Best Family Road Trips From Nashville This Fall
Are you looking for the best weekend trips from Nashville because you have been cooped up in the house for almost two years and flying still isn’t an option due to Covid-19?
If you are still avoiding the airports because you are nervous about being in crowded places then pack your bags and hit the open road to explore some of the best weekend trips from Nashville.
Gas up and let’s take a few road trips from Nashville!
From luxury hotels like BlackBerry Farms, well-known attractions in Pigeon Forge to quiet country hideaways, Tennessee offers many great options for a fun weekend getaway.
Great weekend trips from Nashville include Chattanooga, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Memphis, and Knoxville. Couples can check into a cozy inn with romantic rooms, relax at a spa and savor delicious farm-to-table cuisine on one of your road trips from Nashville.
10 Weekend Trips From Nashville You Need in Your Life!
All of these locations can be reached in three hours or less from Nashville via car. Just be sure to check their websites and/or call ahead of time for any weather-related closures.
1.Cummins Waterfall
Location: Cookeville, Tennessee
Drive time from Nashville: 1 hour, 45 minutes
What to do: Located in Jackson County, Cummins Falls is one of Tennessee’s most popular waterfalls. The hiking is perfect if you’re ready for a bit of a challenge, so make sure you’re wearing shoes that can get wet and dirty.
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Most of the hike is wading through water, which only makes the reward of getting there even better! Seeing the water splash over the rocky ledges will make you want to dive right into the swimming hole as soon as you get there.
Take a dip or lounge on the rocks as you take in the fall foliage and streaming water surrounding you.
2. Drink some Tennessee Whiskey in Lynchburg
Location: Lynchburg, Tennessee
Drive time from Nashville: 1 hour, 45 minutes
What to do: Jack Daniels Distillery is the ultimate whiskey mecca for fans of this storied brown spirit. While the distillery is located in a dry county, you can still sample whiskey drawn from individual barrels during one of their educational and historical distillery tours.
The town of Lynchburg itself is also a hidden gem and worth exploring. If you prefer wine over the brown spirits stop by the Lynchburg Winery which is located right next to Jack Daniels Distillery.
After tasting some of the sweet southern handcrafted wines, as well as traditional dry and semi-sweet varietals head over to Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House Restaurant.
Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House has served up the tradition, and Southern hospitality, not to mention good home cooking, since 1908.
Located in the heart of Lynchburg, Tenn., just off the town square, it’s recognized as one of the South’s signature family-style dining restaurants.
It possesses a history almost as rich as Miss Mary’s Fudge Pie and was built before Lynchburg became home to Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey.
3. Whitewater + Kayaking at Rock Island State Park
Location: Rock Island, Tennessee
Drive time from Nashville: 1 hour, 34 minutes
What to do: If nature is your thing we suggest exploring Rock Island State Park’s 883 acres.
You’ll enjoy a day full of nature excursions no matter if you are looking to relax and unwind from social media or you are truly an adrenaline junkie looking to get your heart pumping.
The park offers a 30-foot horseshoe waterfall that once powered the 19th-century cotton textile mill located above it.
You can either hike past the waterfall, hike one of nine trails located below the dam or if you are truly the adrenaline junkie you proclaim to be, try your hand at kayaking where you can tackle the water and paddle your way downstream.
4. Underground National Park in Cave City, Kentucky
Location: Cave City, Kentucky
Drive time from Nashville: 1 hour, 21 minutes
What to do: Cave City is a unique and family-friendly tourist destination that offers visitors two areas to explore the cave. The first area you will find are shops, restaurants, museums, and other attractions.
The second area which is below the surface is surrounded by hundreds of miles of shallow caves that cross the Kentucky landscape.
Your family will have the opportunity to view rock formations, underground rivers, and caverns that are thousands of years old and it’s perfect if you looking for something to do this fall near Nashville.
5. Tour Beale Street in Memphis
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Drive time from Nashville: 3 hours
Drive time: 215 miles west of Nashville; a three-hour drive
What to do: The drive from Nashville to Memphis is the quintessential day trip, if you are a music and food lover – there is no other destination like Memphis.
One of our favorite things to do in Memphis in the fall is walk along Beale Street and simply enjoy the scenery, people watching and walking up and down the strip.
There are over two dozen bars, nightclubs, and restaurants on Beale Street – there are both family-friendly and adult-only options.
Before you leave Beale Street you must try Memphis’ signature drink, the Walk Me Down – a frozen blue cocktail with seven different liquors which are known to “walk you down”.
Last but not least watch the Beale Street Flippers turn the cobblestone street into a runway for aerial somersaults as onlookers line the sidewalks
6. Navigate the Lost Sea in Sweetwater
Location: Cave City, Kentucky
Drive time from Nashville: 1 hour, 21 minutes
Drive time: 170 miles east of Nashville; two-hour and a 53-minute drive
What to do: Designated a registered natural landmark by the U.S. Department of Interior and listed as ‘America’s largest underground lake’ by Guinness World Book of Records.
The Lost Sea is a massive body of water located in a historic cave system known as the Craighead Caverns.
The true size of this body of water is unknown, but you can glide across its four-acre surface and catch a glimpse of the crystal formations and colossal rainbow trout that inhabit the caverns and it’s so beautiful to explore in the fall.
There is a tiny natural opening on the side of the mountain and the cave expands into a series of huge rooms which allow you to explore each room where you will find a range of Indian artifacts including pottery, arrowheads, weapons, and jewelry.
7. Unclaimed Baggage
Location: Scottsboro, Alabama
Drive time from Nashville: 2 hours, 1o minutes
What to do: If you’ve lost your luggage while traveling chances are it’s on sale and by sale, I mean dirt cheap at the Unclaimed Baggage store in Scottsboro, AL.
