13 Small Towns In Tennessee To Visit For A Weekend Getaway
Tennessee stretches nearly 440 miles from the Mississippi River to the Appalachian Mountains, packing more cultural and geographic variety into one state than almost anywhere else in the United States. The towns in Tennessee to visit for a weekend getaway aren’t just stopovers between cities; they’re living pieces of the state’s story.
In the east, former frontier outposts like Jonesborough and Greeneville preserve 18th-century architecture and Revolutionary War landmarks. Central Tennessee holds river towns such as Columbia and Lynchburg, where whiskey making, mule trading, and local crafts continue traditions more than a century old. Together, these towns demonstrate why the state’s appeal lies not only in Nashville or Memphis, but in the quiet destinations where Tennessee’s history, creativity, and natural beauty still meet every weekend.
Townsend
Framed by the Little River and the Smoky Mountain foothills, Townsend keeps its small-town rhythm even as it borders the Great Smoky Mountains. Begin with the Tuckaleechee Caverns, a fascinating underground network known for its 210-foot Silver Falls and cathedral-like Big Room. Guided tours run about an hour and a half. Just outside town, the Townsend Wye marks the confluence of the Little River and Middle Prong; visitors can swim or rent tubes and kayaks from River Rat Tubing, located nearby.
The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center showcases Native American artifacts, pioneer cabins, and 19th-century tools that trace Appalachian life. Finally, stroll or cycle the Townsend Historical Trail, a 10-mile paved path linking shops and cafés. Stay at the Dancing Bear Lodge, a 38-acre wooded property offering cozy cabins, fire pits, and farm-to-table dining near the park entrance.
Pigeon Forge
This small city in Sevier County sits just five miles north of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and works well for travelers who want mountain access alongside plenty to do in town. The Old Mill Square anchors downtown with an 1830s gristmill still producing flour used in its restaurant and bakery. Locals recommend the chicken pot pie and corn chowder. A few blocks away, the Titanic Museum Attraction features more than 400 recovered artifacts, recreated first-class cabins, and a full-scale grand staircase, offering a well-researched glimpse into maritime history.
Families often spend evenings at The Island in Pigeon Forge, home to the 200-foot Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, boutique shops, and nightly fountain shows. Margaritaville Island Hotel provides a convenient stay here. Rooms have private balconies overlooking the Island, and guests can walk to dining, rides, and shops without driving.
Bristol
Bristol sits directly on the Tennessee-Virginia state line, equally significant for its musical heritage and racetrack energy. The Bristol Motor Speedway remains its most iconic landmark. Visitors can take a guided infield tour, walk the 28-degree banked turns, and explore the adjacent Bristol Dragway, which hosts national NHRA events. A few blocks away, Downtown State Street splits the two states and is lined with vintage neon signs, cafés, and music stores. Stop by the Paramount Center for the Arts, a restored 1931 theater that still hosts live performances.
The Lost State Distilling tasting room keeps small-batch Tennessee whiskey and gin, and staff often share stories of the town’s Prohibition-era past. Meanwhile, the Quality Inn Bristol is minutes from Bristol Motor Speedway. Rooms are straightforward but comfortable, and breakfast is included.
Greeneville
Greeneville is one of Tennessee’s oldest towns and carries a clear sense of history through its preserved landmarks and local craftsmanship. The Andrew Johnson National Historic Site anchors downtown with the 1830s brick home of the 17th U.S. president, his tailor shop, and a small museum displaying Civil War-era documents and original family belongings. Nearby, the City Garage Car Museum showcases more than 40 vintage vehicles, including a 1914 Ford Model T and classic muscle cars from the 1960s, an easy hour’s stop for car enthusiasts.
Kinser Park spreads along the Nolichucky River, with riverside walking trails, a 1.8-mile nature loop, and kayak access with rentals available nearby in summer. The Capitol Theatre, a restored 1930s venue, hosts live music and regional film screenings most weekends. Just off Main Street, General Morgan Inn doubles as a historic landmark and gathering spot. The 1880s building features restored rooms, period furnishings, and Brumley’s restaurant, renowned for its hand-cut steaks and Appalachian-style trout.
