Some of the best things in life are short—like a road trip you can start on a Friday after work and finish by the time Monday rolls around. But finding the perfect weekend getaway can be a challenge.

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Jerry

knows just how important it is to take time off—that’s why we’ve created this list of weekend getaways in Tennessee.

From wilderness adventures and musical pilgrimages to rustic retreats and romantic outings, these are the best weekend getaways in the great state of Tennessee.

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The best weekend getaways for couples in Tennessee

Knoxville

Stay at:

The Oliver

(rooms from $246/night)

Or:

Hyatt Place Knoxville/Downtown

(rooms from $166/night)

Start the weekend off with coffee at

K Brew

before checking out the newest exhibitions at the

Knoxville Museum of Art

. Stop by

Yassin’s Falafel House

, voted the

Nicest Place in America in 2018

, for lunch, then take yourselves on a self-guided tour of

Knoxville’s stunning murals

. Kick back at the end of the day at

Maple Hall

, a boutique bowling alley in downtown Knoxville.

Day 2 starts off with brunch at the Oliver, followed by an afternoon of beauty at

The Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum

. Book a table at

Emilia

for a romantic Italian dinner. Head to the historic

Tennessee Theater

for a show and finish the night off with drinks and bites at

The Vault

, an Old Hollywood cocktail lounge hidden in the former Holston Bank vault.

The view of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee.

Little Valley Mountain Resort

Stay at:

Sweet Sensations

(from $225/night)

Or:

Morning Mist

(from $225/night)

Wake up to the sound of nature in your private cabin at Little Valley Mountain Resort, then head to

Apple Barn Winery

for the first stop on the Rocky Top Wine Trail VIP Experience. Set the mood with an intimate dinner at

Gaucho Urbano Brazilian Steakhouse

before heading back to unwind in your cabin’s private jacuzzi.

In the morning, drop by

Honeybee Coffee Co

for a little buzz on the way to the

Tennessee Museum of Aviation

. You’ll learn all about the history of flight before embarking on a

once-in-a-lifetime helicopter tour

over the Great Smoky Mountains. Be sure to book one of the Romance Packages, and you’ll be greeted at the end of your aerial journey with chocolate, roses, and locally-made wine. End your weekend with a farm-to-table feast at

The Appalachian Restaurant

, which blends rustic charm with fine dining quality.

Pro tip Book any package deals well in advance to make sure you don’t miss out on exclusive deals!

The best weekend getaways for families in Tennessee

View of Dollywoods Dreammore Resort's Pool.

Pigeon Forge

Stay at:

Dollywood DreamMore Resort and Spa™

(rooms from $124/night)

Or:

Margaritaville Island Hotel

(rooms from $119/night)

If you stay at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort, you’ll find a full weekend’s worth of family fun without leaving the resort, from

theme park rides

and water park thrills at

Splash Country

dinner shows

and

nightly bedtime stories

But Pigeon Forge, nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, is packed with things to do: take your family to the

Titanic Museum

, brave the 360-degree twists and turns of the

Rocky Top Mountain Coaster

, or check out a magic show at

Steven Best’s Smoky Mountain Theater

Got a lot of mouths to feed? Weekend pancake breakfasts are best at

Sawyer’s Farmhouse Restaurant

, and the comfort-food-forward

Old Mill Restaurant

has one of the best children’s menus in Pigeon Forge.

Clarksville

Stay at:

La Quinta by Wyndham Clarksville

(rooms from $107/night)

Or:

Country Inn & Suites

(rooms from $82/night)

If you’re looking for a quiet weekend getaway with your family, look no further than cozy Clarksville. An hour northwest of Nashville, Clarksville is home to

Dunbar Cave State Park

, the

Fort Defiance Civil War Park and Interpretive Center

, and the

Customs House Museum & Cultural Center

From history and hiking to bowling at the

Pinnacle Family Entertainment Center

and antiquing at

Miss Lucille’s

, Clarksville will keep your whole family entertained all weekend! Try the family-owned and -operated

