The Ultimate 7-Day Tennessee Road Trip for Families: The Perfect Mix of City and Nature

There’s something truly special about the beautiful state of Tennessee; from winding backroads, to misty mountain mornings, and an epic adventure around every corner. If your family loves chasing waterfalls, exploring caves, and discovering scenic views that make you stop in your tracks, then this 7-day Tennessee road trip itinerary is for you. Starting near Nashville for some epic waterfalls, exploring the Smoky Mountains, and ending near the Daniel Boone National Forest, here’s how to spend one incredible week exploring the best of Tennessee.

Day 1: Chasing Waterfalls

You’re going to start this road trip from the Nashville area, heading south towards Chattanooga. Nashville would be the perfect spot to fly into, and you could easily add on a few days to explore the city. We came in from Bowling Green, Kentucky, which is about an hour north of Nashville, where we spent the previous day exploring Mammoth Cave National Park. It was our kids spring break, and for the sake of time had to skip Nashville, but there are definitely some cool spots to explore.

Our first stop of the day was Burgess Falls State Park. We hiked the 1.2-mile trail, which leads to a breathtaking 130-foot waterfall that tumbles into a gorge below. This is a stunning trail through a wooded area that follows alongside the river. Definitely kid friendly, but wear some shoes you don’t mind getting dirty (my kids love these Keen hiking sandals – perfect for splashing in puddles and getting toes wet). There is also a great playground, picnic area, and clean restrooms at start of the trail, so it’s a great spot for a picnic and to get some extra wiggles out.

From there, we headed 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.

Next up is Fall Creek Falls State Park, home to the tallest free-falling waterfall east of the Mississippi. This waterfall is absolutely stunning! We hiked the 0.8 mile trail down to the bottom of the falls, which I highly recommend if you are able. The terrain is a bit rough, with several steep spots, and if the waterfall is flowing heavy during your visit it will be muddy. But it’s pretty epic to stand at the bottom of such a massive waterfall. While you’re here, make sure to take a walk across the suspension bridge.

Next, head to Greeter Falls, located in Savage Gulf State Park. You can get to this waterfall by hiking the 1 mile loop, which is rated moderate difficulty. There are actually 2 waterfalls along this trail, and make sure to wear good shoes because it is steep and can definitely be muddy at times.

Before you reach Chattanooga, you have to stop at Foster Falls, located in South Cumberland State Park. This was my favorite waterfall of the day, and it felt like we were walking through an enchanted forest and across the swinging bridge to get to the falls.

After a long day of waterfall chasing, grab a quick 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!

Day 2: Exploring Chattanooga & Lookout Mountain

You are going to spend day 2 exploring the charming town of Chattanooga! Head to Ruby Falls in the morning, 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.

Next, drive up 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.

Head to Rock City Gardens for the afternoon, a whimsical mountaintop attraction filled with narrow passages, swinging bridges, and the famous “Seven States” viewpoint. It’s kind of a cross between a botanical garden and a rock garden, and is a really fun and unique stop. We had so much fun exploring all the fun spots here, and my kids loved “fat man’s squeeze”.

In the afternoon, head downtown to walk across the Market Street Bridge, a Chattanooga icon. Grab cupcake from The Cupcake Kitchen – I highly recommend the chocolate chip! Then spend the afternoon exploring either the Tennessee Aquarium or the Creative Discovery Museum. If you are visiting in the summer months, let your kids cool off at Ross’s Landing – a great water play area. Even if you aren’t visiting during summer, you should still check out this beautiful and historical site along the Trail of Tears.

Day 3: Caves, Waterfalls, and the Smoky Mountains

On day 3, you are going to head out of Chattanooga on on towards Smoky Mountain National Park. On the way, you are going to make 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. Definitely a very cool experience that our whole family enjoyed!

After the tour, drive on over to the west side of Smoky Mountain National Park, where you will spend the day exploring iconic spots like Look Rock Viewing Platform, Spruce Flat Falls, and Cade’s Cove. You can read my full guide to visiting Smoky Mountain National Park here.

For your first night in the Smokies, I highly recommend staying in Townsend, Tennessee. This town is referred to as the “peaceful side of the Smokies”, and is a great home base for exploring the area. We stayed at one of the tiny homes located in Little Arrow Outdoor Resort, and it was perfect for our family of 5. We loved having a full kitchen and space to spread out, plus the amenities offered here are great.

There are also several Air BNB’s and hotels in the area to choose from.

Day 4: Exploring the Smokies

Day 4 is all about exploring this iconic National Park. Spend the morning learning about its history and earning your Jr. Ranger badge; hiking to waterfalls and driving scenic roads.

The afternoon will be spent searching for wildlife and exploring one of the most epic hiking trails in the park, and of course, more waterfalls.

Check out this post for all the details on what to do in Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

We spent the night at Roamstead, a modern, family-friendly campground with cozy cabins, fire pits, and stunning mountain views, which put us in a great location for exploring Gatlinburg the next day.

Day 5: Exploring Gatlinburg

There are so many activities and places to explore in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, and you could easily spend multiple days here. We only had one day, and decided to visit Anakeesta, which is a mountaintop adventure park perfect for all ages. We rode the scenic gondola to the top of the mountain where the park is located, and then spent the afternoon walking among the treetops across suspension bridges, riding the mountain coaster, and letting the kids play in the bird’s eye treehouses.

I would also suggest the Gatlinburg SkyPark as another unique adventure, but there are truly so many fun things to do here! From Ripley’s Believe it or Not Aquarium, to mini-golf, to several water parks, pick whichever adventures sound like the best fit for your family.

Day 6: Arches and Falls of Daniel Boone Forest

As we near the end of our road trip, we are going to head north just across the state line into Kentucky to spend the day exploring the Daniel Boone National Forest. This area is stunning, and is filled with tons of natural arches, waterfalls, and rugged beauty.

Start with Split Bow Arch (0.6-mile loop), a short but impressive trail, then move on to Koger Arch Trail (0.6 miles) and Yahoo Falls (1 mile), Kentucky’s tallest waterfall. Finish your day at the Natural Arch Scenic Area, a 1.4-mile loop with incredible views of the surrounding forest. There are so many other trails to choose from here, but the ones I listed are short, kid-friendly, with an epic payoff.

Stay in West Cumberland for the night.

Day 7: Arches, Caves, and the Final Adventure

On your final day, head to Pickett CCC Memorial State Park in Jamestown, Tennessee. There are tons of incredible places to explore here, and many of them include quick, family friendly hikes. We spent our morning exploring Hazard Cave and Natural Bridge, which was an easy 1.5 mile hike with lots of amazing features along the way, like this massive cave and a stunning natural bridge.

We also hiked the Ladder Trail – a really fun and unique trail that’s less than a mile long and has 2 spots where you climb up/down wooden ladders. There’s also a beautiful suspension bridge you can walk across, and you can rent kayaks and paddle Pickett Lake if you have time.

This is an awesome state park for exploring, and I highly recommend a stop here on your way out of Tennessee!

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.
• Smokey 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.