Posted in Tennessee Day Trips, Hiking, Nature September 15, 2021 by

The 15 Very Best Day Trips You Can Possibly Take In Tennessee

Every once in a while we get the urge to get outta town, and that means we’re researching solid day trips with the best of ’em. If you’re anything like us, you’ve likely researched “day trips near me in Tennessee” more than a handful of times. Lucky for y’all – you have us. And we did all the grunt work for you. Check out these awesome day trips in Tennessee, each one fun and quirky in its own way. Ready to start exploring?

1. Visit the next cornbread capital of the world.
The National Cornbread Festival - Facebook
South Pittsburg is home to the National Cornbread Festival, located in the beautiful Sequatchie Valley. Their famed festival takes place in April but we'd recommend driving down to the little ol' town and enjoying the gorgeous drive and kind people. Read more here.
Sequatchie Valley, Tennessee 37347, USA
2. The Discovery Park in Union City is a great place to visit with kids.
Discovery Park of America - Facebook
The Discovery Park is great for families with kids of all ages, full of exploratory activities and a focus on the history of Northwest Tennessee. Make sure to check out the man-made river, too! Learn all about it here.
Discovery Park of America, 830 Everett Blvd, Union City, TN 38261, USA
3. Drive Tennessee's loneliest road.
Pratap Sankar - Flickr
The Natchez Trace has quite the history to it, and we decided to do a deep dive. Click on through learn about this beautiful road, its dark past and the reason folks just can't get enough of it. Find out more here.
Natchez Trace Parkway, Natchez Trace Pkwy, Tennessee, USA
4. These amazing hikes clock in at under three miles.
TN State Parks
Here's the thing: sometimes we don't want to take a half-day hike. No, we'd rather spend an hour in the great outdoors then head back home for a sandwich and a nap. That sounds like the dream to us! Read about them here.
5. You can only access this high mountain lodge via hike...you game?
Natures Papparazi - Flickr
If you are looking to enjoy an extended stay in the great outdoors, you'll have to make your way to the LeConte Lodge. You can enjoy a primitive look at East Tennessee in the prettiest part of the state. Read about it here.
LeConte Lodge, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USA
6. You've never heard of this small town, but you'll love it!
Wikimedia
Arlington, Tennessee is a beautiful, fairly unknown town located in West Tennessee. It has managed to preserve its humble beginnings and is a sweet step back in time. Read about it here.
Arlington, TN, USA
7. Care to explore a true crime museum?
Alcatraz East - Facebook
Located in Sevierville, the Museum of True Crime is one of the most enjoyable place to visit with kids or even on a quirky date. You'll learn all about the history of crime in America as well as the current reality of the penal system. Find out more here.
Alcatraz East Crime Museum, 2757 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863, USA
8. Or Tennessee's hidden Eiffel Tower?
Thelma Bowen - Flickr
Paris is better known in France, but we have a neat spot right here in Tennessee! It's quite the spot to visit, and we even found a few places for you to eat. Read about it here.
Paris, TN 38242, USA
9. You can visit the largest underground body of water in the United States.
The Lost Sea Adventure - Facebook
If you've stuck around here for awhile, you know that we have a bit of a love affair with the Lost Sea. It's a great place to visit if you're in the state, and Sweetwater is a darling town just tucked away. Learn all about it here.
Lost Sea Road, Lost Sea Rd, Tennessee 37874, USA
10. You're sure to fall in love with these under-appreciated state parks.
Wikipedia
Check out our list of under-appreciated state parks, each one more perfect than the last and great for a sunny afternoon out during the summertime. Take a look right here.
11. A walk down this gorgeous wildflower trail will start your summer out right.
Brenda Wiley - Flickr
The rhododendron fields of Roan Mountain are known for their gorgeous views, but we're absolutely in love with this mountain in the springtime. Learn more here.
Roan Mountain, TN 37687, USA
12. Have you visited the strangest geological formation in the state?
Brent Moore - Flickr
The Natural Bridge in Sewanee is known as one of the quirkiest geological wonders in Tennessee, and was formed by a sinkhole. What?! Yep. A sinkhole. Find out more here.
Natural Bridge Road, Natural Bridge Rd, Tennessee 37375, USA
13. This sapphire pool in Tennessee is positively beautiful.
Dan Grogan - Flickr
Fiery Gizzard Trail is a beautiful place to traverse, but we'd recommend stopping by Blue Hole Falls. It's a gorgeous view! Read about it here.
Fiery Gizzard Trail, Tennessee, USA
14. There's a majestic castle in Knoxville you can visit - it's magical!
Williamswood Castle - Facebook
You can book a night at the Williamswood Castle, just outside of Knoxville. It's one of the most stunning places to stay in the state and comes highly recommended. Learn all about it here.
Williamswood Castle, 643 Alamo Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920, USA
15. This may be the most beautiful place in Tennessee.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM - Flickr
Can you guess the most magical place in Tennessee? We're going to go ahead and say it's the Sequatchie Valley, but hey - we'll tell you all about it here.
Sequatchie Valley, Tennessee 37347, USA

The next time you research “day trips near me in Tennessee,” we hope this handy list comes to mind. Are there any other day trips in the Volunteer State that you would add to the list? If so, be sure to share them with us in the comments below — we’d love to hear from you!

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day trips near me in Tennessee

September 21, 2021
Beth C.

What are some other day trips to take in Tennessee?

There's just so much to do in Tennessee, so what better a way to get out and explore than embarking on an unforgettable road trip? We've outlined some of the best day trips in Tennessee in the article above, but we've got a few more recommendations for you to consider. If you live near Nashville and have asked yourself, "what are some incredible day trips near me in Tennessee?" these destinations were hand-picked with you in mind! Some of these places include the Land Between The Lakes, Rock City, Sewanee, the National Cornbread Festival, Shiloh National Battlefield, RC Cola and Moon Pie Festival, Smithville Fiddlers' Jamboree, the Lost Sea, Burgess Falls, Bell Witch Cave, Natchez Trace Parkway, and Franklin. Learn more about these fantastic day trips near Nashville.

What are some fun things to do in Tennessee?

From outdoor attractions to mouthwatering places to eat, unique accommodations, and downright quirky roadside attractions, there's no denying that Tennessee is a fun place to live (or visit!) Need proof of this? Look no further than the following destinations: I Dream Of Weenie, the town of Columbia (known as the brewery capital of Tennessee), a cheese road trip, Hiwassee Ocoee Scenic River State Park, Tellico Plains, Miller's Grocery, Graceland, Big Ridge State Park, Hatcher's Dairy Farm, Litton's, the Grilled Cheeserie, and the Southern Belle Riverboat. How many of these fun things to do in Tennessee would you consider trying?

What are some of the best outdoor attractions in Tennessee?

The Volunteer State is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise. With flowing rivers, dense forests, mountains, and lakes, there's just no shortage of ways to spend time in the great outdoors. Some of our favorite outdoor attractions in Tennessee include Clingman's Dome (the highest point in Tennessee), the Natchez Trace, the Ocoee River, Lookout Mountain, Foster Falls, Cummins Falls, Lost Creek Cave, and Watauga Lake. How many of these incredible natural wonders in Tennessee have you experienced?