9 Days in Tennessee (Itinerary)
June 14, 2024 by Laura
Follow along with our detailed 9 day itinerary for our Tennessee vacation! Tennessee was an absolute blast. We ate amazing BBQ in Memphis, listened to live music in Nashville, hiked through Great Smoky National Park, visited David Crockett State Park, and so much more!
The Perfect Tennessee Vacation
Our 11-Day road trip to Tennessee was incredible! We saw so many cool things, did so much, and ate really delicious food. Tennessee is a long state that is filled with fun and beauty throughout all of it. We spent eleven days driving from Austin, TX, all throughout Tennessee, and then driving back home to Texas. We were in the state of Tennessee for a total of nine days!
A lot of planning and research went into this trip to make sure that it was the perfect vacation. There is a ton of overwhelming information out there about Tennessee so I hope that our 9-day detailed itinerary of Tennessee is helpful when planning your own vacation!
Road Trip from Austin, TX to Memphis, TN
☼ 7:00AM - 5:30PM
We began our trip with a very long drive through a good part of Texas, all the way through Arkansas, and eventually into Memphis. Since this trip was all about Tennessee, we didn't make any stops along the way except for gas stations. To save a bit of money, we chose to pack a lunch & snacks to eat while driving.
Fortunately, Memphis is right on the edge of Tennessee so we could begin our Tennessee pretty much as soon as we crossed the state border.
Elwood's Shack
☼ 5:30PM
Our first stop in Tennessee was Elwood's Shack. This is a tiny restaurant that is located in the parking lot of a Lowe's. When looking for places to eat online prior to our trip almost everybody said 'you gotta go to Elwood's'. So we did!
We ordered The Red-Headed Stepchild (full of many types of barbequed meats) and the bbq pizza. Yes, they both tasted just as good as they look. It was a great first impression of Tennessee.
Elwood's Shack
4523 Summer Avenue
Memphis, TN 38122
Courtyard Memphis
☼ 6:30PM
We stayed at a Courtyard hotel in Memphis. It was not in downtown, but we still felt like it was a good location to get to downtown, Graceland, and delicious restaurants. We also felt safe and comfortable during our stay here.
Courtyward by Marriott Memphis East/Park Avenue
6015 Park Avenue
Memphis, TN 38119
Gibson's Donuts
☼ 6:30AM
Our first stop for the day was donuts, of course! Gibson's has incredibly sweet, but incredibly delicious donuts. We bought a red velvet donut, blueberry cake donut, and cinnamon sugar donut. They were a perfectly sweet way to start our first full day of vacation.
Gibson's Donuts
760 Mount Moriah Road
Memphis, TN 38117
Graceland
☼ 7:30AM
A trip to Memphis would not be complete without a visit to the king! Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to tour the mansion. We did visit the meditation garden though which is right next to the house where Elvis Presley and his family members are buried. If you go between 7:30 and 8:30AM, you get to enter for free!
Graceland
Elvis Presley Boulevard
Memphis, TN 38116
National Civil Rights Museum
☼ 9:00AM
The National Civil Rights Museum is a must-stop when visiting Memphis. This musuem is located by the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assissinated. This is an incredibly important and powerful museum. There is so much to learn here.
National Civil Rights Museum
450 Mulberry Street
Memphis, TN 38103
Payne's Bar-B-Q
☼ 12:00PM
We had the best pulled pork sandwich we have ever eaten at Payne's. Seriously! Pulled pork is one of the Tennessee state foods we had to try, and it did not disappoint. I loved how big this sandwich was and that delicious mustard slaw piled on top. Heads up- they are only open for lunch Tuesday-Saturday!
Payne's Bar-B-Q
1762 Lamar Avenue
Memphis, TN 38114
Beale Street
☼ 1:00PM
Beale Street is the spot to catch live blues. We stopped at B.B. King's Blues Club where we enjoyed listening to the Beale Street Blues Trio and sipping cocktails. There are lots of signs detailing historical events, statues, shops, restaurants, and bars along this strip.
Beale Street
Memphis, TN 38114
Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid
☼ 5:00PM
At first, we thought it was strange so many people were recommending to visit a Bass Pro Shops while on vacation to Tennessee. Then we pulled up to the huge pyramid and realized quickly this was not your ordinary Bass Pro Shops. You can ride the elevator all the way up to the top of the pyramid to see a great view of the Mississippi River and Memphis, see live alligators, shop tons of merchandise, and more.
Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid
1 Bass Pro Drive
Memphis, TN 38105
The Bar-B-Q Shop
☼ 6:00PM
The Bar-B-Q Shop is the place to go if you want some dang good ribs. These ribs were fall-off-the-bone and had so much flavor. The dry rub ribs were our favorite. Also don't miss out on the BBQ spaghetti!
The Bar-B-Q Shop
1782 Madison Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
Sunrise Memphis
☼ 7:15AM
Sunrise Memphis is the perfect place to eat breakfast! They serve you coffee out of random mismatched coffee cups and have so many different biscuit sandwich options. Their biscuits are buttery and so fluffy. I ordered the one with pimiento cheese, and it sure was good!
Sunrise Memphis
5469 Poplar Avenue
Memphis, TN 38119
Natchez Trace State Park
☼ 10:00AM
On our way from Memphis to Nashville, we stretched our legs at Natchez Trace State Park. This was such a cool park, and I wish we could have spent longer here. We did a short hike through the woods and sat by the water for a bit. A great place to get some fresh air!
Natchez Trace State Park
22390 Natchez Trace Road
Wildersville, TN 38351
Log Cabin Restaurant
☼ 12:00PM
For lunch, we decided to grab some southern food. We had fried catfish, chicken fried steak, cold iced tea, and a slice of coconut pie with mile-high meringue. Good thing we had just burned some calories off at the state park!
Log Cabin Restaurant
15530 TN-13
Hurricane Mills, TN 37078
Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge
☼ 2:00PM
On the way to Franklin, we had a pit stop at the Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge. I was a little bummed out we didn't have enough time to drive down the famous parkway, but I was glad we were able to stop and admire this huge bridge from the side of the road. It was worth the short stop!
Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge
Natchez Trace Parkway
Franklin, TN 37064
Carter House
☼ 2:30PM
The Carter House is a must-stop for all history buffs (but really I think everybody should go here!). The Carters were a family that hunkered down in their basement while the Battle of Franklin was happening in their backyard. During the tour, you will learn all about the Battle of Franklin and how it affected the people who lived in Franklin.
Carter House
1140 Columbia Avenue
Franklin, TN 37167
Downtown Franklin
☼ 4:00PM
Franklin is such a cute town! There are shops and restaurants all along the street. You'll also find signs talking about historical events and old historic houses in the area as well. It is a good town to spend some time just walking around.
Downtown Franklin
Franklin, TN 37064
Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe
☼ 5:00PM
We were really looking forward to eating some Irish pub food at the downtown pub in Franklin, but unfortunately they close early on Sundays. In fact, a lot of the places were closed when were we there on Sunday evening so keep that in mind when visiting. We found a Mediterranean cafe chain that was open which was pretty good. We really liked the lamb gyros.
Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe
428 Main Street
Franklin, TN 37064
Nashville Airbnb
☼ 6:30PM
In Nashville, we decided to stay at an Airbnb condo. It was located at Muse on Lindsley Avenue. This was such a fun place to stay and had it's own private terrace that overlooked Nashville. It was also only a 20 minute walk from Broadway Street!
Muse Vacation Rentals
65 Lindsley Avenue
Nashville, TN 37210
The Parthenon
☼ 9:00AM
The Parthenon is a full-scale replica of the original Parthenon in Athens, Greece. Inside you will find a 42-foot Athena and an art museum. This is definitely a fun stop while visiting Nashville and a great way to spend a morning!
The Parthenon
2500 West End Avenue
Nashville, TN 37203
Hattie B's Hot Chicken
☼ 11:00AM
Of course, we had to have some Nashville hot chicken while in Nashville! Unfortunately, a lot of the small local restaurants that serve hot chicken are closed on Mondays so Hattie B's was our best option. While this wasn't the best hot chicken we had ever eaten, it still had good flavor and tasty sides. Get there early because it gets busy as soon as they open!
Hattie B's Hot Chicken
2222 8th Avenue
Nashville, TN 37204
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
☼ 1:30PM
If you love country music then you gotta stop at the Country Music Hall of Fame! I really enjoyed reading about all the country legends of past and present. They also have some really cool artifacts such as Elvis Presley's car!
