Tennessee holidays

From the rolling hills of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the honky-tonks of Nashville, holidays to Tennessee are an old-fashioned American good time. This Southern state boasts vibrant cities steeped in history and music, stretches of unspoilt mountain landscapes, family-friendly adventures and all the pulled-pork sandwiches you can eat.

Top destinations in Tennessee

Nashville

Find your rhythm in America’s Music City, a hotbed of live concerts, fried chicken, one-of-a-kind museums and a steady dose of Southern charm to make it all go down easy.

Memphis

The birthplace of rock ’n’ roll, Tennessee’s second-largest city lays claim to legendary music venues, must-see museums and some of the best barbecue joints in the state.

Chattanooga

Tennessee’s ‘Scenic City’ is a place of epic mountains, sprawling parks and charming art districts. Plus, it’s packed with cultural highlights and up-and-coming restaurants.

Tennessee: fast facts

Language

English

Currency

United States dollar ($)

Time zone

Nashville - UTC−6 (CST) and UTC−5 (CDT)

High season

April – June; September – October

Low season

January – February; July – August

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Tennessee holiday highlights

Tennessee
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Musical legends

The ‘Volunteer State’ gave us Dolly Parton, Aretha Franklin, Taylor Swift and Elvis Presley. One of the best things to do in Tennessee is to visit the estates of many of these stars, including Elvis’ gaudy Graceland mansion. Don’t miss Loretta Lynn’s sprawling ranch or Dollywood, an amusement park that has a replica of the Tennessee mountain home where Dolly Parton grew up.

World-class barbecue

For carnivores travelling to the state, eating barbecue is obligatory. Tennessee-style barbecue is all about pork shoulder and ribs smoked at low temperatures for hours, made either ‘wet’ (with sauce) or ‘dry’ (rubbed with spices). The region’s best pitmasters compete each year at the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, held during the annual Memphis in May festival.

Whiskey trail

There are more than 40 distilleries turning Tennessee barley, rye, wheat and corn into award-winning whiskey. And most of them welcome visitors for tastings and tours. As one of the oldest distilleries in the US, Jack Daniel’s is the most famous. But there are also smaller, boutique distilleries that put their own spin on the centuries-old tradition.

Things to do in Tennessee

Memphis
Andrea Zucker

Top attractions

Don’t be fooled by the name — there’s plenty of fresh air in the Great Smoky Mountains, plus views for 160 kilometres from the highest peak, Kuwohi. Catch a show at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, which has been broadcasting live country music since 1925. Or take a boat ride on the Lost Sea, the largest underground lake in America.

Beaches

Tennessee may be landlocked, but you’ll still find dozens of sandy spots on the shores of its lakes and rivers. Pickwick Landing State Park has three swimming beaches on the banks of the Tennessee River. Head north to Douglas Headwater to swim in the shadow of the Great Smoky Mountains. The plunge pool at Foster Falls is one of the most dramatic swimming holes in the state.

Nature

Tennessee is a great place to get away from it all, whether you’re rafting down the Ocoee River or visiting an underground waterfall in Chattanooga’s Lookout Mountain. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most-visited park in the US. But with more than 200,000 hectares of forests, waterfalls, meadows and hiking trails, there’s plenty of room for everyone.

Cuisine

Restaurants in Tennessee frequently serve ‘meat ’n’ three’, a platter of protein and your choice of three sides, which might include macaroni and cheese, green beans and cornmeal fritters known as ‘hush puppies’. Look out for other regional specialities like Nashville hot chicken (fried chicken doused in a scorching pepper sauce) and a Depression-era dessert called vinegar pie.

Culture and museums

Don’t leave the state without visiting two legendary museums in Tennessee — the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis and Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame. The Lorraine Motel in Memphis, where Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated, is now the National Civil Rights Museum. Artefacts document everything from American slavery and the Civil War to the ongoing struggle for equal rights.

Nightlife

For some of the liveliest nightlife in Tennessee, head to the honky tonks on Nashville’s Broadway, where you’ll find live bands playing on just about every block. Beale Street in Memphis also throbs with the sounds echoing from its blues clubs. For an upmarket cocktail and restaurant scene, find your way to Chattanooga’s downtown.

Find the best time to visit Tennessee

Weather in Tennessee through the year

March – May: Spring’s mild weather makes it a great time to explore street life in Nashville and Memphis. Wildflowers bloom in the mountains, where temperatures can be significantly cooler.

June – August: Summer is humid across the region, and the cities can feel especially hot. Make the most of air-conditioned spaces, from the Tennessee State Capitol to the National Civil Rights Museum.

