8 Cute Small Town Drives In Tennessee
Tennessee is a road tripper’s paradise, with mountain climbs, river gorges, and historic corridors linking one detour-worthy small town to the next. The Cherohala Skyway rises to 5,400 feet with long views across the Cherokee and Nantahala national forests, while Newfound Gap Road tops out at 5,046 feet inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park with built-in pull-offs like Campbell Overlook and Clingmans Dome. If you’d rather follow the water, the Ocoee River Byway hugs the gorge where the 1996 Olympic canoe and kayak course once ran. From Mississippi River vistas near Tiptonville to waterfall country around Cookeville, each route turns the drive itself into the main attraction.
Great River Road
The aptly named Great River Road follows the meandering Mississippi for over 3,000 miles, covering 10 states, including about 185 miles through Tennessee. Traveling north from the music-rich city of Memphis through rural farmland dotted with sweet little river towns, the trip along US Route 51 in northern Memphis shifts to follow the river along various state routes, ending in Tiptonville.
Covington's cute vintage shops, historic town square, and yummy breakfasts at Old Town Hall & Café make it the perfect first stop. Full of pancakes, don’t miss the turn onto Tennessee State Route 19 north of Asbury to take in the stellar river and countryside views at the recently added lookout near Arp. Get a dose of nostalgia in Dyersburg, where Pennington Seed & Supply’s famous gourmet-flavored pecans have sustained Grand River Road travelers for generations, and a selfie with the iconic T-Rex serves as proof of your visit.
Tiptonville’s imposing 90-foot Freedom Silo sporting an All-American-themed eagle and flag marks your journey’s end, where you can visit the geographical enigma Kentucky Bend, a pronounced oxbow on the Mississippi where Tennessee and Missouri surround a 17-mile exclave of Kentucky, blurring state lines. Rest a spell at Boyette’s Dining Room across from Reelfoot Lake State Park, where the same family has been serving up its all-you-can-eat catfish, crispy fried chicken, and country ham since 1921.
Natchez Trace Parkway
Twisting and turning through forests and farmland, the Natchez Trace Parkway spans 444 miles, linking Natchez, Mississippi, with Nashville, where spectacular terrain earned it an All-American Road designation as well as one of America’s 10 best biking roads. Tennessee's section covers about 100 miles in under two hours sans the stops, with endless vistas blooming with dogwoods in spring and alive with fiery autumn foliage in the fall. Take a detour at Lawrenceburg, where David Crockett stands guard in the town square, and you can stop in at the Funny Farm Coffee Company for sustenance.
Get some fresh air and well-earned stretches along the River Walk in Columbia, a Top 10 destination on both Southern Living’s Best Small Towns list and Country Living’s Country's Best Small Towns list, or saunter along the streets of its designated historic districts. For a quirkier adventure, stop in at artists’ hub Leiper’s Fork to tour the Leiper’s Fork Distillery and experience middle Tennessee’s whiskey distilling heritage.
On the last legs of your journey, take in the magnificence of America’s first segmentally constructed concrete arch bridge at Birdsong Hollow, standing 155 feet high and running 1,648 feet long. The structure is a sight to behold with its magnificent double arches mimicking the undulating surrounding green hills and affording spectacular views of the valley below.
Ocoee River Byway
As the first designated scenic byway in Tennessee and the nation — specifically as a National Forest Scenic Byway in 1988 — the Ocoee Scenic Byway is a veritable chocolate box of scenery winding its way through Cherokee National Forest sheltered by the Ocoee River Gorge. It winds its way through Cherokee National Forest sheltered by the Ocoee River Gorge. Spanning 26 miles along US Highway 64, the rugged landscape is cut by dramatic whitewater riverways and dotted with quaintly rustic towns along the way.
There is plenty of time to plan multiple stops on the short route running from Cleveland to Copperhill, kicking off your journey with views of Big Frog and Chilhowee mountains and overlooks to take in the dam, Parksville Lake, and Sugarloaf Mountain. Test your bravery on a river tour in Ocoee, where the thrill of an exhilarating rapid run takes you through crashing waves surrounded by breathtaking scenery, then settle in with an iced tea at Ocoee Coffee Joint to calm your nerves.