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
222 Rep. John Lewis Way S
Nashville, TN 37203
Broadway Street
☼ 3:45PM
You can't go to Nashville without at least taking a short stroll on Broadway Street. It definitely is an experience. I love how you can hear all the live music that is playing in all the bars and restaurants out on the street. There is no cover charges but be sure to tip the band!
Broadway Street
Nashville, TN 37201
Goo Goo Chocolate Co.
☼ 4:00PM
The famous Goo Goo Cluster was first created right in the heart of Nashville. We highly recommend visiting the store on 3rd Avenue South (right beside Broadway Street) and creating your own Goo Goo Cluster. You can watch them make it right behind the counter. Ours had potato chips, nuts, and nougat, and it was so delicious!
Goo Goo Chocolate Co.
113 3rd Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37201
Robert's Western World
☼ 4:30PM
If you are more into old country rather than the new stuff then Robert's Western World is for you! It's also a lot quieter in this bar than in some of the newer ones. If you go, make sure you get the recession special which comes with a fried bologna sandwich, chips, moon pie, and a PBR beer for only $6.
Robert's Western World
416 Broadway #B
Nashville, TN 37203
3rd & Lindsley
☼ 7:00PM
For our evening entertainment, we headed over to 3rd & Lindsley. This was perfect for us since our Airbnb at the Muse was right down the street! It was a Monday night so that meant The Time Jumpers were playing. Get there early so you can snag a good table because The Time Jumpers sure can put on quite a show!
3rd & Lindsley
818 3rd Avenue S
Nashville, TN 37210
Big Al's Deli
☼ 8:00AM
If there's only one place you can eat in Nashville, make it Big Al's. Especially stop in for their breakfast! This is just hands-down good comfort breakfast food, and you can't beat it. The only downside is you may just need a nap after a big breakfast like that. Al is very friendly and loves making people happy with good food!
Big Al's Deli
1828 4th Avenue N
Nashville, TN 37208
Tennessee State Museum
☼ 9:15AM
One of our must-do things in each state is visit the state museum. This is a great opportunity to learn everything there is to know about the history of a state. We learned about the beginnings of Tennessee, the Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement, Davy Crockett, country music, and so much more!
Tennessee State Museum
1000 Rosa L Parks Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37208
Tennessee State Capitol Building
☼ 11:45AM
Another one of our favorite stops while visiting the capital city is to see the capitol building. Tennessee has a unique and beautiful building. You can also see James K. Polk's tombstone beside it, and walked through Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park which is right in front of it!
Tennessee State Capitol Building
600 Dr. MLK Jr. Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37243
East Side Bánh Mi
☼ 1:30PM
You may not think of eating a banh mi when visiting Nashville, but these sandwiches are next level good! Their bread is homemade and made fresh each morning which really makes East Side Bánh Mi stand out.
East Side Bánh Mi
1000 Gallatin Avenue
Nashville, TN 37206
Grand Ole Opry
☼ 6:00PM
Of course, we had to go to the Grand Ole Opry while in Nashville! We went on a Tuesday night, and it was an absolute blast. Every performer was excellent. I really wished we lived closer to Nashville so we could go to the Opry more often!
Grand Ole Opry
600 Opry Mills Drive
Nashville, TN 37214
Chapulines Street Tacos
☼ 12:00PM
We never expected to find authentic freshly made Mexican food near the Great Smoky Mountains, but we did! We both ordered burritos, and they were incredible. The meat is packed full of flavor and the burritos are just plain packed full! If we lived near here, we would ordered these all the time.
Chapulines Street Tacos
2428 East Lamar Alexander Parkway
Maryville, TN 37803
Foothills Parkway
☼ 1:15PM
If you don't feel like hiking through Great Smoky Mountain Park then the Foothills Parkway is the perfect option for you. We really enjoyed this beautiful scenic drive and stopping at all the pretty pull-outs. Plus, there was very few people on this drive! We rode it out to Sevierville.
Tennessee Shine Co.
☼ 2:15PM
Would a trip to Tennessee be complete without a moonshine tasting? I don't think so! Tennessee Shine Co. offers both wine tastings and moonshine tastings. The moonshine tastings are free, but don't forget to tip your bartender. They have tons of flavors to choose from, and they really are so good. Our favorite was the blue margarita.
