National Parks in Tennessee
There are 8 national parks in Tennessee, including the most visited major National Park year after year – the Smokies.
Follow the links below to read reviews, tips for planning trips, and the insider scoop for each park. If a park is not linked, it means I have not visited it yet. I’m not sure when I will get to the rest of these TN parks, but I do hope to get back to the Smokies SOON!
- Andrew Johnson National Historic Park
- Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
- Fort Donelson National Battlefield
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Manhattan Project NHP
- Obed Wild & Scenic River
- Shiloh National Military Park
- Stones River National Battlefield
The Appalachian Trail in Tennessee
There are 94 miles of the Appalachian Trail that are truly in Tennessee. In addition, there are 160 miles that run along the North Carolina/Tennessee boarder. Thru-hikers must obtain a permit and stay at designated camp sites (which are the shelters). You do not need a permit to day hike in the Smokies. Overall, Tennessee is not considered one of the harder states, though it isn’t easy! Some of the highlights of the Tennessee AT is Clingmans Dome, Newfound Gap, Charlies Bunion, Mount Cammerer, and of course Fontana Dam.
Tennessee State Parks
If you are someone who is interested in state parks as well as national parks, check out the following:
- Fall Creek Falls State Park – 2 hours West of Knoxville. Enjoy hiking, camping, boating, swimming, rock climbing, a canopy challenge course, and much more.
- Roan Mountain State Park – Eastern Tennessee close to the North Carolina boarder. Enjoy hiking, biking, camping, fishing, and nearby access to the AT.
- Burgess Falls State Park – 1.5 hours East of Nashville. Enjoy fishing and hiking with many beautiful waterfalls.
Weekend trip ideas in Tennessee
Tennessee is full of big cities that are perfect for a week vacation or even just a long weekend. There are plenty of other cities that are worth visiting (Knoxville, Chattanooga, Memphis), but these are the ones I’m most familiar with.
Gatlinburg – This is my obvious first choice, since it is the park town for the Smokies. However, there are a ton of things to do and see in Gatlinburg unrelated to the park, a lot of which is family friendly. There are ton of unique museums like the Titanic museum, the Salt and Pepper Shaker museum, and the Pinball museum. If you want to do something outdoors but not hiking, check out the Sky Lift and Anakeesta. Lastly, like any popular tourist town, there is no shortage of mini-golf, laser tag, and fun restaurants.
Pigeon Forge – Pigeon Forge is about 30 minutes from Gatlinburg, and very similar, but with a few exceptions. It is home to the famous Dollywood amusement park, and a few other places like Madame Tussauds and indoor skydiving.
Nashville – I can’t leave Nashville off the list of places to spend your time in Tennessee. Nashville is great for music lovers, or if you just want a great night life experience. In Nashville you can see the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Grand Ole Opry, and the Ryman Theatre. There are also a ton of great places to eat, drink, and shop. It’s perfect for a long weekend.
Last updated: April 5, 2023
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