Reboot your circulation in Benton, strolling downtown and enjoying the classic town square, treat yourself to an ice cream at Ocoee Scoops, and relax by the lake. Head towards Ducktown and snap a picture by the adorable baby duck welcoming you to this “quacking good town," and tour the Ducktown Basin Museum on the site of the old Burra Burra Mine. Visit the Ocoee Whitewater Center at the site of the 1996 Olympic Canoe/Kayak Competition for a brisk or leisurely hike along the lush and rocky river gorge and end your jaunt with a mini craft brewery crawl in Copperhill followed by a relaxing dinner at The Waterfront Bar & Restaurant overlooking the river.
Cherohala Skyway
The Cherohala Skyway is a lofty journey with sweeping corners climbing 5,400 feet of mountainous terrain. Nicknamed the “Cherohala Challenge," the skyway covers 43 miles along the Tennessee State Route 165 and into North Carolina Highway 143, affording panoramic views of the Cherokee and Nantahala national forests as far as the eye can see, totally transformed by brilliant red, gold, and orange foliage in the fall. Highway adventurers begin their trip in Tellico Plains, where old houses on the hillside overlook adorable, rustic shops and they can stock up on car snacks at Tellico Grains Bakery before taking a short detour to see the 90-foot-high Bald River Falls.
Pull off in Townsend to rent tubes at River Rat and float lazily down the Little River or visit The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center to explore the historic village, wander the Main Gallery’s Native American Collection, and learn about Mountain Culture. Lose yourself in the foothills of North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains at the end of the skyway in Robbinsville, in a town so picture-perfect several movies were filmed in or around the area, including "The Fugitive," "Nell," and "A Walk in the Woods." Book a stay or dinner at the Historic Tapoco Lodge on the Cheoah River, where you can breathe in the mountain air, sip a glass of wine at the riverside bonfire, and settle into a cozy room surrounded by forest views after a sumptuous meal in the dining room.
Sequatchie Valley National Scenic Byway
You will be hard-pressed to resist the delightful town clock, shops, and eateries heading out from South Pittsburg on your Sequatchie Valley National Scenic Byway adventure. Stretching over 70 miles along Tennessee State Route 28 and US Route 127 from the Tennessee River in South Pittsburg to the head of the Sequatchie River at Cumberland Trail State Park, the byway connects enchanting Tennessee towns surrounded by Walden’s Ridge and the escarpment of the Cumberland Plateau all the way to Crossville.
You might plan a morning start with a visit to the eccentric Lodge Museum of Cast Iron to see the World’s Largest Cast Iron Skillet and fill up on biscuits and gravy, eggs, and bacon at Big Bad Breakfast before heading out of town. In Dunlap, things feel a little more nostalgic at shops like the town landmark, Dunlap Mercantile, but can also give off a bougier, more eclectic vibe when browsing the pretty finds at fashionable Dolce.
On Pikeville's darling of a Main Street, you can find everything you need for a picnic lunch at Miller's Bread before hiking the scenic trails at Fall Creek Falls and Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail State Parks. Antiquers will end their trip on a high note in Crossville, where they can comb a veritable cornucopia of antique shops, collectible boutiques, and vintage emporiums before collapsing into a comfy booth seat for a glass of wine and authentic Italian at Forte's on the Square.
Newfound Gap Road
What this route lacks in miles, it makes up for with jaw-dropping scenery between Gatlinburg and Cherokee, North Carolina, on Highway 441. Reaching an elevation of 5,046 feet and taking you on a 31-mile winding adventure with breathtaking vistas at every turn, the Newfound Gap Road traverses Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s stunning landscape with intentionally planned pull-offs that capture the full impact of the most picturesque scenery, mountain vistas, and waterfalls.
