These rural areas near Nashville have true southern charm. It’s here that you’re treated with kindness and sincerity, where you’ll have the ability to invest in people that really, truly want to invest in you. Small towns, big hearts – that’s what we love to say. Nashville may be fun if you’re looking to hang out in the city – but these small towns? They’re where the heart is.

10. Dickson
Dickson, TN, USA
Dickson - Wikipedia
Only forty miles away, Dickson is one of the best small towns near Nashville. Rife with history, the sweet spot is a perfect place away from the hustle and bustle of Music City.
9. Sewanee
Sewanee, TN, USA
Ted Gambell - Flickr
One of the most gorgeous small towns near Nashville, Sewanee is known for its resident university and stunning natural beauty. It's about an hour and a half from Nashville, but the calm is palpable.
8. Lebanon
Lebanon, TN, USA
Lebanon - Wikipedia
At the top of the list of best small towns outside of Nashville is Lebanon, if you ask us. This historic spot about thirty minutes outside of the city is home to many young families that enjoy the beautiful parks and job opportunities that the sweet spot has to offer.
7. Nolensville
Nolensville, TN 37135, USA
Nolensville - Wikipedia
Who doesn't love the rural areas near Nashville? Nolensville is about twenty minutes from city center and has a darling main street that will make you feel as if you stepped right back in time.
6. Columbia
Columbia, TN 38401, USA
Columbia - Wikipedia
Oh, Columbia. This is one of the quiet ol' small towns near Nashville. It is home to former President Polk's only remaining home besides the White House and Muletown Coffee Roasters - each fabulous in their own right, don't you think?

Related Stories

The 13 Most Beautiful Restaurants In All Of Nashville

The 13 Most Beautiful Restaurants In All Of Nashville

 16 Wildly Famous Restaurants In Nashville That Are Totally Worth The Hullabaloo

16 Wildly Famous Restaurants In Nashville That Are Totally Worth The Hullabaloo

 17 Small Towns Around Nashville Where Everyone Knows Your Name

17 Small Towns Around Nashville Where Everyone Knows Your Name
5. Watertown
Watertown, TN 37184, USA
Watertown - Wikipedia
An old-time drive-in movie theatre balanced out with Nona Pizzeria and an annual Jazz Festival make Watertown one of the best small towns outside of Nashville. It has all the small town quirk it needs. Visiting is a must!
4. Ashland City
Ashland City, TN 37015, USA
Ashland City - Wikipedia
Ashland City has over 200 acres of recreation areas, which make this one of the most fun small towns near Nashville (located just thirty minutes from the city!) great for the outdoor enthusiast. What's more simple than the great outdoors?
3. Bell Buckle
Bell Buckle, TN 37020, USA
Bell Buckle - Wikipedia
It's not just the RC Cola & Moon Pie Festival out here in Bell Buckle - try out the café and walk along the multi-colored main street of one of the cutest small towns near Nashville for a fun time.
2. Springfield
Springfield, TN 37172, USA
Brent Moore - Flickr
Springfield is one of the rural towns near Nashville that we love! It's SUPER close to the city while still holding onto its own small town integrity. The architecture along its Main Street is completely stunning.
1. Leipers Fork
Leipers Fork, TN 37064, USA
Brent Moore - Flickr
Tiny and intimate, Leipers Fork is one of the best small towns outside of Nashville. Home to only a few hundred people, it proffers the first Puckett's Grocery Store and a line of antique shops down their darling country main street. This is a simple place, a sweet place - completely apart from the craze of Music City.

We really love the rural areas near Nashville – and all the towns around it. Plus, here’s a list of things that folks miss about Nashville.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

Rural Areas Near Nashville

Libby Monson | June 12, 2022

Are there any great small towns near Nashville for a weekend trip?

Nashville is a fantastic city, but sometimes you want to get away from the hustle and bustle and relax in a place with a slower vibe. A weekend trip to one of the great small towns near Nashville might be just what you need to recharge your batteries. You have lots of choices when looking for the perfect trip. Franklin is famous for its Dickens of a Christmas Festival, Lynchburg is home to the Jack Daniel's Distillery, and a visit to Pulaski can include a tour of Milky Way Farms. You can't go wrong with a trip to one of the picture-perfect small towns near Nashville!

Are there any haunted small towns near Nashville?

There are so many interesting small towns near Nashville that are worth a visit, but the town of Adams, Tennessee, will require a bit of bravery. Adams is said to be haunted by a poltergeist who is credited with not only the haunting of a family but the death of their father. The Bell family heard strange noises, choking sounds, and chains in their house shortly after moving in. As a result, the poltergeist became known as the Bell Witch. You can now tour the Bell Witch Cave and Cabin in Adams and see for yourself if this apparition still haunts the area.

Related Articles