Tennessee

Music, mountains and Southern charm

Tennessee spans mountains, rivers and cities shaped by music history and agriculture. The eastern part holds the Appalachian Mountains with hiking trails and scenic drives. Nashville serves as the state capital and is known for country music venues and local food markets. Western Tennessee features flat farmland where corn, soybeans and cotton grow. Major rivers like the Mississippi shape communities along their banks. Outdoor activities include fishing, boating and exploring parks throughout the year. The region balances rural traditions with growing urban centers.

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State/Prefecture in United States

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 7.2

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	7
Tap water:	7

Read details

5/5

English is the primary language spoken throughout Tennessee. All locals, service providers, and tourism staff are fluent English speakers, making communication completely seamless for English-speaking visitors.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

* We earn a commission from some links on this page.

Tennessee Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

Strong for music heritage and scenic landscapes. Visit country and blues landmarks, explore national parks, enjoy hiking trails and discover southern food culture.

Place score

7.3

Best at:

Music

Forests

Spotless

Local cuisine

Natural sites

Personal score

Suited for

👶 9

Families

🧓 8

Seniors

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

❤️ 8

Couples

United States – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	120 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	US Dollar (USD) £1 ≈ US$1.33
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 The U.S. is highly cashless, with credit and debit cards accepted almost everywhere. Mobile payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary and expected in the U.S. In restaurants, 15-20% is standard. Taxi drivers, hotel staff, and tour guides also expect tips, usually around 10-20% depending on the service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking laws vary by state, but it is generally prohibited in public spaces without a permit.
Public smoking:	Smoking is restricted in most indoor public spaces and some outdoor areas. Local laws vary.
Etiquette:	Greet with a firm handshake, maintain eye contact, respect personal space, and avoid discussing politics or income unless invited to share opinions. Politeness and friendliness are appreciated.

Thanksgiving (November)	A major holiday with closures and domestic travel surges.
Independence Day (July)	Expect parades, fireworks, and celebrations nationwide.
Christmas (December)	Markets, festive events, and crowded tourist spots.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 911 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Lyft, Bolt
Helpful links:	Wikipedia Visa regulations Customs & border control Travel with medicine
Other:	The U.S. is known for its diverse landscapes, cultural experiences, and regional cuisines. Public transport is efficient in cities but less so in rural areas. Renting a car is recommended for exploring national parks.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Tennessee, United States

🌤️

Jan

🌦️

Feb

🌤️

Mar

🌤️

Apr

🌤️

May

🔥

Jun

🌦️

Jul

🔥

Aug

☀️

Sep

🌤️

Oct

🌤️

Nov

🌤️

Dec

High season:	April - Oct.
Shoulder season:	March, Nov. - Dec.
Crowdedness:	6 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Climate and season vary by region: Great Smoky Mountains best for hiking in spring and autumn, Nashville and Memphis good for music and sightseeing April to October

Great Smoky Mountains foliage peaks mid October to early November, and the park gets extremely busy at weekends

Spring tornado and thunderstorm season runs March to May, winter ice storms are possible

Don't miss

🎸 Visit Graceland, Elvis Presley's famous home
🌲 Explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park trails
🎢 Enjoy rides and shows at Dollywood theme park
🌄 See panoramic views at Lookout Mountain
🏙️ Walk through historic Chattanooga's vibrant downtown

You've been here?

Why travel to Tennessee?

Tennessee rewards visitors with an extraordinary musical journey through America's sonic heritage. The state has given birth to seven distinct musical genres and houses iconic venues like the Grand Ole Opry, Sun Studio and Graceland that tell the stories of legends from Elvis Presley to Dolly Parton. Beyond music, Tennessee offers remarkable diversity in a compact area. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park provides outdoor adventures with endless waterfalls, hiking trails and scenic drives, while family-friendly attractions like Dollywood combine thrills with Appalachian culture. History buffs can explore Civil War battlefields and civil rights landmarks, including the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel. Culinary explorers will delight in regional specialties from Memphis barbecue to Nashville hot chicken and moonshine tastings at distilleries throughout the state.

🏙️Cities & Regions

1 Nashville
Known for its vibrant music scene, Nashville offers historic venues, live performances and a growing culinary landscape. Visitors can explore iconic landmarks like the Country Music Hall of Fame, enjoy riverfront parks and experience Southern hospitality.
2 Chattanooga
A vibrant river city on Tennessee’s western edge, Chattanooga offers a mix of industrial heritage and outdoor adventure. The Tennessee River, historic rail trails and nearby Great Smoky Mountains draw visitors to its museums, parks and revitalized downtown.
3 Gatlinburg
A mountain town in Tennessee where Great Smoky Mountains National Park borders the area. The historic downtown features shops and restaurants, while nearby trails offer scenic views of forests and waterfalls for nature lovers seeking adventure.
4 Memphis
A crossroads of blues and barbecue, Memphis in Tennessee boasts Graceland and Beale Street. The city’s riverfront charm invites sunset cruises while its live‑music venues keep crowds dancing; early mornings at the National Civil Rights Museum offer reflective insight.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Ryman Auditorium
2 Sun Studio
3 Graceland
4 Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
5 Grand Ole Opry House
6 Andrew Jackson Parkway

