17 Beautiful Places in Tennessee So Gorgeous, You’ll Want to Cancel Your Beach Trip
Winding through the Appalachians with views passing the horizon, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most iconic drives in America, and it’s where many travelers first fall for Tennessee.
Like a lot of first-timers, that’s exactly what I went for: sunset mountain views and misty trails. But somewhere between a late night of live honky-tonk in Nashville and eating roadside BBQ, I realized Tennessee is wildly underrated.
If you’re planning your next trip, these beautiful places in Tennessee include both the classics and the unexpected, reminding you that one visit is never enough.
1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg
This is the most-visited national park in the US, pulling in over 12 million visitors a year. Spanning two states and packed with biodiversity, the range includes more than 800 miles of trails, waterfalls you don’t have to work too hard to reach, and peaks that disappear into the clouds.
Old cabins still stand from when this land was home to small mountain communities. Wildflowers explode along the trails in spring, while fall turns the hills into a rolling mix of red and gold. The Great Smoky Mountains is free to enter, and Clingmans Dome, Newfound Gap, and the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail are go-tos for first-timers.
2. Mount Le Conte, Sevier County
At 6,593 feet, Mount Le Conte is one of the highest peaks in the Smokies. If you reach the top, the hike is an over 10 miles round trip, depending on your chosen trail. Alum Cave Trail is the most popular.
There’s a lodge at the summit where you can stay overnight, which uses llamas to bring up the supplies. On clear days, you’ll spot layers of ridges fading into the horizon like stacked paper.
3. Cades Cove, Townsend
Part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cades Cove is a less popular area where deer, black bears, and wild turkeys cause traffic jams.
This 11-mile loop lets you coast through restored cabins and old churches. The valley used to be home to settlers in the 1800s, and the structures left behind are in incredible shape. You can stop and walk to the John Oliver Cabin, the Primitive Baptist Church, and the Cable Mill Historic Area.
4. Roan Mountain State Park, Roan Mountain
This park turns into a tunnel of color every June when the rhododendrons bloom. Sitting near the Tennessee-North Carolina border, Roan Mountain has cool streams and high-altitude views without the crowds you find elsewhere in the Smokies.
Hike up to the balds, those treeless summits with 360-degree views. In fall, the leaf show is dramatic.
5. Synchronous Fireflies, Elkmont – Great Smoky Mountains
Each summer, a specific species of firefly blinks in unison during a short mating season in Elkmont, and it’s one of the rare places in the world where this happens. People enter a lottery just to get the chance to see it.
You’ll be standing in near-total darkness in the middle of the forest when suddenly, entire waves of blinking lights move through the trees like code. It lasts just a couple weeks, usually in late May or early June, and it’s weather-dependent.
6. Fall Creek Falls State Park, Spencer
Tennessee’s tallest waterfall free-falls 256 feet and makes a sound that shuts everyone up when they finally see it. Fall Creek Falls is an entire park filled with cliffs, cascades, and trails for every level.
The main overlook is a short walk, but you can also take the stairs down to swim in the base pool. Keep hiking to get to Piney Falls, Cane Creek Falls, and the swinging bridge.
7. Rock Island State Park, Rock Island
Rock Island State Park is a hidden gem known for its impressive waterfalls and deep, rocky gorges. Twin Falls is one of the most iconic sights here, as a series of cascading streams spilling out of a rock face into the Caney Fork River below.
The park is built around old mills and hydroelectric history. Other highlights include Blue Hole and the old cotton mill ruins. The hiking is manageable and leads you through gorges and rock outcrops.
8. Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, Oneida
This park straddles Tennessee and Kentucky with sandstone cliffs and wide river views. It’s a go-to for hikers, horseback riders, and people who think a 20-mile trail sounds like a good time.
The Big South Fork of the Cumberland River cuts through gorges and under massive natural arches. You’ll find old mining sites, ghost towns, and trails that lead to overlooks with names like Angel Falls and Devil’s Jump. Charit Creek Lodge is one of the only backcountry lodges in the Southeast, and you can only reach it by hiking or riding in. There’s also whitewater paddling when the flow is right.
