 miles west of Chattanooga, this park provides views from Signal Mountain as well as the woods that buffer the Tennessee River Gorge.
Although there are two Benton MacKaye camping areas, the forest itself has no other services or facilities besides approximately 35 miles of hiking trails within Cumberland Trail State Park and is developed accordingly.
Visitors can participate in a variety of environmentally friendly activities such as rock climbing, cycling, horseback riding, bird watching and seasonal hunting. With over 300 acres of forest, this woodland has something for everyone and is a great place to photograph your most memorable moments.
21. Enjoy Dollywood
By far one of the best southern amusement parks, Dollywood fuses a bit of come hither favoritism for those who adore Dolly Parton and an equal measure taste for mischief, err…thrills. This is a family-friendly park in Pigeon Forge and offers several thrilling rides, including the fastest wooden roller coaster on Earth.
Award-winning shows, live music and a selection of shopping visitors can enjoy. Splash Country: Escape The Hot In Dollywood, Pigeon Forge Breeze through southern summers by hitting one of the best wet parks in Tennessee when it’s warm, and locals dismiss the fallacy that Dollywood closes during its off days. The place is a very entertaining and must watch place.
22. National Civil Rights Museum (History Lesson)
This is the actual room where King was staying at the time of his tragic assassination in 1968, turned into a part of The National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Hotel — one of a few monuments devoted to Black history in the American South.
The museum, located at the site of Martin Luther King Jr. assassination in 1968, houses powerful exhibits on Black history that span from the arrival of the first slaves until Civil Rights era. The fighting for equality can be men to black and new scenes showed from it was fight. A poignant but necessary museum that will educate us all on the scars of our past.
23. Go Way Back in Time at the Hermitage
The seventh U.S. president’s former home is located in a town of Hermitage, just outside Nashville. The Hermitage, a Federal-style mansion that is filled with treasures for history buffs. It was built between 1819 and 1821, remodeled in 1831 and again in 1837, with the interior fully restored and furnished with original pieces.
Enjoy the mansion tour, then walk around (pictured above) through the gardens, check out Jackson and his wife Rachel resting under foot stones in the garden, where also you will find their 23 slaves who worked at their home sharing common ground while alive along with other historic buildings.
24. Hit the Tennessee Whiskey Trail
Tennessee Whiskey- With over thirty distilleries across the state pouring out gallons of whiskey every year, there are endless possibilities to sip on this iconic beverage.
To hit all 30 distilleries, about a two-week road trip is necessary to taste each stop and collect passport stamps from participating distillery so you can get your free trail t-shirt. Nashville, Knoxville, Memphis and Chattanooga have the most distilleries.
For a shorter trip, you can visit the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg (the oldest registered distillery in Tennessee), which is about an hour and half or so from Nashville. Tours of the distillery conducted a few times daily give you more insight into this whiskey with a storied history and production process.
Adults on their Tennessee vacations need to experience this one.
25. Go to the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
Head to Manchester, TN in June for one of the best U.S. music festivals at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. Acts who have graced the Bonnaroo stage since it launched in 2002 include national and world-renowned groups and artists such as Metallica, Radiohead, Elton John, U2, Billy Joel and Eminem.
It offers everything from 150+ performances spanning across all genres, art installations, food vendors with only local and sustainable products as well as yoga workshops and a 5k run. If you are interested to witness the now unforgettable moment, be sure to get on quick because it easily sells out.
So, should you be looking for a fun or relaxing activity just hop in the car and take a mini-vacation an hour outside of Nashville!
