Tennessee is a year-round destination, but your experience will depend on the season—and how you feel about humidity.
Spring (March–May): Wildflowers bloom across the Smokies, Nashville patios reopen, and festival season begins. It’s warm without being too hot.
Summer (June–August): Hot, humid, and lively. Music festivals, lake days, and backyard BBQs dominate the calendar. Bring your sunscreen and your patience for the heat.
Fall (September–November): Peak season for a reason. The Smoky Mountains turn every shade of gold and orange, and small towns come alive with harvest festivals.
Winter (December–February): Quieter and budget-friendly, with cozy cabin stays and light displays galore. East Tennessee even gets a dusting of snow for that storybook vibe.
If you want the perfect mix of weather and scenery, fall is the best time to visit Tennessee.
Explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park: America’s most-visited national park is packed with waterfalls, scenic drives, and easy hikes for all levels.
Experience Nashville: Catch a show at the Grand Ole Opry, stroll Broadway’s honky-tonks, and tour the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Visit Memphis: Walk through music history at Graceland, Sun Studio, and the National Civil Rights Museum. Don’t forget to grab a rack of ribs at Central BBQ.
Discover Chattanooga: Ride the Incline Railway up Lookout Mountain, visit Ruby Falls, and walk the world’s longest pedestrian bridge over the Tennessee River.
Soak in small-town charm: Places like Franklin, Jonesborough, and Gatlinburg are perfect for antique shopping, local eats, and cozy weekend getaways.
Tennessee is well-connected by air, road, and even scenic train routes.
By Air: Major airports include Nashville International (BNA), Memphis International (MEM), and McGhee Tyson in Knoxville (TYS). Smaller regional airports serve cities like Chattanooga and Tri-Cities.
By Car: Interstates 40, 24, 75, and 81 make road-tripping across Tennessee easy. Expect gorgeous drives, especially through the Smokies.
By Train: Amtrak’s “City of New Orleans” line runs through Memphis for a nostalgic, scenic route from Chicago to New Orleans.
Pack for all seasons: Tennessee weather can’t make up its mind. Layers are your best friend.
Plan around events: Hotels book fast during big festivals like Bonnaroo, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas, and Memphis in May.
Bring comfy shoes: Between downtown strolls, hikes, and exploring mountain towns, you’ll easily hit your step goal.
Don’t rush it: Tennessee isn’t meant to be “done” in a weekend. Each region—West, Middle, and East Tennessee—feels like its own mini trip.
Personal Tip: My favorite way to experience the state? Pair a few nights in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge with a Nashville city stay. Mountains + music = the ultimate Tennessee combo.
Tennessee’s best explored by car—public transportation outside of major cities is pretty limited.
Rent a Car: Ideal for road trips through the Smokies, small towns, and scenic byways.
City Transit: Nashville has rideshare and scooters; Memphis has trolleys downtown.
Scenic Routes: Don’t miss drives like the Cherohala Skyway, Natchez Trace Parkway, or the Great Smoky Mountains scenic loop.
No landmarks, no crowds, no souvenir shops. Otterberg is the everyday side of Germany 🇩🇪
It’s a small town just outside Kaiserslautern. Lunch at Putai inside the historic Das Blaue Haus means crispy chicken in coconut curry and spring rolls with homemade sweet chili sauce, then a slow walk past the old church and quiet streets. The Palatinate Forest and Humberg Tower views are close by. If you want a packed itinerary this isn’t your town, but if you like good food and nowhere to be, you’ll love it.
Save this for your Germany road trip!
Every 6 minutes a new round unlocks, and you can eat your way around the world for two hours. 🌍🍽️
Masons in Kaiserslautern: Korean BBQ, Jamaican jerk chicken, raclette potatoes, crispy baked ricotta from Monaco, and the Belgian cookie cheesecake you’ll still be talking about the next day. €39-45 per person. Bring a group and pace yourself, because they charge for leftovers.
Save this for your next trip to Germany
Sedona got me again 🌵
This was my second trip, and somehow I liked it even more. Every visit adds another trail, viewpoint, or restaurant to the list, and the list keeps getting longer. This time I stayed near Airport Mesa, with sunsets right outside my door and none of the crowds.
My Substack has everything I’d tell a first-time visitor: the lodge I’ve now stayed at twice, the experiences I’d do first, and the restaurants I’d plan my days around.
Subscribe for free so you don’t miss the next one. Link in bio ✨
YES is always the answer... ✈️
I’m Wendy, and yes, I travel for a living (still pinching myself). After 15 years teaching middle school math, I traded the whiteboard for a passport and never looked back. Knoxville is home base, but Arizona sunsets are on another level, and if it’s been sitting on your list, this is your sign to finally say yes and book it. City guides, hotel reviews, and foodie spots are all on the blog. So glad you’re here 🌵☀️
A café, bakery, market, and wine shop all in one Phoenix stop 🍊
At La Grande Orange, order the crepes first, they’re the thing I’d go back for. The chicken salad sandwich is perfect if someone wants lunch while you’re still on breakfast, and the red velvet mini cupcake and a chai latte round it out. The sea salt chocolate chip cookie is heartier than gooey, so it’s best for dunkers. It’s counter service with easy parking, and the market has quirky gifts you won’t find elsewhere. Leave time to browse, because you’ll stay longer than planned.
Save this for your Phoenix trip ☀️
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
