Road Trips.
Tennessee Day Trips | Scenic Drives in Tennessee
Numerous scenic day trips in Tennessee are family-friendly and accessible drives.
Cherohala Skyway
Location: Tellico Plains, TN – Robbinsville, NC
Length: 42 miles
One of the best Tennessee scenic drives, the Cherohala Skyway takes you through the most beautiful scenery in the state. A magnificent way to spend a day of the year, the Skyway is exceptionally remarkable during the Autumn.
The Tail of the Dragon
Location: Tallassee, TN – Robbinsville, NC
Length: 11 miles
Curves: 318
Speed Limit: 30 mph
The Tail of the Dragon is not a drive for sightseeing; keep your eyes on the highway and appreciate the journey. Once you arrive at the North Carolina end of The Dragon, stop at the Historic Tapoco Lodge for an enjoyable lunch.
Jack Trail
Location: Nashville, TN – Lynchburg, TN
Length: 87 miles
Jack Trail is a marvelous adventure and one of several Middle Tennessee day trips from Nashville. The route will guide you through numerous small townships where you can encounter the history of the state. Be sure to stop in Smyrna and tour the historic Sam Davis Home. Continue to Wartrace to visit the original Tennessee Walking Horse internment site and conclude your journey with one of the guided tours at the Jack Daniel’s Distillery.
The Snake
Location: Mountain City, TN – Bristol, TN
Length: 33 miles
Curves: 489
Positioned in East Tennessee, The Snake is popular amongst motorcyclists across the nation. Progress through 3 mountains and across Holstein Lake, taking in the scenes of the Cherokee National Forest along the way. Do not overlook stopping at the Shady Valley Country Store to grab a bite to eat.
Tennessee Day Trips | Civil War Battlefields
The Volunteer State is home to many Civil War Battlefields operated mainly by the National Park Service. Tennessee’s battlefields are excellent family vacation trips where children can learn the history of the nation.
Fort Donelson
Location: Dover, TN
Size: 1,000 acres
With the fall of Fort Donelson to then Brigadier General Grant, the Confederate Army was pushed further south and forced to give up southern Kentucky and large portions of Tennessee. In 1867 the Fort Donelson National Cemetery was established, at which point 670 Union soldiers were buried there, including 512 unknown soldiers.
Stones River
Location: Murfreesboro, TN
Size: 570 acres
The Stones River National Battlefield is one of the most critical and most significant battles of the Civil War; what is even more impressive is the implications for this particular battle. The Union victory gave President Lincoln the morale boost needed to support the Emancipation Proclamation, a victory Lincoln himself said the country might not have lived.
Chickamauga & Chattanooga
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Size: 9,000 acres
The Confederate victory at Chickamauga in September of 1863 was short-lived as the Union Army took control of Chattanooga use the town as a forward operating base to push into Georgia. The fall of Chattanooga becomes known as “The death knell of the Confederacy.”
Shiloh
Location: Shiloh, TN
Size: 4,000 acres
Home to the Shiloh Battlefield, Shiloh National Cemetery, Shiloh Indian Mounds, and the Davis Bridge Battlefield, an immense amount of history within the park’s grounds. Recognized as one of the best day trips in Tennessee, the Shiloh National Military Park is a must-see stop.
Tennessee Day Trips | Lakes
Tennessee lakes are known throughout the world for their beauty and family atmosphere. Some of the most enjoyable day trips in Tennessee include time spent at one of the 1,300+ lakes.
Old Hickory Lake
Location: Hendersonville, TN
Size: 22,500 acres
Distinguished as one of the most popular lakes in Tennessee, Old Hickory is home to multiple marinas, half a dozen parks, numerous campgrounds, and RV parks, all within a short drive to Nashville. Old Hickory Beach is one of the best family day trips in Tennessee.
Chickamauga Lake
Location: Hamilton County, TN
Size: 36,240 acres
Like most other lakes in Tennessee, Chickamauga Lake results from the Tennessee Valley Authority’s efforts during the Great Depression. Today the lake boasts the state record for a 15.2-pound large-mouth bass which a local fisherman caught in 2015.
J. Percy Priest Lake
Location: Nashville, TN
Size: 14,200 acres
With dozens of public use areas and over 200 miles of shoreline, Percy Priest Lake is a quick 20-minute drive from Downtown Nashville. Be sure to check the Daily Fishing Update for up-to-date fishing information.
Norris Lake
Location: Union County, TN
Size: 33,840 acres
More than a dozen distinct fish reside in Norris lake. Be sure to purchase your Fishing License on the TWRA site before heading out in pursuit of that trophy bass. With three free boat launches and numerous marinas offering rentals, water-sports are accessible to everyone.
Tennessee Day Trips | National Parks
Tennessee is home to 13 National Parks with an estimated 9,672,075 visitors annually. The parks’ economic impact is essential for assuring the continued preservation of the land for generations to come.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Location: Gatlinburg, TN
Size: 520,000 acres
During two weeks, generally in June, Synchronous Fireflies light up the night in the Elkmont area of the GSMNP. The park is also home to a population of approximately 1,500 Black Bears.
Big South Fork
Location: Oneida, TN
Size: 127,040 acres
Home to the “Haunting in the Hills” annual storytelling festival in September and the Big South Fork photography contest in July, Big South Fork also hosts the Decoration day Cemetery Quest in May. The park orchestrates all events to encourage visitors to get out and explore the region while learning the history of the area. The park is also home to sandstone arches, black bears, hiking trails, and paddling opportunities on the Big South Fork River.
Natchez Trace Parkway
Location: Natchez, MI – Cypress Inn, TN
Length: 444 miles
The preservation of the route used by American Indians, settlers, soldiers, and slave traders alike, offers many opportunities to learn of the history of America. Be sure to stop at the Gordon House, a once welcome sight to travelers on their way to Nashville. Over 70 campsites are located on the Parkway, making this one of Tennessee’s best family day trips.
Manhattan Project | Oak Ridge Site
Location: Oak Ridge, TN
Size: 5,000 acres
Designed to enrich Uranium, the Oak Ridge facility continues to host several high-security nuclear facilities. Guided tours are available where visitors can explore the X-10 Graphite Reactor. Register for a guided tour of the First Production Reactor or stop by the American Museum Of Science & Energy to learn more about the history of the facilities.
Tennessee Day Trips | Other Notable Lakes
Watts Bar Lake
Location: Kingston, TN
Center Hill Lake
Location: Middle, TN
Kentucky Lake
Location: Middle, TN
Parksville Lake
Location: Ocoee, TN
Chilhowee Lake
Location: Tallassee, TN
Nickajack Lake
Location: Southeastern, TN
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