This Tennessee Town Has The Most Walkable Downtown

Just an hour south of Nashville, Bell Buckle is a quaint town you might blink and miss, but it somehow packs a full day’s worth of charm into a downtown you can explore entirely on foot. This railroad-era village is only about half a mile long and home to roughly 400 residents, yet Main Street feels like a living postcard, lined with Victorian storefronts and a steady hum of treasure hunters ducking into antique shops.

Because Bell Buckle’s historic district is compact (and listed on the National Register of Historic Places), you can park once and walk everywhere: start your morning with a latte at Bell Buckle Coffee Shop & Book Swap, then wander Railroad Square and hunt for one-of-a-kind finds at the Livery Stable Antique Mall. When you’re ready for a break, refuel with comfort-food classics at the Bell Buckle Café, and if you time it right, stick around for live music later in the evening. Come along for a quick walk through the town’s story, and an easy route to the can’t-miss stops right in the heart of Bell Buckle.

Bell Buckle's History and Festivals

Bell Buckle is a railroad village nestled among the hills, inside Bedford County, Tennessee. Founded in 1852, along the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad lines, it became a major stockyard for the railroad industry in the 1870s. Bell Buckle became a prosperous community full of life and vitality until the decline of the railroad industry and the Great Depression. Fortunately, the small town came to life again in the 1960s, when new residents moved in, recognizing its quaint heritage and restoring many of its Victorian homes and storefronts.

Today, antique enthusiasts from all over the world visit Bell Buckle for its vast array of antique stores in search of that unique souvenir. Others visit Bell Buckle each year for its variety of festivals, which include its vibrant Daffodil Day in March, the RC Cola MoonPie Festival in June, and the Webb Art and Craft Show in October.

Downtown Destinations Worth Visiting

The main hub of Bell Buckle’s downtown is called Railroad Square. This is where locals meet regularly and where travelers should head first upon arrival in town. Filled with cozy cafes, mouth-watering eateries, antique shops, and vintage boutiques, this walkable downtown location is situated near the town’s original railroad and serves as the center of the town’s annual events and festivals. If you’re looking for ways to spend a day walking through downtown Bell Buckle, you’re going to want to stop in for coffee at the Bell Buckle Coffee Shop & Book Swap, shop for souvenirs at the Livery Stable Antique Mall, and then catch a bite to eat at the Bell Buckle Café.

A cup of coffee with a twist, the Bell Buckle Coffee Shop & Book Swap is a small local coffee shop located in the heart of downtown Bell Buckle, offering a menu of coffee, teas, breakfast, and lunch items for fueling up. The cafe also hosts a collection of ever-changing books. Guests are invited to swap out some of their already-read titles for new ones, or check out books from the cafe like you would at a library. The colorful couches, vintage furniture, string lights, and eclectic decorations make the space feel homey and inviting, perfect for a rainy day or for recharging.

This delightful small town is packed with unique antique shops and boutiques. While they each offer something special, the Livery Stable Antique Mall is the town’s must-see treasure, housing over 35 local vendors. With over 10,000 square feet, the mall features various antiques, collectables, vintage décor, metal signs, glassware, hard-to-find books, model train supplies, jewelry, and rare coins. Even the building itself looks vintage, spanning multiple floors and evoking a sense of time travel.

Another community staple is the Bell Buckle Café. Known for its southern hospitality, if it’s comfort food you are looking for after a day of antiquing, this local favorite is your knight in shining armor. Opened in 1992, it is a family-owned local favorite offering friendly service and classic dishes like meatloaf, chicken and dumplings, and homemade desserts. For the nighttime crowd, it offers live music on Friday and Saturday nights consisting of country, bluegrass, and classic rock. A jazz group even performs once a month.

Nearby Destinations to Visit

If you think Bell Buckle is a small town, you haven’t yet been to Normandy, Tennessee. With a population of just over 100, the town of Normandy, Tennessee, is about 0.24 square miles and is located just 20 minutes southeast of Bell Buckle. It is also home to Normandy Reservoir, a 3,048-acre impoundment on the Duck River. This major hot spot for recreation and fishing is known for its four public boat ramps, the Cedar Point Camping area, a swimming beach, and plenty of fishing, including largemouth bass, spotted bass, crappie, walleye, and catfish.

Travel thirty minutes northwest, and you’ll find yourself inside the rural community known as Rockvale. With its quiet lifestyle and rolling hills, Rockvale offers an escape from the city's hustle and bustle. One of its most popular attractions is the nearby Lucky Ladd Farms, a family-friendly petting zoo offering playgrounds, pony rides, and fun-filled events for both kids and adults alike.

If you’re into breeding or riding horses, you may want to take a twenty-minute drive north from Bell Buckle to Shelbyville, Tennessee, home and origin of the famous Tennessee Walking Horse. Surrounded by rolling hills and lush farmland, it is visited each year by tourists from all over for the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, which takes place in September. This Southern tradition began in and has grown into a 10-day-and-night celebration where over 2,000 horses compete for the grand championship.

Why Bell Buckle’s Downtown Works

As the saying goes, the best things come in small packages. Downtown Bell Buckle is tiny, yet full of life. Plenty to see and do, all within an area small enough to walk through in one day.

Whether you drop in during one of the town’s famous festivals or simply go antique hunting, Bell Buckle’s shops, eateries, and locally owned businesses shape a downtown area that is easily accessible on foot anytime.