10 Small Town Day Trips from Nashville

Featured in this Article:

Franklin, Tennessee
Kingston Springs, Tennessee
Gallatin, Tennessee
Columbia, Tennessee
Lynnville, Tennessee
Pulaski, Tennessee
Smithville, Tennessee
Waverly, Tennessee
Linden, Tennessee
Lynchburg, Tennessee
 

• If you love history, Franklin is a great day trip. Only 30 minutes from Nashville, the town is meticulous about preserving the area’s history and telling the whole story

• Hear how the Battle of Franklin occurred at the doors of several homes including Carter House, Lotz House and Carnton. These homes were transformed into Civil War field hospitals; the bloodstains of wounded soldiers can still be seen

• Guided tours are offered daily at Carter, Lotz and Carnton

  At Carter House, there are six steps required to access the first floor of the home. The tour also goes into the basement, which is another seven steps. A companion guide is available upon request that includes photographs and information on all areas of the home

  At Carnton, the first floor is wheelchair accessible. A companion guide is available upon request that includes photographs and information on the second floor of the historic house. Get tickets

• After taking in some history, sample some brews along the Masters & Makers Trail that winds through Williamson County

• Have an unforgettable meal at Red Pony, featuring an eclectic take on Southern cuisine by owner and Executive Chef Jason McConnell. Standout dishes include shrimp & grits, barbacoa wagyu cheek and confit duck leg. City parking is free and street and garage parking has no time limit after 5pm. There are also several private lots that require payment. Guests should utilize the free parking garage on 4th Ave. South, as it is within a short walking distance from the restaurant

• Visit the Historic Franklin Theatre for live music events, movie series and comedy nights. The theatre has an elevator, fully handicap accessible restrooms and seating. When purchasing tickets, notify the box office if anyone in your party requires ADA seating

• Celebrate seasonal events like Main Street Festival, Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival, Pumpkinfest Fall Festival and Dickens of a Christmas

• Adventure waits for you in Kingston Springs, only 30 minutes from Nashville

• Navigate your way through several obstacles at Adventureworks on the Aerial Adventure Course where you can climb, swing and walk across cables, ropes and logs. The canopy zipline tour also takes you from ridge top to ridge top

• You can book a couple's adventure that highlights team building obstacles and for a truly unique experience, book a Moonlight Tour where you’ll zip line through the forest with the moonlight to guide you

• Adventureworks is open Monday through Saturday for zipline tours 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. as well as Sunday 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Walk-ups are welcome, but reservations are highly encouraged to ensure a tour spot. Zip tours include 8 ziplines and are approximately 90 minutes.

• If you’d like to see what’s around each Harpeth River bend, Foggy Bottom Canoe & Kayak Rental will suit you up for a day on the water. The slow-moving rapids allow you to fully take in the beauty of Middle Tennessee

• Foggy Bottom is dog-friendly. Open Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Foggy Bottom signs you up, equipped and in the van for the trip no later than 1 p.m. so that you return by 5:30 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended. Personal belongings are recommended to stay in your car; car keys can be held at the main office.

• Call Foggy Bottom Canoe & Kayak Rental for booking and accessibility questions to ensure river needs are met. 

• Fill your belly with delicious fare from the Fillin’ Station including fish tacos, grilled chicken sandwiches, burgers and salads.

• Cap off your day with a lesson in early Native American life at the Mound Bottom State Archaeological Area which is home to at least 12 earthen mounds around a 7-acre plaza. Archaeologists suggest all mounds supported structures on their summits. Both free and fee-based tours of the site are offered throughout the year by Harpeth River State Park

• Travel only 40 minutes north of Nashville to Gallatin where you can spend the day browsing the cute boutiques on Main Street like Tennessee Honey, Sassy and Brassy and Southern Gypsies Boutique Sculptures, framed art and textiles are all on display

• Spend some time reconnecting with nature in Bledsoe Creek State Park with a hike on one of the seven trails. Spot deer and 116 species of birds. The park has wheelchair-accessible entrances, parking lots and two paved trails - The Birdsong Nature Trail and the Mayo Wix Memorial Trail. Sign up for a guided kayak tour through Get Up and Go Kayaking. Reserve your kayak tour.