Unclaimed Baggage is the only store in America that sells the contents of every traveler that has lost their luggage while vacationing, business trip, or general travel.
If you lost your computer, Ipad, Apple watch, luggage with your brand new vacation clothes that you just purchased for your vacation – guess where all of your items end up?
I was able to find a cute Tory Burch Bag and Flats. I also purchased my daughter a brand new Mac computer and Apple watch for almost 60% off retail price.
The highest-priced items in its “Unusual Finds” section include an 18-karat diamond ring selling for $5,985.99 and a Chanel tweed jacket and skirt set for $1,200.99.
The store also has a jewelry section that rivals New York’s Diamond District with pages filled with high-end pieces, the highest-priced of which is a 7-inch diamond tennis bracelet selling for $8,720.99, with an appraisal included.
8. Harmony Safari Park
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Drive time from Nashville: 2 hours, 17 minutes
What to do: Harmony Park Safari is the ultimate fall family road trip – the park is located south of Huntsville, Alabama.
Your family will be able to view exotic & endangered animals as you drive through Harmony Safari Park and if you are lucky an Emu or Buffalo might just stick their heads in your window.
Visitors can enjoy a two-mile drive through a federally licensed nature preserve in the safety of their own car. Get up close and personal with zebra, llamas, bison, bulls, deer, giraffe, pigs, buffalo, ostriches, turtles, and baboons.
View the reptile house: spiders, iguana, snakes, and alligators! Harmony Park Safari is a great family experience and must-see adventure just a few hours from Nashville and is the perfect fall getaway for your family.
This excursion is $7 a person and for an additional fee, you can purchase a bucket of food to give the animals.
9. Blackberry Farms
Nestled in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, Blackberry Farm stretches over 9,200 acres of idyllic land and provides its guests with luxurious accommodation and five-star service.
The resort is famous for its innovative farm-to-table cuisine artfully orchestrated by the chef, the master gardener, the baker, the cheesemaker, the chocolatier, the sommelier, and other staff.
Stay in one of the lovely estate rooms, in a fashionable hill cottage equipped with state-of-the-art technology, or a spacious house with a full kitchen that is perfect for a family vacation.
The working farm and brewery that are a part of the estate add to the pastoral ambiance and put quality ales and fresh vegetables on your plate on a daily basis.
If you are looking for Tennessee vacations with spa services, the hotel wellness center is not to be missed.
Located in its own building, the spa offers a diverse choice of seasonal treatments, fitness facilities, and plush relaxation spaces. Nightly rates start at $745, including three meals daily, all snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages.
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10. Louisville, KY
Another one of the best weekend trips from Nashville is one to Louisville. Louisville is the largest city in Kentucky and is most famous for the Kentucky Derby which is a horse race that happens every first Saturday in May.
Louisville is one of my favorite weekend trips from Nashville because of Chateau Bourbon Bed & Breakfast. Chateau Bourbon is a whole mood and the only reason you need to visit Louisville.
Located in the heart of Norton Commons, Louisville’s most unique and vibrant walkable community, you can ‘park & walk’ during your stay with everything you need just beyond our doorstep. And just 10 miles from downtown Louisville, you’re only minutes from everything the big city has to offer.
Leave your stuffiness at the door and let them show you what southern hospitality is all about. With a cocktail in hand, come sit on their porch and let your worries fall by the wayside.
“Comfort with a splash of bourbon”
You can reach the city of Louisville from Nashville within 3 hours. The total distance of this trip is about 200 miles, which is very doable for a weekend trip!
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Conclusion of the Best Weekend Trips from Nashville
While Nashville offers an array of bars, shopping, and legendary hot chicken, a day trip from Nashville offers history, food, music, and leaf-peeping.
These cities and towns that are just an easy drive from Nashville (between a half-hour and three hours) are full of natural, historical, and culinary wonders that are ripe for a quick solo or family adventure.
Whether you find yourself sampling some Tennessee whiskey, exploring a drive-through zoo, or finding hidden treasures at the unclaimed baggage service center which is where all of the lost luggage goes from the airports across the country end up if they are not claimed.
Allianz Travel Insurance For Domestic Road Trips
With the open road is calling this fall and winter, make sure you answer with Allianz Travel Insurance—with a range of plans to choose from, you’re sure to find one that suits your needs when you take to the highway with its exploring the fall foliage in the Great Smoky Mountains or Little Rock, Arkansas.
Hiking, Kayaking, swimming, and playing tennis are all great family activities to experience but what if you slip on the hiking trail, and break your ankle? What if you fall out of the raft while white water rafting?
The affordable OneTrip Cancellation Plus Plan does not include emergency medical coverage, it can cover trip interruptions caused by a covered disabling injury or illness so make sure you also download the app.
This post is sponsored by Allianz Global Assistance and I have received financial compensation. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own
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ADDITIONAL ARTICLES
15 Most Stunning Waterfalls Near Nashville
Insiders Guide To Ruby Falls In Chattanooga
Best Luxury & Budget Hotel in Nashville
September, October, and November are some of the most beautiful months of the year to explore Tennessee.
Are you planning to take a weekend trip from Nashville this fall? I would love to hear your thoughts on my list of road trips from Nashville so leave me a comment on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
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Great article as most people don’t think to buy travel insurance for domestic travel. I’ve never been to Kentucky and I’d love to check out the caves. I will definitively get Allianz insurance. So many advantages and reasons to stay safe and covered. Thanks for the tip for the Unclaimed Baggage store 🙂