If you’re a fan of the great outdoors, it’s probably hard to stay in the car for hours on end. It seems to go against what you truly love – the breeze and the leaves and the trails – but this epic road trip across the state of Tennessee just might change your mind. You can plan a week or a weekend to take these hikes and take in some of our top natural attractions across the state. Make your way from the east side to the west, from Memphis to Chattanooga, all the way to the North Carolina border. It’s quite the trip!
You can find our Google Map right here!
Here’s a quick visual, so you know where you’re headed:
GoogleMaps We’d recommend spreading the road trip over a couple of days, enjoying some fabulous small town diners and main streets along the way.
Reelfoot Lake
Rick Mester - Flickr Reelfoot Lake State Park is located on the western side of the state, and is the only natural lake in the state of Tennessee. It was formed as a result of the 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquakes and has become one of the most visited natural areas by locals.
Ruby Falls
Marty Barr - Flickr Now you’ll make your way to Chattanooga, where you can take in the 145-foot waterfall located underneath Lookout Mountain. Built in 1929, it has made itself a top tourist spot for locals and state visitors alike.
Cumberland Caverns
Eli Christman - Flickr Cumberland Caverns has a reputation as a national landmark, a natural phenomenon dug deep in the Tennessee ground. It’s the second longest cave system in the state, and is listed as one of the longest in the world as well. It’s been open to tourists since 1956, so you can experience a bit of generational history.
Fall Creek Falls
Michael Hicks - Flickr Fall Creek Falls is the most visited state park in the state, and is also the largest. With more than 26,000 acres stretching across the Cumberland Plateau, you have the chance to experience all sorts of natural phenomena. Whether you’re looking to hike or take in a waterfall, this is quite a gorgeous experience.
Cummins Falls
Michael Hicks - Flickr Located on the Blackburn Fork State Scenic River, Cummins Falls is the eighth largest waterfall - by volume - in the state of Tennessee. There are two drops, and the stunner doubles as a popular swimming hole during the summertime.
Cherohala Skyway
Doug Bradley - Flickr The Cherohala Skyway is a National Scenic Byway that is known for its gorgeous autumnal colors and its link between Tennessee and North Carolina. It stretches 43 miles through the mountains, from Tellico Plains to Robbinsville, North Carolina, and is best driven during the lush days of spring and burning colors of fall.
Great Smoky Mountain National Park
Matthew Paulson - Flickr Don’t we all the love the Great Smoky Mountains? It’s the most visited national park in the United States, so you’re most definitely amongst friends if you make your way to Gatlinburg or Tellico Plains or Sevierville. We’d recommend renting a cabin and spending your days hiking by the river or taking in the stunning natural vistas.
It’s almost worth the time in the car, isn’t it? You can explore a little bit more of the natural countryside with a trip to this Tennessee fossil cave.
GoogleMaps
We’d recommend spreading the road trip over a couple of days, enjoying some fabulous small town diners and main streets along the way.
Rick Mester - Flickr
Reelfoot Lake State Park is located on the western side of the state, and is the only natural lake in the state of Tennessee. It was formed as a result of the 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquakes and has become one of the most visited natural areas by locals.
Marty Barr - Flickr
Now you’ll make your way to Chattanooga, where you can take in the 145-foot waterfall located underneath Lookout Mountain. Built in 1929, it has made itself a top tourist spot for locals and state visitors alike.
Eli Christman - Flickr
Cumberland Caverns has a reputation as a national landmark, a natural phenomenon dug deep in the Tennessee ground. It’s the second longest cave system in the state, and is listed as one of the longest in the world as well. It’s been open to tourists since 1956, so you can experience a bit of generational history.
Michael Hicks - Flickr
Fall Creek Falls is the most visited state park in the state, and is also the largest. With more than 26,000 acres stretching across the Cumberland Plateau, you have the chance to experience all sorts of natural phenomena. Whether you’re looking to hike or take in a waterfall, this is quite a gorgeous experience.
Located on the Blackburn Fork State Scenic River, Cummins Falls is the eighth largest waterfall - by volume - in the state of Tennessee. There are two drops, and the stunner doubles as a popular swimming hole during the summertime.
Doug Bradley - Flickr
The Cherohala Skyway is a National Scenic Byway that is known for its gorgeous autumnal colors and its link between Tennessee and North Carolina. It stretches 43 miles through the mountains, from Tellico Plains to Robbinsville, North Carolina, and is best driven during the lush days of spring and burning colors of fall.
Matthew Paulson - Flickr
Don’t we all the love the Great Smoky Mountains? It’s the most visited national park in the United States, so you’re most definitely amongst friends if you make your way to Gatlinburg or Tellico Plains or Sevierville. We’d recommend renting a cabin and spending your days hiking by the river or taking in the stunning natural vistas.
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