The Ultimate 7-Day Tennessee Road Trip for Families: The Perfect Mix of City and Nature
There is something truly magical about the state of Tennessee. From winding backroads and misty mountain mornings to epic waterfalls and underground lakes, it is built for family adventures!
If your family loves chasing waterfalls, exploring hidden caves, and finding scenic views that make everyone stop in their tracks, this 7-day Tennessee road trip itinerary was made for you. We packed this week with a mix of outdoor exploration, kid-approved city stops, and memorable family stays.
Starting near Nashville, weaving through Chattanooga and the Great Smoky Mountains, and wrapping up near the Daniel Boone National Forest, here is how to spend one incredible week discovering the best of Tennessee with your kids!
Day 1: Chasing Waterfalls
Kick off your road trip in the Nashville area and head south toward Chattanooga, hitting three of Tennessee’s best waterfall hikes along the way.
If you have an extra day or two, spend some time exploring the sights of Nashville!
Here’s the order you will visit these amazing waterfalls:
- Burgess Falls State Park: Start bright and early with the 1.2-mile river trail. It winds through lush woods alongside the river, leading to a jaw-dropping 130-foot waterfall cascading into the gorge below. It’s very family-friendly, but bring shoes you don’t mind getting muddy (these Keen hiking sandals are perfect!). Plus, there’s a great playground at the trailhead to burn off any leftover car energy.
- Next, head to Rock Island State Park. The Twin Falls Trail (1.6 miles) takes you to one of the most photogenic waterfalls in the state, surrounded by lush green cliffs. If you are looking to shorten your hiking miles for the day though, you can skip the trail and park right next to the waterfall.
- Fall Creek Falls State Park – home to the tallest free-falling waterfall east of the Mississippi – is up next. This waterfall is absolutely stunning! I highly recommend hiking the 0.8 mile trail down to the bottom of the falls. Truly incredible to stand at the bottom of this massive waterfall.
- Greeter Falls (Savage Gulf State Park): Next up is a moderate 1-mile loop featuring two incredible waterfalls. It gets a little steep and slick in spots, so hold hands on the wooden spiral staircase, but the payout at the bottom is worth every step.
- Foster Falls (South Cumberland State Park): Save the best for last! Walking out over the swinging bridge and down into the gorge feels like you’re walking through an enchanted forest.
After a long day of waterfall chasing, grab dinner in Chattanooga and head to The Hotel Chalet for the next 2 nights – the cutest boutique hotel that actually has old train cars that you can sleep in!
Other hotel options in Chattanooga:
- Hotel Indigo – outdoor pool + family rooms
- Hilton Garden Inn Downtown – indoor pool + walking distance from many downtown attractions
- Holiday Inn & Suites Downtown – breakfast + great location
Day 2: Exploring Chattanooga & Lookout Mountain
Today is all about exploring the charming town of Chattanooga.
Ruby Falls
Star your morning at Ruby Falls – an underground waterfall hidden deep within Lookout Mountain. This guided cave tour and thundering underground waterfall is truly one of a kind, but do know that this cave experience has a less authentic feel, and has added many of the modern comforts (like lights, walking paths, and even mood music) to make it more enjoyable to those looking for a less “rustic” tour.
Rocky City Gardens
Next, head to Rock City gardens, where you will spend the afternoon wandering through giant rock formations, squeezing through narrow boulder paths like Fat Man’s Squeeze, crossing the suspension bridge, and taking in the panoramic view of seven states from Lover’s Leap.
Make sure to drive over to Sunset Rock Viewpoint for panoramic views of the valley below. No matter what time of day you come, the views are stunning, but I can only imagine catching a sunrise or sunset from up here.
Downtown Chattanooga
In the afternoon, head downtown to walk across the Market Street Bridge – a Chattanooga icon. Grab a cupcake from The Cupcake Kitchen – I highly recommend the chocolate chip cookie!
Then spend the afternoon exploring either the Tennessee Aquarium or the Creative Discovery Children’s Museum. Both are great options for families and will keep kids entertained for hours.
If you are visiting in the summer months, check out Ross’s Landing – a great water play area, and the perfect spot to cool off on a hot Tennessee day.
Day 3: Caves, Waterfalls, and the Smoky Mountains
Today you will start the journey from Chattanooga toward the Great Smoky Mountains.
