The wind rustles sleepily through the treetops as nature gradually wakes up around you. A determined pinprick of gold sunlight breaks through the mist. The sky is painted in brilliant hues of amber and cerise as the sun stakes its claim to the sky and positions itself high above the forest-clad peaks. The mountains are blanketed in a haze of blue fog, offering a striking juxtaposition to the carnival of colour above.
Admiring this captivating view, it is easy to see why the Great Smoky Mountains are America’s most visited National Park, but it is a world away from the neon lights and electric live music venues of Nashville or Memphis that Tennessee is most famous for.
Tennessee is a state of extraordinary contrasts. It gives you the music, the history, the food, and just when you think you’ve seen it all, these beautiful mountains. In a few days, you can boogie along Beale Street and bar-hop along Broadway, delve into poignant civil rights history and learn about Cherokee culture, or kayak on the Tennessee River and hike in the Smokies.
Journeying from Nashville to Memphis, and then on to the Great Smoky Mountains, is the perfect way to discover all that this remarkable state has to offer. Consider this your personal guide to the perfect Tennessee itinerary, so you don’t miss a thing.
Welcome to Tennessee! Nashville makes the perfect place to start your trip as this electrifying metropolis has earned the esteemed title of ‘America’s Music City’. Nashville is regarded as the country music capital of the world, and the city’s influence also extends to genres like gospel, rock and pop. Beyond its iconic music scene, Nashville is also known for its fantastic food and southern hospitality.
Nashville is absolutely brimming with life and music. Arguably the best place to start your visit is at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Get an insight into the city’s music history through immersive exhibits that are continually updated as emerging stars make their mark on the genre. Some of the museum’s most impressive features are the three-story-high wall of gold and platinum records, spanning decades and decades of country music, and you can even see Elvis Presley’s solid gold cadillac.
RCA Studio B, on Music Row, is a similarly significant institution, where world-famous artists like Dolly Parton and Jim Reeves have recorded. In fact, Elvis Presley produced over 240 songs at the studio, and, on a studio tour led by a passionate aspiring musician, you can stand in the exact same spot that Elvis did.
As well as historically shaping these influential artists, Nashville’s music scene is alive and well to this day. To experience some live music for yourself, why not head to the Ryman Auditorium? Once holding the iconic Grand Ole Opry radio show, a huge range of concerts are now put on here. The venue is known for its incredible acoustics, but even if you can’t catch a performance, you can learn about its significance on a backstage tour.
The Grand Ole Opry has now moved to its own dedicated venue, with shows taking place on most nights each week. Each performance is actually broadcast live on the radio, but the best way to experience it is to listen from the venue’s pews. The show brings together established and up-and-coming artists alike, across genres, culminating to an unforgettable spectacle.
Don’t worry if you’re unable to get tickets for a formal show at the Ryman Auditorium or the Grand Ole Opry, however, because Nashville’s Lower Broadway is constantly abuzz with live music. All-day-every-day, you can drift between bars listening to local artists or even give line dancing a try.
Nashville is also synonymous with great food and hospitality to match. You can expect hearty, homely and comforting meals like the staple ‘meat-and-three dinners’, where your choice of meat is served alongside three classic Southern sides like mashed potato, macaroni and cheese, green beans, or black-eyed peas. Nashville hot chicken is similarly renowned, originating at Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack and now being served throughout the city, sparking debate about who does it best.
Visitors flock to Nashville for its music and nightlife, yet many visitors don’t know about the city’s reputation as a refined intellectual and cultural hub. It earned the nickname ‘Athens of the South’ in the 17th centuary as it bcame a pioneering destination for higher education. An emphasis was placed on the subjects of literature and art, and this dedication to the classics resulted in the construction of a full-scale replica of the ancient Greek Parthenon. This monument and museum is well worth a visit, and shows an entirely different side to ‘America’s Music City’.
Just three hours south-west of Nashville, Memphis is similarly known for its music, as it is regarded as the home of blues, soul and rock ‘n’ roll. It also has a poignant civil rights history, which really is woven into the fabric of the city. Now, it is also a hub for sports.
No trip to Memphis is complete without making the pilgrimage to Elvis’ Graceland. His mansion has been maintained exactly as it was whilst he lived there, so you can walk around each room, discovering the incredible little details like intricate peacock stained-glass panels at the entrance of the music room, or the custom bar featuring an etching of Elvis and Pricilla’s wedding photo. After wandering through the mansion, spend a few hours exploring the museum complex, with exhibits showing everything from his iconic jumpsuits to his many cars and even his custom-built private planes.
