Tennessee

Best time to visit Tennessee

The best time to visit Tennessee depends on what you're looking for in your trip:

In spring (April-May) you'll find mild temperatures and blooming wildflowers making this a great time for outdoor activities like hiking and exploring the Great Smoky Mountains. You can also enjoy events such as the Tennessee Shakespeare Festival in Johnson City and the Tennessee Strawberry Festival in Dayton.

Autumn (September-October) has stunning foliage creating a picturesque landscape, particularly in the mountains. You can also participate in various autumn festivals celebrating the harvest season.

The warm summer months (June-August) are perfect for enjoying water activities on lakes and rivers, like kayaking and swimming. Experience the lively music scene with festivals like Bonnaroo and CMA Music Festival. You can also take advantage of the longer daylight hours for exploring and sightseeing.

Winter (November-March) has fewer crowds so you can enjoy lower prices on accommodations and attractions due to the off-season. Experience winter sports like skiing and snowboarding in the mountains.

Ultimately, the best time to visit Tennessee depends on your personal preferences and interests. Consider the weather, crowds, events, and activities available during each season to plan your trip accordingly.

Discover Tenessee

Bordering eight other USA states, Tennessee is ideal for a multi-state itinerary, perhaps combined with a stay in Mississippi or Alabama. You’ll find there is plenty to explore and experience just in Tennessee alone to make a memorable trip. Split in to three distinct regions, the Great Smoky Mountains in the east, Nashville in the middle, and the Mississippi River and the Memphis area in the west.

Nashville and Memphis are the biggest draws of the state, where visitors come to pay homage to the ‘King’ Elvis Presley at his home in Graceland, Memphis, and visit legendary studios where musical greats such as Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash and Elvis recorded hit records. Live music is everywhere, blues music on famous Beale Street at B.B King’s Blues Club in Memphis or country and rock music from the music venues that line Nashville's Lower Broadway. Whatever your preference of music – soul, R & B, country or rock ‘n’ roll you will hear it and tap your toes to Tennessee’s authentic rhythm.

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Discover Tennessee

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the state's crown jewel, and is the country’s most visited national park. People flock in their millions to see the blue mist that floats above the mountain peaks, its pristine wilderness, rivers, waterfalls and enjoy hiking and soaking up the awe-inspiring views. When visiting the park you can base yourself in the pretty mountain towns of Gatlinburg and Sevierville, or Pigeon Forge, the home of the world-famous theme park Dollywood. Filled with thrilling rollercoasters, water-rides and exhibits dedicated to Dolly Parton herself.

The state is also home to some charming cities, including Chattanooga, home to the Chattanooga Choo Choo Terminal Complex and Hotel made famous by the Glenn Miller song – ‘Chattanooga Choo Choo' – the first million-selling record in the world. Lynchburg is a great place to visit whilst in Nashville, as it's home to the Jack Daniel's Distillery, the oldest registered distillery in the US, where the entire world's supply of Jack Daniel's whiskey is produced.

Highlights of Tennessee

What is Tennessee famous for?

• Memphis
• Nashville
• Chattanooga
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Knoxville

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Memphis

Proudly sitting on the mighty Mississippi River, Memphis is home to the ‘King’ – Elvis Presley and his famous house Graceland, which is the second most visited home in the USA. Whatever your taste in music, you can hear it in Memphis. Visit Sun Studios and the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum or the original site of Stax Records, the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. For live music head to the blues clubs and bars on famous Beale Street, where anything goes, or in Overton Square, a popular spot for locals. The city’s civil rights history is told at the Lorraine Motel, the site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination and the National Civil Rights Museum.

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Nashville

‘Music City USA and the world’s ‘country music capital’ - Nashville has over 180 live music venues, a great restaurant scene and is packed full of vibrancy, fun and a long list of fascinating attractions. If you like country music head to the famous Grand Ole Opry, and its iconic stage where country greats such as Carrie Underwood and Dolly Parton have performed or Historic RCA Studio B, an intimate recording studio where Elvis and Dolly Parton made hit records. Broadway is home to the lively ‘honky tonk’ bars and the Fifth + Broadway entertainment district has many shops, restaurants and the interesting National Museum of African American Music.

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Chattanooga

The riverside city of Chattanooga was made famous by the Glen Miller song 'Chattanooga Choo Choo' and has a big heart and is bursting at the seams with character and things to do. Ride the world's steepest passenger incline railway on a mile-long climb up Lookout Mountain where on a clear day you can marvel at views across seven Southern States. Chattanooga is also home to Ruby Falls – the tallest and deepest underground waterfall open to the public in the U.S.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

No trip to Tennessee will be complete without a visit to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited park in the USA that straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. Covering more than 520,000 acres filled with shimmering waterfalls, lush forests, spectacular wildflowers and wildlife including black bears. Take a scenic drive that is sure to deliver unforgettable views, hike part of the Appalachian Trail or kayak in a quiet lake, whatever the time of the year the park delivers a great experience. There is no entrance fee to enter the park, but parking tags that cost from $5 per day are required and can be purchased online before travel or locally.

Knoxville

With the Great Smoky Mountains as its backdrop the vibrant city of Knoxville boasts great music, endless fun festivals and a booming craft beer scene. As well as over 50 miles of nature trails, ideal for hiking and biking. In downtown Knoxville the bustling pedestrian Market Square District is packed full of unique restaurants, market stalls, shops and hosts outdoor movies, concerts and festivals. Built for the 1982 World’s Fair, the unique Sunsphere Observation Deck in World’s Fair Park offers 360-degree views of downtown Knoxville and the Great Smoky Mountains.