Minutes from Gatlinburg is Pigeon Forge, a quirky kind of tourist town where you can ride east Tennessee’s longest coaster (the Rocky Top Mountain Coaster) and grab fresh-made sandwiches to pop into your travel cooler at J.O.E. and Pop's Sub Shoppe for an en route picnic in anticipation of all those pull-offs. Art lovers and crafty types might consider following Gatlinburg’s Historic Arts & Crafts Trail to browse over 100 artists' and craftsmen’s shops, studios, and galleries specializing in exquisitely crafted artisanal pieces and works of art.
Chimney Tops Picnic Area is the best place to gobble down your sandwiches just past the stunning views of Mount LeConte from Campbell Overlook, and you can also see miles of parkland from the 360 degree views at Clingmans Dome observation tower. In Cherokee, casino dining includes celeb chef favorites at rustic-chic Guy Fieri’s Cherokee Kitchen + Bar or the eight cuisine concepts at the Gordon Ramsay Food Market. Bon appétit!
Tennessee River Trail Byway
Spanning 440 miles and multiple local highways, the Tennessee River Trail Byway is the longest scenic byway in the state, exploring both sides of the river through bucolic countryside with significant landmarks and river overlooks along the way. Civil War buffs will find a gem of a town in Dover, where they can tour Fort Donelson National Battlefield's fort remains and the Dover Hotel, aka the Surrender House, where Confederate Brig. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner surrendered to Union Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in 1862. River views from the Water Batteries are also worth a gander.
While Fayetteville is all charm and quaintness with its Civil War-era homes and historic buildings, it also happens to be a spirit tippler's destination with tours and experiences available at local distilleries, including Prichard's Distillery, just 10 minutes from downtown in neighboring Kelso. You can stop by during business hours for a friendly tour and sample pot-distilled whiskies or purchase Fayetteville-distilled Jackson Morgan Southern Cream at the Fayetteville Antique Mall for a twist on a Tennessee favorite.
If you prefer your creamy treats frozen and sans the whiskey kick, brain freeze awaits in Athens along the Scoop Loop, where you can sample everything from hand-scooped to rolled ice cream at seven local parlors and eateries. This honey of a town was once hailed by Time magazine as the home of the world’s best ice cream at Mayfield Dairy Farms.
Historic Walton Road
Named after Revolutionary War veteran Captain William Walton, this 118-mile journey on US Highway 70 crosses the Cumberland Plateau region of Tennessee from Walton’s hometown in Carthage to Kingston, tracing one of the area’s earliest wagon roads along the Cumberland Trace/Tahlonteeskee’s Trail. Carthage is a lovely town on the Cumberland River spanned by the iconic Cordell Hull Bridge and overlooked by the grand Cullen mansion set atop a hill, creating a postcard-perfect send-off for your jaunt.
If you love chasing waterfalls, Cookeville’s Waterfalls for All guide makes them easy to find, whether you want to spot them from your car or are up for a hike. The 75-foot Cummins Falls is the closest to Cookeville’s downtown area with its green space at Dogwood Park, slightly upscale Historic Courthouse Square, and great places for lunch, like Savor Cookeville’s mix of American, traditional southern comfort food, and Asian-inspired dishes.
The historic road ends at the confluence of the Clinch and Tennessee Rivers in Kingston, where waterfront views are a given from Fort Southwest Point, Tennessee’s only pioneer-era fort reconstructed on its original site. Seasonal events during summer Living History Days or the magical Colonial Christmas Candlelight Tour include period-costumed experts who offer a glimpse at fort life. After your day of discovery, a meal at Maple Creek Bistro serves up sophisticated versions of scratch-made traditional Southern food in a cozy dining room hidden on a quiet side street that gives it an exclusive yet welcoming feel.
These eight cute small-town drives in Tennessee can take you along the shortest roads, traveling under 50 miles along the Ocoee River Byway and Newfound Gap Road, or running the gamut, covering over 400 miles along the Tennessee River Trail Byway and Natchez Trace Parkway. Either way, drivers alike are sure to find the sweet spot for their ultimate Tennessee road trip.
