10 Best Weekend Trips From Nashville TN (With Hotel Names)

Read some of the best weekend trips from Nashville Tn within 4 hours with things to do and where to stay details. 

Also Read: Best Road Trips From Atlanta Ga (Weekend Trips From Atlanta)

Best Weekend trips from Nashville Tn – Nashville Weekend Getaways

Nashville is the capital of Tennessee and a vibrant city known for its country music heritage, delicious Southern cuisine, and lively nightlife. Due to the location of Nashville, there are many weekend trips from Nashville Tn to scenic landscapes, cave formations, historical sites, cultural attractions, and University towns.  

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Distance from Nashville – 2 hr 9 min (133.0 mi) via I-24 E

About – Chattanooga is the fourth largest city in Tennessee, with a beautiful location near Cumberland Plateau and the huge Tennessee river. That is why Chattanooga is worth visiting city in Tennessee, USA.  

Things To Do In Chattanooga TN – 

• Ruby Falls
• Rock City Gardens
• Lookout Mountain
• Point Park Battlefield
• Lookout Mountain Incline Rail – Chattanooga Funicular Rail ride
• Tennessee Aquarium
• Walnut Street Bridge
• Tennessee Riverpark
• Hunter Museum of American Art
• Chattanooga Choo Choo Historic Railway Station

Guided Tour Options – Chattanooga derailed trolley tour.

Where To Stay – Historic Downtown and riverfront areas are Chattanooga’s best areas, with many hotel options. The Edwin Hotel, Autograph Collection is an upscale boutique hotel located downtown at the riverfront and Walnut Street Bridge.

Franklin, Tennessee

Distance from Nashville – 29 min (21.5 mi) via I-65 S

About Franklin – Franklin is a quaint, friendly town with many unique, eclectic shops, cute historic buildings, a vibrant Main Street, boutique shops, fabulous restaurants, and beautiful scenery. Also, it is just 20 miles south of Nashville; it is the perfect day trip from Nashville for laid-back historic vibes. 

Things To Do – 

• Carter House
• Lotz House Museum
• Carnton
•  Leiper’s Fork Distillery 
• The Factory at Franklin
• Arrington Vineyards

Guided Tour Options – Civil War History Tour.

Where To Stay – Downtown Franklin has a beautiful historic architecture with brick sidewalks and is known for beautiful Victorian architecture. Click here to check the availability in this historic hotel – The Harpeth Downtown Franklin, Curio Collection by Hilton.

Memphis, Tennessee. 

Distance from Nashville – 3 hr 11 min (212.0 mi) via I-40 W

About Memphis – Experience America’s musical history in this beautiful town, Memphis. This musical town is known for rock n roll, blues, and soul, music genres. This city is Elvis Presley’s homeland, so all music enthusiasts love this city. Being cheaper than other cities of Tennessee, it is the best place to explore for budget travelers and a perfect road trip from Nashville for music lovers. 

Things To Do – 

• Memphis Zoo
• Lorraine Motel 
• Graceland – Elvis’s Tomb
• Beale Street
• Sun Studio
• National Civil Rights Museum
• Shelby Farms Park
• Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, Stax Museum of American Soul Music
• Downtown Memphis

Guided Tour Options – Memphis City Tour with Sun Studios tour.

Where To Stay – Downtown Memphis is the best area to stay as it is a lovely walkable area and close to main attractions. Click here to check availability in The Ramble Hotel, Memphis.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee. 

Distance from Nashville – 3 hr 53 min (221.3 mi) via I-40 E

About Gatlinburg – Gatlinburg is a cute mountain town with colorful downtown, vibrant entertainment, escape rooms, and many nature hikes to beautiful mountains nearby. Nestled in the Smoky Mountains range, this place is one of the best weekend getaways from Nashville, Tn. Gatlinburg is also one of the best romantic weekend trips from Nashville TN. 

Things To Do – 

• Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
• Gatlinburg SkyLift Park
• Anakeesta
• Gatlinburg Space Needle
• Laurel Falls
• Downtown Gatlinburg Walking Tour
• Visit Clingmans Dome
• Go on scenic hikes and drives nearby

Guided Tour Options – Gatlinburg Smoky mountains Ghost tours. 

Where To Stay – Stay in Downtown Gatlinburg for vibrant shops, energetic Escape rooms, and many entertainment opportunities. There are also options to stay in wooden cabins nearby, but they are in a secluded natural environment and away from downtown walking street. Click here to book Greystone Lodge on the river. 

Louisville, Kentucky

Distance from Nashville – 2 hr 42 min (175.6 mi) via I-65 N

About Louisville – Louisville is full of bourbon distillers, horse racing, a beautiful landscape, the friendliest people, and a vibrant, energetic place. This city is also famous for the world’s longest cave system, hence a perfect road trip from Nashville, Tn.

