Hi there! In today’s post I will be sharing the best day trips from Nashville, Tennessee!
Nashville is located in a great spot to visit nearby states and attractions, and less than two hours away in most all directions you will find amazing towns, cities and sites to visit!
These locations are not only beautiful and scenic, but they are relatively inexpensive one-day (or even weekend!) getaways. These trips are great for families, groups of friends, and even solo travelers!
In today’s post I will be sharing three great options, that in my opinion, are some of the best day trips from Nashville, Tennessee!
The 3 Best Day Trips from Nashville
Huntsville, Alabama
Located about two hours south of Nashville, you’ll find the adorable city of Huntsville, Alabama!
Huntsville is a great place to visit, especially if you’re interested in space. The U.S. Space and Rocket Center is located in Huntsville, and it is such a cool place to learn about space and to see real rockets!
Huntsville also has a beautiful historic/antebellum district that is lovely to walk through.
I recommend grabbing a coffee from Honest Coffee Roasters and exploring the downtown area. You’ll find cute shops and great parks!
There is a lot to do in Huntsville, so it also makes a great weekend trip from Nashville.
Check out my full itinerary for how to spend a perfect afternoon in Huntsville, Alabama!
Nashville to Huntsville 
Lookout Mountain (Tennessee and Georgia)
Lookout Mountain is such a cool place, and one that I think most all travelers will enjoy!
Just a two hour drive from Nashville, located on the border of Tennessee and Georgia, Lookout Mountain is an easy day trip that is fun for the whole family!
Lookout Mountain has three must-visit attractions, and I recommend visiting all three in one day. Luckily, they’re located just a few minutes away by car from one another.
- Start your day at the Incline Railway. This 15 minute train ride takes you to the top of Lookout Mountain, where you’ll (usually) have amazing views. On nice days, you can even see seven states!
- Next, head to Ruby Falls. Ruby Falls is an incredible cave system within Lookout Mountain that houses the country’s largest, natural underground waterfall! Walking through the caves, hundreds of feet below Lookout Mountain, was so fun – and seeing the waterfall was absolutely incredible.
- End your day at Rock City. Located on the Georgia side of the border, Rock City is an outdoor garden oasis that features giant rock formations and incredible views. One of these incredible views is that of seven states, which are visible on a clear day. Rock City is a really pretty place to walk around, and the trails are beautifully maintained and organized.
Check out my full itinerary for a day at Lookout Mountain!
Nashville to Lookout Mountain 
Incline Railway 
Ruby Falls 
Rock City
Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
Located in Kentucky, about an hour and twenty minutes from Nashville, you’ll find Mammoth Cave National Park.
I was so excited to learn that Mammoth Caves was so close to Nashville, as it had been on my bucket list for so long. However, I planned very poorly and didn’t book tickets in advance. When we arrived at Mammoth Caves they were sold out for the day, and I believe even for the next two weeks. Learn from my mistake and book your tickets in advance!
Luckily, there are tons of other caves in the area, and a Mammoth Caves employee recommended we visit Diamond Caverns, about a ten minute drive away. They had same day tour availability, and touring the caves was absolutely incredible.
In addition to Mammoth Caves, I definitely recommend also stopping by Diamond Caverns.
Nashville to Mammoth Cave 
Lastly, I’ve also heard great things about Lost River Caves, located about 35 minutes from Mammoth Caves. At Lost River Caves, you can take a boat ride through the caves and learn about their history. I love that Lost River Caves is also committed to sustainability and offering eco-friendly tours and adventures!
There are so many caves in the area to explore that it is definitely possible to turn your cave adventures into a weekend getaway from Nashville! In two days you can explore a ton of different caves in the area – and it’s definitely a fun time!
Thank you so much for reading my recommendations for the best day trips from Nashville, Tennessee!
All of these trips are under two hours away from Nashville and are great destinations for day trips or weekend getaways.
If you have any questions, or any destinations you’d like to add to this post, let me know in the comments below!
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Your post reminded me that Mammoth Cave and Ruby Falls were childhood family vacation destinations. I wonder how my parents ever knew about them in the prehistoric days before the Internet, phones, and travel bloggers… Thanks for the memories!
Heading to Nashville next month – thanks for the tips!
I live 30mins south of Nashville and these are great day trips. Gatlinburg is also an amazing place, gatlinburg/pigeon forge is home to Dolly Parton and dollywood. Also the smokey mountain National Park is breathtaking. I love reading about your travels, I also love to travel and feel like I am right next to you on these amazing trips 😍
Thanks so much for your comment, Chris! Next time I’m in Nashville I’ll definitely check out Gatlinburg and Smokey Mountain National Park. Thank you for these wonderful recommendations!