Tennessee Shine Co.
3303 Wears Valley Road
Sevierville, TN 37862
Townsend River Walk & Arboretum
☼ 3:30PM
After a little bit of moonshine in our system, we decided to walk along the river in Townsend. This is a maintained short trail that highlights beautiful flowers and trees. They even have a cute fairy garden!
Townsend River Walk & Arboretum
East Lamar Alexander Parkway
Townsend, TN 37882
Cabin Airbnb
☼ 5:30PM
We had this awesome airbnb located in right next to Townsend. It is known as 'The Snuggle Bear' on Airbnb. The cabin itself was so cozy and included a hot tub which was perfect for soaking those sore muscles after hiking all day. The location was also great allowing us to catch the sunrise in the park both mornings we were there.
Donut Friar
☼ 6:30AM
We wanted to spend most of our time in the National Park instead of the surrounding cities. However, we had to stop at the famous Donut Friar in Gatlinburg. We woke up really early and bought some donuts. The donuts were so delicious and went great with the beautiful Tennessee sunrise.
Donut Friar
634 Parkway #15
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
☼ 6:50AM
The Roaring Fork Motor Natural Trail is a loop located on the edge of the city of Gatlinburg. It is a very pretty drive and offers multiple places to pull over and hike. We didn't see any bears here, but we did see lots of turkeys. We hiked to Grotto Falls- a beautiful hike that ended with a cool waterfall! Get there as the sun is rising, and you will practically have the place to yourself.
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
117 Historic Nature Trail
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Salt & Pepper Shaker Museum
☼ 10:00AM
If you are into quirky roadside attractions then you gotta check out this museum. The whole museum consists of only fun & unique salt and pepper shakers. Hundreds of them!
Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum
461 Brookside Village Way
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
☼ 11:30AM
We spent the rest of our day in Great Smoky National Park. We ate a picnic lunch at a non-crowded pullout, hiked up to Clingmans Dome, and saw Newfound Gap. Afterwards, we headed to Caves Cove where we saw multiple bears. It was so cool, and we were so excited!
Burger Master Drive-In
☼ 6:45PM
After all that adventure, we certainly were hungry. Burger Master Drive-In in Townsend hit the spot! Their burgers were SO good, and those fries were to die for. The perfect way to end a perfect day!
Burger Master Drive-In
8439 TN-73
Townsend, TN 37882
Cades Cove
☼ 6:15AM
We woke up really early on this day because we really wanted to spot some more bears in Cades Cove. Get there really early, and the traffic is not bad at all! We got really lucky and saw multiple more bears. I couldn't believe our luck! As everybody else on the internet, I highly recommend visiting Cades Cove. It is also full of historical houses that you can read and learn all about. There is a lot of history here!
Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Cades Cove Loop Road
Townsend, TN 37882
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
☼ 12:00PM
After learning about all the historical sites at Cades Cove & seeing multiple bears, we ate a nice picnic lunch. We then hiked the Whiteoak Sink trail. Since we visited in April, this trail was full of very pretty and unique wildflowers. This trail was a blast! It was then time to head on to Chattanooga, but first we stopped at Look Rock Viewing Platform to take in one last scenic view.
Hampton Inn & Suites Chattanooga
☼ 8:00PM
We drove to Chattanooga for the night. This was just your basic hotel, but it was nice and in the perfect location for our road trip.
Hampton Inn & Suites Chattanooga/Hamilton Place
2014 Hamilton Place Boulevard
Chattanooga, TN 37421
Lookout Mountain
☼ 8:15AM
I'm sad we didn't get more time in Chattanooga, but we were able to squeeze in a trip up Lookout Mountain. You can ride the railway up the mountain, but unfortunately it didn't open until 9AM. It looks super fun. On top of Lookout Mountain you get an incredible view of the city of Chattanooga.
Lookout Mountain
827 East Brow Road
Lookout Mountain, TN 37350
Point Park
☼ 8:45AM
Point Park is located on top of Lookout Mountain. It is a memorial park that overlooks the Lookout Mountain battlefield. In the park, you can read about the history of the battle and view monuments.
Point Park
110 Point Park Road
Lookout Mountain, TN 37350
Jack Daniel's Distillery
☼ 10:15AM
At the Jack Daniel's Distillery, you can tour the grounds where the whisky is made. You will learn all about the production of the whisky and Jack himself. This was a really good and fun tour that ended with whisky samples!