• Old Hickory Lake is great for fishing, boating and paddling along its 22,500 acres of water

• Grab a meal at local restaurants like Swaney Swift's on the Square for classic hand-crafted burgers, fries and shakes, Starr Ranch for southern comfort food, and Awedaddys Bar & Grill on the banks of Old Hickory Lake open each spring, summer and fall. 

• Fifty minutes south of Nashville, Columbia is the home of the 11th U.S. president, a thriving art community and great eats

• Start your morning with a cup of coffee and pastry or breakfast sandwich at Muletown Coffee Co.

• The Columbia Arts Building has locally made goods and art classes hosted by local and regional artists at Pottery What Knottery

• Bad Idea Brewing, located at 510 N Garden Street with Ollie & Finn’s sandwich counter, offers a variety of high-quality craft beers

• Amuse'um Children's Museum has fun exhibits for children up to 8 years old. The museum is open Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

• The Mulehouse, formally a 1936 historic church, is now a premier music and entertainment venue

• James K. Polk Ancestral Home has the largest collection of the former president’s artifacts in the country

• A relaxing day welcomes you in Lynnville about an hour south of Nashville

• In the adorable downtown area, you’ll find luxurious leather goods at Colonel Littleton. Each piece is hand-crafted by fashion designer Colonel Littleton to showcase the beauty of full grain American leather. Gift someone (or yourself) a purse, messenger bag, travel bag, belts, portfolios, phone cases and so much more

• Take a tour, enjoy a tasting and find live music and food at Big Machine Distillery, located on the Tennessee Whiskey Trail.

• Have a meal at Soda Pop Junction featuring Big “Johnny” Burgers – hailed as Tennessee’s No. 1 Burger, a variety of sandwiches, salads and plates piled high with catfish, hamburger steak, pork chops, chicken strips and more

• Cap off your day with a tasting of dry wines like Pinot Gris, Merlot and Cabernet Franc and fruit wines like strawberry, persimmon and lemon at Lexington Vineyard and Winery. The winery is open Sunday-Saturday 12-5 p.m.

• Travel to Pulaski, Tennessee - about an hour and 12 minutes away from Nashville - for this small town’s sweet surprises

• Tour Frank Mars’ – the creator of Mars which includes M&Ms, Dove chocolate, 3 Musketeers, Milky Way and more – home at Milky Way Farms set on 1,000 acres of green pastures. Schedule a tour to see the home that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the barns; walk the trails and more. Seasonal public events are hosted throughout the year.

• Catch a show at Staar Theatre at Antoinette Hall, an opera house built in 1868, that hosts live music events, stage productions, magicians and more. Buy tickets to a variety of productions happening throughout the year. Street parking is available for performance nights. 

• Explore the historic square and stop in for a meal at Second Street Coffeehouse. They offer breakfast and lunch in a laidback atmosphere. Street parking is available. The coffeeshop is open Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

• You’ll want to stop in to do a tasting at Big Creek Winery. Here, you’ll find a variety of wines from white muscadine to concord and Catawba. Their extensive fruit wines include apple, blackberry and cherry, pear, raspberry, cranberry and peach. Tastings are always free. Pair your favorite wine with locally made cheese from Flowers Creamery and other snacks The winery is open Monday-Wednesday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. 

• An hour and 15 minutes east of Nashville is Smithville, Tennessee

• Check out the local and regional art on display at the Appalachian Center for Craft. The center offers craft workshops, art for sale and a variety of exhibits showcasing functional art and sculptural works

• Pull up a stool and have an old-fashioned milkshake and burger at Webb’s Pharmacy, Gift Shop & Soda Fountain

• You’ll find live music and local brews at The Burlap Room Beer Garden and Taphouse

• If you’d like to extend your stay, check into Evins Mill which offers comfortable rooms, hiking trails that lead to a beautiful waterfall, and delicious meals.

• Drive west an hour and 15 minutes from Nashville to the small town of Waverly for outdoor fun and entertainment

• Make your way to Johnsonville State Historic Area where you can embark on an eight-mile trail, a two-mile trail that is sprinkled with Civil War-era forts and a half-mile African-American cemetery loop trail. 

