Five Awesome Day Trips: Tennessee

Tennessee has a diverse range of activities to explore, especially considering there are 400 miles between Knoxville in the eastern part of the state and Memphis in the west. The diversity is what makes Tennessee such an amazing state to visit, with everything from outdoor activities to music and entertainment. Combine that with a great culinary scene and a long history of distilling and brewing fine beverages and you’ve got a fantastic vacation destination. Our day trip recommendations focus on places that that are easily accessible from Nashville (aka Music City).

Here are five great destinations to visit in the Volunteer State:

Clarksville

Clarksville is located on the Cumberland River, approximately 50 miles northwest of Nashville. The area has a long, interesting history going back over 11,000 years, and there are a handful of points of interest for history buffs. This day trip is focused on the second largest museum in Tennessee– The Customs House Museum and Cultural Center. The building was the 1898 Federal Post Office and Custom House and houses an amazing collection encompassing 35,000 square feet of interactive exhibits. The museum’s mission is to expose the widest audience possible to the creativity and ingenuity of the human spirit through art, science, and history within the context of cultural diversity.

Franklin

Franklin is a charming small town and a popular day trip to shop the boutique stores and galleries along the 16-block downtown historic district. A short distance away is the Factory at Franklin, a converted industrial site with more unique stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues. We recommend taking a break from your shopping excursion to book a tour of the Lotz House. There are many tours to choose from, including the new Halloween Ghost Tour. We are willing to bet your dinner conversation at one of the great restaurants in Franklin will be much more interesting after your tour.

Courtesy of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development

Gallatin

Gallatin is a rural town 30 miles northeast of Nashville, just north of the Cumberland River. Visitors to this small city have a few choices for activities— we recommend spending a few hours hiking and enjoying the peacefulness of Bledsoe Creek State Park. The trails range from .5 miles to 1.4 miles with varying levels of difficulty. There are also three historic properties (Cragfont, Historic Rose Mont and Trousdale Place) in Gallatin and a vibrant downtown to explore on your day trip.

Courtesy of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development

Leiper’s Fork

Leiper’s Fork is located along the Natchez Trace, once a path well-traveled by Native Americans and early European American settlers, and now a National Scenic Parkway. At first glance, the town of Leiper’s Fork appears to be only a cluster of buildings at an intersection along a very pleasant country road to Nashville. But pull over and you will find a handful of cool, unique stores, local restaurants, and a community outdoor theater. It would be delightful to spend a few hours exploring the shops, grabbing some authentic southern food, and taking a few pics before heading back to Nashville. For an unforgettable experience, we recommend planning your visit around a live music performance at Puckett’s, where the area’s best singer-songwriters perform in an intimate venue.

Photo: By Ed Rode, Courtesy of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development

Lynchburg

Lynchburg is a small town in a dry county about 75 miles south of Nashville. There are two reasons to visit Lynchburg: the quaint downtown with shops and restaurants around a historic courthouse, or the oldest distillery in the United States, Jack Daniel Distillery. There are multiple distillery tour options, but enthusiasts will want to go behind-the-scenes, sample a flight of products, and have lunch at Miss Mary Bobo’s Restaurant. Otherwise, the standard tour is very comprehensive and interesting, the store is packed with cool merchandise, and don’t forget to walk the downtown square to complete this day trip in the gentle rolling hills of Tennessee.

**Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hours at attractions may be limited. Make sure to check the websites and add to your list for future travels!