🎡Places for activities

1 Dollywood
2 Skylift Park
3 Bristol Motor Speedway

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Ruby Falls
A limestone cavern beneath Chattanooga’s Bluff offers a dramatic underground waterfall, illuminated by LED lights and surrounded by guided tours that explain the region’s geology and Civil War history. The site attracts visitors year‑round.
2 Great Smoky Mountains National Park
3 Lookout Mountain
4 Burgess Falls
5 Ocoee River
6 Fall Creek Falls
7 Cherokee National Forest
8 Cades Cove
9 Cumberland Gap
10 Cairo Mississippi River Bridge
11 Reelfoot Lake

🛍️Shopping

1 Opry Mills
2 The Island in Pigeon Forge
3 Tanger Outlets Sevierville
4 Downtown Nashville

🎈Events

Grand Ole Opry 100th Anniversary Celebrations (2025)
Elvis Presley's 90th Birthday Celebrations (2025)
Dollywood's 40th Season (2025)
CMA Music Festival
Memphis in May International Festival
Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion
Tennessee State Fair
Beale Street Music Festival
MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway (August 2025)

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Rent a car. Vast distances between Nashville, Memphis and Smoky Mountains.
Visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park first; it's the most visited U.S. national park with free entry year-round.
Drive the Natchez Trace Parkway for scenic views, history stops and no commercial traffic from Natchez to Nashville.
Sample Tennessee whiskey on the official trail including Jack Daniel's in Lynchburg, but note the dry county prohibits drinking there.

How to travel to Tennessee

Tennessee is accessible through several major airports, with Nashville International Airport (BNA) and Memphis International Airport (MEM) being the largest, offering connections to cities across the United States and some international destinations. Smaller regional airports serve Knoxville, Chattanooga and the Tri-Cities area. For those driving, the state is crossed by major interstate highways including I-40, I-75, I-24 and I-65, making it easily accessible from neighboring states. Amtrak's City of New Orleans route stops in Memphis, connecting the city to Chicago and New Orleans, though rail options are limited for other parts of the state.

Access summary

From Nashville Airport (BNA): Taxi, rideshare or shuttle downtown, about 15–25 minutes.
From Memphis: Fly into MEM, then local transit or car, 15–30 minutes downtown.
From Atlanta: Drive I‑75/I‑24 to Chattanooga or I‑75/I‑40 to Knoxville, 2–4 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Tennessee

Tennessee offers accommodations to suit every preference and budget across its diverse regions. Nashville and Memphis feature everything from luxury hotels to budget-friendly options, with downtown locations providing the best access to music venues and attractions. The Great Smoky Mountains area offers mountain cabins, chalets and family-friendly resorts, particularly around Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. For a unique experience, historic inns and B&Bs can be found throughout the state, especially in smaller towns. During peak seasons (summer and October for fall foliage) and special events like music festivals, accommodations fill quickly and prices increase, so advance booking is essential.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

The Guest House at Graceland

9.1

Peabody Memphis

9.2

Hutton Hotel, Nashville, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

8.8

Stay Express Inn Chattanooga

8.6

Drury Plaza Hotel Nashville Downtown

9.7

The Read House Hotel

9.2

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Nashville Downtown/Stadium

9.0

Sonesta Nashville Airport

9.3

Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg

9.5

Fairlane Hotel

9.4

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Tennessee

Having your own vehicle is the most convenient way to explore Tennessee, especially if you plan to visit multiple regions. The state is well-connected by interstates, with I-40 running east-west across the entire state and I-75 and I-65 providing north-south routes. Major cities like Nashville and Memphis have public transportation systems, including buses and trolleys in tourist areas. In Nashville, the hop-on-hop-off trolley tours are popular for seeing major attractions. For exploring the Great Smoky Mountains, trolleys connect Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge to popular destinations within the park during peak seasons.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-10 %

Daily expenses in Tennessee are around 10% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-4 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to USD) is 4% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£79	£169	£444
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£45	£98	£225
🍝 Food per day	£29	£65	£193
🚕 Transportation per day	£5	£6	£26

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£26
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£12
🍟 Fast food combo	£8
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£10.50
☕ Cappuccino	£4.10
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£4.50

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.25
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£16
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.60

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£10.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£85
🤧 Cold medication	£7
💇 Basic haircut	£14

Safety information overview

General safety

Tennessee is generally safe for tourists, though urban areas like parts of Memphis and Nashville require standard city precautions. Be aware of your surroundings, especially at night, lock vehicles, don't leave valuables visible and park in well-lit areas. Rural areas and tourist destinations typically have lower crime rates.

Health & Medical

Healthcare facilities are widely available in Tennessee, with excellent hospitals in major cities and adequate clinics in rural areas. Summer heat and humidity can cause heat-related issues, so stay hydrated. Ticks can be present in wooded areas, so check for them after hiking.

Accessibility

Accessibility varies across Tennessee. Major attractions, newer hotels and urban areas generally offer good accessibility options, while historic sites and natural areas may present challenges. National parks have made efforts to include accessible trails and facilities, but mountainous terrain limits full accessibility in some locations.

Tap water

Tap water in Tennessee is generally safe to drink and meets federal quality standards. Public water fountains are common in parks, attractions and government buildings. In very rural areas, well water may be used, but most tourist destinations have regulated municipal water systems.