September – November: Autumn is a favourite for the leaf peepers who come to enjoy the foliage in picture-perfect country towns like Franklin.

December – February: Winters are cold in Tennessee. Nashville’s daytime highs reach 8°C in January, and it regularly freezes. Expect snowfall in the mountains, and pack plenty of layers.

Events in Tennessee

Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival (June): One of the biggest multi-day music festivals in the US takes place in Manchester. Join the 70,000-strong crowds who gather for world-famous headline acts from the worlds of rock, indie, hip-hop and EDM. Just remember where you’ve pitched your tent.

Tennessee State Fair (August): Held in Wilson County, this annual 10-day tradition features events from pig-calling competitions to harmonica contests. Explore the epic fairground rides, enjoy the monster trucks, and don’t leave without tasting Tennessee’s unique hot slaw.

CMA Awards (November): Nashville glams up for country music’s favourite night of the year. The biggest artists in the industry walk the red carpet and perform in venues all over the city.

Know before you go

Budget

With a cost of living about 9% below the national average, it’s not hard to plan a cheap holiday to Tennessee. You can find lunch or dinner on a budget for under 20 US dollars ($) and get a beer for around $7. Expect to pay about $10 or less for a short cab ride.

Health and safety

Nashville has one of the largest healthcare sectors in the US, with hospitals and clinics easily accessible if needed. When exploring Tennessee’s trails and parks, remember to be mindful of ticks, which can transmit Lyme disease. Always check yourself after hiking, and remove ticks promptly and carefully to help prevent infection.

Free things to do

There’s free admission at the Knoxville Museum of Art, where contemporary installations sit alongside some of the state’s most significant historic artworks. Drive the scenic Natchez Trace Parkway, a vital route for Native Americans and European settlers alike. The vast Tennessee State Museum in Nashville offers a helpful introduction to the American South’s complicated past.

Family friendly

Meet sharks, stingrays and even penguins at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, and learn about conservation in its immersive IMAX theatre. You’ll find biking, hiking and rock climbing at Fall Creek Falls State Park, where admission is free. Or go back in time at the open-air Museum of Appalachia, with its pioneer village and free-range mountain farm.

Getting around Tennessee

Tennessee
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Public transport

Buses: Local bus networks provide affordable ways to get around Tennessee’s major cities. However, schedules can be limited, especially in the evenings and on weekends, so plan ahead. In Memphis, the vintage-style trolley cars are a fun way to reach key tourist spots, while Chattanooga’s free electric shuttle connects downtown with the North Shore.

Trains: Amtrak’s City of New Orleans line runs daily, stopping in Memphis and Newbern en route from Mississippi to Illinois. In Nashville, the WeGo Star commuter rail operates on weekdays, linking downtown with seven stations in the eastern suburbs, making it a practical option for local travel.

Domestic flights

Metropolitan Nashville International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in Tennessee. Other cities with commercial airports include Chattanooga, Knoxville and Jackson. Tri-Cities Airport provides access to the northeastern part of the state, including Kingsport.

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Driving and car hire

A car is the easiest way to explore the region, as well as Nashville’s sprawling neighbourhoods. Traffic can be busy in the cities, so consider using public transport in the town centres. Be careful when driving in the mountains, especially in wintry conditions.

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FAQs about Tennessee holidays

First-timers should head to Nashville, the region’s most vibrant city and home to many of its most famous musical attractions. With its amusement parks, Gatlinburg is the fun-filled gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. For a quieter cultural retreat, try Chattanooga or Knoxville.
Allow yourself at least a week to see Memphis, Nashville and the Great Smoky Mountains. In 10 days, you can add detours to artsy Knoxville and Chattanooga, with its growing urban scene and outdoor adventures.
Summers in Tennessee can be hot and muggy, while winters tend to be wet but not too cold. The best time to visit Tennessee is in the spring, when the countryside explodes with wildflowers. Or visit in autumn, when the trees that carpet the Great Smoky Mountains turn to sunset tones. Many of the larger music events take place in summer.
The weather is the biggest hazard in Tennessee. Tornadoes are most common in spring and autumn. Heavy rain can cause flooding in low-lying areas, and ice can make mountain driving tricky in winter. Use insect repellent to guard against ticks and mosquitoes when exploring the mountains.
Tennesseans speak English, sometimes with a noticeable Southern accent, especially outside of the big cities. Throughout the South, the language is full of charming sayings like ‘hold your horses’, meaning ‘slow down’.
Tennessee uses the US dollar ($). You’ll find plenty of banks and ATMs in the towns and cities. But it’s always worth carrying some cash, particularly for the tip jar at bars where there’s live music.

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