• Mi-De-Ga Theatre plays today's movies in an historic theater established in 1936 on Waverly's downtown square. The theater is open year-round and is open depending on the movie feature selection. The theater is ADA accessible and licensed service animals are admitted

• Explore some of the most fertile land in the U.S. at Duck River Bottoms, a section of the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge. It's a major wintering area for waterfowl, making the area a premier birding and wildlife viewing area. Enjoy hunting, hiking, fishing and photography at this beautiful West Tennessee oasis. Take a drive along Blue Goose Boulevard, the auto tour route. Observation areas are sprinkled throughout the 50,000 acres. The visitor center is open year-round 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday and is accessible. The wildlife refuge is open March 16 to Nov. 14. Some areas are closed seasonally from Nov. 15 to March 15 to provide sanctuary for migratory birds

• Near Waverly, Loretta Lynn's Ranch and Campground provides guided tours of Loretta Lynn's historic home, museum and her Butcher Holler Home replica. Learn firsthand of Loretta's upbringing and rising stardom as an American music icon. Guided tours are offered 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday and lasts approximately 45 minutes. The museum, western store and mill shop are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the country store is open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tent camping, cabins and RB spots are located onsite and are pet-friendly. Pets must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in stores or the museums

• Enjoy annual events like the City of Waverly Annual Independence Day Firework Show every July 4.

• Winding scenic roads lead you to Linden, Tennessee, located about an hour and a half west of Nashville

• You’ll want to spend all day traveling the Buffalo River by kayak or canoe. The Buffalo River is the longest free-flowing river in Middle Tennessee and flows 125 miles

• Buffalo River Resort offers are variety of rentals from canoes to inflatable and hard shell kayaks, inner tubes and rafts. They even offer overnight moonlight floats for those who want to extend their stay

• Mousetail Landing State Park has loads of outdoor activities as well including five hiking trails and two mountain bike trails. Fishing, swimming, boating and paddling are also available

• Have a meal and listen to some music at the Commodore Hotel & Cafe. Fried buttermilk chicken, burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, fried green tomatoes and much more make up the menu. The registration desk, lounge and restaurant are wheel-chair accessible. Accessible parking and van parking are available in the front of the hotel. Free parking is offered behind the hotel and along the street in front.

• An hour and a half outside of Nashville, the drive to Lynchburg is picturesque and, once you arrive, the fun is nonstop

• Kick off your visit with a stroll through Tims Ford State Park on some of the 6.5 miles of unpaved hiking trails. Seven miles of paved biking trails connect to the major areas of the park. Explore the multi-use mountain biking trail that runs along the shoreline of Tims Ford Reservoir. Some of the park's accessibility includes all-terrain wheelchairs available for rent, paved trails with incredible overlooks, accessible nature center, aviary and visitor center, wheelchair-friendly fishing pier and accessible accommodations

• Take a tour to see how the world’s leading whiskey is made at Jack Daniel’s Distillery. Tours include a whiskey sampling with some tours offering more exclusive tastes. They are partly outdoors and may involve walking and stairs. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. The visitor center is open Monday-Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed on major holidays. The distillery is able to  accommodate requests for reasonable modification or auxiliary aids and services. Call the distillery (931) 759-6357 for accessibility information

• Browse unique history at the Moore County Jail Museum, which was in operation for almost 100 years and contained two 8x8 jails. The museum showcases historical clothing, artifacts and jail cells. The museum is accessible and is open noon to 3 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. Admission is $1 for adults and children under 16 are admitted free.

• Pick up a unique piece at one of the many shops lining Main Street

• Stop in Miss Mary Bobo’s for family-style, country dining served since 1908 with authentic Southern hospitality. Get your fill of Southern fried chicken, meatloaf, fried catfish and barbecue ribs as well as sides like fried okra, seasoned greens, candied apples, mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. For dessert, enjoy a slice of Chess, fudge, pecan or buttermilk pie topped with Jack Daniel's whipped cream. Reservations are highly recommended. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible. The restaurant is open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Dig into perfectly smoked barbecue at Barrel House BBQ with offerings like smoked chicken salad sandwich, pulled pork, grilled cheese with pulled pork, smoked sausage salad, nachos and full rack ribs. Pair your barbecue with sides like vinegar slaw, baked beans and sweet potato casserole. The kid's menu has beloved favorites like pulled pork, a hot dog, barbecue chicken sandwich and peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible. Free parking is available.

Next time you’re in Nashville, spend a day exploring one of the small towns located within a two-hour drive from Music City’s downtown.