Nashville, Tennessee is bursting with dwell music and leisure, family-friendly actions, nice meals, and out of doors adventures. Nevertheless, Music Metropolis can be a brief drive away from surrounding small cities that make nice day journeys from Nashville and exhibit an genuine and enjoyable slice of Tennessee. By their out of doors points of interest, eating places, museums, enjoyable issues to do, and sure, music, these Nashville day journeys can create fantastic reminiscences for locals or guests.
The next listing of day journeys are positioned beneath a two-hour drive from Nashville’s downtown and may simply be visited in a day, however they may be nice weekend getaway locations in the event you wished to remain in a single day.
Day Journeys from Nashville
Word: Please examine all points of interest, excursions, and museums for reservation necessities, seasonal hours and requests for vacationers.
1 – Franklin, TN
Approximate Driving Time from Nashville: half-hour
Positioned in shut proximity to Nashville in Center Tennessee, Franklin is an ideal day journey to flee from the massive metropolis. Franklin oozes basic Americana and Southern allure and is wealthy with civil warfare historical past, nation music legends, and areas to play and discover. There are additionally farms speckled all through Franklin the place you may decide flowers or cuddle with alpacas, amongst different issues.
Favourite issues to do in Franklin:
- Discover the retailers and eating places alongside Principal Road and in downtown Franklin Sq. (in addition they have seasonal festivals right here)
- Picnic, take heed to music and fogeys drink wine at Arrington vineyards
- Attain for the sky at Soar Journey Tower
- Go to Mistletoe Alpaca Farm for an unimaginable alpaca expertise
- Hear how the Battle of Franklin occurred on the doorways of a number of historic websites together with Carter Home, Lotz Home, and Carnton
2 – Leiper’s Fork, TN
Approximate Driving Time from Nashville: 40 minutes
Leipers Fork is an unincorporated city (technically a part of town of Franklin) stuffed with artist galleries and boutiques, with just a few nice family-friendly eating places sprinkled within the combine. The unique Puckett’s is a should, in addition to Leiper’s Fork Distillery for the grown-ups. Leiper’s Fork can be positioned proper off the Natchez Hint Parkway, which is widespread for street journeys and makes for an particularly stunning scenic drive from Nashville.
Favourite issues to do in Leiper’s Fork:
- Eat and take heed to music at Puckett’s Grocery
- Mother and father can do a whiskey tasting at Leiper’s Fork Distillery
- Go to Leiper’s Fork Marketplace for some southern allure
- Pull up a chair at Lawnchair Theater which hosts music and free family-friendly out of doors motion pictures in the summertime
3 – Bowling Inexperienced, KY
Approximate Driving Time from Nashville: 70 minutes
Bowling Inexperienced is about an hour north of Nashville simply over the border in Kentucky. This small, quaint southern city has a lot to do and uncover throughout a day journey from Nashville. Plus, Western Kentucky College sits atop a hill over town and is gorgeous to discover…or catch a university baseball or basketball sport in the event you time it proper.
Favourite issues to do in Bowling Inexperienced:
- Stroll round downtown Fountain Sq. Park
- Take a look at the Western Kentucky College Campus and attend a sport or occasion
- Go to the historic rail park and prepare museum
- Tour the misplaced river cave and play within the pure playground space
- Take pleasure in do-it-yourself ice cream and children’ actions at Chaney’s Dairy Barn and Restaurant
4- Ethridge, TN
Approximate Driving Time from Nashville: 1 hour quarter-hour
Ethridge is south of Nashville and residential to a vibrant Amish group with a number of methods to study and help this distinctive group. One of many retailers, an “Amish Welcome Heart,” provides out a map itemizing 57 Amish houses which function companies in addition to the services they provide (molasses, wooden furnishings, hand pies, braided rugs, squirrel corn, and a lot extra). That is all the time a enjoyable cultural expertise for households of all ages.
Favourite issues to do in Ethridge:
- Go to the Amish Heritage welcome heart and museum
- Discover Amish Nation Mall
- Take a horse and wagon tour via the Amish farms
- Seize a map and drive via the farm group stopping to purchase items
5 – Cummins Falls, TN
Approximate Driving Time from Nashville: 1 hour 25 minutes
Cummins Falls is a waterfall on the Blackburn Fork River and is positioned in southern Jackson County, Tennessee, East of Nashville. By quantity, it’s the eighth-largest waterfall in Tennessee. A family-friendly hike to the falls the place you may cool off within the water and swim beneath the falls makes an superior out of doors day journey. After, make sure to cease on the Previous Mill Basic Retailer for ice cream and snacks. You may sit on the rocking chairs to relaxation earlier than heading again to Nashville.
Favourite issues to do in Cummins Falls:
- Hike to the falls
- Hike to the look-out above the falls
- Go to the Previous Mill Camp and Basic Retailer
6 – Clarksville, TN
Approximate Driving Time from Nashville: 60 minutes
Simply an hour’s drive from Nashville, this history-filled city has tons of out of doors actions, an more and more subtle restaurant scene, and a newly-revitalized downtown. Positioned alongside the Cumberland River, there are many strolling trails and picnic benches to benefit from the space as properly.
