Tennessee Road Trip Ideas: 11 Best Road Trips + Itinerary
×
Jackie Ann
Author
Who’s ready for an adventure? If your idea of adventure is hopping in the car and hitting the open road to discover some of the best sights the state has to offer, then check out some of our best Tennessee road trip ideas!
Table of Contents
For road trip planning and packing tips, check out OnlyInYourState'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.
1-Day Road Trip In Tennessee
- Route: The Warner Parks > Belle Meade Mansion > Love Circle Park > Riverfront Park > Cumberland Park > Shelby Bottoms Greenway
- Distance: 21 miles
- Trip Time: 49 minutes
Our first Tennessee road trip itinerary shows of the beauty of Nashville! Discover several gorgeous parks and even stop at a winery for a tasting. This trip will make you fall in love with Music City, U.S.A. all over again.
Advertisement
3-Day Weekend Road Trip In Tennessee
- Route: David Crockett State Park > Horton State Park > Fall Creek Falls State Park
- Distance: 167 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 road trip through Tennessee. Great for a long weekend, you'll first stop at David Crockett State Park in Lawrenceburg where you can go hiking, chase waterfalls, and learn about the life of Davy Crockett. Day two brings your journey to Horton State Park in Chapel Hill where you can camp if you so choose. This park includes the grounds of former TN 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.
Advertisement
Tennessee Hidden Gems 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: 460 miles
- Trip Time: 9 hours 22 minutes
Finding hidden gems can certainly show off a different side of the state. On this road trip through Tennessee, you'll encounter seven hidden gems that are worth exploring. This route starts in Gatlinburg at LeConte Lodge then heads to Jamestown and eventually Hohenwald and is a great trip to experience over the course of a few days.
Tennessee Best BBQ Road Trip
- Route: Ridgewood BBQ > Dead End BBQ > Sons of Smoke > Lefty's Barbecue > County's BBQ
- Distance: 266 miles
- Trip Time: 4 hours 44 minutes
Here's the most delicious road trip you can take -- to visit some of the best BBQ joints in TN! Eat your way through the state on one of the best Tennessee road trips. If you enjoy Memphis-style barbecue, this trip is certainly for you.
Best Tennessee Road Trip For Spring
- Route: Cummins Falls > Burgess Falls > Ozone Falls > Fall Creek Falls > Twin Falls
- Distance: 158 miles
- Trip Time: 3 hours 26 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 the Tennessee road trip map to five stunning falls in the central part of the state. This trip won't disappoint!
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 road trip itinerary is a super fun one for summer. Not only will you stop at a waterfall, take a stroll down Beale Street in Memphis, and a massive park in Union City, but you'll check out two of the best places for family fun -- Dollywood in Pigeon Forge and Nashville Shores in Nashville.
Best Tennessee Road Trip For Fall
- Route: Cherohala Skyway > Cades Cove > Clingmans Dome > Chimney Tops Trail > Roaring Fork Trail > Newfound Gap
- Distance: 530 miles
- Trip Time: 9 hours 16 minutes
Fall in the South is one of our most beautiful times here in Tennessee. From the Cherohala Skyway to Cades Cove, Tennessee, our reds and golds and oranges are the prettiest shades in the country. Enjoy this scenic drive on one of the best Tennessee road trips.
Advertisement
Best Winter Road Trip In Tennessee
- Route: Christmas at Graceland > Memphis Zoo > Lights on Old Charlotte > Holiday Lights at Cheekwood > Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center > Rock City Enchanted Garden of Lights > West Hills Christmas Lights Show
- Distance: 484 miles
- Trip Time: 9 hours
There's nothing quite like the holiday lights displays throughout Tennessee. This road trip through Tennessee 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!
Family-Friendly Tennessee Road Trip
- Route: The Pfunky Griddle > Nashville Children's Theater > Tennessee State Museum > Elliston Place Soda > Double Dogs > Adventure Science Center
- Distance: 11 miles
- Trip Time: 42 minutes
Do you have kids? If so, this family-friendly road trip through Nashville is for you! Invoke a sense of wonder in your kids by taking them to the science center and the Tennessee State Museum and treating them to some hot dogs at Double Dogs. What a fun trip to take!
Road Trip to Tennessee Landmarks & Natural Wonders
- Route: Cherohala Skywa > Tennessee River Gorge > Lookout Mountain > Rock Island State Park > Burgess Falls > Twin Arches
- Distance: 297 miles
- Trip Time: 6 hours 23 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 like the Cherohala Skyway and veritably unknown Twin Arches make for the best kind of road trip. Invest six hours on one of the best Tennessee road trips.
Road Trip to Best Small Towns in Tennessee
- 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 like Kingston Springs and Columbia. This is the perfect road trip if you're located in near Nashville and need a bit of time to yourself -- the most therapeutic kind of road trip is found on a Tennessee backroad, y'all.
There you have it, some of the best Tennessee road trip ideas. Which one will you go on first?
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
More to Explore
Tennessee Road Trip Ideas
What are the most popular landmarks to visit in Tennessee?
Some of the most famous landmarks to visit in Tennessee include:
- Graceland in Memphis where Elvis Presley lived.
- Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, the heart of the state’s music scene, where bluegrass originated.
- National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis which honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy.
- Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga
- Beale Street in Memphis
- Great Smoke Mountains National Park
- Dollywood in Pigeon Forge
- Grand Ole Opry in Nashville where you can listen to live music.
What are the most popular state parks to visit in Tennessee?
The most popular state parks to visit in Tennessee include:
- Radnor Lake State Park in Nashville
- Burgess Falls State Park in Sparta
- Rock Island State Park in Rock Island
- Cummins Falls State Park in Cookeville
- Cumberland Mountain State Park in Crossville
What are the major highways in Tennessee?
Some of the major highways in Tennessee are the following:
- I-40
- I-75
- I-26
- I-24