Jack Daniel's Distillery
133 Lynchburg Highway
Lynchburg, TN 37352
Slawburger Festival
☼ 12:45PM
On every state trip, we try to squeeze in a local small town festival. The slawburger festival in Fayetteville worked perfectly with our road trip schedule. The slawburger was created in Fayetteville in 1923. It is a regular burger served with mustard slaw. Yum! The festival is held every April and includes a slawburger eating contest, live music, lots of fun vendors, and, of course, plenty of slawburgers to chow down on!
Slawburger Festival
100 Main Avenue North
Fayetteville, TN 37334
Fayetteville Airbnb
☼ 6:30PM
We had this really cool Airbnb in Fayetteville! First, it was huge! It had a kitchen, bathroom, long hallway, a Dolly Parton bedroom, an Elvis Presley bedroom, huge living area complete with a dining table and built-in bar. It overlooked downtown Fayetteville, and it was perfect for people watching while the slawburger festival was going on.
David Crockett State Park
☼ 8:30AM
Our last full day in Tennessee was spent mostly in David Crockett State Park in Lawrenceburg. It was such a good morning! We hiked the Crawfish Valley trail. It was full of beautiful woody sites, singing birds, and mushrooms. We were the only ones on the trail, and it was such a magical feeling. At the end, we ran across a surprise waterfall. We couldn't believe it! It was awe-striking and a blast figuring out how to cross it.
David Crockett State Park
1400 West Gaines Street
Lawrenceburg, TN 38464
Uncle Lou's Fried Chicken
☼ 4:45PM
After hiking, we started heading back home to Texas. But first, we had to have one last Tennessee outing! Uncle Lou's in Memphis was the perfect last stop. This fried chicken is incredible, and those honey butter biscuits are to die for. We really wish we lived closer so we could eat this more often. Fortunately, we were able to take home a bottle of their sweet spicy love sauce.
Uncle Lou's Fried Chicken
3633 Millbranch Road
Memphis, TN 38116
Cotton House Hotel (Mississippi)
☼ 7:30PM
We were driving through the delta, and finding a hotel there is quite a challenge. We ended up staying at this hotel in Cleveland, MS. It was a really nice hotel and would recommend if you find yourself in this area.
Cotten House Hotel
215 Cotton Row
Cleveland, MS 38732
Poverty Point World Heritage Site (Louisiana)
☼ 9:00AM
So, yes this is Louisiana, but we were really sad we didn't get up to North Louisiana during our state trip there. This was the perfect opportunity to see Poverty Point. It is now labeled as a World Heritage Site, and contains the mysterious world American Indians built about 3400 years ago. It is so cool!
Poverty Point World Heritage Site
6859 LA-577
Pioneer, LA 71266
Bergeron's Boudin & Cajun Meats (Louisiana)
☼ 12:30PM
Lastly, we couldn't drive through Louisiana without eating some boudin balls! This savory treats are packed full of so much flavor. We have been addicted to them ever since our trip to Louisiana!
Bergeron's Boudin & Cajun Meats
3933 Benton Road Building D
Bossier City, LA 71111
After filling up our bellies with delicious eats, we drove all the way back home to Austin. Tennessee was an absolute blast, and this is one trip that we will remember forever!
50 States by 50
Tennessee was our fourth state for our 50 states by 50 challenge. We are planning to visit all the states in the United States by the time we turn 50 years old. To choose which state we travel to next, we will draw it randomly!
For each state, we will plan at least a 4 day trip that consists of visiting the state capitol and state museum, exploring a state park, and eating whatever food that state is most known for. I will be documenting all of our travels here on my blog and making vlogs as well which will be posted on YouTube. Read more about our 50 States by 50 Bucket List.
__________________________________
Thank you for reading about our Tennessee trip! We had a wonderful time, and can't wait to head to another state soon. If you have any questions or just want to share your own Tennessee experiences, please leave a comment down below.
Category: Tennessee, State Itineraries
Keywords:tennessee vacation ideas, tennessee road trip itinerary, what to do in tennessee, the best things to do in tennessee
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Bon Voyage!
June 14, 2024 by Laura Ehlers
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