Catfish House

for dinner, or order a family bundle from

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen

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The best weekend getaways for music lovers in Tennessee

Memphis

Stay at:

The Guest House at Graceland

(rooms from $249/night)

Or:

The Peabody Memphis

(rooms from $239/night)

Start your weekend off with a visit to

Sun Studio

, the Birthplace of Rock ‘N’ Roll, followed by a quick bite at

Otherlands Coffee Bar

. Take your java on the go to either the

Stax Museum of American Soul Music

or, if you’re looking for a change of pace, the

National Civil Rights Museum

. Finish the night at

Ghost River Brewing Co.’s

South Main taproom for great beer, better music, and a rotating selection of local food trucks.

The big musical draw of Memphis, of course, is the home of the King:

Graceland

, where you can immerse yourself in Elvis’s life and tour his collections of records, classic cars, and jumpsuits. Visit Graceland on your second day, between a Bluegrass Brunch at

The Bluff

and late-night global bites at

Bar DKDC

Monteagle

Stay at:

Monteagle Inn & Retreat Center

(rooms from $175/night)

Or:

The Edgeworth Inn

(rooms from $165/night)

In the heart of Tennessee’s Grundy County lies

The Caverns

, a sprawling network of caves that just happens to be the country’s greatest subterranean music destination. Build your weekend around a show at The Caverns, but make time for a hike in

South Cumberland State Park

, pizza at

Viola’s Pizza Company

, and a locally-sourced fine dining experience at

High Point Restaurant

. And if you’re in the mood for more live music, head to

Jim Oliver’s Smoke House

in downtown Monteagle.

MORE:

9 best road trip destinations for music lovers in the US

The best weekend getaways for foodies in Tennessee

Nashville

Stay at:

Graduate Nashville

(rooms from $351/night)

Or:

The Inn at Opryland

(rooms from $178/night)

There are two ways to tour Nashville’s eclectic food scene. You can go for the classics, like biscuits in peppery sausage gravy at

Biscuit Love

, burnt ends at

Bringle’s Smoking Oasis

, dry-rubbed ribs at

Peg Leg Porker

, and—of course—

Prince’s Hot Chicken

Or you can venture out from the center of Nashville’s culinary universe to discover a galaxy of flavor, from Caribbean staples at food-truck-turned-brick-and-mortar

Riddim N Spice

to Chef

Maneet Chauhaun’s

Indian-Southern hybrid spot and

Osh

, Nashville’s first-ever Uzbek restaurant.

Blackberry Farm

Stay at:

Blackberry Farm

(rooms from $348/night, 3-night minimum)

Or:

Best Western Cades Cove Inn

(rooms from $110/night)

From daily three-course

artisan cooking demonstrations

to wine and whiskey tastings, Blackberry Farm is your destination for earthy, exquisite Foothills Cuisine®. This 4,200-acre gem is nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, and it boasts the talents of master chefs, gardeners, bakers, sommeliers, cheesemongers, foragers, and other culinary artisans. In between world-class farm-to-table meals, you can

explore the mountains

, get a

massage

, take

archery classes

, and more.

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The best outdoor weekend getaways in Tennessee

South Cumberland State Park

Stay at: Foster Falls Campground ($5 reservation fee)

Or:

Quality Inn Monteagle

(from $76/night)

South Cumberland State Park is home to the

Fiery Gizzard Trail

, a 12.5-mile hike named by Backpacker magazine as one of the 25 best hikes in the US. And it’s easy to see why: whether you pick one of the easier loops or make the spectacularly rugged trek to Raven’s Point, you’ll find yourself surrounded by towering waterfalls, shimmering swimming holes, and ancient hemlocks.

