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
 

Nashville is filled with music and entertainment. It’s also conveniently located to surrounding small towns offering an authentic slice of Tennessee through their outdoor attractions, restaurants and boutiques filled with locally-made products. The following small towns are located under a two-hour drive from Nashville’s downtown, perfectly located for a memorable day trip.

Franklin, Tennessee

• If you love history, Franklin should be on your day trip list. Only 30 minutes south of 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

• 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

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

Kingston Springs, Tennessee

• Adventure waits for you in Kingston Springs, only 30 minutes west of 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

Gallatin, Tennessee

• 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. 

Columbia, Tennessee

• 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

Lynnville, Tennessee

• 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.

Pulaski, Tennessee

• 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. 

Smithville, Tennessee

• 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.

Waverly, Tennessee

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. 

Linden, Tennessee

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.

Lynchburg, Tennessee

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. Take a tour to see how the world’s leading whiskey is made at Jack Daniel’s Distillery. Browse unique history at the Moore County Jail Museum. Pick up a unique piece at one of the many shops lining Main Street. Before you head back to the city, stop in Miss Mary Bobo’s for family-style, country dining or dig into perfectly smoked barbecue at Barrel House BBQ.

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.