- Direct flights from London to Nashville make Tennessee easy to reach
- Nashville and Memphis are two of the world's great music cities
- Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park in the US
- A music road trip from Nashville to Memphis and New Orleans is a classic
- Airports
- Nashville (BNA), direct from London Heathrow; Memphis (MEM) and Knoxville (TYS) via a US hub
- Best time to go
- April-June and September-October
- Type
- State
Tennessee is music country. Nashville is the capital of country music, Memphis gave the world the blues, soul and Elvis, and the mountains of the east are the birthplace of bluegrass. It is a state where live music spills out of bars from lunchtime until late.
Beyond the cities, the Great Smoky Mountains offer forested peaks, waterfalls and wildlife, while Chattanooga combines river scenery with outdoor adventure. For the wider picture, see our USA guide.
Things to do
- Nashville – the honky-tonks of Broadway, the Grand Ole Opry, the Ryman Auditorium and the Country Music Hall of Fame. See our Nashville guide.
- Memphis – Graceland, Sun Studio, Stax Museum of American Soul Music and the blues bars of Beale Street.
- National Civil Rights Museum – a powerful museum in Memphis at the Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Cades Cove's wildlife loop, Clingmans Dome and hundreds of miles of trails.
- Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge – lively gateway towns; Pigeon Forge is home to Dolly Parton's Dollywood theme park.
- Chattanooga – Lookout Mountain, Ruby Falls and a revitalised riverfront.
- Jack Daniel's Distillery – in Lynchburg, a famous distillery tour in a dry county.
- The Natchez Trace Parkway – a peaceful scenic drive from near Nashville into Mississippi.
Where to stay
- Nashville – downtown for the music, the Gulch or East Nashville for a more local feel.
- Memphis – downtown near Beale Street.
- Gatlinburg and Townsend – for the Smokies; Townsend is the quieter option.
- Chattanooga – riverside hotels in the centre.
Getting there
British Airways flies direct from London Heathrow to Nashville, a flight of around nine to ten hours. Memphis and Knoxville need one connection. Nashville to Memphis is about three hours by car, and Nashville to the Smokies about four. Many visitors drive on to New Orleans or Atlanta. A hire car is essential. You will need an approved ESTA.
Best time to visit
Spring and autumn are ideal, with mild weather, flowering dogwoods in April and superb foliage in the Smokies in October. Summer is hot and humid but busy with music festivals. Winters are mild in the west and occasionally snowy in the mountains.
Nashville's Broadway bars are free to enter and have live music all day; go in the afternoon if you want to hear the bands without the crowds.
Top attractions in Tennessee
NatureCentral Park
Manhattan's 843-acre green heart, with lakes, meadows, bridges and woodland stretching for 51 blocks between Midtown…
LandmarkStatue of Liberty
The copper colossus in New York Harbor, a gift from France in 1886, visited by ferry with Ellis Island on the same trip.
Tennessee on the map
Frequently asked questions
How long should I spend in Tennessee?
A week covers Nashville, Memphis and a couple of days in the Smokies. Add more time if you are driving on to New Orleans.
Is Graceland worth visiting?
For Elvis fans, absolutely. Even casual visitors usually find the 1970s interiors and the story fascinating. Book a timed ticket in advance.
Which is better, Nashville or Memphis?
Nashville is bigger, glossier and more focused on country music. Memphis feels grittier, with blues, soul, barbecue and civil rights history. Most people enjoy both.
Do I need to pay to enter the Great Smoky Mountains?
There is no entrance fee, but a parking tag is required if you park for more than 15 minutes in the park.
Written by
Thomas Ski, mountains & expeditions editor
Thomas is happiest above the tree line or below the Antarctic Circle. He writes our ski, mountain and polar expedition guides.
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