Tennessee’s Most Beautiful Road Trips for Nature, Food, and Small-Town Charm

One of the best ways to see all that the Volunteer State has to offer, from its most stunning natural wonders to the small towns that are the heart and soul of Tennessee, and everything in between, is by taking a road trip. If hopping in the car and hitting the open road to discover some of the best sights the state has to offer sounds like fun, then check out a few of the best road trips in Tennessee. If you're ready for an adventure around our beautiful state, there's so much to see and experience. So gather your friends or family, pack what you need for a comfortable car ride, gas up, and hit the road. Adventure awaits!

1-Day Nashville Road Trip

• Route: The Warner Parks > Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery > Love Circle Park > Riverfront Park > Cumberland Park > Shelby Bottoms Greenway
• Distance: 21 miles
• Trip Time: 49 minutes

Our first Tennessee road trip itinerary showcases the immense beauty of the Nashville area, with a day trip to several gorgeous parks and even a stop at a winery for a tasting, traveling beyond the city's downtown. You may want to bring your hiking or walking shoes for the stops on this Tennessee travel itinerary, so you can explore the trails and green spaces in the parks. For a history tour and a wine tasting, the Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery is an exceptional stop featuring an 1853 Greek Revival mansion, lush grounds, and wine and bourbon tastings. This trip will make you fall in love with Music City, U.S.A., all over again.

3-Day Tennessee State Parks Road Trip

• Route: David Crockett State Park > Horton State Park > Fall Creek Falls State Park
• Distance: 162 miles
• Trip Time: 3 hours 20 minutes

How does a three-day road trip to three state parks sound to you? You'll get one day at each park on this Tennessee state park road trip. If you have a long weekend, this is one of the best weekend road trips in Tennessee for nature lovers and families. You'll first stop at David Crockett State Park in Lawrenceburg for hiking, chasing waterfalls, and learning about the life of Davy Crockett. Day two brings you to Horton State Park in Chapel Hill, offering RV and tent campsites if you'd like to camp. This park includes the grounds of former Tennessee Governor Henry Horton's home. Day three will take you to Fall Creek Falls State Park in Spencer, where you can swim below a waterfall (this sounds amazing to me!). If you plan on hiking, download the super handy AllTrails+ app to find a suitable trail for you in each state park.

Hidden Gems Tennessee Road Trip

• Route: LeConte Lodge > Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail > Hidden Passage Trail > Window Cliffs Trail > Port Royal State Historic Park > Meriwether Lewis National Monument
• Distance: 462 miles
• Trip Time: 8 hours 50 minutes

Finding hidden gems can certainly show off a different side of the state. On one of the most scenic road trips through Tennessee, you'll encounter six lesser-known places that are worth exploring. This route starts in Gatlinburg at LeConte Lodge, the highest lodge in the eastern U.S., located near the summit of Mt. LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can spend the night here before the start of this road trip, before heading to Jamestown and eventually Hohenwald. It is one of the best Tennessee road trip ideas to experience over the course of a few days.

Tennessee BBQ Road Trip

• Route: Ridgewood BBQ > Dead End BBQ > Sons of Smoke > County's BBQ
• Distance: 240 miles
• Trip Time: 4 hours

One of the most delicious road trips you can take is to some of the best barbecue joints in Tennessee. Eat your way through the state on one of the best Tennessee road trips for foodies. Barbecue is one of those foods that defines a region. You haven't truly been to Tennessee until you've enjoyed some Memphis-style barbecue, whether you order a pulled pork sandwich or just want to indulge in all the sides.

Tennessee Waterfall Road Trip for Spring

• Route: Cummins Falls > Burgess Falls > Ozone Falls > Fall Creek Falls > Twin Falls
• Distance: 187 miles
• Trip Time: 4 hours 5 minutes

We can't think of a better way to spend a springtime day than chasing waterfalls, and the Volunteer State sure has some pretty ones. Follow one of the most extraordinary Tennessee waterfall road trips to five stunning falls in the central part of the state. This trip won't disappoint, especially once you see the impressive Fall Creek Falls, the tallest waterfall in Tennessee.