Sewanee
Sewanee combines collegiate architecture, forested plateaus, and open overlooks that make it one of the state’s most distinctive small towns. The University of the South campus is the town’s centerpiece, prominent for its Gothic Revival buildings, All Saints’ Chapel with intricate stained-glass windows, and quiet walking paths shaded by oak and pine. Just beyond the campus, the Perimeter Trail forms a 20-mile loop around the Cumberland Plateau. However, short sections, such as the two-mile Bridal Veil Falls Trail, offer accessible hikes that end at a 25-foot waterfall.
The Sewanee Natural Bridge, only three miles from downtown, spans a sandstone arch with views across Lost Cove, worth a short, easy walk. The Sewanee Inn, situated at the university entrance, features spacious rooms overlooking the golf course and offers easy access to campus trails.
Gatlinburg
Few towns border a national park as seamlessly as Gatlinburg, where trailheads, distilleries, and galleries all sit within minutes of each other at the Smokies’ front door. The Gatlinburg Trail begins just outside town, running 3.8 miles round-trip along the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River; it’s one of the park’s few dog-friendly paths and passes remains of early settler homes. The Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, located eight miles northeast of downtown, features more than 80 studios where local artisans create pottery, glasswork, and quilts. You can meet the artists and buy directly from them.
On the main Parkway, the Tennessee Homemade Wines tasting room serves small-batch fruit wines sourced from local growers, while the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park carries visitors 1,800 feet up Crockett Mountain to walk the SkyBridge, a 680-foot pedestrian suspension bridge with sweeping views. The Bearskin Lodge on the River indulges rustic architecture with easy access to both the park entrance and downtown attractions.
Signal Mountain
Built atop Walden Ridge, Signal Mountain overlooks the Tennessee River Gorge and serves as an easy escape from Chattanooga. Signal Point promises a clear view of the Tennessee River Gorge, once used as a Union Army observation site during the Civil War. The short 0.3-mile trail to the overlook connects to the longer Cumberland Trail for those wanting a half-day hike. A few minutes away, the Edward’s Point Trail runs about four miles round trip, moderate in difficulty, and ends with one of the best panoramic views of the river bend.
The Falling Water Falls State Natural Area features a 110-foot waterfall reached by a brief, steep 0.3-mile path from the parking area, best visited after rainfall. Simultaneously, the Mountain Arts Community Center (MACC) hosts weekend pottery and music workshops inside a 1926 school building. Twelve minutes away is the Hampton Inn & Suites Chattanooga/Downtown with modern rooms, an indoor pool, and easy access to both the ridge’s scenic trails and Chattanooga’s riverfront attractions.
Jonesborough
More than two centuries after its founding, Jonesborough still retains its 18th-century charm, with cobbled sidewalks, red-brick façades, and a community built around storytelling and craftsmanship. The International Storytelling Center lights downtown with regular performances from professional storytellers and seasonal events that draw visitors nationwide. A block away, the Chester Inn Museum showcases original 1790s architecture, restored rooms, and rotating exhibits that trace the town’s political and cultural history through letters, photographs, and preserved furnishings.
The McKinney Center, located in the historic Booker T. Washington School, offers pottery, painting, and theater workshops open to the public. Outdoor time is available at Persimmon Ridge Park, a 130-acre space featuring hiking trails, disc golf, and shaded picnic areas, all within a five-minute drive from Main Street. The Historic Eureka Inn, built in 1797, offers individually styled rooms with antique décor.
Elizabethton
Elizabethton traces its roots to the Watauga Settlement of the 1770s, a self-governed frontier community whose legacy shapes today’s quiet downtown and restored riverside landmarks. The Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park preserves the site of the 1775 Watauga Treaty and features a reconstructed frontier fort, walking paths along the river, and a small museum displaying artifacts from early settlers and the Overmountain Men militia. Just south of downtown, the Elizabethton Covered Bridge, built in 1882, stretches 134 feet across the Doe River, an ideal spot for photos or a short riverside walk.