Things To Do – 

• Churchill Downs
• Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
• Kentucky Derby Museum 
• Louisville Mega Cavern
• Kentucky Science Center
• Kentucky Bourbon Trail

Guided Tour Options – Muhammad Ali Center. 

Where To Stay – If you want to enjoy the city’s main cultural attractions, nightlife, restaurants, and then stay at some of the best hotels in the Waterfront Park area. And if you love historic vibes, then stay in Old Louisville. Check availability in The Grady Hotel. 

Knoxville, Tennessee.

Distance from Nashville – 2 hr 46 min (180.1 mi) via I-40 E

About – Knoxville has a great mountain charm, stunning architecture, and a beautiful Tennessee river. It is one of the best road trips from Nashville TN for nature and history lovers. 

Things To Do – 

• Zoo Knoxville 
• Knoxville Museum of Art
• Market Square
• Ijams Nature Center
• World’s Fair Park
• Sunsphere
• Peppermint Trail 
• James White Fort
• Old City
• Tennessee Theatre
• East Tennesse Historical Society 

Where To Stay – Old City, Oakwood, Fourth & Gill, and Oakridge are the best areas to book your hotels as they are vibrant historic areas of this city. Click here to check availability in Hyatt Place. 

Mammoth Cave National Park

Distance from Nashville – 1 hr 24 min (84.5 mi) via I-65 N

About – Mammoth Cave National Park is the longest-known cave system in the world, with more than 400 miles of explored passageways and another 200 miles still unexplored. It is one of the oldest tourist attractions in North America, home to thousands of years of human history and a rich diversity of plant and animal life, earning it the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve. 

This national park is famous for caves; you will find beautiful rolling hills and deep river valleys. 

Things To Do – 

• Mammoth Cave 
• Fat Man’s Misery 
• Cedar Sink Trail 
• Tall Man’s Misery 
• Green River 
• Echo River 
• Wild Cave Tour 
• Gothic Avenue Tour.
• Ranger-led Programs 
• Bicycling, Hiking, Canoeing, Kayaking, and Boating and Horseback Riding 

Where To Stay – The Lodge at Mammoth Cave is the closest option to staying in the park. The nearest town is Brownsville, so if you are looking to stay in the city, then book your stay in Brownsville. 

Huntsville, Alabama

Distance from Nashville – 1 hr 58 min (115.4 mi) via I-65 S

About Huntsville – Huntsville is known for U.S. Space and Rocket Center and is home to Space Camp. So it is a perfect road trip from Nashville for science enthusiasts. It is famous as an aero-science destination and a nature spot due to Huntsville Botanical Garden. You can also go for the best freshwater fishing, hiking trails, and caving.

Things To Do – 

• Lions Lookout
• U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum
• Huntsville Botanical Garden 
• Sugarbush Hill Maple Farm
• Monte Sano State Park 
• Harmony Park 
• Twickenham Historic District
• Arrowhead Provincial Park
•  Weeden House Museum

Guided Tour Options – 

Where To Stay – Downtown is the best area in Huntsville, AL. Huntsville’s Downtown area is the historic heart of the city. It is vibrant and lively, located a few miles from the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and close to the city’s main cultural attractions and historic neighborhoods. Click here to check availability in Homewood Suites. 

Sewanee, Tennessee

Distance from Nashville – 1 hr 30 min (93.0 mi) via I-24 E

About Sewanee – Sewanee’s perfect location on Cumberland Plateau makes it an ideal nature weekend getaway from Nashville, Tn. It has many scenic vistas overlooking nearby valleys and is a perfect Nashville weekend getaways.

Things To Do – 

• University of the South 
• The Cross 
• Mountain Goat Trail 
•  All Saints’ Chapel 
• The Lemon Fair 
• Natural Bridge State Area
• The Course at Sewanee 
• The Falls At Sewanee Creek
• The Smokehouse Lodge & Cabins
• Bigfoot Adventure

Where To Stay – The best areas are Sewanee University Boulevard or nature wood cabins at nearby trails or hikes. Click here to check availability in The Sewanee Inn.

Birmingham, Alabama

Distance from Nashville – 3 hr 53 min (257.2 mi) via I-24 E and I-59 S

About Birmingham – Birmingham is known for the Civil Rights movement and has many historical and cultural attractions. This city also has nature hikes, colorful street art, southern hospitality, restaurants, and craft beer, and hence one of the best road trips from Nashville, Tn. 

Things To Do – 

• Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
• Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
•  Vulcan Park and Museum
• McWane Science Center 
• Birmingham Museum of Art
• Southern Museum of Flight 
• Ruffner Mountain 
• The Summit 
• Kelly Ingram Park
• Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Where To Stay – Downtown Birmingham and Five Points South are the best areas to stay in Birmingham due to their proximity to main attractions and amenities. Click here to check availability in Elyton Hotel, Autograph collection. 

Now you know some of the best weekend trips from Nashville Tn or fantastic road trips from Nashville within a 3 to 4 hours scenic drive.

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