Best Summer Road Trip in Tennessee

• Route: Beale Street > Discovery Park of America > Nashville Shores > Cummins Falls > Tennessee Aquarium > Ijams Nature Center > Dollywood
• Distance: 634 miles
• Trip Time: 10 hours 49 minutes

This Tennessee summer road trip is a super fun one for those warm, lazy days when the sun is out and you feel antsy to explore. Not only will you stop at a waterfall, stroll down Beale Street in Memphis, and a massive park in Union City, but you'll also check out two of the best places for family fun — Dollywood in Pigeon Forge (one of my favorite places!) and Nashville Shores in Nashville.

Best Fall Foliage Road Trip in Tennessee

• Route: Cherohala Skyway > Cades Cove > Clingmans Dome > Chimney Tops Trail > Roaring Fork Trail > Newfound Gap
• Distance: 319 miles
• Trip Time: 8 hours 5 minutes

Fall is one of the most beautiful times in Tennessee, especially for viewing the season's vibrant colors. From the Cherohala Skyway to Cades Cove, Tennessee, our reds, golds, and oranges are arguably the prettiest shades in the country. Enjoy one of the most scenic drives in Tennessee, showcasing the state's most dramatic landscapes over the course of a long weekend.

Best Winter Road Trip in Tennessee

• Route: Christmas at Graceland > Memphis Zoo > Holiday Lights at Cheekwood > Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center > Rock City Enchanted Garden of Lights > West Hills Christmas Lights Show
• Distance: 475 miles
• Trip Time: 7 hours 58 minutes

There's nothing quite like the holiday light displays throughout Tennessee. This Tennessee holiday lights road trip takes you from Graceland in Memphis to lights in a Knoxville neighborhood and several twinkling light displays in between. If this doesn't put you in the holiday spirit, nothing else will. If you'd like, you can even spend the night at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center for a holiday getaway that adds to this winter-season Tennessee itinerary. 'Tis the season!

Family-Friendly Tennessee Road Trip

• Route: The Pfunky Griddle > Nashville Children's Theater > Tennessee State Museum > Elliston Place Soda Shop > Double Dogs > Adventure Science Center
• Distance: 11 miles
• Trip Time: 42 minutes

Do you have kids? I do, and I am always looking for our next family adventure, one that the whole family can enjoy. If you can relate, this family-friendly road trip through Nashville is for you. Invoke a sense of wonder in your kids by taking them to peruse the awe-inspiring exhibits at the science center and the Tennessee State Museum, and treating them to hot dogs at Double Dogs and soda or ice cream at the retro Elliston Place Soda Shop. This is such a fun trip for the whole family, and one that the kids may want to do again and again!

Scenic Natural Wonders Road Trip in Tennessee

• Route: Cherohala Skyway > Tennessee River Gorge > Lookout Mountain > Rock Island State Park > Burgess Falls > Twin Arches
• Distance: 307 miles
• Trip Time: 6 hours 30 minutes

Did you know that a handful of Tennessee natural wonders are enough to drop that jaw on the floor? Because it's true. Six spots with stunning views, including the Cherohala Skyway, which is exceptional to drive year-round, but especially in the fall, and the veritably unknown Twin Arches, the largest sandstone arches in the state, make for the best kind of road trip. Invest six hours in one of the best Tennessee road trips for scenic views.

Tennessee Small Towns Road Trip

• Route: Franklin > Columbia > Kingston Springs > Pulaski > Lynchburg > Linden > Waverly
• Distance: 364 miles
• Trip Time: 7 hours

Small towns are our forte out here in Tennessee, and we're completely in love with tiny spots along this route, including Kingston Springs and Columbia. This is the ideal road trip if you're located near Nashville and need a bit of time to yourself or with a friend or loved one — the most therapeutic kind of road trip is found on a back road, y'all. Discover charming, scenic, and historic communities on this Tennessee small towns road trip.

There you have it, some of the best road trips in Tennessee from Fall Creek Falls to charming towns like Kingston Springs. Which one will you go on first?

For road trip planning and packing tips, check out Only In Your State's Ultimate Road Trip Packing List. Whether you're leaving for a single day or a week-long road trip, you can't forget the snacks: here are 50 on-the-go snack ideas perfect for traveling. After spending some time on the road, you might want to slow your roll and set up camp in a cozy cabin. Here are some of our favorite cabin rentals in Tennessee.