Favourite issues to do in Clarksville:
- Discover the Customs Home Museum Downtown
- Miss Lucille’s Market and cafe
- Play together with your youngsters (or youngsters at coronary heart) at The Metropolis Discussion board
- Dunbar Cave & Dunbar Cave State Park
- Stroll the riverfront
7 – Mammoth Cave, KY
Approximate Driving Time from Nashville: 1 hour half-hour
Mammoth Cave Nationwide Park is likely one of the world’s largest cave techniques. Whereas the caves are the centerpiece of the realm with quite a lot of cave excursions, starting from simple to difficult, in the event you don’t love caving, you may as well get pleasure from your self above floor. Actions similar to mountaineering and biking backcountry trails, canoeing the Inexperienced River, or visiting the Mammoth Cave Wildlife Museum are all fairly spectacular.
Favourite issues to do in Mammoth Cave:
- Take “the historic tour” or “the Frozen Niagara tour” contained in the caves
- Discover Sloan’s Crossing Pond
- Experience the Inexperienced River Ferry or lease a canoe to paddle & seize some meals at Inexperienced River Cafe
- Journey via the Railroad hike and bike path
- Uncover Mammoth Cave Wildlife Museum
8 – Chattanooga, TN
Approximate Driving Time from Nashville: 2 hours
Chattanooga, Tennessee seamlessly mixes out of doors journey with laid-back allure. The riverfront, the aquarium, the mountains, the historical past…Chattanooga ticks off all of the containers for the southern traveler. The 2-hour drive from Nashville all the time feels shorter. Plus, as soon as in Chattanooga, all the things feels very accessible and largely walkable relying on the realm the place you’re spending your time.
Favourite issues to do in Chattanooga:
- Discover the Chattanooga Aquarium
- Play laborious at Inventive Discovery Museum
- See Rock Metropolis
- Stroll throughout the Walnut Pedestrian Bridge
- Experience the Incline Railway to the highest of Lookout Mountain or go to Ruby Falls
8 – Sewanee, TN
Approximate Driving Time from Nashville: 1 hour 25 minutes
Sewanee is a quaint school city atop Monteagle Mountain stuffed with allure and out of doors attraction. Sewanee has a beautiful school campus with a roomy 13,000 acres of area to discover. Whereas there, seize lunch on the patio at Shenanigan’s, drive out to the Cross, scamper down the Pure Bridge and hike the Perimeter Path.
Favourite issues to do in Sewanee:
- Wander via The Sewanee Village
- Discover the College Grounds
- Cross the pure bridge and hike the perimeter path
- Uncover South Cumberland State Park
9 – Lynchburg, TN
Approximate Driving Time from Nashville: 1 hour 20 minutes
Arguably one of many best-known manufacturers on this planet — Jack Daniel’s — is positioned on this city of simply 6,500 residents, a lot of them distillery staff. And the Distillery tour is filled with historical past and enjoyable for all ages! However along with studying in regards to the historical past of Jack Daniel’s, Lynchburg, Tennessee has some nice eating places and small-town spots to discover. Additionally, this quaint southern city is a beautiful, leisurely drive on a pleasant day from downtown Nashville.
Favourite issues to do in Lynchburg:
- Study some historical past and style some whiskey on the Jack Daniel’s Distillery guided tour
- Get away of the Lynchburg outdated jail museum
- Take pleasure in southern fare at Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding Home restaurant
- Discover the historic Lynchburg {Hardware} and Basic Retailer
10 – Huntsville, AL
Approximate Driving Time from Nashville: 1 hour 50 minutes
Simply over the border in North Alabama, Huntsville has all the things for the area fanatic, the artwork lover, or the out of doors adventurer. Most notably, Huntsville is residence to Alabama’s high vacationer attraction, the U.S. House and Rocket Heart. This wonderful and big advanced homes one of many world’s largest area museums and collections of rockets and area memorabilia. Additionally they host House Camp for youths in the summertime. However, this dynamic metropolis additionally has a rising artwork and meals scene and a few nice craft breweries.
Favourite issues to do in Huntsville:
- Blast off on the US House and Rocket Heart
- Uncover native artists at Lowe Mill Arts & Leisure
- Tiptoe among the many tulips at Huntsville Botanical Gardens
- Attempt the key artwork stroll to see wonderful public artwork
- Sip craft brews and plenty of nice meals choices at Campus 805
In case you are a music lover coming to city to go to the Nation Music Corridor of Fame or soak up a present on the Grand Ole Opry, plan so as to add a day or two to your itinerary exploring considered one of these small cities positioned inside a few hours drive from Nashville’s downtown space.
Concerning the Writer
This can be a visitor submit written by Sarah Wilson. Sarah is a Nashville-based freelance author, editor, and advertising / Public Relations advisor & strategist. Sarah writes about kid-friendly Nashville and increasing her household’s worldview via journey, meals, books, and fascinating in our native and worldwide communities at The Wandering Rumpus. Observe Sarah’s each day adventures on Instagram @TheWanderingRumpus.
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