Another key piece of Elvis’ story is Sun Studio, where he was scouted and recorded his very first song. Take a tour of the recording studio led by a knowledgeable local musician who will perform some of the most iconic songs that have been created there, as well as teaching you about the incredible history that is held between the walls.
To enjoy some live music, you’ll be drawn to the neon lights of Beale Street. You can wander between bars with your drinks, drifting between jazz clubs and barbecue joints.
Memphis played a significant role in the civil rights movement, and the National Civil Rights Museum tells that story. Located at the Lorraine Motel, where The Rev. Dr Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, the museum has frozen this poignant monument in time.
The museum thoughtfully explores this part of Tennesse’s history, covering slavery and segregation, as well as highlighting the ongoing struggle for equality. Its powerful exhibits, including a replica of Rosa Parks’ bus and video archives offering first-hand accounts of key events, offer a profound insight into the civil rights movement and Memphis’ role.
Memphis is somewhat of an underrated sports city. Although sport isn’t the city’s main attraction, it is famously passionate about its basketball teams. Head to the FedEx Forum to watch the Memphis Grizzlies NBA team in action, getting stuck into the chants and the between-quarter shenanigans. College basketball is a similarly big deal, with its city-wide loyalty commanding an incredible atmosphere at Memphis Tigers games. For baseball, the Memphis Redbirds play at AutoZone Park. Games are relaxed and affordable so you can simply sit back with a hot dog and a beer and enjoy this classic American experience.
Leave Tennessee’s music cities behind as you begin to make your way towards the Cumberland Valley. Bridging the gap between buzzing Nashville and Memphis and the serenity of the mountains you’ll find ‘The Scenic City’ of Chattanooga. It blends technology, having been an early adopter of city-wide internet and now attracting a wealth of tech startups, with a historic downtown and fantastic opportunities for outdoor recreation right on its doorstep.
From its origins as a Cherokee settlement to its role in the Civil War, and later a centre for industry, Chattanooga has a layered history. The city’s name is derived from a Creek and Cherokee word meaning ‘rock coming to a point’, which refers to the iconic Lookout Mountain that dominates the skyline. You may like to take the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway to the top, where you can see across seven states: Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama.
For an insight into the Civil War history, pay a visit to the National Military Park, encompassing several major battlefields. Equally iconic is the Chattanooga Choo Choo, a beautifully restored former railway station that has now been transformed into a welcoming downtown district, with beautiful gardens, shopping, dining, and even hotel rooms in the historic train cars.
Chattanooga is actually a National Park City, which means it is committed to integrating nature, biodiversity and outdoor recreation into all areas of the city. With access to rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, kayaking and white-water rafting all within a short drive of downtown, you are spoiled for choice.
For a gentle introduction to Chattanooga’s outdoor recreation scene, why not take a leisurely stroll or cycle along the Tennessee River Walk, or opt for a guided kayaking tour to see the city from a different angle.
Head north of Chattanooga, taking the scenic route along Highway 411, traversing the Cherokee National Forest. You’ll be surrounded by rolling hills and charming small towns, before you head into the foothills of the Appalachians, offering the first glimpses of the Smoky Mountains. Pigeon Forge is a gateway town to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and its spectacular setting influences many of the activities that are on offer in the town.
With its spectacular mountain setting, theme parks and attractions are maybe not what you’d expect from Pigeon Forge, but it is an incredible destination for thrill seekers and families alike.
Dolly Parton grew up in the small town of Sevierville in the Great Smoky Mountains, and she wanted to give back, creating jobs and attracting people to the region. So, world-renowned Dollywood was born. Perhaps the area’s best-known attraction, it brings together all manner of rides and roller coasters, music and performances, and local Appalachian foods and crafts. The Island in Pigeon Forge is another vast entertainment district, featuring shops, restaurants, and the 200-foot Great Smoky Mountain Wheel.
In nearby Gatlinburg, you’ll find Anakeesta, a mountaintop adventure park boasting everything from a gondola, a treetop walkway, the AnaVista Tower viewpoint, a splashpad, ziplining and rollercoasters.
Another of Pigeon Forge’s Dolly-inspired experiences is the Dolly Parton Stampede. Enjoy an evening of welcoming Southern hospitality, country music, with plenty of Dolly songs no doubt, extravagant costumes and classic rodeo entertainment.