9. Cherohala Skyway, Tellico Plains
This 43-mile scenic byway climbs over 5,000 feet in elevation and cuts through the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests.
Motorcyclists and road trippers love the curves and the pull-offs. It connects Tellico Plains, Tennessee to Robbinsville, North Carolina, and takes about two hours if you don’t stop.
10. Burgess Falls State Park, Sparta
Follow the Falling Water River past a series of waterfalls that keep getting more dramatic. The big finale is Burgess Falls, a 136-foot cascade that crashes into a gorge.
The trail’s less than a mile long but involves stairs and steep spots. There’s also a boat ramp for kayaking and a picnic area that actually has some shade.
11. Cumberland Gap, Cumberland Gap
Before there were interstates, there was this: a natural pass through the Appalachian Mountains used by Native Americans and early settlers. Daniel Boone blazed the Wilderness Road through here in the 1700s. Now, it’s a national historical park with hiking trails, historic buildings, and overlooks.
The Pinnacle Overlook gives you views of three states at once. You can tour Gap Cave or hike up to Tri-State Peak.
12. Snoopers Rock (Tennessee River Gorge), Chattanooga
Snoopers Rock sits high above the Tennessee River Gorge, often called the Grand Canyon of Tennessee. It’s part of Prentice Cooper State Forest and requires a short hike or a bumpy drive.
The views are wide and open, with fog often hanging in the gorge at dawn.
13. Ruby Falls, Chattanooga
This is America’s deepest commercial cave waterfall, and it’s underground. Ruby Falls drops 145 feet inside Lookout Mountain, inside a cave!
You take an elevator down, walk through lit-up limestone tunnels, and then boom, a waterfall in a cave. It’s touristy but still totally worth it.
The guides are funny, and the rock formations look like they belong on another planet. Combine this with a visit to Lookout Mountain’s other attractions, such as Rock City and the Incline Railway.
14. Reelfoot Lake Cypress Trees, Tiptonville
Reelfoot Lake was created by a series of massive earthquakes in the early 1800s that literally made the Mississippi River flow backward for a bit. Today, it’s a shallow lake filled with cypress trees that look straight out of a Southern Gothic novel.
Bald eagles nest here in winter, and the fishing is legendary. You can paddle through tree tunnels or take a pontoon tour for less effort.
15. Northrup Falls, Colditz Cove State Natural Area
This underrated spot near Jamestown is a hidden gem. The hike is only about 1.5 miles and leads to a 60-foot waterfall you can walk behind.
The trail winds through thick woods and big rock formations, and there’s usually hardly anyone here, especially on weekdays. The area is part of the Cumberland Plateau, which has nice cliffs and narrow gorges.
16. Lost Sea Cave, Sweetwater
This is the largest underground lake in the US, and you can ride a boat on it. The Lost Sea Cave is part of a registered historic site and has been everything from a Cherokee shelter to a Confederate saltpeter mine.
The walking tour winds through massive chambers before ending at the lake, where glass-bottom boats float across glowing water. You’ll see old graffiti, strange rock formations, and maybe even a blind cave fish or two.
17. Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge is touristy, but it’s still worth going. This place is basically Tennessee’s entertainment capital. Dollywood is the obvious headliner, but there’s also a Titanic museum, an upside-down building, and dinner shows for every flavor of kitsch.
The Parkway is lined with mini-golf, go-karts, pancake houses, and more neon than Vegas. It’s also the gateway to the Smokies, with easy access to nature if you need a break from all the stimulation.
Catherine, a seasoned travel writer, has lived in 4 different states and explored 36 states and 28 national parks. After spending two years embracing van life, she's now dedicated to sharing her vast knowledge of day trips across America. Catherine's other works has been referenced in major publications like MSN, Self, and TripSavvy.
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