In between hiking,

rock climbing

caving

, and exploring the park’s natural beauty, head into Monteagle to “stuff your face with local freshness” at

Mountain Goat Market

or stop by Tracy City in the afternoon for

Tea on the Mountain

Fall Creek Falls State Park

Stay at:

Fishermen Cabins

(cabins start at $175/night)

Or:

The Lodge at Fall Creek Falls

(rooms start at $128/night)

On the northern edge of the Cumberland Plateau lies a 29,000-acre wilderness known as Fall Creek Falls State Park. Lose yourself in nature with

daily hikes

to the base of the 256-feet falls,

fishing

for bluegill and channel catfish, and a self-guided, gravity-defying

Canopy Challenge Course

that’s sure to get your heart rate up! (Or, if you’re in the mood for a slightly less rugged adventure, you can kick back on an

18-hole championship golf course

. We won’t tell anyone.)

However you spend your weekend, don’t miss

Morgan Brothers BBQ

and

Myers Drive-In

in Pikeville for classic tastes done right.

Pro Tip Eastern Tennessee is home to black bears, so be sure to brush up on your bear safety know-how if you’re planning to hike or camp!

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The best weekend getaways for history buffs in Tennessee

Chattanooga

Stay at:

The Choo Choo Hotel

(rooms from $157/night)

Or:

Moxy Chattanooga Downtown

(rooms from $129/night)

From games in the elegant

Glenn Miller Gardens

to live music and nightlife on

Station Street

, the

Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel,

located in the historic Terminal Station, is the heart of history in Chattanooga. Follow the railroad theme to the

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

, or head to one of Chattanooga’s more offbeat history museums, like

Songbirds Guitar and Pop Culture Museum

or the

International Towing Museum

While you’re in town, don’t miss the elevated Appalachian cuisine at

Whitebird

or the

Chattanooga Whiskey

distillery, the latest chapter in Tennessee’s high-malt history.

Jackson

Stairs going to the top of the Pinson Mounds.

Stay at:

Fairfield Inn & Suites Jackson

(rooms from $137/night)

Or:

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel

(rooms from $128/night)

Whether you’re interested in music history, transportation history, or something a little more ancient, Jackson has something for you. Start with the

Rockabilly Hall of Fame

and

Rusty’s TV and Movie Car Museum

. Then it’s a 20-minute drive to

Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park

, where you can explore Indigenous history.

If you’re looking for a little piece of history to take home, check out the

Vintage Market on Main Street

Butlers Antique Mall

at Exit 87 off I-40. And for the best local eats, head to

Rock’N Dough Pizza and Brewery

or the

Old Town Spaghetti Store

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The best cheap weekend getaways in Tennessee

Johnson City

Stay at:

Bravo Inn

(rooms from $47/night)

Or:

Red Roof Inn

(rooms from $70/night)

Located at the northeastern tip of the state, Johnson City has all the excitement of Tennessee's bigger cities without the expense. You can get your history fix on a budget at the

General Shale

Museum of Ancient Brick or the

Tipton-Haynes Historic Site

. Don’t want to shell out for a historic railroad museum? Check out East Tennessee State University’s

George L. Carter Railroad Museum

for a 1:87 scale model train adventure.

Speaking of trains, Johnson City’s also home to the

Tweetsie Trail

, the longest rails-to-trails project in Tennessee. And when you’re done exploring, head to

The Down Home Eclectic Music Room

Timber!

, or

Yee-Haw Brewing

and the

White Duck Taco Shop

Wilderness at the Smokies Resort

Stay at:

The resort, of course

! (rooms from $88/night)

Or:

Comfort Inn Apple Valley

(rooms from $80/night)

With

three waterparks

, tons of

dining options

, a

25,000 square foot family entertainment center

, and

special packages all year round

, the Wilderness at the Smokies Resort is the ideal weekend getaway for families on a budget. But if you somehow manage to get bored at the resort (which might be physically impossible), you’re just miles from

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Pro Tip Always check for special deals and rates, especially if you’re visiting during a major tourist season.

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Why you need good car insurance (and how you can save on the best!)

No matter where you’re headed for your perfect

Tennessee

weekend, make sure you’re covered with a car insurance policy from

Jerry

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The best part? Jerry users save an average of $887 a year on car insurance. With savings like that, you can afford all the best weekend getaways in Tennessee!

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