This magnificent 522,427-acre wilderness straddles the border between Tennessee and North Carolina, the park divided almost perfectly between the two states. Encompassing undulating ridgelines, temperate forests and cascading waterfalls, the scenery is simply spectacular. An abundance of wildlife call this landscape home, from lumbering black bears to sleek salamanders, majestic elk and dazzling fireflies.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park consistently welcomes more visitors each year than any other National Park in America, tallying over 11.5 million visitors in 2025 alone. As well as its scenery, history and wildlife, the National Park draws many visitors thanks to its accessibility. The park is located within a day’s drive to over half of the US population, and it can be incorporated into holidays to many of America’s most popular destinations. Access to the park is free, and there are a variety of ways to experience it, whether you’d like to explore the hundreds of miles of hiking trails, or simply take a scenic drive. So, if you’re looking to experience an iconic American National Park, the Great Smoky Mountains is a great place to start.
There are two main gateways into Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The majority of visitors use the Sugarlands Visitor Centre entrance, at the North of the park near Gatlinburg, Tennessee. To the south of the park, you’ll find the Oconaluftee Visitor Centre, near Cherokee, North Carolina. Connecting these two entrances is the Newfound Gap Road, or Highway 441, winding for 31 miles through the park.
As you travel between Gatlinburg and Cherokee, you’ll climb up to 5,000 feet, taking in striking views as you gain elevation. Just five miles into the route, you’ll find Campbell Overlook, where you can see majestic Mount LeConte, or continue to Highway 441’s halfway point for its namesake Newfound Gap viewpoint, where Tennessee and North Carolina meet.
Although you can take in the landscapes of Great Smoky Mountains National Park by simply driving through, it is well worth taking the time to properly explore. Many of the park’s most popular hikes have trailheads along the Newfound Gap Road, ranging from gentle strolls to challenging all-day hikes.
A popular option is the Charlies Bunion Trail, which is an eight mile round trip. You even get to walk a section of the famous Appalachian Trail, renowned for being the longest hiking-only footpath in the world. Beginning at famous Newfound Gap, head northeast over the ridgeline, soaking in views of the gentle peaks, spruce and fir forest. Charlies Bunion itself is a rocky outcrop with panoramic views of Mt. Kephart and Mt. Guyot.
Part of the South Appalachian range, the Smokies are some of the world’s oldest mountains. Alongside their extraordinary biodiversity and ancient natural history, the Great Smoky Mountains are steeped in culture and traditions. For centuries it was part of the homeland of the Cherokee people, before European-American settlers moved into the area in the early 1800s. Through the National Park’s ‘living museums’, you can learn about South Appalachian culture, a distinct blend of European, African and Indigenous (particularly Cherokee) ways of life that manifested as values of close kinship and collaboration, storytelling and a deep connection to the mountains and nature.
Almost 100 log buildings have been preserved, including homes, churches, schools and barns, offering a fascinating insight into the lives of the Appalachian settlers. One of the most popular spots to visit is Cades Cove, which now acts as something of an open-air museum, with three beautifully preserved churches and the John Cable Grist Mill which dates back to the 1870s and is still functional today.
Home to over 65 mammals, over 200 types of birds, 80 reptile and amphibian species and 60 native fish, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a wildlife haven. The undisputed star of the show is the American black bear, with the Smoky Mountains boasting one of the highest populations in the eastern United States. Spotting one in the wild is absolutely thrilling, but make sure to keep your distance, and it’s wise to carry bear spray, just in case!
As well as its rich history, Cades Cove is also one of the best places to spot wildlife, with a good chance you’ll encounter white-tailed deer, groundhogs and wild turkeys. Elk, which were successfully reintroduced to the park in 2001, are most reliably spotted in the Cataloochee and Oconaluftee Valleys. Wildlife is generally most active in the early morning, or at dusk, so it’s well worth getting up early, or staying until sunset, but be careful to get back to the car before dark.
Tennessee is a state that rewards those who take their time to explore, rather than rushing the highlights. From the infectious, lively atmosphere of Nashville and Memphis to the charming streets of Chattanooga, Pigeon Forge’s exciting attractions and the misty peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains, these eclectic destinations somehow feel entirely cohesive. Our all-encompassing Tennessee Road Trip takes you to each of these stops, showcasing the very best of this remarkable state. Get in touch with our America Experts to start planning your adventure.
Nashville | Memphis | Chattanooga | Knoxville | Great Smoky Mountains
Nashville | Chattanooga | Gatlinburg | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Asheville | Charlotte
Memphis | Nashville | Dollywood | Great Smoky Mountains | Chattanooga
Nashville | Memphis | Chattanooga | Knoxville | Great Smoky Mountains
Nashville | Chattanooga | Gatlinburg | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Asheville | Charlotte
Memphis | Nashville | Dollywood | Great Smoky Mountains | Chattanooga
Grace joined the Marketing Team at Freedom Destinations after she returned from three months backpacking around Australia. Her long-haul travels have also taken her to Canada, the U.S. and South East Asia so far, but her destination wish list is far from complete!
