Nashville is a pretty great city in itself, but it’s when you step outside the city borders that you’re truly able to have a taste of Tennessee. We’ll forever be in love with the culture – the great people and good food – it simply steals our hearts. So without further ado, check out these 10 rural areas near Nashville that we’re sure you’ll find to be downright delightful!

1. Kingston Springs
Kingston Springs, TN 37082, USA
Brent Moore/Flickr
Located a hot second from Nashville - roughly 45 minutes - Kingston Springs is the perfect commuter city for those of you who would rather live in the midst of the woods. You can raise teeny tiny adventurers and enjoy a backyard full of trees down here!
2. Watertown
Watertown, TN 37184, USA
Sean Theriot - Flickr
The tight-knit town of Watertown hosts quite a few events in their town square and makes for a fun day trip if you take the train. It is one of the most quintessential rural towns near Nashville.
3. Leipers Fork
Leipers Fork, TN 37064, USA
Brent Moore - Flickr
Home of the original Puckett's and only a couple of local folks, Leipers Fork is a magnet for the rich and famous - mainly because it's close enough to Franklin and tucked back in the rolling Tennessee hills.
4. Columbia
Columbia, TN 38401, USA
vhines20 - Flickr
Columbia is an up-and-comer, proffering a solid real estate market with some great prices on family homes. There has also been an influx in job opportunities and you can even commute to Nashville if need be.
5. Ashland City
Ashland City, TN 37015, USA
cmh2315fl - Flickr
The main draw of Ashland City is the watery beauty that surrounds it - really. If you're looking for an infusion of rivers and creeks in the rural Nashville countryside, this is where to go.

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6. Nolensville
Nolensville, TN 37135, USA
Sheltieboy - Flickr
A popular city for Nashville commuters, Nolensville has just opened up a new high school and is great for antiquing and Amish goods. Fried hand pies, anyone?
7. Bell Buckle
Bell Buckle, TN 37020, USA
Stephen Drake - Flickr
As the quintessential southern city, Bell Buckle is perfect for a great seasonal festival for a hearty meal at the Bell Buckle Cafe.
8. Springfield
Springfield, TN 37172, USA
Brent Moore - Flickr
We're forever in awe of the darling Springfield downtown area. Cute, homey, and sweet, Springfield is great for a leisurely walk at twilight.
9. Whites Creek
Whites Creek, Nashville, TN 37189, USA
Brent Moore - Flickr
A suburb of Nashville, Whites Creek is tucked back in the hills and has darling homes on quite a bit of land. The Fontanel is located back here, and they even have a tiny strip of cafes and Cajun cookin'. How can you argue with that?!
10. Adams
Adams, TN, USA
Chad Whitehead/Google Maps
You know Adams because of their highly publicized Bell Witch, but this tiny Tennessee town is also host to a great community and beautiful seasonal landscapes.

Oh, Nashville. You’ve got some great neighbors! Now that you’ve found the cutesy places around Nashville, check out these towns with crazy names!

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Rural towns near Nashville

Lysa Allman-Baldwinn | July 02, 2022

I’m looking for towns near Nashville for a weekend getaway.

There are numerous towns near Nashville that would make for a weekend getaway. One of the closest and most popular is Franklin, which has been voted as one of the best small towns in the country. It possesses a historic downtown area, quaint shops, great restaurants, and inviting accommodation options. It's only a 30-minute drive south of the city so you won’t have to spend a good part of your weekend getaway getting there and back.

Where can I find haunted buildings in Tennessee?

You’re in luck because there are several haunted buildings in Tennessee. In Nashville, there’s Union Station. It is said to be haunted by victims of past train accidents. Over in Memphis at the Peabody Hotel, rumor has it that ghosts walk the halls at night. And then there’s the Reed House Hotel in Chattanooga. The legend there is that a woman was killed there when her husband caught her cheating with another man in one of the rooms and it has been haunted ever since. 

Are there any wineries in Nashville?

Actually, there are a few. One of the most well-known is the historic Belle Meade Winery. It is situated on the Belle Meade Plantation about a 15-minute drive south of downtown. The winery offers a wide variety including sparkling, white, and red wines. However, its most popular offerings are the Muscadine and blackberry wines. While here, you’ll no doubt tour the entire property, which is huge. Encompassing over 5,000 acres, it features a historic home, museum, gardens, and more that share the history of this former plantation and the surrounding region.

Can you suggest a Tennessee road trip?

How about an unforgettable road trip encompassing some of Tennessee’s least-visited state parks? The big state parks always seem to get all the glory, so it’s time to highlight some of the smaller but no less significant ones. Among them are Cove Lake State Park in Caryville, Big Cypress Tree State Park in Greenfield, and Red Clay State Historic Park in Cleveland. Each one highlights some of the most beautiful landscapes in their respective regions of the state and offers a wide array of activities for visitors all year long.

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