The Downtown Historic District holds locally owned stores like the Coffee Company, a café inside a century-old department store known for its house-roasted beans and pimento cheese sandwiches. Outdoor enthusiasts can follow the Tweetsie Trail, a nine-mile biking and walking path built on a former railroad bed that connects Elizabethton to Johnson City. Americourt Hotel Elizabethton is a practical option off Highway 19E with clean rooms.
Columbia
Set along the Duck River about an hour south of Nashville, Columbia has evolved into a walkable town that keeps its Southern roots visible through architecture, food, and live music. The President James K. Polk Home & Museum, a 1816 construction, organizes guided tours through original Federal-style rooms and displays presidential letters, campaign memorabilia, and family furnishings. Two blocks away, Downtown Columbia centers around the courthouse square with restored brick façades, antique stores, and cafés. Pop into Buck & Board for local brews and regional charcuterie.
Additionally, the Riverwalk Park Path follows the Duck River for just over two miles, ideal for biking or a relaxed evening walk. Lastly, the Hampton Inn Columbia is a convenient choice for modern amenities, free breakfast, and quick access to the historic district.
Tellico Plains
At the western gateway of the Cherokee National Forest, Tellico Plains serves as the starting point for adventures across East Tennessee. The Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center introduces travelers to the 43-mile National Scenic Byway with maps, local crafts, and exhibits on the area’s mountain ecology. Downtown, the Charles Hall Museum houses more than 10,000 artifacts, including early telegraph equipment, historic photographs, and original documents from the region’s logging era.
Within town limits, the Tellico River Recreation Area keeps picnic spots, a short paved trail along the river, and easy access for fly-fishing or kayaking, with gear rentals available nearby at Tellico Outfitters. The Tellico Grains Bakery, set in a former bank building, is a local staple known for its wood-fired breads and pecan sticky buns. The Lodge at Tellico provides log-style rooms with porches overlooking the mountains and quick access to both the Skyway and the river.
Rogersville
Founded in 1775 by Joseph Rogers, Rogersville takes pride in being the “cradle of Tennessee journalism” and remains one of the state’s oldest towns. The Thomas Amis Historic Site, located just outside the town center, dates back to 1782 and features the original stone tavern, mill ruins, and guided tours that trace the early settlement of the region. In the heart of town, the Hale Springs Inn from the 1820s doubles as a living museum with period furnishings and a restaurant serving regional classics like trout cakes and cornbread.
A short walk away, the Rogersville Historic District includes antique stores, cafés, and the county courthouse, one of the oldest still in use in the state. On the other hand, Rogersville City Park has a walking path, playgrounds, and shaded picnic areas along Crockett Creek. The Comfort Inn Rogersville hosts simple, modern rooms and convenient access to both the historic district and local dining spots.
Lynchburg
Lynchburg may be small, home to fewer than 7,000 residents, but it carries an outsized reputation as the birthplace of Tennessee whiskey. The Jack Daniel’s Distillery, established in 1866, remains the town’s cornerstone, featuring guided tours through its limestone spring, charcoal mellowing vats, and historic barrelhouses. Visitors can join tasting sessions showcasing limited-release whiskeys.
Just beyond the distillery, the Lynchburg Town Square anchors the community with 19th-century storefronts, antique shops, and local spots like Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House, known for family-style Southern meals served in a former 19th-century inn. For a look at small-town craftsmanship, the Lynchburg Hardware & General Store also functions as a museum-shop dedicated to the Jack Daniel’s legacy, selling branded tools, decor, and historical displays. The Lynchburg Country Inn would be your best bet for a decent and cozy stay.
A Weekend In Tennessee
Tennessee’s smaller communities stand out for how naturally they balance history, landscape, and hospitality, something few other states in the United States capture in quite the same way. Across these towns in Tennessee to visit for a weekend getaway, travelers can move from mountain overlooks in the east to quiet river valleys and courthouse squares in the center of the state without ever leaving that sense of regional identity. Each town maintains a distinct rhythm: places like Jonesborough and Rogersville preserve the state’s frontier and printing roots, while Lynchburg and Columbia continue long-standing food and distilling traditions that have shaped Tennessee’s economy.