On the way, I highly recommend a stop at Lost Sea Adventure, which is just over an hour outside of Chattanooga.
This is America’s largest underground lake, and after walking through the cave to get to the lake, you take a boat ride across it. It’s such a unique experience that our whole family enjoyed!
After your cave tour, continue driving towards the west side of Smoky Mountain National Park, where you will spend the rest of the day exploring iconic spots like Look Rock Viewing Platform, Spruce Flat Falls, and Cade’s Cove.
Read my full guide to visiting Smoky Mountain National Park here
I highly recommend staying in Townsend, Tennessee for at least part of your time in the Smokies. Townsend is referred to as the “peaceful side of the Smokies”, and is a great home base for exploring the area.
Here’s where I recommend staying:
- Treemont Lodge – outdoor & indoor pools + family rooms
- The Parkman – outdoor pool, tennis courts, and balconies for all rooms
- Best Western Cade’s Cove – free breakfast + budget friendly
Day 4: Great Smoky Mountain National Park
You will spend today exploring Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
Start your morning at the Visitor’s Center – exploring the free museum, earning Jr Ranger badges, and hiking to stunning waterfalls.
Spend the afternoon searching for wildlife and exploring one of the most epic hiking trails in the park. And of course, chasing more waterfalls.
I highly recommend using Roamstead as your home base for the next several days – a modern, family-friendly campground with cozy cabins, fire pits, and stunning mountain views. It’s a great location right next to the park, and close enough to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, but without all the hustle and bustle.
Read next: How to Spend 2 days in Smoky Mountain National Park.
Day 5: Exploring Gatlinburg
There are so many activities and places to explore in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge – you could easily spend multiple days here!
We only spent one day exploring Gatlinburg and decided to visit Anakeesta, which is a mountaintop adventure park that’s so much fun all ages.
We rode the scenic gondola to the top of the mountain, and then spent the afternoon walking among the treetops, across suspension bridges, riding the mountain coaster, and exploring the bird’s eye treehouses.
There are tons of fun family adventures here, from mountaintop ziplining to flying down the mountain on a mountain coaster to zorbing (which looks awesome).
The hardest part is picking which adventure you want to do first!
Day 6: Hidden Arches & Falls of Daniel Boone Forest
As we near the end of our amazing Tennessee road trip, it’s time to head north just across the state line into Kentucky, where we will spend the day exploring the Daniel Boone National Forest.
This area is filled with tons of natural arches, waterfalls, and rugged beauty, and is the perfect way to see some of the natural beauty both Tennessee and Kentucky have to offer.
Here are the stops I recommend:
- Split Bow Arch Trail (0.6-mile loop): A quick, easy loop leading to a fascinating natural sandstone arch.
- Koger Arch Trail (0.6 miles): Another short, fun trail with impressive rock overhangs.
- Yahoo Falls (1-mile loop): Here you can see Kentucky’s tallest waterfall, and even walk right behind it!
- Natural Arch Scenic Area (1.4-mile loop): Finish your afternoon hiking around a massive, towering arch surrounded by gorgeous forest views.
There are so many other trails to choose from in this area, but the ones I listed are short and kid-friendly with an epic payoff at the end.
Day 7: Arches, Caves, and One Final Adventure
Wrap up your 7-day road trip exploring Pickett CCC Memorial State Park before heading back towards Nashville to fly home.
This is another really epic outdoor spot that is perfect to spend the day hiking and exploring, and has lots of quick family friendly trail options.
I highly recommend exploring Hazard Cave—a massive rock shelter that feels like a hidden fortress. It’s such a cool spot to explore.
Also, make sure to hike the Ladder Trail (under 1 mile!). Your kids will love climbing up and down the wooden ladders built right into the rock formations!
The park also has a beautiful suspension bridge to walk across, and you can rent kayaks and paddle Pickett Lake if you have time.
Tips for Your Tennessee Road Trip
- Many of these trails are short but can be steep or rocky, so make sure you have good shoes. Here’s some of our favorites.
- Lots of your trip will be spent on the road exploring, so I recommend packing a cooler with lunch supplies and picnicking along the way. This will save you tons of time and money! We love this electric cooler and take it on all our road trip adventures.
- Smoky Mountain National Park has no entrance fee!
- Always leave nature better than you found it, and make sure to pack out all trash and waste with you.
- Make sure to download maps (both driving & hiking) beforehand, as several of these locations have limited cell service.
