The Breathtaking Scenic Drive Through Tennessee That Runs Along The Tennessee River
By Chris Dodge|Published May 08, 2024
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Chris Dodge
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My name is Chris Dodge and I live right here in the great state of Tennessee. My family and I are full adventurers filled with passion to see the amazing things our state has to offer. We are avid hikers and have explored many different places in Tennessee and beyond but we are always thankful to be living in such a glorious state.
Have you ever noticed how many of the backroads in Tennessee follow a river or stream? The Tennessee River Trail is no exception, and actually takes you on a scenic tour de force following the most gorgeous river in our state. If you are looking for a scenic weekend adventure, make your way to the Tennessee River and ride along for a classic road trip.
The Tennessee River Trail snakes through the land for 440 miles and crosses some significant landmarks. Out of all the rivers in our state, I think this one is the prettiest and along the drive, you will have plenty of opportunities to witness its beauty.
I don’t know about you, but when I go on a road trip I am always looking for points of interest and ways to squeeze the most of out any adventure. There are plenty of places to explore and break away from the scenic road to experience even more.
The Tennessee River flows through two major cities in the Volunteer State: Knoxville and Chattanooga. Both of these places make great use of the river with water sports, boating, and scenic walks.
In Knoxville, you can enjoy the Volunteer Landing park and travel along the riverwalk. If you prefer to go out on a boat, head to the Volunteer Landing Marina and rent one for a day on the water. Chattanooga also has a fantastic riverside park known as the Tennessee Riverwalk. This is one of my favorite spots in the city where you can sit and have a picnic right along the peaceful river.
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Not far from downtown Chattanooga and further down the trail, you will find what I believe to be the best section of the river.
The Tennessee River Gorge is simply stunning in every way. It is known as the Grand Canyon of Tennessee and is epically scenic. One of my favorite viewpoints is from Snooper Rock where you will get a fantastic view of a horseshoe bend in the river. Among other great spots to view this gorge is from Lookout Mountain.
The TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) is known far and wide for its brilliant work with hydroelectricity. The TVA is a fascinating study if you want to look into their work further from their dams to the reservoirs.
One of the most interesting displays of pure hydropower resides at the Raccoon Mountain Reservoir. The water is pumped from Nickajack Lake all the way up the mountain to the reservoir and then released through a tunnel in a heavy-flowing torrent. If you are feeling adventurous, you can also head underground to the Raccoon Caverns for a sublime spectacle of geological wonder.
Continuing along for this scenic road trip you will eventually get to The Land Between Lakes. This spot is located right along the border of Kentucky and if you follow the Tennessee River you can continue the journey further.
The Land Between Lakes area has plenty to offer from phenomenal water activities to live historical museums like the Homeplace 1850s Working Farm.
You can easily stretch this route into a whole week of Tennessee fun and another great way to do that is to take advantage of two great state parks that are located right along the Tennessee River.
Paris Landing and Mousetail Landing State Parks both offer boat launches and a great place to enjoy this massive river. Camp in these parks for the night, enjoy the water, and then continue the journey on this incredibly pretty Tennessee drive.
The Tennessee River Trail is a great option for a scenic drive in the Volunteer State. As you can see there is also plenty to see and do all along the way so you can easily make this a classic road trip. So gather your friends and family and make sure you have packed plenty of snacks for the trip and then enjoy the journey. To make sure you don’t get lost along the way have this handy atlas in the car with you on your trip.
For another pretty drive in Tennessee, check out the Ocoee Scenic Byway.
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