Looking for the best places to visit in Tennessee for your next trip? This guide provides information on some of the best destinations in Nashville, Tennessee, from major cities to historic sites and some of the most valuable natural sites in the country!
Tennessee really has it all. The roots of the culture are very deep, the nature is clean and the people are hospitable! We hope you find some of these places in Nashville, Tennessee worth adding to your itinerary!
Memphis
Memphis is located in southwest Tennessee and is a hotbed of rock and roll, blues, hip-hop and soul. Famous Sun Studio artists such as Johnny Kash, Elvis Presley, BB Kings and others have recorded their masterpieces in the city. Memphis is also home to Graceland and attracts a large number of visitors each year.
Nashville
Nashville is the capital of Tennessee and was founded in 1779 and is one of the most popular country music destinations in the United States. Here you will find the famous Country Music Hall of Fame, located in Music Row in one of the city’s most popular parts.
Knoxville
Knoxville, located in the eastern part of Tennessee on the Tennessee River, has a lot to offer its visitors all year round! From the zipline park Knoxville to its delicious Southern food, beautiful, historically restored city, and vibrant sports culture that unites sports fans from all over the United States, Knoxville truly has something for everyone.
Gatlinburg
One of the most popular places in Tennessee, Gatlinburg is the gateway to the spectacular Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Chattanooga
Located on the Tennessee River near the beautiful Appalachian Mountains, Chattanooga is the state’s largest city in the southeastern corner of the state near the Georgian border. Chattanooga is one of the best places to visit in Tennessee, and it is also famous for being close to the world’s most dangerous railway, the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway. Another popular spot in the city is a small neighborhood called the Bluff View Arts District.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the eastern part of the state is one of the best places to visit for nature lovers in Tennessee (and North Carolina). The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the United States and surpasses even Yellowstone National Park and Zion National Park, with over 12 million visitors each year!
Pigeon Forge
The mountain town of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the eastern part of the state. Pigeon Forge is located in Dollywood – Appalachian Theme Park, where you can have fun, ride the roller coaster, enjoy the water slides, the park and visit the Dolly Parton Museum, which exhibits her costumes.
Cades Cove
Cades Cove, located in the secluded valley of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is one of the most beautiful places in the park and has been popularized by settlers and visitors over the years.
Ruby Falls
In 1928, Leo Lambert discovers one of the most beautiful natural wonders in the United States. Ruby Falls is the tallest and deepest underground waterfall in the country and one of the best places to include in your state of Tennessee!
Graceland
Graceland, which covers 13.8 hectares, is one of Tennessee’s most famous landmarks. It belonged to Elvis Presley, king of rock and roll, and has been owned by his daughter since 1977.
Cherokee National Forest
The Cherokee National Forest, located between the states of Tennessee and North Carolina, is a 655,598-acre protected state forest with many beautiful sites, hiking trails and more.
The lost sea adventure
America’s largest underground lake, known as the Lost Sea or Craighead Caverns, is one of the treasures of East Tennessee.
Sevierville
Located in eastern Tennessee, near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Sevierville offers several hiking trails and access to spectacular waterfalls.
Cummins Falls State Park
Cummins Falls State Park is located northwest of the Jackson area of Cookeville. The nature of the area has some truly unique features, such as the diversity of oak, beech, beech, sycamore and hemlock, which is part of the forest bordering the river.
Murfreesboro
As one of the fastest growing major cities in the country, Murfreesboro is the geographical center of Tennessee. Murfreesboro is best known as the home of the State University of Middle Tennessee, the state’s largest undergraduate university.
Land between lakes National recreation area
This recreation area, with more than 170,000 acres of woods and wetlands, is located in the Lake Barkley area between Kentucky and Tennessee. There are also some beautiful waterfalls in Kentucky and Tennessee that are hidden in the woods.
Jackson
Jackson is a regional shopping center in West Tennessee and the largest city in the Madison area. The city is known for being the seat of the Tennessee Supreme Court in West Tennessee, and Jackson was the main western city when the court was established in 1834.
Johnson City
Known as one of the best places to stay in Tennessee, Johnson is known for its wide selection of outdoor adventures.
Fall Creek Falls State Park
As the largest and most visited state park in the state of Tennessee, Fall Creek Falls State Park is a great recreation that leads through many waterfalls, canyons, cascades, streams and more. One of the tallest waterfalls (256 feet long) in the eastern United States is located right inside the park.
Clarksville
This historic city, which played an important role during the Civil War, has been called by various names for the past 30 years. Clarksville has a few dozen community parks and recreation areas that offer its residents and visitors the opportunity to relax in nature.
Lookout Mountain
Lookout Mountain is home to three world-famous attractions, all of which are highly regarded and beautifully designed to highlight the natural and historic beauty of the Tennessee Valley. Lookout Mountain offers wonderful views of Ruby Falls, the highest and deepest underground waterfall in the United States. Another popular destination is the Downhill Railway, one of the steepest railways in the world.
Lynchburg
This small town southeast of Nashville is best known as the birthplace of Jack Daniels, the world-famous Tennessee whiskey. Visitors to Lynchburg gather from afar and enjoy views from the distillery. Every ounce of Tennessee’s whiskey is made there, filled with water-purified, non-ferrous beer springs.
Franklin
The city is named after Benjamin Franklin, where one of the bloodiest civil war battles took place. It attracts thousands of history buffs who want to visit the Battle of Franklin, Carton, Carter’s House and many more of Franklin’s historic sites each year.
Great South Fork National River and Recreation Area
The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area preserves the free-flowing fork of the Cumberland River and the surrounding Big South Fork, which covers more than 125,000 acres of the Cumberland Plateau.
Townsend
Located near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Townsend is known for its diversity of extravagant wildlife and the preservation of the Southern Appalachian culture.
We hope you find Nashville, Tennessee destinations that interest you!
An avid traveler, Douglas Scott has been to over 50 countries. He has an extensive background in tourism and hospitality management, along with a degree in Hospitality Management from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Douglas is very knowledgeable about travel-related topics – they are always up to date on the latest deals for flights, hotels, and other adventures around the world.
