6 Easy Day Trips from Nashville
Nashville is a lot of fun, and also a lot. After two nights of honky-tonks on Broadway, a quiet day out of town starts to sound very appealing.
In this guide
Luckily, Middle Tennessee is full of easy escapes: pretty small towns, rolling farmland, a famous whiskey distillery, waterfalls and the longest cave system in the world. Here are six easy day trips from Nashville, from 30 minutes to two hours away.
1. Franklin
Franklin is the easiest day trip from Nashville, about 30 minutes south. Its Main Street is one of the best preserved in the South, with brick storefronts, antique shops, cafés and a lovely old movie theater with a neon sign.
Franklin was also the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. Visit the Carter House, where the fighting was fiercest and the walls are still full of bullet holes, or Carnton, which served as a field hospital. Then have lunch on Main Street and browse. It’s charming without trying too hard.
2. Leiper’s Fork
Leiper’s Fork is a tiny village about 15 minutes past Franklin, and it’s a favorite hideaway for country musicians. There’s not much to it: a handful of galleries, a general store, a couple of restaurants and some of the prettiest farmland in the state.
That’s the point. Have a slow lunch, wander the galleries and see if there’s music on. The best way to get there is the Natchez Trace Parkway, a peaceful scenic road with no billboards and no trucks. Stop at the double-arch bridge near the northern end for the view.
3. Lynchburg and Jack Daniel’s
Lynchburg is about 90 minutes southeast of Nashville, and it’s home to the Jack Daniel’s distillery, the oldest registered distillery in the US. Tours walk you through the whole process, from the cave spring water to the charcoal mellowing that makes Tennessee whiskey different from bourbon.
Here’s the funny part: Moore County is a dry county, so you can’t buy a drink in a bar there. The distillery can still sell tastings on certain tours, though, so book one that includes them. Afterward, walk around Lynchburg’s small town square. It’s sleepy, a little touristy and very sweet.
4. Mammoth Cave National Park
About 90 minutes north, just over the Kentucky line, Mammoth Cave is the longest known cave system on Earth, with more than 400 miles mapped so far. It’s a national park, and it’s genuinely impressive.
You can only go into the cave on a ranger-led tour, and they sell out on weekends and in summer, so book ahead. The Historic Tour is a great first choice. It goes through huge rooms and tight squeezes, and it’s about two hours. Bring a light jacket. The cave stays around 54°F all year, which feels amazing in July.
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5. Fall Creek Falls State Park
Fall Creek Falls is about two hours east, and it’s one of Tennessee’s most beautiful state parks. The main waterfall drops 256 feet into a wide pool, making it one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern US.
An overlook a short walk from the parking lot gives you the classic view. If you’re up for it, the trail to the base is steep but short. The park also has a lake, cascades, swinging bridges and other trails. Come in fall, when the gorge turns gold and red.
6. Chattanooga
Chattanooga is about two hours southeast, and it packs in a lot for a day. Drive up Lookout Mountain for the big views. Rock City has a viewpoint where, on a clear day, they claim you can see seven states. Ruby Falls is an underground waterfall inside the mountain.
Back in town, walk across the Walnut Street Bridge, one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world, and visit the Tennessee Aquarium. Chattanooga is on Eastern Time, an hour ahead of Nashville, so factor that in if you book anything.
How to plan your day trip
You’ll need a car for all of these. Public transport outside Nashville is very limited. Most rental agencies are at the airport, which is easy to reach from downtown.
Start early, especially for the two-hour trips, and avoid I-24 and I-65 at rush hour. Traffic around Nashville has gotten much worse in recent years. If you only have one day, Franklin and Leiper’s Fork make a perfect pairing: a short drive, a scenic road and a relaxed lunch.
Weekday trips are noticeably calmer, especially at Mammoth Cave and the distillery.
When to go
Spring and fall are the best seasons. The countryside is green or colorful and the temperatures are mild. Summer is hot and humid, which makes Mammoth Cave an especially good choice. Winter is quiet and cheap, but some small-town shops keep shorter hours.
Can you combine them?
Some of these trips pair nicely. Franklin and Leiper’s Fork are a natural half-day each. Lynchburg and Fall Creek Falls are both southeast of the city, but they’re about 90 minutes apart, so it’s a long day. Mammoth Cave works well as a stop on the way to Louisville if you’re heading north.
Chattanooga is the one that really deserves an overnight. There’s enough there, between the mountain, the aquarium and the riverfront, to fill a weekend. If you only have one spare day, though, keep it simple. Pick one place and enjoy it properly. The honky-tonks will still be there when you get back.
One more tip: pack snacks and fill up on gas before leaving town. Some of these rural routes go a long way between stations.
Common questions
What’s the best day trip from Nashville?
Franklin, combined with Leiper’s Fork via the Natchez Trace Parkway.
How far is Mammoth Cave from Nashville?
About 90 minutes north, in Kentucky.
Can you drink at the Jack Daniel’s distillery?
Yes, on tours that include a tasting, even though the county is dry.
Is Chattanooga a good day trip from Nashville?
Yes. It’s about two hours away and has plenty to see in one day.
Do you need a car for day trips from Nashville?
Yes. Public transport outside the city is very limited.
